Newport weekly independent., 1901-05-30

the next time you might make worse mistakes. Instead of being depressed over the fact that you are being count ed out or omitted in the great under- takings of the church and the world. rejoice that you have right to hang up your helmet and sheathe your sword and free your hands f.om the gantlets and your feet from the boots of mail
 At the soldiers home in the suburbs of this city I often admire the peace ful and contented looks of the vener- able heroes as they sit under the trees or go in and out the fine abode that our government has appro opriately pro vided for them. They are not longing for other Chapultepecs. They do not want to undertake another South Mountain. Their foot does not ache to get into the stirrup of the cavalry man. They are not longing for the hardtack of the soldiers breakfast along the Chickahominy. They have no desire for another ride in the am bulance to the field hospital. When the Spanish war broke out they some times wondered if their rheumatic knee would allow them to keep step in march, and if their sight was good enough to see an advancing foeman, and if their ear was alert enough to hear the command "Charge!" But for the most part they are glad that there is no more war for them. So let all of the aged in peace with God, through the blessed Christ, cultivate contentment and thank the Lord their Sedan has been fought and the war is over. .Let not him that girdeth on his harne SIS boast himself as he that putteth it off. 2
 There are old farmers who cannot do one more days work. What har- vests they raised in 1870! They knew the rotation of crops as well as they knew the rotations of the seasons. Un- der what blistering suns they swung the scythe and the cradle! Through what deep snows they drew the logs or cut out their way to the foddering of the cattle! What droughts, what freshets, what insectile invasion, they remember! To clothe and feed and educate the household they went through tolls and self-sacrifces that tile world knew but little about. Rest, aged mani Let the boys do the shovel ing and thrashing and cutting and ting. You have put the harness off, and do not try to put it on again.
 Then there are aged physicians. What tragedies of pain and accident they have witnessed! How much suf- fering they have assuaged! How many brave battles they have fought with lancet and cataclysm How many fe- vers they cooled! How many broken bones they set! How many paroxysms they quieted! How many anxious days they passed when they knew that hu man lives depended upon their skill and fidelity! They drove back death from many a cradle. Instead of becoming hardened at the sight of suffering their sympathies deepened, as with aged pr. Valentine Mott when, standing before hisstudents in clinical department and child was about to be op- erated upon in surgery, he said: "Gentlemen, here are surgeons who will do this work as we'll as I can, and you will excuse me if I leave the room, for as I get older I cannot composedly witness pain as once I could, especially the suffering of little children God comfort and bless the old doctors, allopa thic, home opathic, hydropathic and eclectic, and make them willing to be out of prac tice! Before long they will hear the benediction of Him who said: ''I was sick, and ye visited Me-
 Again, I learn from Benhadad's be- havior the unwisdom of boasting of what one is going to do. Two mes sages had he sent to the king of Is rael, both messages full of insolence and braggadocio. With brimming beaker in hand he is talking with the royal group about what he will do with the spells of the victory he Is going to achieve that afternoon. He takes it for granted that Samaria will surrender. He gives command for the capture of some of the inhab- itants of Samaria who are approach ing, saying: "Whether they be come out for peace take them alive, or whether they be come out for war, take them alive" But behold the fu- gitive king in frightened retreat be- fore sundown! Better not tell boast ingly what you are going to do. Wait until it is done. You do we'll to lay our your plans, but there are so many mistakes and disappointments in life that you may not be able to carry out your plans, and there is no need