Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-07-20

How dark this we#ld would be,
| If, when deceived M n wounded here,
We could not "a thee
The friends. who V sunshine live,
| When winter cs rc flown,
And he who has ytars 10 give,
Must weep thos sears slone.
\ But, Thou Wilt hct that broken heart,
Which, like the plant that flows
\ Their fragrance from the wounded part,
Breathes swect9css out Of woe.
Il
/ When Joy no Longer soothes or cheers,
And cen the hope that threw
A moments sparkle DER tears,
Is dimmed and vanish'd, too,
Oh, who would bear life's stormy doom,
Did not Thy wing of Love
| Come, brightly waiting through the gloom
! Our Peace branch from above?
Then, sorrow toucRd by Thee, grows bright
/ With more than hpture's ray
As darkness sho,os ss toorlds of light,
Ne nerer sac 6y Fay"
None, said MIS-. Adair, 'but those who
have had the sky pf their earthly affections
shrouded in darlness, can fully understand
the closing words Of this consolatory hymn.
Need | now answer your question: Whence
comes the light l'F There is an inner world,
Mrs. Endicott-afword full of light and Joy,
and cOnsolation-& world whose sky is never
darkened; whose sun is never hidden by
clouds. When We turn from all in this life
that we vainly trusted, and lift our eyes up
ward towards thekky, bending over our sad
spirits, an unexpected light breaks in upon US,
and we see new armament, glittering with
myrladS Of stars, whose light is fed from that
inner world wherB the sun shines forever un-
dimmed. Oh, no.t do not tread darkened
pathway, Mrs. Eng Aicott. There is light upon
it from the sun of heaven, and | am walking
forward-weary aktimes, it may be, but with
unwavering footsteps. [ have been tried,
sorely, it is true4I have suffered, oh how
deeply and yet | can say and do say-lt is
good for me that | vas afflicted. But meant
not to speak so much Of myself, and you must
forgive the intrusioa. Self, YOU know, is an
attractive theme. Fhave called this morning
to try and interest you in poor woman, who
lives next door TO met She is very i'll, and, |
am afraid, will die. She has two children,
almost babes-sweet little things-and, if the
mother is taken, they will be left without a
home or friend, unless God puts it into the
heart Of some one to gave them both. | have
been awake half the. night, thinking about
them, and debating the difficult question of
my duty in the case. ~Imight make room for
one of them
You !! Mrs. Endlcott interrupted her, in
voice Of unfeigned astpnishment. 'You!-
How can you give placeaa moment to such a
thought, broken down in health as you are,
and with five children Of your own clinging to
you for support 1t would be unjust to your
self and to them. Don't think of such
thing II
That makes the difficulty in the case, re-
piled Mrs. Adair. The spirit is willing, but
the flesh is weak. My heart is large enough
to take both Of them 5n; but l have not
strength to bear the added burden. And so l
have come around this morning to see if |
cannot awaken your interest. They are dear,
sweet children, and will carry sunshine and
blessing into any home that opens to receive
Them
\ But why, my friend, tsaid Mrs. Endcott,
do you, whose time is SO Precious-who have
cares, and interest, and a1Hieties of your own,
far more than enough for one poor, weak wom-
an to bear, burden yourself with a duty like
this? Leave the task to others more fitted for
the work.
There are but few who can rightly SYM
pathize with the mother and her babes and
am one Of the few. Ah my kind friend,
none but the mother, whos like me, has been
brought to the verge of eternity, can truly feel
for one in like circumstances. | have looked
at my own precious ones, jas felt the waves
of time sweeping my feet FROM their earthly
resting places ssudisu.AsRt Aiiiss tears as no an
swer came TO the earnest duesti0n-Who will
love them, who will careStor them when am
taken! You cannot knaw, Mrs. Endicott,
how profoundly thankful tb God am, that He
spares my life, and yet gives me strength to
do for my children. bless his name for this
tender mercy towards me, when lie down at
night and when | rise up in the morning.
bear every burden, endufe every pain cheer
fully, hopefully, even thankfully. 1t is be-
cause can understand the heart of this dying
mother, and feel for her ID her mortal extrem-
ity, that undertake herr cause You have
only one child, my friend4 and she is partly
grown ga babe in the house is well-spring
of pleasure" Is it notEso? Take one, or
even both Of these children, if the mother dies.
They are the little ones who are born upon
the earth, in order that they may become an
gels in Heaven. They are of Gods kingdom
and precious in His eyes. Nurture and raise
them up for Him. Cong! Oh, come with
me to the bedside of this dying mother. say to
her-"Give me your babes and will shelter
them in my heart" So doing, you will open
for yourself perennial fountain of delight.
The picture of that poor nnother's joyful face,
painted instantly by loves bright sunbeams on
your memory, will be source of pleasure,
lasting as eternity. Do nG neglect this gold
en- opportunity, nor leave other hands to gath