Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-05-18

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The Courage that Can Face Failure.
A few years ago a strong man felt
the approaches of lncipient disease,
and consulted his family physician
The doctor looked more grave than he
expected. and after several Office visits
suggested visit to a specialist. He
also looked grave, and the patient
said:
you needn't hesitate to tell me the
truth. What's the matter with me,
and what must | do to get betterT
you are not likely to be any bet
ter" replied the specialist. 81 can
only confirm what your own physician
has feared from the first. You have
only few months to live"
1t was a blow to stagger any man,
and most Of all a strong man.
1T can't be true, doctor" he said.
why, see how well l am except for
this little discomfort! / have always
been well. l have had so much health
l haven't known what to do with it.
You must be mistaken 20
But the silence of the physician told
him more than argument, and he sat
there with a sinking sensation as the
truth slowly forced itself upon him.
When he rose to go he turned faint
and reeled.
Sorry to trouble you So" he said, as
his strength came back "You see, it's
a total surprise. l don't know how I'm
going 10 adjust myself to 1t. | have
had all the nerve I've needed hitherto.
but | don't know how my courage will
hold out with nothing to hope for"
To face death calmly when life has
ebbed out and the pulse beats slow Is
not so remarkable test, but to feel
well and strong and yet know that
death Is inevitable Is quite another
matter To fight for life while hope Is
hanging in the balance is almost in
stinctive, and the struggle brings its
own supply of desperate courage; but
to wait calmly for death while full of
all the joys of living calls for courage
of another order.
His first thought was Of his family,
his next Of his Christian faith. He
said to himself, IF l have any religion
this Is the time when it ought to be
an asset" He began testing his faith
at new place, to see If 1t would bear
his weight.
1t held.
The test was not an easy one. There
were impulses of hot rebellion. There
were days when he doubted and cues
toned. But the comfort grew OF a
faith that believed that God still lived
and was good
The signs which the doctors had seen
were not long in showing their full
meaning. He had scant time to adjust
his business and set his house in order.
Then he lay down to die.
Courage to face a hopeless issue
that was what he prayed for. Faith to
be strong when love was at flood-tide
and the world looked beautiful and in
Viting-thls was what he sought.
He shut his eyes and looked In imag-
ination up and down the street. and
E'NNhANA " AAAhotAA the AEllNlIleS OF
his neighbors and friends, then opened
them again and saw the four walls.
and remembered that he was never to
move outside them. In the long wax
Ing hours of night his mind went by
leaps that seemed TO compass his whole
life in a single bound, and then came
back to the invarlable and inevitable
issue.
In those nights there was a verse
from one of the old prophets that ran
through and through his mind. 1t
sang Itself to the air Of cantata in
which ne had sung when a young man.
The first part had a tender melody
OF trust, the last strong and conf
dent movement, where the soprano
flowed In an even tone and the bass
rose with full and increasing volume:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee, because
he trusteth in thee. Trust We in the
Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah
Is everlasting strength"
He sang 1t through to himself a hun
dred times. A hundred? Yes. a mil
lion, it seemed to him, and it expressed
his growing calmness and rising faith.
He died at last, cut off in the midst
OF his years, mourned by multitude
Of friends. But his life, which had
been pure and strong, was crowned by
those closing weeks in which he not
only learned, but unconsciously taught.
the lesson Of faith that gives courage.
both for the fight that may be won. and
for the sorrow for which the only hone
lies in the life everlasting. Youths
Companion.
Church RufIt fran, One H.