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Also winters were something like winters； and summers not at all the
wretched…things we get put off with nowadays。 As for the wonderful deeds
people did in those times and the extraordinary events that happened； it
takes three strong men to believe half of them。
I like to hear one of the old boys telling all about it to a party of
youngsters who he knows cannot contradict him。 It is odd if； after awhile；
he doesn't swear that the moon shone every night when he was a boy； and
that tossing mad bulls in a blanket was the favorite sport at his school。
It always has been and always will be the same。 The old folk of our
grandfathers' young days sang a song bearing exactly the same burden；
and the young folk of to…day will drone out precisely similar nonsense for
the aggravation of the next generation。 〃Oh； give me back the good old
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
days of fifty years ago；〃 has been the cry ever since Adam's fifty…first
birthday。 Take up the literature of 1835； and you will find the poets and
novelists asking for the same impossible gift as did the German
Minnesingers long before them and the old Norse Saga writers long before
that。 And for the same thing sighed the early prophets and the philosophers
of ancient Greece。 From all accounts； the world has been getting worse
and worse ever since it was created。 All I can say is that it must have been
a remarkably delightful place when it was first opened to the public； for it
is very pleasant even now if you only keep as much as possible in the
sunshine and take the rain good…temperedly。
Yet there is no gainsaying but that it must have been somewhat
sweeter in that dewy morning of creation； when it was young and fresh；
when the feet of the tramping millions had not trodden its grass to dust；
nor the din of the myriad cities chased the silence forever away。 Life must
have been noble and solemn to those free…footed； loose…robed fathers of
the human race； walking hand in hand with God under the great sky。 They
lived in sunkissed tents amid the lowing herds。 They took their simple
wants from the loving hand of Nature。 They toiled and talked and thought；
and the great earth rolled around in stillness； not yet laden with trouble and
wrong。
Those days are past now。 The quiet childhood of Humanity； spent in
the far…off forest glades and by the murmuring rivers； is gone forever； and
human life is deepening down to manhood amid tumult； doubt； and hope。
Its age of restful peace is past。 It has its work to finish and must hasten on。
What that work may bewhat this world's share is in the great designwe
know not； though our unconscious hands are helping to accomplish it。
Like the tiny coral insect working deep under the dark waters； we strive
and struggle each for our own little ends； nor dream of the vast fabric we
are building up for God。
Let us have done with vain regrets and longings for the days that never
will be ours again。 Our work lies in front； not behind us； and 〃Forward！〃 is
our motto。 Let us not sit with folded hands； gazing upon the past as if it
were the building； it is but the foundation。 Let us not waste heart and life
thinking of what might have been and forgetting the may be that lies
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
before us。 Opportunities flit by while we sit regretting the chances we
have lost； and the happiness that comes to us we heed not； because of the
happiness that is gone。
Years ago； when I used to wander of an evening from the fireside to
the pleasant land of fairy…tales； I met a doughty knight and true。 Many
dangers had he overcome； in many lands had been； and all men knew him
for a brave and well…tried knight； and one that knew not fear； except；
maybe； upon such seasons when even a brave man might feel afraid and
yet not be ashamed。 Now； as this knight one day was pricking wearily
along a toilsome road； his heart misgave him and was sore within him
because of the trouble of the way。 Rocks； dark and of a monstrous size；
hung high above his head； and like enough it seemed unto the knight that
they should fall and he lie low beneath them。 Chasms there were on either
side； and darksome caves wherein fierce robbers lived； and dragons； very
terrible； whose jaws dripped blood。 And upon the road there hung a
darkness as of night。 So it came over that good knight that he would no
more press forward； but seek another road； less grievously beset with
difficulty unto his gentle steed。 But when in haste he turned and looked
behind； much marveled our brave knight； for lo！ of all the way that he had
ridden there was naught for eye to see； but at his horse's heels there
yawned a mighty gulf； whereof no man might ever spy the bottom； so
deep was that same gulf。 Then when Sir Ghelent saw that of going back
there was none； he prayed to good Saint Cuthbert； and setting spurs into
his steed rode forward bravely and most joyously。 And naught harmed
him。
There is no returning on the road of life。 The frail bridge of time on
which we tread sinks back into eternity at every step we take。 The past is
gone from us forever。 It is gathered in and garnered。 It belongs to us no
more。 No single word can ever be unspoken； no single step retraced。
Therefore it beseems us as true knights to prick on bravely； not idly weep
because we cannot now recall。
A new life begins for us with every second。 Let us go forward joyously
to meet it。 We must press on whether we will or no； and we shall walk
better with our eyes before us than with them ever cast behind。
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THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW。
A friend came to me the other day and urged me very eloquently to
learn some wonderful system by which you never forgot anything。 I don't
know why he was so eager on the subject； unless it be that I occasionally
borrow an umbrella and have a knack of coming out； in the middle of a
game of whist； with a mild 〃Lor！ I've been thinking all along that clubs
were trumps。〃 I declined the suggestion； however； in spite of the
advantages he so attractively set forth。 I have no wish to remember
everything。 There are many things in most men's lives that had better be
forgotten。 There is that time； many years ago； when we did not act quite as
honorably； quite as uprightly； as we perhaps should have donethat
unfortunate deviation from the path of strict probity we once committed；
and in which； more unfortunate still； we were found outthat act of folly；
of meanness； of wrong。 Ah； well！ we paid the penalty； suffered the
maddening hours of vain remorse； the hot agony of shame； the scorn；
perhaps； of those we loved。 Let us forget。 Oh； Father Time； lift with your
kindly hands those bitter memories from off our overburdened hearts； for
griefs are ever coming to us with the coming hours； and our little strength
is only as the day。
Not that the past should be buried。 The music of life would be mute if
the chords of memory were snapped asunder。 It is but the poisonous weeds；
not the flowers； that we should root out from the garden of Mnemosyne。
Do you remember Dickens' 〃Haunted Man〃how he prayed for
forgetfulness； and how； when his prayer was answered； he prayed for
memory once more？ We do not want all the ghosts laid。 It is only the
haggard； cruel…eyed specters that we flee from。 Let the gentle； kindly
phantoms haunt us as they will； we are not afraid of them。
Ah me！ the world grows very full of ghosts as we grow older。 We need
not seek in dismal church…yards nor sleep in moated granges to see the
shadowy faces and hear the rustling of their garments in the night。 Every
house； every room； every creaking chair has its own particular ghost。 They
haunt the empty c