The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-07-25
MeditdtiOns
F. s.
F.. S..

+. >.
To often the free and untram-
meled public does not wish to be
bored by the sincere meditations of
a fellow sufferer. 1t would detract
from the popular pleasures of
season, to turn aside as to
voice calling in the wilderness of de-
spair, and harken to the heartfelt
yearnings that cannot be expressed
nor yet concealed.
We are creatures of custom and
not of independent action. AS the
twig inclines, SO grows the tree.
The same cold inhuman indifference
is beautifully expressed in the
words of LOWELL
The draw-bridge dropped with a surley clang
And thro the dark arch a charger sprang.
Bearing Sir Launfaul. the maiden knight.
In his gilded mail. that famed so bright.
AS Sir Launfaul made morn thro the the dark
some gate,
He was ware of a leper, crouched by the same
Who begged with his hands and moaned as he
And loathing over Sir Launfaul came;
The sunshine went out of his soul with thrill
The flesh meath his armer gan shrink and
And midway its leap his heart stood still like
frozen waterfall:
For this man. so foul and bent of stature.
Rasped harshly against his dainty R)nature,
And seemed the one blot on the summer MORN
So he tossed him a piece of gold in scorn
The 1eper raised not the gold from the DUST
Better to me the poor mans crust.
Better the blessing of the poor,
Tho turn me empty from his door: :.
That is no true aims which the hand can hold;
He gives only the worthless gold
Who gives from sense OF duty;
But he who gives but slender mite,
And gives to that which is out of sight
That thread of the all-sustaining Beauty
Which runs thro all and doth all unite
The hand cannot clasp the whole of his aims.
The heart outstreaches its eager palms.
For a God goes with it and makes it stor e
To the soul that starving in dar kness
before.
Man follows leader, we are crea-
lures of impulse rather than of inde-
pendent action. We are actuated
by momentary sentiments and pre-
iudices and on these sentiments and
prejudices, like the sword of Damo-
cles. hangs the fate of many human
souls.
1t has been said, The quality OF
mercy is not strained" surely the
poet did not mean the mercy man
shows to his fellow man; this mercy
is a great deal strained. Man shows
mercy sparingly, grudgi n gly
niggardly, very much as they give
their money or-Justice.
The story is told of man who
lived in one of the western states
long ago, that quarreled with his
neie hbor, and as the feud aged the
breach extended until at last, having
contracted fever and believing his
end to be near at hand the unmerci
full man sent for his antagonist and
proposed a reconciliation. . nd e
the shadow of death, in the sick
room. in the presence of witnesses
these inveterate enemies made up
and buried the hatchet. The great
gulf of their hearts was broken up
and the flood of their compassion
poured fourth. As the reconcile 9
neighbors were about to part, th'
diving man raised and added as
last solemn covenant If I recove
this agreement is void" This show
mans mercies. The tender mercie
of the wicked are crue
How many of us realize the beaut.
and sacredness of love and mere.
who have not loved, and suffered, o
bow many, on reading that last sac
suffering of Christ in the garden, 81
beautifully portrayed in st. John
have not felt in common the beauti
full and awful suffering with tn
Savior? How many have from child
hood had as the star of your destiny
the goal of your happiness. hom
surrounded by all that makes lif'
beautiful, worthy and noble, an,
when that has been attained. hav
endeavored to live worthily befor
man and acceptably before God; bu