Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/158

 land, amid  suffering  and  affliction  and  a  hard struggle for  existence,  you  miss  the  kind  parents  who  have  been  long  sleeping  in  the  grave remember that  even  then  you  are  not  an orphan. Has not  Christ  Himself  taught  us to  pray:  Our  Father,  Who  art  in  heaven?

In this  world  the  sons  of  men Are beloved  by  parents  twain; God is  one  alone,  yet  when Parents forsake,  He  will  remain

S a  young  man,  enjoying  life,  you  be hold  the  future  spread  out  before you clad  in  roseate  hues. "What you  ardently desire  for  yourself  and  what  your  parents  and spiritual  directors  desire  for  you  from  the  bottom of  their  hearts,  is  that  good  fortune,  happiness, and  well-being  may  perpetually  encompass  your path.  But  will  these  wishes  be  accomplished, will  the  sun  of  prosperity  perpetually  shine  upon you,  will  the  blessing  of  God  accompany  you  in all  your  ways?  What  a  joy  it  would  be  for you,  could  all  these  questions  be  answered  in  the affirmative,  and  a  pledge,  a  surety  be  given  you for  all  this!

Well, it  is  possible  for  you  to  enjoy  this  satisfaction! God himself  has  given  you,  in  the fourth commandment,  a  certain  pledge  of  happiness and  blessing. "Honor thy  father  and mother  as  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  commanded thee,  that  thou  mayest  live  a  long  time,  and  it may  be  well  with  thee  in  the  land,  which  the Lord  thy  God  will  give  thee"  (Deut.  v.  16).