Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-03-23
EXTRACT.
BY REV. T.. PEoBoDy.

go abroad in some great city, in the night. Be
hold before you. Brightly shines the lights in that
stately mansion, where pleasure has collected her vota-
ries. The dance-the song are there, and gay vol
ces, and exultant hearts, and fair features, that grow
fairer in the excitement, and all goes merry as The mar
rage bell. And. most natural and fitting is II that the
hearts OF the young should glow with vivid pleasure in
the whirling and dazzling scene. But here IL but part
of the scene. At this very moment--within sight of
the brilliant windows-within the sound Of the rejoic
ing music, sits in her dreary room, n widowed
mother and TO her frame consumption has
bro't its feebleness, and to her check its flush,
and TO her eye It's unnatural light. Her chill
dren sleep around her-and one that ever stlrs
with the low meanings Of disease, slumbers
i%itfully in the cradle at her feet. Her debili.
tated frame Graves rest; yet by the light Of a
solitary lamp she still plies her needle that
her children may have bread on the morrow.
And while she labors through the lonely
hours, her sinking frame admonishes her that
this resource will soon fail them, and she be
called away and leave her children alone
And while her heart swelIs with anguish, the
sound of rejoicing comes on the wind TO her
silent chamber. Not one of all that gay cir
Gle whose eyes will not close before hers this
night One by one the wheels that bear
them to their homes, ~depart-thc sounds Of
mirth and pleasure grow silent in the mid
night hours-the lights Of the brilliant man
sion are extlnguishcd but still from her
chamber shines her solitary lamp. The dy-
ing mother must toll and watch.
All this in substance might have been seen
before Christianity, in Athens or Rome. But
there is something more which may be seen
every day in a Christian city. And it shows
how Christianity has modified all social rcIa-
tions-softcning the pride of the higi-mak-
ing those tempted TO daily selEinduIgence,
self forgetful-and giving hopes, as high as
heaven. to those that set IN the darkest place
Of the earth.
With the morning, and brighter than lis
footsteps upon the mountains, behold one not
Of that gay throng-ln the bloom OF youth and
fitted ia be the idol and envy Of gilded draw
ing rooms, has left her home-she has enter
ed the narrow lane, and opened the door Of
that obscure chamber. She has gone to set
with this poor widow, to carry her needed aid,
to watch for her over her iretful child, to speak
sweet words Of human sympathy. Blessed is
she who can thus forget herself, and find her
highest happiness IN carrying happiness TO
those who SIT unfrended and alone. And the
heart Of the lonely mother is warmed by her
coming, for blessed to the desolate is the fresh
sympathy Of the young and happy! She is
no longer alone. They have a commo hope.
They can bend together before the same Fa-
ther, they read the same gospel, they visit the
cross together, and together watch at the
tomb on the morning Of the resurrection.
And when she is again left in her lonely
chamber she is not alone. As her yisltcr re-
tires, grateful thoughts Of human sympathies
linger behind, like sunset in the air. The
sense Of Gods kind providence rests on her
soul. To her faith, the distant are brought
near, and the dead alive, and await her com
ing to a better land. Her mind goes forward
TO the future. She rises above the clouds
Serenely shines the sun. Gently falls the love
Of God on her heart. Sitting amid trials and
darkness, and the ruin Of earthly prospects,