The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-10-14
Miscellaneous,
The Valley of Tears,

peared to be dark valley which was called the val
ley ofTeNrs. It had Obtained this name, not only
account Of the many sorrowfu adventures which
poor travellers commonly met with in their journey
through it; but also because Of these travellers
entered il weeping and crying, and left in it very
grent pain and anguish This vast valley was full Of
people Of all colors, nga' sizos aud descriptions
But whether white black, tawny, all were lrav-
olIug the same road OF rather they taking dr'
forent little paths which all led TO the common
end
Now it was remarkable that Notwithstanding the
different compilations, ages and trmpers Of this vnst
variety of people, yet all rescmbed eNch other in this
one respect that each had burden on his back
which he destined TO carry hro' the toll and heat
Of the day. until he should arrive, Ivy longer shor,
ter course, at his journeys end, These burdens
would in general have made the pilgrimage quite IN
olerahle had not the lord ortln valley, ont Of his
great compositions for these poor pilgrims, provided
among other things, the following means for their
hcf;--
In their full view tho entrance Of the valley,
there written, in great letters orgod, the follow
ing words:
Bear ye one oqoibcr's bWr3cns.
Now I saw in my vision that many of the travel
ers hurried without stopping read this inscription,
and others, hoagh they had once read it, yet paid
little or no attention it, third sort thought it
very good advice for other people, but very seldom
applied it to themselves. They uniformly desired to
avail themselves OF tho assistance which by this in
junction others bound TO offer them, but seldom
considered that the obligation mutual, and that
reciprocal wants and reciprocal services formed
strong cord in the bond Of charity In short saw
that too many orthcsc people were !or opinion that
they had burdens enough of their own and that there
was therefore occasion TO take upon hcm those Of
others; so each tried to make his own load rs light
and his journey pleasant as no could, without
much casting thought upon poor over
loaded neghbor. Here, however, have to make n
rather singular remark, by which shall plainly show
the folly of those selfish people. II ordered
and contrved by the lord of this valley, that il any
stretched out his hand to tighten neighhors bur
den in fact no never failed to find that he that
mcn also lghtened his own. Besides the benefit of |
helping each other, mutual as the obligation |
II man helped his neighbor, it commonly happened |
that some other neighbor came by-and.by and helped
him in his turn; for there such thing MS what |
we called independence in the whole valley. Not |
ofal these travellers, however stout ard strong,
could move comfortably without assistance, for
the lord Of tho valley, whose laws oil Of them
kind and go'd, had expressly ordained.
stood still to watch the progress Of those poor
wayfarins people, who moved slowly on, like
ny ticket-porers with burdens Of various kinds on
their backs; Of which some were heavier, and some
were lighter, but from burden of one kind or other
not one traveller was entirely free. There might be
some difference in the degree, and distinction
In the nature, but exemption there
The TPid0w--A sorrowGu widow oppressed with
band, moved heavily on, and woud have been bow
ed down by her heavy load, had not the surviving
children with great aucriy stepped forward and sup
ported her. Their kindness after awhile, so much
gh,ened the load that threatened ri first to be inol-
cradle, that she went her way with cheerful
ness, and more than repaid their holp by applying
the strength she derived from it to their future ussis.
lance.
The HRs5Gn5.-I next saw poor Old man totter-
ing under burden heavy, that | expected him
every moment to sink under it. peepcd into his
pack, and it made up of many sad articles;
there poverty, oppression, sickness debt, and,
what made by,fr the heaviest part undural children
| was wondering how it that he got on even so
well as he did, till I spied his wife, II kind, meek,
christian woman, who doing her utmost to assist
him. She quietly go, behind, gently laid her shout
of it than appeared to when was distance
1t not the smallest part Of the benefit that she
anxious to conceal it. She not only sustained him
by her strength, but cbcereG him by her counsels
She told him, that sihrough much tribua,ion we
must enter into rests that che that ovorcometh shall
inherit all things. " In Short sho supported his
aIntng spirit that he enabled TO 'run with pa
thence the which was set before him.
The Kind yVtghbor.-An nfirm blind woman was :
creeping forward with very heavy burden, in which
were packed sickness and want, with numberless
olhor Of those materials, out of which human ! !
misery is worked up. She weak that she
could not have got at a had it been for the
kind assistance oranother woman almost as poor as
herself; who, though she had light burden of her
own, cheerfully lent helping hand to a fellow trav-
eler who was still more heavily laden. This friend
had little nothing to give, but tho very voice Of
kindness is soothing to the weary. And remarked
in many other cases, that it so much the de-
gree of the help afforded, the manner of helping
II ,bo had