Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-01-03
Nlistellollcolis
STATIONS.

There's a station ahead we heard pret.
ty cir lisp the other day in the cars, and we
though. there was more in il han al first ap-
pcared, and some what leiSurly turned 1t oveT
IN our mind.
On the whole road Of life, from its starting
roint to It's end--irom the cradle 10 she tomb,
there are 'stalions,' though we pause but lit
lie al them The locomotive whlrlng on the
track OF life cannot be stayed. ln bFHZen let
tiers, is on lis dusHy side bears its name on
WARD, and well suslains il. No pause, no
stop, no hinderance, but ever swift az the
lightning it speeds towards The 'be all and
end alp Of lie. Fresh, perfect anil heauti!I
from the hands OF the Master Workman, i
starts il on its course and whirS swifl!
away; but over what ract, or what country
time alone can tell.
Two angles (Says an original proverb) are
the engineers; one 10 keep 1t safe and un'
broken, and lhe other 10 lure it 10 collision
and wreck and there are two braknen on
board, one called Sickness and the Other
Death! Swiftly il stars-thc heart bea!s high
with youth and health,th blood dances mer.
rily in The veins-like an unbrIdled couTser il
speeds away, away into the future.
But there is a station not far distant. One
tha, looms ever before The vision in day and
the hours when dreams have power. One
upon which we keep our eye fixed sieadily,
unswerving, and which we long TO reach
'Iong until the minutes seem hours, and the
hours years 1t is the golden station oi
TWENTY. oNE We near il (alas too soon,J the
whistle is sounded, the bell ung, and 10! even
as we reached it-it is going-past-gone for
ever Even more swiftly than we wished
its coming, il is lost in The distance and man.
no d throws is station light over the track
This lso is reached, even while we are look.
ing back upon the glcr Gus flag Of the one we
have PASSED, and the harsh scream Of The life
engine awakeS US from pleasant dream.--
Yet fain would we llnger here If we could. -
But the fire burns high--the wheels turn more
rapidly, and in the distance we behold, will
sinking hearts, the final station ol--the cheer
less tomb.
Way stations they are in The heart prosper
ity, sorrow, love, despair, all are dotted upoI
the Map OF your life road, serving perchaDct
10 supply more fuel 10 the already bright.
burning flame. But rocket-ike we pass then
her signal light fash like fire. flies in the gloon
and Re lost. A thought or two-a nlemor
and hope we may bea. with US, but that !
all that remains as We whlrl on, while th,
heart engine is beating rapidly.
And thus we pass iron The depot oi lie Il
lis final resting place little thinking perchanc'
we are SO rapidly rearngit But that SOM
heart engine Slows Tie brakes OF age nn
disease press heavily upon the wheel--:h
blood stream throbs less iorcbly rs il We wrr
near the end Of our journey. Slower AM
slower still We 90, until we scarcely move
Then O faint low whistle is heard the col
light of the station OF Death shine upon US
and we stop 1t is the last station Of earth
But there is another track beyond. Another
Yes, a track unendlng and ever begiunn
ever rolling or, engineered by Love and Re
ligion, but without brakemen, for these ar
useless there. Aye, there is station ahead
ever from the time of Cur starting and frof
the time OF our starting, and tho oil may no
reach rwenty-one,' or 'Nanhood,' or 'oh
Age,' yet the screaming heart-whiStie vii
truly tell them they have stopped at that o
Deaih Let The Angel that sets out 10 wee
when mlngnt comes; and The angel on ih
left have nought OF evil 10 record against us
So shall our life track be smooth and safe
and our hearts beat with joy and not with fea
when The life car neorS the station OF death
and switched Off into Eternity