The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-01-13

tu0y WOU1O IoCO4uAA0 UAO oACAeJ
the impossiblity-of touching all classes
each week. Lives are so varied, and
thoughts even more so, that one must
be content with throwing out words OF
courage almost at random, satisfied
with the mere chance OF nerying some |
BODY whose needs are unknown. There
is widespread class would commune
with this week-the discouraged.
THE IRREvoCABLE PAST is an awful
thought, admlt-no one knows 1t
better. The deeds we do, like the
casual footprints in the sands of the
Bay of Fundy-footprints of the strug-
giles for prey or of love-are preserved
forever. Whatever we have done re-
mains an indelible mark. The flood Of
repentance may soften its harsh out
lines the ocean-fowers of Gods good
ness may cover it; long years may
spread over it the gentle mist OF for
getfulness but the print remains. And
Just as the curious geologlst unearths
strange markings and odd shapes, and
brings them to the light, SO in the
career of each one of us will ever be
found those walking consciences OF un-
happy accusation, who while occupy
| ing themselves with us as friends are
unearthing our fossil deeds and sad
acts and displaying them to gaping
world whose first thought is to see the
hole whence such things can be digged
and to argue to our damage that there
must be more where these came from.
J ~
Such is somewhat the experience OF
all of us who have erred. We are
stabbed in the houses OF our reputed
friends,-we are appalled, to find even
our simple or sinless fOolishness re-
membered through decades and re-
vived after times of utter peace o1
mind. This is what causes the heart
often to sink within us. It makes US
feel like loving the drifting of a stick
towards the sea rather than the restless
energy of the living fish that must
strive if it would make real progress.
~
The past belongs to record that il
Interchangeable. Bear that in mind and
take courage. Each of us has grave
yard,-the skeletons are there and
some-day perhaps our friends vii
prove it to us. But dining with ghosts
sleeping with them, thinking OF them
will unnerve the heart, produce visions
of unreal eorrows and utterly ruin tht
life so long as the ghosts of gone-bys
keep us from opening our doors to tht
hungry duties and deeds that await III
outside our dreary banqueting hall 0
regrets.
-
} What we have for our own is TIL
LIVING PRESENT, as Longfellow ex
presses it.
It is stimulating thought, thougl
the next step be the future, and th
last the past; yet, through our Who'll
life. we have our constant little "glim
!. pse OF time between two eternities,
which to all intents and purposes
= our own. We need not stop to discus
: Free-will or Election. Whether ou
!. every action be fore-ordained or fort
known OF God or no, practically 1t
ours to choose. The father may war
e the child that fire will burn, may eve
It know before he leaves the room tbs
e the child will be burnt, may even wis
= the child to learn wisdom by suffering
!, but. as far as the child is concerned,
is his to choose whether faith or sci
will shall have the mastery. The pre-
ent is in Its passing moments dete
o mining those things at which we sha
~ later look back. The past is fxe
The present is ours to shape and
= mould. Let us get at 1t with eve
- fierceness of purpose.
re -
'g You gloomy mourners over the pa'
listen to a homely parable; Three DO
had each speckled apple. The fl
n recognized the defect, and threw t
.. fruit into the nearest stream. ~
second cut away the bad part and
what was lett. The third sat hi
Is down bemoanIng the fate that sent
W rottenness until the whole decay
a Some of us, like Judas Iscarlot, d
nm cover our character-spe and thr
ia away our lives; others, wiser, like t
of i Prodlgal Son, discard the worthl
:, portions as soon as they are seen to
- worthless, and henceforth live only
the good and wholesome things;
there are others, who have neither
decision Of Judas, nor the good-se
on- Of the Prodigal. They make
up wrong choice, and spend the rest
60, their liyes bemoaning it. The boz
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