Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-05-19


cred leaves through all its desolate
chambers.
"What have I learned by looking
through this veil?" said Olivia TO him,
bitterly. one day when they were com
in3 out of house where they had been
visiting a mourning family. 81 was
trusting in God as an indulgent Father;
life seemed beautiful 10 me in the light
of his goodness; now l see only his in
flexible severity. l never knew before
how much mourning and sorrow there
had been even in this little villege.-
There is scarcely house where some
thing dreadful has not at some time hap
paned. How many families here have
been called to mourning since we have!
l have not taken up paper in which l
have not seen arecord Of two or three
accidental deaths; some Of them even
more bitter and cruel than what has be-
fallen Us. Tread this Of a poor washer
Goman, whose house was burned, and
all Ler children consumed, while she was
away working for Ter bread. l read
The other day Of bind man whose only
son was drowned in his very presence,
while he could 90 nothing 10 help him.
l was wishing yesterday that poor dress
maker whom you know. She has by
toll and pains been educating a fine du
tiful sen. He is smitten down with hope
less disease, while her idiot child, who
can do nobody any good, is spared
All. this mourning veil has indeed open
ed my eyes; but it has taught me to add
all the SORROWS of the world to my own;
and can l believe in Gods Icve?'
Daughter" said the old man. 81 am
not ignorant of these things. l have bu,
ried seven children; | have buried my
wife; and God has lain on me in my time
reproach, and controversy, and contempt
Each cross seemed, at the time, heavier
than the others. Each in lis day seemed
10 be what least could bear; and would
have cried, 'AnythiRg Jm MisF And
vet, now when look back, | cannot ses
one of these sorrows that has not beer
made a jov 10 me. With every one some
perversity or sin has been subdued, some
chain unbound, some good purpose per-
lected. God has taken my loved ones,
but he has given me love. He has Civ.
en- me the power of submission and con-
ISOLATION; and l have blessed Him many
times in my ministry for all l have suf.
fered, for by it l have stayed up many
that were ready to perish
"Ah," said Olivia, "you indeed have
reason to be comlorled, because you can
see in yourself the fruit of your sorrows;
but l am net improving; l am only crush
ed and darkened, not amended"
"Have patience with thyself, cLiId;
weeping must endure for a night; all
comes not at once. No trial for tile pres
ent seemeth joyous but 'gttera0ards it
yieldeih the peaceable fruil;'-have faith
in this otterp1rds Some one says that
it is not in The tempest one walks the
beach TO look for the treasures of wreck
ed ships; but when the storm is past we
find pearls and precious stones washed
ashore Are there not even now e-of
these in Your path? Is not the love be-
tween you and your husband deeper and
more intimate since this affliclien? Do
you otlove your own children more ten
derly? Did you not tell me that you
had thought on the sorrows of every
house in this village? Courage, my
child! that is & good sign. Once, as
J on read the papers, you thought moth
ing OF those who lest friends; now you no.
tice and feel. Take the SORROWS of 9TH
ers 10 your hearI; they shall widen and
deepen it. Ours is a religion OF sorrow.
The Captain Of our salvation was made
perfect through suffering; cur Father is
the God of all consolation; cur Teacher is
named The Comforter; and all other mys-
teries are swallowed up in the mystery
of the Divine sorrow. In all our afllic
ton He is afflicted" God refuseth not
10 suffer, shall we?"
There is no grave so desolate that
flowers will not at last spring omit. Time
passed with Albert and Olivia with heal
ing in lis wings. The secret place OF
tears became first a temple of prayer,
and afterwards OF praise; and the heavy
cloud was remembered by the flowers
that sprung up after the rain. The va
cant chair in the household circle had
grown 10 be tender inIleance. not a
narrowing one; and the virtues Of the lost
one seemed to show themselves like the
scattered seeds of fallen flower, and to
spring up in the hearts of the surviving
ones. More tender and more blessed is
often the broodiug influence of the sacred
dead than the words of the living.
Olivia became known in the abodes
OF sorrow, and deep power seemed Civ
en- her TO console the suffering and dis
tressed. A deeper power OF love sprung
up within her; and love though born of
sorrow. ever brings peace with it Many
we're the hearts that reposed on her;
many the wandering that she reclaimed.
the wavering that she upheld, the desolate