The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-06-24
A Mans Trust

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No man at any time has the right to act as tho
he we're alone upon the earth. There is the pat
ernal fal or the fraternal or the social relation
always to be considered. At all times man or
woman child or an event is depending upon
his fidelity, question awaits his answer, duty
wants the firm application of his hand, voice cries
and expects not its own echo but his prompt re-
spouse. A man cannot bar himself in from all in
trusion as long as his sense of obligation lives.
He can rest and fold his hands and close his eyes,
but importunate duty cannot it will be hammering
at his door.
There is probably no satisfaction in life like
that of having done ones best. Probably"-for
altho one man has been to the North Pole and an
other has been to the South Pole, and one has
made Russians and Japanese stop fighting and
other has invented wireless teegraphy, and one has
'bossed the job" of building canal and another
has given us the talking machine, no man has ever
done his best. The best is undoable But man
can at least stay where he put and mind his
ders and not let go; he at least tell the truth
and play fair and not bear false witness and not let
jelous and false imaginings run away with him.
Humankind forgives humankind every other
sin but that of being faithless to trust. Themost
men guilty of treason tho their faults lay eighteen
centuries apart In the twentieth century Phil
adelphia editor is sent to Jail for comparing another
man to one of them. Their names are byword
and Kissing for gross aggravation of offenses
that and you commit every day of our lives. We
play false mostof the time-but only the inward
mentor finds us out, and so pass for being Writ
uous worthy of FL gun salutes for our goodness
and our greatness
A man who has been unfaithfu to his trust,
little or large, is persued and tormented by the
memory of it, he drags his defalcation about with
him like ball chained to his foot. Were it not
better TO put into reformation the energy that is
given to lamentations Yet let him not persuade
himself that what he has done is little thing.
Each friendship is pledge, contract, duplicating
man more deeply to be just and honorable and
generous in every dealing. 1t is an obligation
joyfully assumed, and value received is greater
than value given. But are bound to be true
not to that friend alone but in all directions. The
small, mean man saves up the most amiable part of
his nature for those whom he thinks he can use to
advantage. He bestows only where he is sure of
getting back. He is polite for consideration,
and his apparent kindness is inspired. To such
man it never will be given to know what a friend
means and what it is to keep the faith in friendship
Nothing in that way will be expected of him. He
is seen and read and mistrusted.
For their sake sanctify myself" He who
said that knew we'll enough what mans trust is.
He knew that human nature requires rather more
than an impersonal incentive to do good and be
good. He knew that man will desire to leave
the legacy of a spotless name to work harder for
his family than himself, and his children. He knew
that man is often restrained from an ignobe deed
by the thought of those whom it would grieve,
whose faith in human nature would be weakened if
he fell.-Selected.
Sane, Sound Advice