Year: 1864

WIN senieu papers, nOl care W Aho" Ine Put'
OF our destination. There is a pleasant mys-
tery in floating about at random, and gliding
down unknown currents-our enjoyment
heightened meanwhile by the uncertainty as
to whittier they will lead us. II We think Of
the life voyage on sunshiny days, it is plea
sure trip, to be enjoyed as well as It may or
aS O trading voyage, to gather floating sea-
weed, barnacles, conch shells and wampun
all lawful currency in-exchange for brain,
and heart, and time or as an idle excursion
undertaken to kill time, to be accomplished
with the least care and thought. Then when
the clouds darken, and the rain falls heavily
about us-when the fierce winds sieze our
frail vessel in their grasp, and briny, bitter
waves threaten to engulph US In their depths
then we watch the pillows with melan-
choly pleasure, sadly hoping for the final
plunge, and think Of our dreary voyage as
hard necessity, from which it was pleasure
to be released on any terms. Very few OF
rs can breast the storm with fortitude. Very
few of US look out beyond the thick darkness
to the glimmer ofthe faint beacon light which
marks our goal. Or rather, very few Of us
steer for the beacon light at all, but go off in {
vague, aimless excursions, content with the
pleasure Of floating calmly Ola the waves.


What do we live fori Is II to glide easily
from birth to death-then to "die and make /.
NO sign" nor leave any beyond the fragile
stone which quickly crumbles beneath the
breath oftimef Jagged bricks are we, fitting
as loosely in ife's structure fragmentary
beings, made up Of doubts, and hopes, and
fears without earnest purpose; glorious pos
attainments. Life was given to US for pur-
pose-it is q stepping-stone to higher, more
glorious state Of being. It is our business
to fit ourselves for our transformation-to
keep up the sacred fire which is burning in
our hearts, and feed it plentifully with fra.
grant oils, that its aroma may be diHused
through all about us. The possibility Of q,
glorious life lies hidden in each human breast
1t Is the business Of each owner to unenrth
the gem, and to cut and polish it, that its
rays may sparkle in their purest bTilliancy.
The true end Of life is self-culture, progress
sion, perfection to develop and mature the
germs implanted in our natures. No one at
tains this end who does not do the best thing
in Life that he is capable Of. Talents were
never given TO men TINT they might bury
them in napkin. Every human being has
a speciality, Il 10 his business to improve il.
BE may not be an eagle, soaring over noun
tain cliffs, yet the sparrow gladdens as many
hearts in the valley az the eagle does in the
eyrie. The trouble is, that through indo-
leuee or difidence, we do not try our wingsi
or II we mount from the ground we fear to
lose sights Of Il, lestsome unknown sun may
dissolve our pinions, and cast US from our
piddy height. But no one ever yet attained
to eminence who did not loose sight of him.
self in gazing on his goal. The purpose must
swallow up the individual, else the individual
will swallow up the purpose, and stand dis;
crowned and alone in the midst Of desert,
aspiring to be king, yet without prospec-
tive kingdom. As regards our special work
in life, It is evident that ambition often takes
the place Of capability, and dazzles the un-
wary by glittering igt,is tatm. This does not
do the world much harm, for the lions skin
must ft closely to be worn gracefully; but
to the misguided victims it Is. source Of
great loss, Tor thereby their own work in life
is left undone and no other can do II TO!
them. -.r -gr ...s r.r {, --.z-s..E s.s..s'4'5


II we would do this in all integrity, we
must prove our own natures with skilful,
1unsparing hand, seeking the limit Of orr
highest capacity, and when found, press
earnestly on, nor stop till we attain it, taking
care, meanwhile, that we do not over-estimate
our own Abilities Life is larger thanmost
people think. Why be ambitious ! Why
not work calmly and earnestly toward the
right. We are but sands in the domain of
time. We can fill, at best, but a small corner
in our century. In is scarcely worth while
to be dazzled by the glare Of personal am
bition, when it must necessarily be SO neet-
ing. Yet the corner is a part Of the world,
and 1t is necessary to the general harmony
that it should be well filed. We lose sight
Of personal ambition, in the popular accep-
tation Of the term, when we look upon the
world in a broadlight. Wegrow into noble
ambition that looks for its motion to the de-
- A. onl ekrunorla t1nu ri
in our chosen vocation, forgetfu! of self, and
willing that the planet is rolled along by the
force Of our efforts. Yet, If We look narrow
1y into the matter, we find that it finally re-
solves itself into personal ambition OF noble
type. Reason teaches that the growth OF the
world must be accomplished by the growth OF
individuals, and that self-culture must ever
be the cornerstone Of our efforts. Thus we
work most truly for our century when we
work most truly for ourselves; cultiyating
and using our best capabilities, purifying our
lives from every unworthy thought or action,
and letting our precepts always follow our
examples. While we aim. at the reform Of
society, we must begin the reform in our own
hearts; while we mine for the resources oil
the age in which we live, we must first ex-
plore the veins in our own natures, and
while we hope for the final perfect develop.
ment of the human race, we must remember
that 1t will be delayed by just SO much as our
own is neglected. The present is all with
which we have to do as active agents. five
aspire to a glorious future for those who
shall come after US. it must be our noblest
ambition to pave the way for it by pure lives
and noble actions. "Do the duty that lies
nearest thee" seeking earnestly for more
light, act up to your Highest convictions Of
justice, love your ncighbor as yourself, look
TO no motive but the right, accept no guide
but truth, and so shall you attain to the true
end Of life. ..a--..f