The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-27

was lying on the doorstep dead. Yet
anne mad not found among all Ter
faVorites man more worthy of her
notice. But his life was gone out IN
gloom and no praise could bring nin
JOY. And SO 1 thought within myselt
That although Pluck must win at Ia5t,
yet surely Luck must lind the place,
and many men ana women walk IN
narrow ways who have in them the
spirit of the great and need but 10
nnd the broader field and the more
expanded usefulness.
There are some whom ill-fortune
seems to have chosen for it's pets. All
their best efforts, their well-laid plans,
are turned to naught; their carefully
worked-out inventions are patented ny
others; their books are sold under
another's copyright; their work is Iai1
out upon anothers field; they have
planned and butt editices in when
other men must 1--we; their songs are
sung, and their plays are played 10
thousands, while they wander, home
less, In the streets.
Sometimes Fortune tweaks a man
with a multiplicity Of minor details.
If he buys horse, the next day he
finds hlm spawned or lame; the To-
connective kills his mules and his cows
get into the mire; the man that sold
him shingles for his house cheated
him with an inferior article, and now
the old "rat-trap" leaks in a dozen
places, his crop is a failure, or cotton
is down to five cents and he is obliged
to SELL his children are deaf and
dumb, or his wife is an Invalid. or
if through greater misfortune still he
has none of these things for Fortune
to play her freaks upon, then his very
personality comes into her ken, and
she deals numerically with him thus
Although he buys the latest styles
his clothes never fit nor look we'll IN
his person after he has worn them
day. His shoes turn UP at the toes
or run down at the heels; the prevail
ing style of collar or color of tie is
sure not to suit his complexion; and
all these little things annoy his life.
Or perhaps lie is SO poor that none
of these things concern him and he
never drops his bread on the buttered
side, simply because these is no but
tered side to it. Then Fortune shows
him a thousand ways in which he
might win her favor with only the eX-
penditure of a few dollars. But the
few dollars are not forthcoming, and
although his arms and hands are
strong, and his frame is knit like
Steel and his brain is vigorous, ana
trained by necessity, still there is 10
mint where these may be turned into
money, and another takes the coveteIi
prize.
This same Fortune is a tickle jade.
a tantalizng, reckless myth, castiag
her gifts often upon the undeservng
and her frowns upon those who de-
serve them less. And many a life
passed from the cradle to the grave
without a single smile or caress from
her, with no silver spoon, no golden
horseshoe, no gift of the gods to turn
her frowns into smiles and wrest IA
yor from her unwilling hands.
God pity them all, and pity each
life in which Pluck and Luck arc di-
vorced Pity all those who are 50
cast down by ill-fortune that they
dare not raise their eyes or their
hearts with a wish they hope to have
fulfilled. or lift their heads in expect
ant joy In whom the bowed spirit
and the thoughtful attitude and the
look cast upon the ground betoken
hardships and toll, labor and self-sac-
rifice and unrewarded care.
Who, speaking for these, shall tell
the bittern ess of their Thanksgiving
days? Lo! follow them as they wend
their way to home without cheer, ana
hearths where small fire burns, AMI
tables barred to merest necessity. Do
YOU wonder that they would rather
work and get the days wages than
play at Keeping holiday? All surely
with your Thanksgiving cheer must
come a wholesome memory of these
who have so little to be thankful for
and surely, too, that memory should
not be spasmodic or exercised only
en- holiday. but lasting through all the
DAYS of the year, should brighten the
road for the burden-bearer till mis-
heart be touched with cheer.
MRS. T. w. COSTEN, ] r.
Gainesville, N. c.