He thought of the Australian gold and
how those who lived among it had never seen it though it abounded
all around them: "Here is gold everywhere," he exclaimed inwardly, "to
those who look for it." Might not his opportunity be close upon him if
he looked carefully enough at his immediate surroundings? What was his
position? He had lost all. Could he not turn his having lost all
into an opportunity? Might he not, if he too sought the strength of
the Lord, find, like St. Paul, that it was perfected in weakness?
He had nothing more to lose; money, friends, character, all were
gone for a very long time if not for ever; but there was something
else also that had taken its flight along with these. I mean the
fear of that which man could do unto him. Cantabit vacuus. Who could
hurt him more than he had been hurt already? Let him but be able to
earn his bread, and he knew of nothing which he dared not venture if
it would make the world a happier place for those who were young and
lovable. Herein he found so much comfort that he almost wished he
had lost his reputation even more completely -for he saw that it was
like a man's life which may be found of them that lose it and lost
of them that would find it.
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