The Washington herald., 1907-11-21
THE OPTIMIST.

Besides thinking OF the immediate re-
wards Of right living. Of hopeful living
rewards which are certain. even as is
punishment for wrongdoing-there is an
other important thing that we should
bear in mind. and that Is, that as we are
living to-day, so shall our memories in
after years be good TO live with. or else
shall haunt us with the knowledge OF the
opportunities we have missed. the good
we might have done. but which we
neglected; the harm we did because we
strove not hard enough for the good.
II is very well for the poet to exclaim-
cannot but remember such things were.
That were most precious to me-
The trouble is that memory is apt 10
play strange pranks with US, and in
stead Of remembering the precious things.
our memories too often turn toward the
unpleasant episodes Of our lives. Il IS
as Goldsmith says
Remembrance wakes with all her busy train
SWels az my breast and turns the past 70 pain.
Nest important Is It, then. that we
should 50 1--we to-day that the memories
OF the years 20 come shall have in them
a larger share Of Joy than sorrow. Mem
ory is made up, not OF our dreams. but OF
the facts We have lived. the deeds We
have done: the things we have left un-
done. And whether the great sum be
for US or against us-and it very largely
depends upon Ourselves-we can never
dodge it or avoid IL. for 1t is true what
Thackeray said: You can't order re-
membranes out OF a mans mind"
Let US remember. with Thomas Fuller.
that Memory Is the treasure house OF
the mind, wherein the monuments thereof
are kept and preserved"
Luld in the countless chambers Of the brain
Our thoughts are lnkd by many a hidden chain.
Awake but one, and lo, what myriads rise.
Zach stamps rs image the other flies
II Is one strong virtue belonging 10 him
who lives the hopeful. optimistic life that
he learns by practice that II IS unhealth-
ful 10 dwell on the remembrance OF his
past failures They are so many. these
failures Of ours in life, that 10 think too
often OF them is necessarily Unheafthful.
He who is determined to march braveIy
forward on the road OF lie viii soon
learn 10 leave the burden Of his failures
behind him.
Hoy many times has opportunity
knocked and we have not harkened2 How
often has il been given Us 70 speak the
kindly. hopeful word and We have held
cOwardly back? How often we might
have alleviated suffering here. relieved
distress there, to-day set a fine example.
tomorrow have reached forth a helping
hand2 Have we not all prayed. Lord.
keep Us this day without sin." and yet
have succUmbed 70 temptation. have
given in 10 evil. and have gone 10 our
resting beds sinking. ashamed. and dis
heartened.
II does not do 20 dwell upon these
things. AS Stevenson advised shut
your memory down hard on your past
sins" Not what you have done but
what you mean 70 do-that IS what
counts. really. Sometimes il IS well, in
deed. 10 remember that
hsve room where unto no che enters
save ! mysen alone.
There sits a blessed memory on a throne.
There my life ccn,ers.
But let US see that that room IS swept
and garnished and kept clean and sweet
and beautiful
o memories,
o past that j.,
-NelAo4E lS A't 80 blalidLl ds nope. Dll
It is more beautiful, and thousand times
more true II We but dwell with the
memories Of our high hopes. our dreams
of youth, our strivings for the goal tow
ard which We have come. at least, a little
bit on the way. II we can but remember
the love that has been showered on US.
the tenderness that has hedged Us round.
the fine belief Of our friends which has
helred us so much on our way-then
memory Will prove 70 US one OF Gods
latest blessings and one OF the strong
est powers to help US 10 the end.
Al memories of sweet summer eves.
or moonlit wave and Filowy wsv
0f stars and aovers and dcyTy leaves
And smiles and tones more dear than they.