Essayist.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 40, 30 December 1893, Page 3

Essayist.

IS LIFE WORTH LIVING >

(By “ WiLL-o’-THE-Wisr.”)

“ Is life worth living ?” asks of me, in all seriousness, a youth in perfect health, well educated, and clever. It was true a great trouble had j ust come to him. In his first misery he had turned for comfort to one upon whom, in former years, he had heaped man}benefits. . A cold stare, a shrug of the shoulders, and a few murmured words about making the best of it, constituted the sympathy he received. Poor lad, he had yet to learn that sympathy is to be found —in the dictionary, and nowhere else. But, my friend, although on your life you may meet with much base ingratitude, though many times you may be jostled and pushed aside in the race for bread, yet, while youth remains, do not despair. If friends fail you, turn to Nature ; think of the words of Antoninus —“ Whatever the seasons bear shall be joyful fruit to me, 0, Nature; from thee are all things, in thee they subsist, to thee they return.” With the blue sky above one, the fresh air around, the green fields to walk in, the music of flowing waters, singing- birds, and the voice of the wind in the trees to listen to —with all these, yes, surely, it is well to live. You are “ so poor,” you say. Poo ! What of that ? If your possessions be few so ought your cares

to be. Does not the sun shine for you as well as for the rich man ? Are not the flowers as beautiful and fragrant to you as to him ? You are poor, and have known great sorrow. "Why, on account of these very reasons you have a glorious opportunity of rising up and showing your strength. If you can overcome the pain that has just now been inflicted upon you, you will all the rest of your life be the stronger for it. Elmes says, “To bear pain decently is a good sign of inward strength, and an undoubted proof of a great mind.” It is not the smooth, clear path that forms the great man, but more frequently the difficulties that he encounters, in overcoming which he increases the strength of his will —the , power to do—-without which no man can he great. “But,”'again you say, “life is so short, would the end he worth the means ?” Trite, ks someone says, there is so much trouble in coming into the world and" in going out of it, that it is barely worth while to be here at all; but as you are here, is it not as well to accept the inevitable, and make the best of it ? Ah, my friend, though at present you are poor in this world’s goods, you have youth and health and a clear conscience three possessions which kings might well envy yon. Imagine to yourself that you had committed a great crime, and were a wanderer on the face of the earth trying to elude justice; that yon were haunted by a terrible and never-dying remorse. Think you, if while you were in that condition of torment, someone came to yon and said — “ Your peace of mind will be restored to you, but the price of this is that you are to live, to live on, poor, neglected, and unknown” think you that you would refuse P Perhaps you say—“ It would be easier to die.” Of course it would. When trouble comes the coward thinks of dying, but the brave man lives on. Yes, a still conscience is the nearest approach to real happiness that mortals can know. It is truly “ A peace above all earthly dignities.” Youth .and health and a quiet conscience ! Why, my T friend* you are rich—richer, far, than many' millionaires. Prize your youth while yon may —all too soon it will slip away from yon. Cherish health as a glorious blessing, and strive to keep your conscience clear, and .you will find that life is indeed worth living. Look around yon at suffering humanity, and see how many are struggling wearily on without the blessings which you possess. Where you see someone trembling beneath a burden which is too much for his strength, lend him a helping hand, and you will find your own sorrow grow lighter. A smi \p here, a kindly word there, give these when y-ou can, and yon will be welcome as the sunshine to the poor and weary ; then your life will have been worth living, not only to yon, but to others. "Where’er a single slave doth pine, Where’er one man may help another — Thank Heaven for such a birthright, browser— That spot of earth is thine and mine ! There is. the true man’s birthplace grand. His is a -world-wide fatherland !