The Washington herald., 1907-06-19
THE OPTIMIST.
Children are the keys Of Paradise

Children are the keys of Paradise
They alone are good and wise
Hccause their thoughts their very bres are pTsysr
So writes r. II stoddard In his "The
Children's Prayer" and the thought has
come tc the Optimist how little, now
adays, We seem TO consider the children.
There was a year or two ago. some at
tcntion paid to the subject )wing to the
fact that our strenuous Prelident talked
about race suicide. and dwell, upon the
duty Of all good citizens 10 iear children
and add thus to the materia wealth OF
the nation; but somehow he subject
seemed distasteful to the women Of the
country. and anything which oes not in
terest them stands a mighty por chance
Of enduring long.
The subject is intensely interesting Just
now, when, in an effort to soke one Of
the gravest Of our social problefs, we are
being flooded with books deang with
trial marriages, temporary divoces. and
kindred subjects Anything to rake the
lives Of the adult population moe bear
able, but nothing about the childen
In their very heIplessness, the afldren
appeal to every human heart. Thee may
be difficulty about raising sufcient
money 70 found a library. to es,bilsh
missions in Timbuctoo. or 10 bud
church, but an appeal FOR the frea-air
mission for children seldom goes unlard
And this Is as It should be. for o. all
the world there Is nothing that so dds
10 the sweetness and JOY Of life as ,he
captivating innocence and the musaI
pratue Of childhood.
We who have left behind as the no
cry fields Of childhood and have to fas
the stern battle Of life may always, if vi
choose, and If we are humble enough il
our own spirits and clean enough In ouI
hearts. renew those lost joys in the com
pany Of the little ones For
II there IS anything that win endure
The eye u God because 81 is still pure.
u is the spirit Of "a little child,
Fresh from Dis hand. and therefore undefled.
Nearer The gates Of Paradise than We.
Our children breathe its airs. its angels see:
And when they pray God hears their simple prayer
Yes. even sheatLs his sword in Judgment bare
OF all the cJres for rabid pessim.sm.
think the thought Of the happy laughter
Of children is the best and most effective
In the presence Of their wondr0us faith
their sublime trust. the dear. serious eye.
that look SO much deeper into fuJurit'
than our own. who Is there can doub
the livableness " life? la Bruyer,
wrotl once: Children think not Of wha
is past. nor what is 10 come. but enjol
the present time which few Of Us do
How true that is. and what a lesson VI
should learn from Il, a lesson that teach
es us 20 be content with the glories O
the present day. TO forget the bitter sor
rows Of the past, look confidently for
ward to what is 70 come
All Of us, consciously or not. shed
wonderful influence about the world; IN
/ influence Of our character. our words. on
thoughts. our actions. And the children
too. have their influence. all benefcent
sweet. and holy. We can avoid it II "
/ choose by holding ourselves aloof. II W
seek IL we have to be very patient, yer.
good. and in some degree worthy Of Il
But If from our heights or knowledge O
good and evil we stOop down. and ar
blessed enough to win the love and con
fdence Of n little child. we shall fin
mere Joys IN the world than We eve
dreamed Of. shall realize with all on
Z hearts that God is good, and shall fin
/ ourselves as near the gates Of heaven a
even the most optimistic mortal is per
mitted 20 be