The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-23
THE SUNDAY PULPIT
THE LORD WILL CARE FOR YOU.

The Lord is my shepherd; | shall not
W~ant.-PSaIms. NNiii.. i.
The man Who looks on the bright side
OF life even when standing under the
shadow Of Il bitter experience is called
an optimiSt.
The man who always secs the cloud,
but never its silver lining. who predicts
that there will be lightning. and floods,
and plaques tomorrow. in spite Of the
sunshine which floods the earth today,
IS called 4 pessimist.
/ have ofen noticed that 4 dog when
free to Go as he pleases is sure TO choose
Il sunny spot to lie down in. He
stretches himself at full length. and III
his own peculiar way expresses the
pleasure hc takes III his good fortune.
His very yaWn and his look Of happy re-
poSefulneSs constitute 4 language thai
we MI understand. and it tells rs Of the
happiness which lie enjoys.
/ respect the dog for the sensible view
Of life which lie takes. and would fam
follow his example. In this one regard
he knows 4 great deal more thai some
men and makes a better use Of his op-
portunities.
OF all people III the world the most
irreli-ious is lie who looks 1T the evils
OF life 50 Professionally that he cannot rec
ognize amy good III it. and Of all hurtful
habits which characterize mankind the
most injurious is the habit Of keeping
on" eyes open TO catch 4 glimpse Of
the disagreeahle AMI Keeping them shut
whenever q moment Of good cheer i an
| preaching. Such Il habit is damoralizinc
and spiritually Weakening. It seems 10
be continually assuring TX that Gods
providence has fallen into a sound sleep
from which there is no waking.
| am n thorough optimist. and take
great delight III the fact. II Won were to
rob me Of my feeling that things will
come cut all right in the end you would
take from me the possession which |
prize most Of all.
This optimism is not the result Of tenn
permanent. hut Of conviction. With the
dog who lies il the sunshine it is in
stInct. but With mankind it is the pro
duct Of 4 careful Use Of the reaSonin.
faculties. The instinct Of the dog and
the brain Of the man lead to the same
conclusion. namely. that whenever there
is sunshine it should be appropriated.
It Is Just as much Il duty 10 put the
hard experiences of life away and to keen
in mind its possible ~enioyments as it is to
BE pure hearted or charitable. Never
dwell on your miSfortuneS. though they
ne many. 1or II VIII emhltter the soul and
render it unfit for the work Of the fr-
ture. Brush aside unpleasant memories.
81 far rs lies in Your power. and even
Try &c forget them. There is no use in
liyn@ over again and again the scenes
through which Won have passed. wheth-
CT they refer to the evil Won have done
to others. The evil that others have done
10 YOU. or the unavoidable sufferinys
which Won have have horne Cod 10.
SAID that 50 far aS He is related to yonr
mistakes they shall be buried in the
depths of the sea-" and if He can for
get them for@ctfulneSs is one of the
virtues Which ought to lie practised on
our part. It is not what you have
been III days gone by. nor what Won hive
done which is most important. l,ut what
yon are to he and do in the future.
we can tind much that is beautiful
III nature and in life if we will bur look
Tor IT, The world is 10 the thoughtful