Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-02-24
The Rest Of the Soul.
"Retmn unto thy rest, O my som"


is oppressed with the aCearjness Of living.
" hs, profit hath man Of all his labor which
he taketh under the sun? Living. to m 81
who live earnestly, is rowing boat hard up-
stream; II is full ot excitement IN stimulus
to the vigorous arm and determined eve.
There is joy in strife. and pride in overcoming.
But still, there are hours when the oar slack
ems and the arm is listirss. One does not
want for ever 10 contend with the mad race
Of waters. and longs to put out of the current
into sume que: cove where sunbe ms glitter
in golden rings, and overhanging trees make
green shadows and sot whsperIugs-it longs
for rest
There are such internal sheltered hooks and
shadowy dells, breezy and fragrant with rest
ful images in almost every soul-some place
to retreat into ioi quiet thoughts. Is il not
so. my friend: You are a mother. perhaps.
with more than Martha's care. numbered with
much serving. The arranging and h rmun.
izing of family. the meeting conflicting
Claims. the endless work of compromising and
pe"ce-makng among young and vigorous " ills
the guiding inexperienced servants. and enter.
tanning guests, aud withal. the heavy anxiety
TO train Alright that which never dies; these
of necessity off bring WEAKNESS, and there are
times when you are sick OF all together But
perhaps sleei ing in the era lie is a yous.
beautiful creature. over VIII IN, rs yet, sin or
sorrow has no power, ever sweet and good,
y and loving, and when every thing else is
wearisome your thoughts rrpns. thpr"; your
heart, like The dove lhA, found n rest for lie
s'e OF her foot, folds its wings aud is at peace
in that cradle.
Waiter Scott has beautiful passage in
Kenilwolth, where lie describes The ambitious
l. 'icestcr distinguished and weary with the
game Of ambition. turning palIed and sick
from all his schemes. ald twining around his
finger n fair tress Of his y'u1g wife's golden
hair, reproaching himself that he had 50 slriv-
en- Tor things Of no value, WHEN in the love of
enc contiding heart he had something so
much purrr, more satisfying, sweeler, and
m re eauliluE
So too, the world of art. Of poetry, paint
inI. music, open u res; to the man who has
lune srlven with the ,tulli ties of ,ifr, and
made ahundantly good by his experience the
truth. "Ihat which is crooked cannot be madr
straight, and "that which is wanting cannot
be numbered" Then is he tired of tits un-
|
tired Of hypocricy. tired Of pile, tired alike
OF conser atism and of reform. and it is a res;
10 20 with Shakespeare into an ideal world of
men and women, or with NJ ,zart into dream.
Land OF sound. or with Rubrns into ideal ~ of
co.ur. or with the old CIR, eks into aD> rnth
Of beautiful forms. ill his soul is rested
In America. our prosaic work-a-lay coun.
try, this rest can refresh but few; but MS "he
who hath no oblation choose h { 'ee, I" SO ev-
en- here, nature furnishes a ready aud beng-
nant provision. Sometimes one single flower,
tended and watered f,om day to day. in the
dwelling Of sickness and p verty, is rest from
Gaze, and bears healing under its leaves
HAppy they who live in the country; there is
rest for them in the springng of leaves, in The
green, sharp blades of grass in the glorious
sweep of the elm. and the pointing fingers oi
the spruce, in the flush Of the autumn maple
AID the glitter Of winter SHOWS.
Many worn heart has been rested by
these things, that never knew where res
came from.
But there come times when all these fail
the lock OF hair-the cradle hide them away
they speak only Of death and despair; the
dream-land Of SOUNDS has tones in it that arc
heart-wringing; painting has lost its color, and
natures bloom and beauty, her rene inrtfa
, BILE sweetness and composure pain us like the
Indifference of friend. Now for the souls
{ rest! Where is il? Has the Almighty
Father sent US here so orphaned that when
all else is gone We cannot find all in Him
{ and say. "Return unto thy REST. D my soulP
But there is meaning in that word return
D We cannot return TO place We have new
. er been to. This word return speaks Of old
familiarity and long experience; the dove
I came back to the ark: she had not the ark Il
e seek for the first time There is this SAVIOR o
r familiarity and long tried friendship. this con
! stani alusion TO an established intimacy
between the poet and his heavrny Friend
h that gives charm to the Psalms he is M
{ seeking rest unknown; heis returning TO on
well known and long tried,
/ Among the gr en- breezy hollows OF tn
n pasture land at Bethlehem, in early youth
!. this nvsable On". all beauty. all lovrness
" had unvai ed himself before his snul. He hat
= come TO him. not as Aerling. roetc vision
but as sober certainty Of waking bliss. II