Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1882 — GEMS OF THOUGHT. [ARTICLE]

GEMS OF THOUGHT.

It is a, manly act to forsake an error. Inclination and interest determine the will. The fire of vanity is fed by the fuel of flattery. Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul. Perseverance in the best school for manly virtue. Great truths are often said in the fewest words. Children have more need of models than of criticism. It is much easier to settle a point than to act on it. * What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. ■_ Poverty is in want of much, but avarice of everything. We are no longer happy so soon as we wish to be happier. Wit is a merchandise that is sold, but can never be bought. The winner is he who gives himself to his work body and soul. Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow from them. Great men and geniuses find their true places in times of great events. «, Troubles borrowed and stolen outnumber by far all others in the world. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. The reproaches of enemies should quicken us to duty, and not keep us from it.

On the neck of a young man sparkles no gem so gracious as enterprise. The virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is fortitude. Out in the world men show us two sides in their character; by their fireside only one. Action will not always bring happiness ; but there is no happiness with out action. • Clergymen consider this world only as a diligence in which they can travel to another. It is easy to look down on others; to look down on ourselves is a difficulty. A propensity to hope and joy is real riches, a propensity to fear and sorrow is real poverty. The best portion of a good man’s life is his little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. Every man desires to live long; but no man would be old. * Be silent and safe; silence never betrays you. An evil-speaker differs from an evildoer only in the want of opportunity. He who obeys with modesty, appears worthy some day or other being allowed to command. Never let your zeal outrun your charity; the former is but human, the latter is divine. I’ve never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them. He who comes up to his own idea of greatness must always have had a very low standard of it in his mind.

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done. If a man’s fortune does not fit him, it is like the shoe in the story; if too large it tips him up, if too small it p ; nches him. I believe that we cannot live better than in seeking to become better, nor more agreeably than having a clear, conscience. In life it is difficult to say who do you the most mischief, enemies with the worst intention or friends with the best. Every school boy and girl who has arrived at the age of reflection ought to know something of the history of the art of printing. A memory without blot or contamination is an exquisite treasure and an inexhaustible source of pure refreshment. The man of few words is not unfrequently the speaker to hold forth the longest. Those few words he never tires of repeating. If you are so poor that you can’t possibly find bread for your family, you had better give up searching and go to work for it. By doing good with his money, a man, as it were, stamps the image of God upon it, and malkes it pass current as the merchandise of heaveu. Study rather to fill your mind than your coffers, knowing that gold and silver were originally mingled with dirt, until avarice and ambition parted them. There seemeth to be a superfluity of books. But shall no more books be made? Aye, make good books, which, like the rod of Moses, shall devour the serpents of the enchanters. It must be kept in mind that Christianity is a new life in Christ. The secret of it is to be found in the personal relation of the soul to Christ, a Person.' In becoming Christians we yield ourselves completely to Him in sincere trust and obedience. And we are to become one with Him, in thought, in will, in sympathy, in desires and In work.