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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



speedily rich, almost without effort ; whilst 

 many others toil through a lifetime, and die 

 in debt. All this is, at first view, a kind of 

 puzzle. But it admits of easy explana- 

 tion. 



If we watch narrowly the rich man and 

 the poor man, — the one who turns into gold 

 all he touches, whilst the other can hardly 

 realise copper, — we shall find an easy solu- 

 tion of the riddle in the consciences of the 

 two men ; and also in their respective capa- 

 cities. The one perhaps is speculative, bold, 

 and adventurous ; the other is timid, honest, 

 and industrious. The one flies, the other 

 creeps. "Nothing venture nothing have," 

 says the one. " I dare not go beyond my 

 means," says the other. That there is "a 

 crook in the lot" here below, we readily 

 allow. " Man is born to trouble, as the 

 sparks fly upwards ;" but do let us be 

 reasonable in tracing every thing to its 

 proper source. Half the " miracles" we 

 pretend to, are no miracles at all ; and we 

 dishonor our ever-glorious Creator in so 

 interpreting the work of His hands. 



We would not be misunderstood. Allow- 

 ing every thing we see to be wonderful, — it is 

 so, yet do all things work by a grand, 

 universal, undeviating law of Nature. From 

 the minutest seed put into the ground, and 

 its ultimate arrival at the perfection of its 

 race, to the upholding and guidance of the 

 universe, — all is the consequence of God 

 having said, — " Let it be so !" As regards 

 " the talents" given to man, surely they 

 were not meant to remain inactive, or to be 

 misapplied ! No doubt we shall have to 

 account for . the use we make of them. 

 Neither Destiny nor Fate will avail us 

 aught, as a plea for neglecting our enjoined 

 duties one towards the other. Whilst our 

 pen can write and our hand can hold it, so 

 long will we advocate this pure, sound, whole- 

 some doctrine. 



This is a very tempting subject to dilate 

 upon ; but as we are not going to preach a 

 sermon, we merely make a few general 

 remarks. We have lived long in the world ; 

 and perhaps few persons have watched more 

 narrowly than ourself the world in its varied 

 phases. We have noted the rise of many, also 

 the fall of many. We have seen how wealth 

 has been obtained, and have trembled ; also 

 how the industrious man has struggled, and 

 with difficulty been enabled to keep himself 

 alive. We have seen the contempt of the 

 rich for the poor. We have observed how 

 gold invariably makes its way in the world. 

 We have seen true worth in poverty, despised, 

 insulted, and derided, — yet " happy "under its 

 heaviest pressure. Our heart has frequently 

 sought and found refuge here ; and triumphed 

 in beholding the reward of virtue, — a peace- 

 able conscience, and patient spirit, — submis- 



sion, resignation, and hope. With such 

 good people let us ever dwell ! 



One word more. Our correspondent says, 

 — " Do you not think that many a man and 

 woman bring about their own destiny ? " 

 Most assuredly they do ; and this proves 

 the force of our argument. If a man will 

 drink, — knowing the effect of the poison on 

 his body and mind, he maps out and accom- 

 plishes his own destiny. He destroys himself 

 knowingly, and persuades himself that he can<- 

 not help what he does ! This is a very common 

 creed — a very easy doctrine ! 



As regards the position of certain feeble 

 women, who fall a prey to the wicked 

 artifices of designing men, we would fain 

 say a word about their " destiny." It will be 

 retorted on us, that they also " map out and 

 accomplish their own destiny." True, — most 

 true. But if the affluent of their own sex 

 could see what we have seen and do see, what 

 we have known and do know of their misery, 

 anguish, and sufferings ; their bodily and 

 mental degradation, -surely their adamantine 

 hearts would not be so brutally callous as 

 they now are to what calls so loudly for pity 

 and alleviation. We say alleviation; for a very 

 slight effort, if the will be present, would 

 rescue many a sister from the destruction 

 both of body and soul. We marvel exceed- 

 ingly at the rocky hearts of women ; with 

 scarcely an exception, all remorselessly turn 

 away from even a would-be repentant sister 

 who would regain her pristine estate. Happy 

 is it for them — we speak it solemnly — that 

 they never were placed in the way of similar 

 temptation ; else would they, beyond all 

 doubt, have "done likewise." 



" To err is human ; to forgive divine." 



It is never too late to reflect upon our 

 neglected opportunities ; and we would fain 

 hope that the sore evils we now deplore may 

 be inquired into, and, where practicable, 

 remedied. One single act of Christian charity 

 thus bestowed, would place a woman in her 

 proper character ; we should in her behold 



" An angel of mercy." 



Let us not plead in vain for what ought to be 

 part of woman's mission. 



With regard to Fate ; let us add that we 

 believe " Conduct" to be Fate. If analysed 

 carefully, this will be found a true position. 

 Whether as regards a good man or a bad man, 

 the axiom holds good. Contact is, for good 

 or evil, that which decides a man's "fate." 

 If we keep good company, we shall inevi- 

 tably be happy; if not rich. If, on the 

 contrary, we associate with people of loose 

 opinions and lax habits of virtue, the issue 

 cannot be doubtful. We may become rich, 

 and what the world calls prosperous; but 

 " happy," never ! 



An honest conscience, a smiling counte- 



