The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1904-10-05
LIFE IS A 1REAuMILl.

whom the treadmill OF life was SO
burdensome, and they have tray
eled in the same groove 50 long,
that they reminded us OF the
blind mule on a sugar planta.
tion who had worked in a tread.
mill for SO many years, grinding
cane, that he would keep up the
step even while eating his food.
Or that other mule who had
Travelled round and round for so
long a time that he would natur.
ally form a circle when turned
out to Craze, and his body had
assumed such a shape that he re-
sembled a bow-legged man. Or
still that other and more athletic
mule whose performances with
his heels were a terror to the
the neighborhood and would put
to shame the best prize ring art
ist in the country.
The state of affairs is brought
about in a mans life by the man
himself who under a misconcep-
ton of duty to himself and fam
lily has conceived the idea that a
days rest and a little recreation
occasionally is robbing his fam
lily and committing a sin. Never
was there q greater fallacy. We
owe it to ourselves to rest both
mind and body as often as con-
venient without injury to our
selves or those having claims
upon us. For by SO doing we
prolong our lives, drive out the
clouds of dependency and let in
the sunshine Of life which makes
home happy and dispels the ter
rors of a treadmill life.
Notice, if you please, two men
n the same calling of life. One
will go to his days work with a
smiling face and a happy mien;
the other will look like he walked
the floor all night and in his ef-
forts to keep the baby quiet
stuck a tack in his foot. One
will have a howdy a pleasant
word and a hearty handshakt
for every man he meets; thu
other will look like he has beer
eating green persimmons ano
would like to pucker the mouth
Of every man he meets by COM
pelling him to eat one also. One
will be pleasant to his employees
or employer, as the case may be,
and if an opportunity offers, help
them with their burden; the other
will find fault with everything
that is done, bemoan his luck
and secretly envy his associates.
One will fly to the door at the
sound OF a passing band and
hold up the children to see the
sights; the other will wish the
band in hades for disturbing him
and line out the boys in a few
chosen sentences for being "stuck
on a band"
Say, Brother, which part OF this
treadmill is your life? Ii you are
OF the first mentioned, the tread
mill Of life" is your pleasure. In
it you find peace and happiness.
Envy, discord or dissension is no
part or parcel of your being.
But you thank your Heavenly
Father for having cast your
lines in such pleasant places.
You carry a happy smile to your
family, a little candy to your
children, and an honest kiss te
their mother. But if you are the
other kind of a fellow, God pity
you, for your life surely is
treadmill. and the longer you
pursue it the more vinegar you
inject into it, until you finally be-
come immune against flies, ants
or other pesky things to such an
extent that when you come to
die nature will be reversed and
the worms give you the go-by-
but remember, ''f1esh and blood
cannot enter the kingdom of
heaven. Life to you is q blank,