The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-18
MOUNTAIN TOP MOMENTS.
Spiritual Uplift for Those Who Dare As.
cend the Heights.

Breathes there man or woman with
soul so dead as not to find now and then
an instant or an hour of transport and
of exultation?
We plod along the dusty road for
many weary leagues, but at last we come
to cool, deep spring under the trees and
find restoration there. We keep Office
hours grimly week after week, observ-
ing terms and rules Of self denial for
the sake Of getting the work done, and
then there comes some brief, blest in
terlude OF peace and rest for which we
give thanks. We dwell in the lowlands
a long time, destitute of the inspiration
of a far look abroad into promised lands.
Then one day comes the chance to
climb. We 90 to the top Of the noun.
tain at whose base we have dwelt so
long and new world seems to sweep
into our ken. When we descend to our
valley again we are changed. We carry
forever in our hearts what we have seen
and through the dusty silenees our
hearts are singing
We cannot live at all times on the
heights. The intervals Of joyfulness are
fugitive. But to save our souls we must
lay hold upon them when and where we
can. We must not let ourselves be "con-
quered by these headlong days" We
must keep faith with what the quaint
old poet called the bright shoots of ever.
lastingness" that pervade our being, At
moments the least among us feels i'm.
mortal. We know that we 60 from this
place and cannot hope to be remembered
long We are aware that our name,
like snow upon the desert, is ephemeral.
Nevertheless, we strive valantly in the
days eye or in some quiet sequestration,
where none comes, to do the work, how
ever small and simple be the task, that
we were set on earth to do.
And while we are at work much more
than if in a lazy leisure we waited the
coming, there shine in upon us and sur
prise us aspects Of beauty and Of solace
that refuse to be put by. We dreaded
the day for what the day might bring,
and 10, there came into II some exceed.
ing loneliness we could not have expect.
ed. 1t might be such a thing as a clus.
ter Of roses put on our desk by the hand
and the thought Of friend 1t might
be letter that gave us the lift that we
needed by its remarkable comparison for
our problem and our point of view. 1t
might be the strong handeasp at the
instant that we faltered and the voice
that bade us perseyere when we grew
faint.
It is often at the times of greatest de.
preston that the fullness of strength
and comfort comes TO us. The spiritual
ebb tide seemed so low that it could go
no lower. After hard season, or an ex-
hausting session, that put the capstone
on the climax Of fatigue and despond.
ency, we felt that we were "all in" and
might as well sink on the spot and wait
the end. Then came that heavenly Wis
ion bidding us arise to renewal of the
effort. What we felt we could not do
for ourselves we now consent to do for
the sake of those, and always chiefly
of one, dependent on us We must make
the attempt for them. We do not be-
long to ourselves; we are not our own to
give away or to throw away.
Therefore, by all the leverage of the
inspiration that comes from anywhere at
any time, we must live life out to its
uttermost, not for selfish enjoyment,
but for the rare satisfaction that comes
of satisfying another. By what we give
away and not by what we keep we are
enriched. Whatever irradiations from
on high at any time have come to us,
were meant not only for lamp to our
own paths, but for the light of all the
world Philadelphia Public Ledger.