Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-02-23
From the Christian Advocate and Journal.
Cracked Paths.

A brother at class-meeting, in illustrating his
experience, mentioned the following simple Incl
dent connected with his youthful days:
''I was sent one morning across field, just
after light snow had fallen, and after walking
a short distance chanced to look back, and was
surprised to see what a crooked path my tracks
were making on the snow, and all my efforts to
walk in a straighter line seemed unavailing.-
Presently nv attention was attracted to tree
that stood just ahead, and by keeping that steady
in view, found my path grew straighter; and
when again looked back, l was pleased to no.
tice how straight path my feet had made.'
While listening to his-little incident the wri-
ter could not help but think how many men
make crooked paths in their attempt to cross the
great field of human life, with no well defined
path marked out, and no prominent object in
view.
The man who is aspiring to reach the golded
mines of worldly wealth, and does not keep the
object of his search continually before his mind
but allows his attention to be diverted by some
passing pleasure, or steps aside to drink from
some silvery stream, or seek some shorter road,
will surely fail, and looking back will find that
he has made crooked path.
The anxious seeker after earthly hOnors and
empty fame, must keep the wished for prize in
view, and press steadily forward with dctermin-
alton to surmount every obstacle, and permit no
consideration, good or bad, to turn him from
the point where all his hopes are centred, and if
he does not look back himself, the world in looking
on will say that he had made crook ed path.
The man who has wish for wealth or honor
only as the means of making the stream of life
more smooth, but is still looking for
happiness in this present life, and has not
fixed his affections on the only source from which
true happiness has ever flowed, may run after
the hattering phantom of promised peace, and
with childish glee grasp at the gilded toys pre-
sented BY the deceitful hand of unallowed pleas
ure, and be oft enchanted by the siren song of
some ftfu false enjoyment, and succeed perhaps
in gaining all the goods that earth can give, and
yet will find ere long that his life has run to waste
he has made crooked path. and has failed to
reach the haven of final happiness. ..s
And so in all the varied pursuits of life, sue
cess depends upon carefully keeping in view the
towering tree, or ovcrhanglng cliff, that marks
the spot where We may expect to find the oiect of
our search. 'f "a y
Those that are seeking :" city that is out of
sight,'' must keep the star of hope in view that
guides them to its gate, or they will make crook
ed path, and never reach the peaceful place.
The preacher that strives to please his people by
endeavoring to conform to all their whims, and
allows himself to be annoyed by the frown, or
elated by the smile. Of every would or
so far for-ets the aim and object of his mission,
as to seek for personal popularity rather than the
year is ended that he has made a very crooked
path. .a.. r".-.s .t..f
The class leader that INDUCES in the man fear
ing or man. pleasing spirit, and refrains from re-
proving when circumstances requirc it. or ad-
wise when advice is needed, making it his study
to please the members of his class, rather than
his God, and does not seek at first to be himself
made holy, and use all his efforts to lead his
class in wisdom's pleasant ways and
peaceful paths, will find, that though he
should become popular leader, he has gained
his popularity by sacrificing his own peace of
mind and has made Il sadly crooked path.
The Christian in the more private walks of
life who does not at all times watch and prav
looking forward to the prize, which lies at the
end of the race, and upward to the source from
whence all blessings flow, and by a firm reliance
on the Foudner of his faith, press forward to the
mark, will find that when he takes a RETROSPECT
tive view of life, that he has made a crooked
path.
We all ought to watch we'll our wavs and see
to it that we are faithfully following in the
strait and narrow road, the only one that leads to
God; and then when lifes brief day is passed land
the dark shades of death surround us, we NAV
safely take our flight into the spirit word, with
the assurance that we shall lard on the fair fields
of Eden, where crooked paths are never known.
QUASsIC.