Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-08-01
Darkest Hour Before Dawn.

Fully one-half of our troubles exist only
in the imagination; the other half is dou-
bled by imagination. Easy enough to say
more difficult to believe, when we are be-
set by troubles. All the same, it IS the
plain and honest truth. Many OF you as
you read this maybe in that state OF hope
less depression when it seems as though
nothing on earth can mend your shattered
hopes and affairs.
Many! No-rather, hope, you are
few. But in either case have the sad
knowledge that there are some of you,
my dear readers, who are suffering thus.
And to you am specially writing to re-
peat over and over again, "Never despair
never, never"
No healthy human being has ever yet
reached an utterly and entirely hopeless
state through the workings OF fate alone.
That is to say, through circumstances and
other people.
Always there has been some imagining
or action upon the part OF the sufferer
himself or herself.
But that is not really my point.
One of the trueSt sayings in all the
world is this, "It's always darkest before
dawn"
At the very moment you give up hope,
at that second when you abandoned your
self 10 despair, Fate, with good fortune
at her side, was probably within reach OF
you-quite close, though you could not
see her around the corner OF tomorrow.
This is not mere chatter, neither is il only
a suggestion.
The curious perversity of such things
has been proved thousands of times.
Who has not heard OF the man lost in the
wilds who tramped for days and nights
in logged persistence; and who, when
found dead, was within Kindred yards
of human habitation.
Who has not read OF the traveller in the
desert dying of thirst, who digs for water
and gives in when only few inches of
earth separates him from the precious
fluid ?
Haven't you ever experienced similar
wonders in your every day life Don't
you, who are now desperately fighting,
believe that there is hope2
If you do not, you absolutely and di-
rectly refuse to believe that there is any
beneficent power watching over you.
Never, never despair Despair is mad
ness. Fine hopes, ambition, energies,
industry, these are the sane, the clean,
and the good things.
Persistence. too ,and the dogged deter
mination that typifies the bulldog and is
supposed to characterize Bartish men and
women.
With these mankind wins in the battle
of life and must ever win. For-and ap-
ply these words with all your power-the
application of hope, ambition, energy and
determination means prayer, earnest and
sincere prayer.
You may not actually kneel, clasp your
hands and close your eyes. But your
heart and mind are concentrated upon
achieving good and worthy things, and
concentration is prayer.
Now remember, at this moment, If you
feel that the future is dead and blank with
Out any ray Of hope, you are not to de-
spair.
Keep on-cling on-vork and struggle
and fight on. You must win if you do;
there is nothing on earth that can stop
you and nothing in Heaven that will.
Fight on, never despairing The mo-
ment you give up hope, at that moment
you have cried to the enemy, al am de-
feated-come and kill me p
And he kills you with your own sword.