Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-04-16


1t is not for the brilliant brace Of initial
sermons that we still admire the man whom
we love to call "our minister" The old
love must be renewed again, from Sabbath
to Sabbath, from month to month, and
from year to year, by new exhibitions of
his power, and new demonstrations of his
faculty to feed the motives of large and
luxuriant life within our souls. If he fail
in this--if his power finch through laz-
ness, or flag through languor-and he re-
sort to the too common process Of heating
again the old broth, his productions will
grow insipid and our hungerng natures
will turn uneasily to other sources for re-
freshment. 1t is not for the fresh cheek,
the full lip, the fare forehead, the parted
sweeps of sunny hair, end the girlish charm
of form and features, that we love the wives
who have walked hand in hand with US for
years, but for new graces, opening each
morning like flowers in the parterre, their
predecessors having accomplished their
beautiful mission and gone to seed Old
love renewed again, through new motives
to love, is certainly thing lovely in itself,
and desirable by all whose ambition and
happiness it is.to sit supreme in single
heart, or to hold an honorable place in the
affections of the people.
A brief year ago, the pen that traces
these lines commenced series Of letters to
the young. The letters accumulated and
grew into book aud this book with hon
est aims and modest pretensions, has place
to-day in more than ten thousand homes,
while it has been read by hundreds of thou
sands of men and women in every part of
the country. More better than this, it has
become an inspiring, moving and directing
power in a great aggregate of young life.
| say this with that kind of gladness and
gratitude which admits of little pride. /
say it because it has been said to mere
vealed to me in letters brimming with thank
fulness and oyerhowing with friendliness
expressed to me in silent press1res of the
hand-pressures so meaning that irvolun-
tarily looked at my palm to see if jewel
had not been left in it uttered to me by
eyes full of interest and pleasure to me
in plain and homely words in the presence
of tears that came unbidden, like so many
angels sliding silently out of heaven, to
vouch for their honesty. To say that all
this makes me happy, would not be to say
all that / feel ! account the honor of oc-
cupying purer place in the popular heart
of being welcomed in Gods name into the
affectonate confidence of those for whom
life has high meanings and high issues-of
being recognized as among the benefcient
forces of society--the greatest honor to be
worked for and won under the stars. So
much for that which is past, and that which
| is.
| And now, 1 would have the old love re-
newed. | would come to the hearts to
which the letters have given me access with
another gift-with food for appettes quick
eued and natures craving further inspira-
tiou. / would bring new thoughts to be
incorporated into individual and social life,
which shall strengthen their vital processes,
and add TO their growth. | would contin-
ue and perpetuate the communion of my
own with the popular heart. To do this
successfully, know that must draw di-
rectly upon my own experience-upon the
results of my own individual thinking act
ing, living. know that no truth can be
uttered by Soul that has not realized it in
some way with hope to DO heard Precep'
tive wisdom that has not been vlVlhed by
life has in itself no affinity for life.
1t is q blessed thing that the heart has
an instinct which tells it without fail who
has the right to teach it. The stricken
mother. sitting by the side of the lfelesS
form Of her Grst-born, will hear unmoved
the words Of consolation and the persua.
sions to resignation which are urged by
one who has not suffered, even though he
eloquently draw motives from the highest
heaven while the silent pressure OF her
band by some humble creature who has
hidden her treasure under the dalses, VIII
inspire her with calmness and strength
The world cares little for theorists and the
ories,-littlo for schools and schoolmen, -
little for anything man has 70 utter that
has not previously been distilled in the
alenbic Of bis life. 1t is l.he life in ltera
ture that acts upon life The pilgrim who
knocks at the door Of the human hear
with gloved hands aud attire borrowed fol
the occasion, will meet with tardy welcome