154
Wait foii the Fkuit.
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sociatcd, they arc but co-workers in the
strife, ambling him who possesses them
to pluy his part with great power ami in
fluence in the drama of life. One of the
greatest moving powers implanted in the
human breast is the desire for wealth.
Many choose a vocation simply because
they think it is most subservient to their
interests. Some demand an assurance of
the full lealizationof their hopes, before
they nre willing to enter into the work.
But how mistaken ! How absurd would it
be for the farmer to idle away the spring
simply because he could not demand the
harvest before the sowing. The wise far
mer goes forth in the spring time, sowing
diligently, not knowing what the harvest
shall be. Of course, he expects the har
vest, but knowing that the sowing pre
cedes the fruit, he scatters the seed, tills
the soil, and reaps the grain, as it ripens
in due course of time. The future is
veiled from sight. Who of mankind
can tell the end from the beginning,
or foretell the harvest before the plant
ing? Then let us enter into the work with a
will and determination. Let us reflect for
a moment. We are members of the great
unman iamiiy. we Jioiu a place ot no
small moment in the nllhirs of the world.
If we take the wrong road, or sail with
an adverse wind, we will surely enter the
wrong port. Then it behooves us to look
before we leap. There may be danger
ahead. Look first for the right path, and
then travel it. But, on the other hand, it
will not do to pause upon the brink of
liie's ocean, thinking that your current
has not yet appeared, and allow your al
lotted years to roll away before the jour
ney is begun ; for if you do, old age and
hoary hair will find 3-011 as far from the
goal as youth and childhood.
But when once you have made the
choice, labor on faithfully ami cheerfully;
never wearying because the fruits are not
at once apparent, ever keeping before
your minds the suggestive and telling les
sou of our subject.
How many discontented persons do we
find in the busy walks of life. Nothing
suits them. They are perfectly uneasy.
Carried along by every breeze that blows,
nlwaj's turning the wrong corner, they
seem to be burdened by their very cxis
tence. If we could be shuttled some
where in the immensity of space, and look
upon the earth for a single revolution, I
fear that our minds would meet with
world is nothing but babble," seem to use
very little discretion in their babbling.
They prattle and gossip when they should
be most sober and discreet, and rice versa.
If one in all sincerity and soberness of
feeling asks them for advice, or the can
did expression of their opinion, they will
as likely as not answer him with raillery,
and jest. It is not long since that I asked
a gentleman in all candor, his opinion
with regard to a certain matter that was
troubling me somewhat. His opinion
was given in the words of old Mrs. Means
in the "Hoosier Schoolmaster;" "Gila
plenty while yer a-gitting, that's altis my
advice." He laughed lightly at this, and
I would have been less than a gentleman,
had I not laughed, too, but I confess that
I did not greatly relish the pleasantry.
There are times with everybody, when a
joke or pleasantry is not at all in harmo.
ny with their feelings; when nothing but
sound, practical talk will please. In every
body's nature there is, as Solomon says,
"A time to weep and a lime to laugh; a
time to mourn and a time to dance," and
any sort of conversation not in keeping
with these times is inappropriate. Hence
it becomes a matter of great importance
with the conversationalist that he study
carefully the feelings of him whom he
would entertain.
Any remark that may oilend or wound
the feelings of another should be careful,
ly avoided in conversation. Brilliant
gibes often wound deep, and should bo
made with extreme caution. If a person
has lost a friend, or has met with some
untoward misfortune, be careful how
you approach the subject in his presence.
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