The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-05-17

So said an old man Of fourscore wears. as
he walked over the possessions of rich and
Younger brother. The walls of that great
house were hung with giLdcd paper. and ev-
ervwhrrc the decorations of gold and sill
yer made the house seem Ike palace The
old man moved along IN sicnce-now paused
before mirrors. now before paintings rare
and rich; his oll-f,>hioned shoes sinking un-
easily into the velvet carprts-hut a, last he
turned round with his placid face a-rlow. as
he whispered in tender manner. "hold them
J loosely, hrother-holi them loosely"
The old mans words were full of wisdom
in :he ich: Of etc. nifty were they spoken
tor he had seen the utter vanity of earth
and of the things thereof He had been poor
reared in poverty. nurturrd in poverty
continued in poverty heart a, large
as the world, vet lacking the means 10 seattle.
blessings As hr would. because of his drartl
of gold. His li'rlr brother had in his earl,
years been AS child to HIN. Most earnest
" did he labor that the orphan might know
no want: man, a meal he denied himself
that the mothcrlr>> boy might not 90 hungry
and it almost broke his heart. when. a. h,
approached the pale Of manhood he wan
dcrrd from his sheItrriny care, aud went a
wav to distant lands,
Many years passed and mi>fortu"es crowd
ed upon the elder brother. Wifi, and chill
drcn died and LEFT him weary but patien,
pilgrim, TO travel on alone.
There came no tilins> of his charge a
las '" he sud. Robert has forgotten God and
me" and he prayed for him daily On. still
on. travelled time : rohhinc him Of his man
J. "raccS: dmminc his sight and la,ing the
>,lvrry tlnt, up,n ms brown hair: an. ~h.r
he was getting ready 70 depart there came
'n HIM news OF Roberts return. O. how
that heart laden with fonr>corc wears. scared
with the sorrows of po,r pilgrim, tate .an,!
Sad'itncd ty sense of neglect and dcsola
ton. lraped aGain 1t seemed As If the Wig
or of his youth flowed like molten fire thro
his sluggish veins, and filled them nich to
bursting.
lie camc-the boy of his love- his care, a
man vet Young. though bearing the sears Of
the worldly struggle. He came. rich man
ready 70 repay fourfold. as far as worldly
goods could do So, the sacrifices of his aged
brother.
II" built himself magnificent house, to
crafty his fancy. The rooms were spacious.
the halls wide and of noble proportions, the
furniture >nmptuonS. and for the first time
he was taking The Old man. his brother, fro m
place to place TO place. that he might admire
and be pleased with them N last tlrv came
to one apartment, before which the Younger
brother turned as if about to speak. hut re-
>'ra'ning hlm~elt cautiously, opened the door
and watched the old man As he entered. |,
was htrd up with plain old fashioned furni
lure; there was no carpet on the floor. thrr,
were rude beams overhead Six straight
backed, antique chairs stood against the wall
together with table Of venerable oak. Ar
o!d fashioned b'aut,f was set in one corner
a sampler. very much faded and enclosed r
black frame, hung between the windows
and an arm char whose aye was over hun
drcI years occupied a nook by the fireplace
he Old man stood IN silence for moment
then rcvrrcntIv took off his hat. His thi,
lips were qniverin-. largo tears stood IN hl
dim blue eyes, which ever and anon he shut
as II ma>terIn" some strong emotion. The,
he bent forwardand restin. his cla>ped hand
on the old char back. he murmured. I'm,
mother; and there came up a sob from th
depths OF his aged heart: his head fell upo,
his bands. and he wept like a child
1t was very touching To see the few ora,
hairs flutter on his tenn les-and still more
as the bale and vicorou, brother folded hi
arms about that bowed down form, nnrmar
ing. IL must take care OF non uow This
your room. Many miles have ! trs:,!.d (,
gather together the scattered furniture tha
was SO dear to US in the old homestead. Stran
gers have sat here often since she died, bu
nevertheless it is mothers chair Wclcom,
home, my brother"
1t Is long since the old man went to his bet
ter rest, hut his words still sound in our ears
'hod them loosely, brother" and we bav,
been tempted, how often, to excIaim. whe,
behoidlng those to whom God has given urea
gifts or lovely possessions-"holdt them loose
ly, brother"
lou who have wealth-who never knew
the canker that eats up the very heart wher
the body is overtAskrd, and yet the hare
wearing and labor brings no: even food o.
noush for the hungry little chlldren-hold
that wealth loosely 1t is not yours. A breath
may dissolve it; the swapping of one slender
cord may send you to the shadows that lie o.
yer the graveyard. 1t is Gods wcalth-bold
1t with open fingers scatter it as you go,and
make many heart sing for JOY. Don't
grasp it so eagerly; it is treacherous it will
mock you at the last it will not 20 one step
beyond the world with you; nay, it will even
lavish blessings and caresses on those who
have made your path thorny with curses : j,
will stand in its real form at the bar of ;udo-
ment, and sneer at you for the love you bore
it,
''Hold it loosely" and you shall meet YOUR
Create with smile Make it your god.
aud in that day the true, great and terrible
DEITY will not recompense you.
Mother, with your blooming children
"hold them loosely ly"-sreat man. with your
gifts and your honors, hold them loosely bn,