LEAVES OF GOLD XXV POSSESSIONS FOR RUTH. .

VAINGLORY- A LITTLE WHILE AGO I STOOD BY THE GRAVE OF THE OLD NAPOLEON- A MAGNIFICENT TOMB OF GILT AND GOLD, FIT ALMOST FOR A DEAD DEITY AND GAZED UPON THE  SARCOPHAGUS  OF RARE AND NAMELESS MARBLE, WHERE REST AT LAST THE ASHES OF THAT RESTLESS MAN. I LEANED  OVER THE BALUSTRADE AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE CAREER OF THE GREATEST SOLDIER  OF THE MODERN WORLD. I SAW HIM WALKING UPON THE BANKS OF THE SEINE, CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, I SAW HIM AT TOULON- I SAW HIM PUTTING DOWN THE MOB IN THE STREETS OF PARIS--I SAW HIM AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY IN ITALY--I SAW HIM CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF LODI WITH TRICOLOR IN HIS HAND-- I SAW HIM IN EGYPT IN THE SHADOWS OF THE PYRAMIDS-- I SAW HIM CONQUER THE ALPS AND MINGLE THE EAGLE OF FRANCE WITH THE EAGLES OF THE CRAGS. I SAW HIM AT MARENGO-- AT ULM AND AUSTERLITZ. I SAW HIM IN RUSSIA, WHERE THE INFANTRY OF THE SNOW AND THE VALVERY OF THE WILD BLASS SCATTERED HIS LEGIONS LIKE WINTER'S WITHERED LEAVES. I SAW HIM AT LEIPSIC IN DEFEAT AND DISASTER--- DRIVEN BACK UPON PARIS--- LIKE A WILD BEAST-- BANISHED TO ELBA. I SAW HIM  ESCAPE AND RETAKE AN EMPIRE BY THE FORCE OF HIS GENIUS. I SAW HIM UPON THE FRIGHTFUL FIELD OF WATERLOO, WHERE CHANCE AND FATE COMBINED TO WRECK THE FORTUNES OF THEIR FORMER KING. AND I SAW HIM AT ST. HELENA, WITH HIS HANDS CROSSED BEHIND HIM, GAZING OUT UPON  THE SAD SOLEMN SEA.
 I THOUGHT OF THE ORPHANS AND WIDOWS HE HAD MADE-- OF THE TEARS THAT HAD BEEN SHED FOR HIS GLORY-- AND OF THE ONLY WOMAN WHO EVER LOVED HIM.  AND PUSHED FROM HIS HEART BY THE COLD HAND OF AMBITION. AND I SAID I WOULD RATHER BE A FRENCH PEASANT AND WEAR WORN WOODEN SHOES. I WOULD OF RATHER HAVE LIVED IN A HUT WITH A VINE GROWING OVER THE DOOR, AND THE GRAPES GROWING PURPLE IN THE KISSES OF THE AUTUMN SUN. I WOULD RATHER HAVE BEEN THAT POOR PEASANT WITH MY LOVING WIFE BY MY SIDE, KNITTING AS THE DAY DIED OUT OF THE SKY-- WITH MY CHILDREN SITTING UPON MY KNEES AND THEIR ARMS ABOUT ME. I WOULD HAVE RATHER BEEN THAT MAN AND GONE DOWN TO THE TONGUE--LESS SILENCE OF THE DREAMLESS DUST, THAN TO HAVE BEEN THAT IMPERIAL IMPERSONATION OF FORCE AND MURDER, KNOWN AS "NAPOLEON THE GREAT."  ROBERT G. INGERSOLL.

MARTIN- LUTHER USED TO SAY EACH ONE NEEDED A THREE- FOLD CONVERSION, THAT OF HIS HEART, HIS HEAD AND HIS POCKET-BOOK. WE NEED TO FEEL THAT EVERY. DOLLAR IN OUR KEEPING BELONGS TO GOD AND MUST BE USED TO FURTHER THE INTEREST OF HIS KINGDOM. SOMEONE HAS SAID THAT THE BOOK WITH THE SEVEN SEALS THAT NO ONE COULD OPEN WAS THE POCKET BOOK.  THE GREATEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR GOD AND YOURSELF TODAY, IS TO CONSECRATE EVERYTHING TO THE LORD.

 WHEN GOD SHUTS A DOOR HE OPENS A WINDOW.

THE TRUE CALLING OF A CHRISTIAN IS NOT TO DO EXTRAORDINARY WAY-DEAN STANLEY.

 HITCHHIKERS: IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED IN THE WORLD, YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES AS YOU GO ON. THE MAN WHO WAITS FOR SOME SEVENTH WAVE TO TOSS HIM ON DRY LAND WILL FIND THE SEVENTH WAVE WILL FIND THE SEVENTH WAVE IS A LONG TIME COMING. YOU CAN COMMIT NO GREATER FOLLY THAN TO SIT BY ROADSIDE UNTIL SOME WITH  WEALTH  COMES ALONG . AND INVITES YOU TO  RIDE WITH HIM.