Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-29
SUNDAY MORNING TALK
BENEATH TIE SURFACE.

The other day we were watching
 some sonder boats racing close hauled in fresh west wind They leaned Tar
 over until lee rails were submerged
 and. in some cases water must nave come into the cockpit It certainly did
 look once Of twice as though the slend-
 CT craft would capstze. They're go- ing over this time sure" my friend, a stranger to the ocean. exclaimed as
 an extra heavy gust struck the neet
 and the masts careened over at a
 dangerous angle with the water.
 A few days later the man saw one
 of these yachts on the ways at a boat
 yard and understood why 1t had been
 able to stand up in half a gale. The
 in structure; but underneath was a
 deep fr-keel with an immense junk
 of lead on the bottom of 1t Hundreds
 OF pounds were carried out of sight
 beneath the surface and that was why
 the boat had kept steady; The btlow-
 ing sails could not pull that weight
 over, try as they might.
 A score of tlnss have thought of the parable when I have seen some man or woman stand firm in the midst of difffculties or temptations that threatened to conquer them How often circumstances arise that seem destined to overwhelm one, and against
 
 effective resistance But the over whelming is not certain to take place. One weathers a terrific blow, or with stands a teulptation: and the casual observer is at q loss to account for the fact. We would not be surprised, If we could know. as there is often no chance to know, the hidden ballast in that life that makes for steadiness and power.
 A man lands on our shores from the old country and immediately goes to work with hundreds of others. His companions may be careless spenders and reckless Hvers. Unlike them he saves his money, guards his health, and advances as a. wage earner. Prov- ! ing superior to- an unfavorabie envir- onment he begins to emerge from the mass as e useful and prosperous citi- zen What makes the difference? One | day a. benny wife and children arrive from the other side and the family circis is reunited. The ballast that kept the life craft steady is apparent. | A young man quits his absolute | companions and turns to work or to | study. The "bupch" get after him and I try to win him hack, but tc no purpose. He will not Fluff up' no matter how | the conyival wind may blow. Seeking the explanation of his conduct we may | find it In the prayers and hopes of a good mother. the encouragement of some teacher or friend, or perhaps the resolute declaration of a fine girl some- | where that she will never merry a
 man till he tries to amount to some- thing.
 | Here is a. woman in a. bitter sorrow. Friends marvel that she can continue on her way, do her daily work, and smile through tears It is a case where
 they cannot see the depths of life and behold the hidden belfast of mercy, of
 faith. and of hope that steadies it. When you observe a craft sailing close Unto the eyre of the wind you cam be
 sure that there is a good stout keel
 underneath. You may not see the hhope or the conviction that gives sta
 bility, but it is there
 I ere not to be counted on. They may I Do attractive and capable but they are I not dependable. Faithful four times l out Of i've, they may prove faithlcss
 on the fifth. Action with them is the
 result of whim rather than of princi. | pie. They are only light weather sail- I nrs.
 Give me, every day in the year. men I and women whose lives are controlled by great and hidden convictions. Such l are the only nnortals not to be bowled over in the winds of temptation or o1 sorrow. Joseph. in the Bible Sstory. iE lAssailed by temptatiop strong and sub tie at every point. Yet the assault ut terly fails. A hidden force in the young mari,s life Is too much for it .How can do this. great wickednes; | and sin against God?"
 fl Nehemiah lived in an age o3 graft I and. as governor, had opportunity II line izis pockets with the worst oi them. But there WAS moral ballast Il hidden ip his soul that kept him trus I and sent his name down the years 1T I undying honor. So did not becaust II of the fear of Cod,s he said
 Fl If you want to know how a boat Ii ! going to act in blow look not culs Il up at the rigging but down bereatf # the water line What thousands of U, tt need is not more cleverness or charr Il or external polish, or even more a1bil. ity but rnore conscience. To gzla<antes safe sailing on the seas of life a pound Of principle is worth several tons o parlor tricks.