The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-11-26


overcome by the seductive influence of
the song Hope is thief that robs us
Of our better judgment, and entices
as to venture beyond our depth into
the ocean of possibilities, and then
dispirits US, and leaves us
TO our fate. Hope is balloon that car
ries us skyward, but bursts in midair,
and when we fall to the earth we are
dashed to pieces. Hope is magic mir
ror that shows us deceptive glimpses of
the future, thus causing US to forget
that only the present moment is our
own. It is as foolish to build on hope
as it is to play in a lottery in which
there is one chance to win against a
million to lose."
For some time they sat in meditation
lost, their look cast on the bare floor, on
which fell the weird, fantastic, shifting
shadows of objects impervious to the
light of the swinging street lamp. Then
the old man put his hand on the shOul-
der of his companion, and said:
"The thoughts you have given utter
ance to as respecting Hope convince
me that you have indeed drunk copi-
ously the bitter waters of disappOint-
ment. And it must be admitted that
much of what you have spoken about
the illusiveness of Hope is true, but not
all. Hope is very often deceiver, but
not always. But in the catalogue of
things for which we should be thank
full there are many items we have not
yet touched upon. Whether one should
be thankful because ones lot is happier
than some other ones; or whether one
should rejoice because Hope, Proteus-
like assuming different shapes, coaxes
one to new efforts in different direc-
tions, or phoenix-like, ever reappearing
from the ashes of disappointment, fills
one with new life, and impels one with
q force that cannot be withstood;-
these are questions that each individu-
al must settle to his own satisfaction
with his own consciousness But
bethink you now, my son, have you
not met with persons who were dis
interestedly kind to you? Has no one
ever given you drink of water in
His namep Has no one ever assuaged
your pain; relieved you of part of
your burden, or comforted and encour-
aged you when you were about to sink
under the combined influence of the
petty trials of day and the enervating
and soul-sickening strife that confronts
us throughout our whole earthly exist
tencep"
The younger man lowered his head,
and before his minds eye there passed,
one after the other, the forms Of those
to whom in time past he mad been be-
holden for kind acts, and words of en-.
couragement and advice, we'll meant
At first there was an interval between
the disappearing and oncoming forms
but as through the association of ideas
his mind became more active, and
thought flashed upon thought, illumin'
ating the partly obscured page of mem
ory, the intervals gradually, but per
ceptibly, diminished, until the forms
crowded each other as they passed his
mental review. And the blush oi
shame dyed his cheeks, and his con
science reproved him for his want Of
gratitude, and he groaned in his hear
because he had that day failed to dis
tinguish the good from the evil, and
while regarding the nettle, he hat
declined to consider the violet tina,
flowered under it. The old man silent
ly observed him for time. Then HI
again addressed his companioni in terms
at once soothing and firm:
"My son, remember this: Whoeve
courts the good will of the world mus
swim with the stream. You say tn
world has misunderstood you: tn
world has misunderstood every mai
whose ideals were higher than tn
worlds ideals. You say your friend
have forsaken you: If you have beel
true to your ideals the falling off o
fairweather friends need not concerl
: you. You say you cannot build o.
hopes: then build on truth and justice
} These are the everlasting foundations
and whosoever builds on them shall r.
j joice in his work even tho the sky b
) overcast, and the world sneer, and pt
: tentates and powers trown. Not th
: piling up Of riches, nor the acquire