LIFE'S DEEPER MEANINGS. 23
get it," he said, "for that's what I was put into this
world for—to eke out a living. These hands were
made to feed this mouth." Alas, how many there are
to whom life seems nothing more than hands and
mouth ! With drooped head they go through this
earth believing themselves predestined victims to
"Necessity's sharp pinch." In vain does the bright
blue sky arch itself over their heads. They see only
the dark and sombre shades of life. Life to them is
drudgery- They seem to endure rather than enjoy
life. Like Atlas, they carry constantly upon their
bending shoulders the weight of a world enveloped in
cloud. But very recently I listened to an essay, read
from this very platform—a doleful essay—written in
cold, brown prose, and ending thus: "For life is a
burden imposed upon us by God." That which gave
peculiar significance to the statement was the fact that
the author of it is a member of the senior class, soon
to go forth and assume leadership among the people.
It is unnecessary to say that such a creed radically
unfits one for leadership. Nor will it bear the test of
reason, observation, or experience. " During all his
ministry," says an eminent author, "Jesus was fight¬
ing ideas of life which were false." Surely none
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