Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1915 — Guard the Door [ARTICLE]

Guard the Door

Did you ever examine the door of a safe in which money and valuables are kept?

Did you notice what heavy bolts It has, what an intricate lock, and how thick the door itself is? There Is no need to ask "why” such a door is so 3-rongly constructed, for we all know it is to safeguard the money, to keep out thieves. There is always a watchman beside the door to see t’at no thief even tries to break it open, yet every little while ,-e read of a bank robbery, of a large safe being blown open and the robbers making off with the money found therein. J The watchman has failed in his duty. He has been careless or has yielded once too often to the'temptation to take a little nap.

Have you ever thought that we are all watchmen at the doors of our own hearts and minds? We are; and it is these doors that we must keep closed against certain thieves that are constantly trying to break in and steal our self-respect > • Sometimes we are lucky enough to see such a thief coming, and then we are able to close the door well against him. At other times they take us unawares and break in before we have an opportunity to even think of precaution.

One of the most violent thieves is Anger. He eomes with a frown on his brow; his lips quiver; his face is pale and fierce looking; he carries some deadly weapon in his hand, and is sure to do ns infinite harm. Our souls will be hurt, our hearts bruised; not oly we, but our friends, too, will suffer from a visit of Anger, if we should be caught napping and he breaks through the door of our lives.

rride is another thief of self-respect He comes with a haughty mien; he looks down upon everything and everybody; anything is good enough for him, yet he will come to rob us of ou# charity toward others, of the loving kindness that is r part of every normal human being. Everyone is made unhappy when m Temper breaks through out safeguard. He it is who brings ns enemies, where we had made friends. HI Temper will the entire household, will separate families, will break hearts and wreck lives if he is allowed to rob us of our naturally sweet dispositions. A thief that comes to us clothed In fine raiment, who flaunts his clothes in onr faces for us to admire and who is one of the most insidious of the tribe, is Vanity. Keep him out if you cun, for he will surely bring you to tears If he breaks in.' The most miserable of all the thieves, the one that causes us wretchedness and woe, is Sloth. Guard the door of your life well against Sloth, for if he once breaks in he will yawn the hours away in idleness and bring yon to rags and ruin in the end.

From all these thieves we most protect our lives; but there is one visitor that we should all welcome with open arms and hearts. He comes to us quietly, unobtrusively, without fuss or the sound of trumpets, but his face wears a sweet ■mite and sweet thoughts illumine his countenance. His name Is Love. He yiii make ns happy. We most open the door to him; we must give him a rnrHili welcome and jnake him our honored guest. Treat him wfell, that he may remain with us forever. The door of our ears, of our eyes, of our lips and ourhearta must be kept closed to all things evil, and opened wide to all things good. Lore th** fa pure is the very essence of good; therefore take Love Into your hearts, jour lives, and keep *J*sh tin**- .