The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-02-19

There II . Comfort Even I'm the
Things We Like Least.

ne WAt u miknty man III NAlOFs OUT ne Wa
q leper-Kings "a.
Over every human life, however
bright the sunshine, cloud may come.
Every person covets what he chooses
TO consider success; some riches, some
fame, some pleasure, some domestic
felicity. No one, however, realizes all
his ambitions-indeed, not all are
worth realizing. There is always a
something which mars happiness-pos-
sibilities OF anguish in every condition.
spots weaker than others in the strong
est bar of steel, the capability of tarnish
in the pdrest gold, spots on the sun. A
persons weaknesses-conseque his
sources Of suffering-may lie just beside
his strongest traits of character. He
may be honest, but overexacting;
strong willed, but obstinate; economi-
cal, but penurious; just, but unmerci-
full; courageous, but censorious; affec-
tionate, but passionate. Unselfishness
may sharpen daggers that pierce the
heart, and intensity of affection may be
a pledge of keenest pangs.
A person, II may be, acquires riches,
but health is gone, or domestic happi-
ness has taken departure, or waters OF
grief are flooding the soul. Preem-
inently successful along some lines, he
is conspicuously unsuccessful along
others. II takes but little to render a
person miserable; II takes much to rem
der some happy. AS II needs only .
trifle 10 prevent wealth from produc-
Ing contentment. is II mark OF wis
dom to sacrifice for it's acquisition that
which is OF more value-health, COM
fort, reputation, character, principle,
conscience-the hope OF an eternal
world. ~ mans life consistent not In
the abundance of the things he pos
sesseth." Does the river consist in the
driftwood IL Is carryig TO the ocean?
Zine feathers make fine BIRDS" but
fine residence and fine equipage are
not capable Of always making the heart
merry.
OF those who covet fame, some win
the prize; but cares increase, RESPONSE
bilities augment, disappointments null
tiply and arrows Of envy become keener
and more numerous. He who courts
public favor courts tickle damsel, one
who, disqualified TO bestow happiness,
may fatter littleness and contemn
greatness. In history there are few
sadder chapters than those which
record the cares, worries and reverses
OF some who acquired prominence.
Moses was n mighty man, but he was
driven into exile, and sleeps in an un-
known grave. Elijah was rare speci-
men OF true greatness, but Ahab's folly
and Jezebels hatred came near driv-
ing him to suicide. Daniel was great
man, but for his peculiar species of
greatness Nebuchadnezzar thought n
lions den the fttest place. Isaiah was
a man OF rare strength of character, but
Manasseh laid him between two planks
and sawed him in twain.
Such as desire TO see the emptiness OF
human greatness would do well 10 read
the biographies OF the kings, 60 in num-
Der, who during COO years ruled the
eastern Roman empire, its capital, Con-
stantinople, and they may be inclined
to thank God that they are permitted
10 live in obscurity. IL the Scriptural
admonition: "Be humble, unworthy of
notice? The man who is on his back in
the cellar can get no lower-one thing
for which he may be thankful. The
man on the housetop may grow dizzy
and, falling, may suddenly. terminate
his exalted career. Most persons desire
to be on the mountain summit; few pre-
fer the valley, though the winds are.
less fierce and the storms less violent.
On every human life, however dark
the oyerhanging cloud. there may be
sunshine. Ii Is never so dark that IL
can be no darker. Discouragements are
never so many that there are no
grounds for thankfulness. A cloud on
every pathway, and sunshine possible
in every heart. A burden on every
life, and no soul that may not thrill
with Joy. A crook in every lot, and no
crook so tortuous that II may not end
in celestial bliss. No trial without its
alterations Poverty inspires energy,
fosters self-rcliance, prompts 20 indus
try and teaches us to prize the blessings
we have without msrmurlng over those
we have not. Illhealth forces attention
10 the laws of health, sweetens the dis
position and directs attention TO the
nearness Of eternity's curtain. Be
reavements have their alternating com
pensations. Obscurity has its special
advantages. Physical disabilities have
their compensations. The deaf are
saved from hearing much that is better
never heard. The blind can see no
frowns.
IL il well 10 observe that each per-
sons lot, all things considered, is not
widely different from that OF others.
The mountain has both rocks and sun
shine; the valley floods as well as wav-
ing harvests. The eyes that shed tears
can beam love.AJoseph s. Van Dyke,
ID. d., in N. Y. Herald.
Giving vitality for Others.