The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-06

DAY BY DAY.

IA BY DAY.
The living God, who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy. Timothy, vi, H.
An acquaintance of mine has just given
me an object lesson, but it was at the
cost OF his life. He has shown me how
not to live if one wishes to achieve the
greatest success, and yet he was not
only a good and true man, faithful to
public and private duty, but something
of a philosopher. The sad fact is that he
proved his own philosophy to be false.
In the flush of youth he dreamed a
splendid dream. He saw that money will
buy almost everything that is desirable,
and so determined to sacrifice his mind,
his body, his pleasures to its acquisl-
ton. when ! get the fortune / am in
search Of" he said in the twilight OF
an autumn day long ago, Il will cease
from labor and give myself to the en-
joyment of my remaining years. Until
then l shall think of nothing but the
purpose | have in view
Time passed. and he was what the
world calls fortunate. His wealth accu-
muated and he built a noble mansion as
a resting place after terrible toll. But
he paid too large a price for what he
wanted--his health, and the. very ability
to enjoy which he hoped to greatly gra,
tify. Only last week the slow funeral
procession moved by the unoccupied man
sion on its way to the cemetery. His
dream was not realized. Just as he
thought to live, he died. Hardly yet on
the shadowy side of middle age, the
summons came and he o5eyed the i'm
perative demand to leave all. His mis-
take was that he had reckoncd on enjoy
ing himself by and by, whereas no one
can be certain of having any by and by
Religion teaches us to make use of
every opportunity for happiness, and to
let none slip if it is possible to hold it.
God never intended that we should give
up all today in order that we may en-
joy all tomorrow. Life may be hard,
even as the desert is barren, but in the
desert there are GASES, and 1t is a duty
to direct our steps toward them and to
spend few hours in their grateful shade.
Even in the midst of cur anxiety or our
incessant toll there are moments of re-
spite. and if we avail ourselves of them
the heart is lightened and the body is
strengthened. 1t is just as much man S
duty to be happy whenever he can be as
it is to pray. This world is not only
beautiful but it will make our souls
beautiful IL we learn to appreciate it.
Gloom and dependency are sometimes in
evitabie. but when the sun breaks through
the clouds, even for an hour, we should
grasp that hour and consocratc it with
a smile. There is no life which is al
ways dark. and if we allow ourselves to
be so impressed by the hardships we un-
dergo that we cannot enjoy a restful af-
tcrnoon We do ourselves an injury. The
habit OF looking for the light is often
times rewarded by our finding it in nnex-
pected places while the habit of looking
for misery invites misery to come in and
abide with us.
Religion as | understand it, is the most
cheering and cheerful philosophy OF life
known among men. 1t tells us of God
W no has so planned our experience that
we shall grow broader minded and larger
hearted with every fleeing year the
boy in school thinks his lessons irksome,