The Washington herald., 1908-04-11
THE OPTIMIST.

an sign for four pound ten month and save the
money clear,
An' am in charge q the lower deck. an never
lose a steer,
An bslisTs in Almighty Cod an preach His
Gospel here.
] suppose most OF US remember that
verse from Kipling's poems. 'Muihol-
lands Contract'-a strange contract by
the terms Of which, Mulholland. caring
for crazy steers on a cattle steamer,
agreed in time OF danger that il the
Lord gets him to port alive that
/ woald ezais His name.
An praise His Holy Majesty tili further orders came
II was not an unprecedented contract
indeed, Jacob fleeing from the wrath OF
Esau. and having a vision, awoke and
made something OF this same sort of
contract. not only agreeing to accept the
Lord. but setting up stone as a sign
that Gods house should be erected there,
and that one-tenth OF all he made should
be dedicated to Gods use.
But to return to Mulholland. There is
probably no calling at which man may
earn a livelihood more dangerous. fuller
of great risk, and less pleasant than
that of caring for cattle on the crazy
steamers that carry Americas surplus
beef TO Europe. The Opumist has some
slight personal knowledge of the matter.
and it is. perhaps. when man goes
through such experiences as Mu-holland' S
that he learns the value and sanity OF
the optimistic outlook on life.
Mulholland had an inclination 10 re-
Igion. and he thought that this would
mpel him 10 leave his trade and preach
ashore:
wanted 70 preach religion. hands0m6, an out q
tbs wet.
But he came TO see. that his real work
lay where it had always lain, among the
cattle and the cattismen on Gods high
seas; and the value OF the lesson he
learned lies IN the fact that it empha-
sizes for all of as the duty OF serving
God through the work we do. Indeed.
doubt much whether there is any other
way TO serve Him or to win to happl-
ness. or 10 secure that fine contentment
which allows US a hopeful and optimistic
forward look on life.
Prayer. after all. Is valuable only 10
ourselves. The best prayers are those
own strife. our own endeavor, our own
work. You remember what KipIing said:
It seems TO be that when we pray Grant this
dag Shat We ran into hind Ct danger" We ought
10 lay oaT stress oa the "nin' rather than on the
danger 20 ask God hot 70 take away the danger
ty altering the c1ar5s q nature, but 70 give us
light and guidance whereby 20 avoid it.
To run out OF danger. to lead our
selves away from temptation, 10 work
out our own salvation are the
duties that the members Of the optimistic
brotherhood viii be quick TO recognize.
Most OF the sadness. the bitterness
the disappointment Of this life comes
because Of neglect Of work; either be
cause a man has no work 10 dO-a con-
dition which may chance both to the
rich and the unfOTtunate-Or. having il
to do. he does not give his heart-the
best Of himself, into IT, AS Holland
wrote:
So long nan has vitality TO spaTe upon
Work, it must be used. o. il viii become a source
q griey0us. harsSsing discorteut. A nan out q
work is dead man, even II he is the possess0i
of millions. The world walks straight ever him and
his memory. Drive az something so long as ths
band IS strong and STEADY and rot think % TGsi
this side Of the narrow bed. where the sleep vii
be too deep for dreams. and the waking viii open
into infinite leisure.
I can agree with Holland ia all except
his last few words To the man who does
his work on earth proudly, feeling him
self a weapon in Gods hands for the
betterment Of the universe, the idea OF
a heaven Of absolute leisure is likely t.
have little appeal. There has always
been In the unenlightened Eiind a low
of idleness, tendency 10 regard Il as
a stamp Of aristocracy. a desire to dele
gate labor To the lower and the weaker.
and 70 brand it with the stigma Of in
feriority and contempt, But as Dean
Farrar said
Our Lord wished g shoE that labor IS e purz
and noble thing. il is The salt 4 life. il is hs
Eirile of manliness il saves the body from ef
femnato lanuor. and the soul from .p3ilutins
thoughts. And. therefore, Christ lahored, workin,
with His oEn hands and fashioned yokes aus
pl0ws for those Who needed them