Evening journal., 1898-07-06
THE FOLLY OF WORRY.
Live In and For the To-day Ii the
Golden Rule That Brings
Peace.


If you would live happy, strong and
useful life-don't worry. When you are
Inclined to worry, steadfastly fight the
inclination. Make that rule, and keep
h, no matter how pressing the tempta-
ton may be TO break it. A wise man
said one day: at is worry, not work,
that kills." and the truth of his words
has been amply attested in our genera
tion. Faces that grow year by year
more worn and pale, eyes that are hag-
kard with the fear of coming evil, and
cheeks that have lost the bloom of
youth reveal the burden
of anxious care which robs life of Its
elasticity and JOY. The fever and fret
OF the roaring, busy city in which we
live seem to increase rather than to
diminish. You go about the streets and
look men in the face, and you see how
all manner Of hungry desires and haras-
sing anxieties have imprinted them
selves there. Now and then in the
surging crowd, like a rift of light in
cloud-covered sky, you come across q
face out of which beams deep and
settled peace. That is the face of a man
or woman who has learned the lesson
of the folly Of worry.
1t was very practical philosopher
who wrote that there are two classes Of
things we should not worry about
things we can help and things we can
not help. Evils we can help we ought 10
help without one moments delay and
without fretful feverishness. That
farmer Is a fool who spends an hour in
lamenting the tronblesomeness Of his
neighbours COWS that trample his wheat
fields. He should not lose q second in
building up the fence that has fallen
down, and so keep out the cattle. If the
roof of your house leaks, do not bewail
the discomfort of the rain and forecast
the colds that are to come 10 your fam
lily, but set to work at once and mend
the leaking roof. If indigestion has
laid its iron grip on you, do not frighten
yourself and bore your friends with the
horrors Of your martyrdom, but cheer
fully take more exercise and bravely
adapt your diet TO your physical condi-
ton. 1t is the height of folly TO worry
over troubles that can be remedied by
prompt and energetic action.
But there are some troubles that can
not be helped. To cure them by worry.
ing is like putting out FIRE by heapine
wood and Goals on 1t. In His great ser
mon on the Mount the Master shows the
absurdity of troubling our minds about
things we cannot help by asking th'
question:: (Which Of you by being anx
ious can add one cublt unto his stat
ure?" No human power or skill car
make a short man tall or make plaii
woman beautiful, yet we all know case
in which life Is shadowed by effort e
accomplish what Is impossible. Tn
wiser and the better way Is to submi
to tho inevitable and make the mos
J OF it.
Take no thought for the morrow, bu
live in and for to-day Is the golden rul
, that casts the folly of worry TO tn
winds. One who had to work hard ur
der terrible anxiety and trouble said I
his minister: 'I live on the block sy'
tenn" Most people know so much abou
railways that they viii understand th
phrase. The mans way was hedge
up except Just the few PAGES that wcr
opened up to enable him to do his pres
ent duty. He went on and did that, no
hooking beyond It. Then another littl
space was given, but he never had NOR
than a very short view. When the anz
4, iety ceased for the time-it was th
a fear Of something much worse than an
q sorrow-he came out from the clou
j very worn. very meek and subdued, be
= he had done good work under it, COZ
S spicuously good work, of which thol
y sands Of his fellow creatures knew. II
j who lives in this spirit and works in th
e way viii find that light dawns on Il
e darkened path at last. It will come, I
we say, "all Of sudden" and probabl
g from the most unexpected quartz
z Your eyes will be opened and you wi
k sec that the light of love was shinlu
all the time behind the cloud, and q
" path thai was SO sore and toilsome
= your feet led TO a JOY all the greater b
cause of the pain which preceded it, ,
d to gain in strength of character whiC
t could never be had in the relaxing a
/. mosphere Of constant pleasure. Whe
d we grasp the truth that God Is love, v
c abandon the folly Of worry, because v
learn to trust that all things VIII woI
n together for good In a world goyern'
d by the Father too wise TO err and tS
/. kind to be cruel in his dealings with II
d chlldren.-Rev. d. Sutherland, in n.
e Ledger.