Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-06-30

OF that position, live to the long period Of some Of
fathers, and at last die naturally OF old age.
This to me seems most desirable, though certainly
not most probable.
Or, / may so far recover, that l shall falter on
a score Of years or 50, one eye on my work, the
other on my body, which refuses to do it, and so
urge my weak and balky horse along a miry, bro
ken road. If this be so, then, in some still, rural
nook, in sight of town, but not too nigh, | may
finish some Of the many things l have begun, and
left for the afternoon or evening Of my days; and
yet, also, from time TO time, meet you again, and,
with words Of lofty cheer, look on the inspiring
face of a great congregation. With this l should
be we'll content; once it was the ideal of my hope.
In either Of these cases. see how tho time of
this Illness and the discipline alike of disappoint-
ment and recovery, would furnish me new power.
Several times in my life has it happened that l
have met with what seemed worse than death, and,
in my short-sighted folly, l said, oh, that l had
wings like a dove for then would | fly away, and
be at restP Yet my griefs all turned into bless
ings; the joyous seed | planted came up Discip-
line, and | wished to tear it from the ground; but
it Powered fair, and bore a sweeter, sounder fruit
than l expected from what | set in earth. As l
look over my life, find no disappointment and no
sorrow | could afford to lose; the cloudy morning
has turned out the fairer day the wounds of my
enemies have done me good. So wondrous is this
Human Lilo, not ruled by Fate, Blu. Providence,
which is Wisdom married unto Love, each infnitel
What has been, may be. III recover wholly, or
but in part, | see new sources of power beside
these waters Of affection | have stopped at; | shall
uos think l have gone through the Valley of Ba.
ca in vain, nor begrudgo the time that l have
fingered there, seeming idle: rainy days also help
seed the ground. One thirg | am sure Of: l have
learned tho wealth and power of the grateful,
generous feeling Of men, as | knew them no. be-
fore, nor hoped on earth to find SO rich. High as
| have thought of Human Nature, I had not quite
dono justice to the present growth of these beauti-
full faculties. Here and now, as so oft before, l
have found more treasure than | dreamed lay hid
den where | looked.
But If neither Of these hopes becomes q fact, if
the silver cord part soon above the fountain, and
the golden bowl be broke, let not US complain, a
new bowl, and a stronger cord, shall serve the Well
of Life for you. Though quite aware how proba-
Die this seems, believe me, l have not yet had o
single hour of sadness; trust me, l shall not. True,
it is not pleasant to leave the plough broken in the
furrow just begun, while the seed-corn smiles in
the open sack, impatient to be sown, aud the whole
field promises such liberal return. TO say Fare
we'll to the thousands l have been won't to preach
to, and pray with, now joyous, and fearful now.
it has its bitterness to one not eighty-four, but
forty eight. To undo the natural ties more init
mately knit of longcOntinued friendship and of
iove,-this is the bitter part. But ic it be my lot,
let not you nor me com plain. Death comes to
none except to bring a blessing; it is no misfortune
to lag aside these well'loved weeds of earth, and
be immortal, To You, as a Congregation, my loss
may be easily supplied; and to me it is an added
consolation to know that, however long and
%tenderly remembered. l should not long be mis-
sed; some other will como in my place, perhaps
without my defects, possessed of nubler gifts,
and certainly not Kindred by the ecclesiastical and
social hostility which needs must oppose a man
who has lived and wrought as /. 1t will not
always be unpopular justly to seek the welfare OF
all men. Let US rejoice that others may easily
reap golden corn where we have but scared the
wild beasts away, or hewn down the savage woods
burning them with dangerous fire, and mako the
rich rough ground smooth for culture. 1t was
wa SA'bHhhSA hSutj WV wv SWAY ahN
smoke, and redder fire, that the fields we're cleared
where you and l now win a sweet and easy bread
What more shall I say to sweeteu words of fare.
well, which must have a bitter taste? If l have
taught you any great Religious Truths, or reused
Herewith Emotions that are good, apply them to
your life, however humble or however high and
wide; convert them into Deeds, that your superior
Religion may appear in your superior Industry
your Justice and your Charity coming out il
your housekeeping, and all manner of WORK. 81
when your
Course
Is run, some faithful eulogist may sdy,
lie sought not praise, and praise did overlook
His unobtrusive merit but his life,
Sweet to himself, was exercised in Good,
That shall survive his nam, and memory
Let not fondness for me, now heightened by my
illness, and my absence too, blind your eyes to err
rors which may be in my doctrine, which must be
in my life I am content to serve by warning,
where | cannot guide by example. Mortal, or en-.
tered on Immortal Life, still let me be your Min.
lister, to serve. never your Master, to hinder and
command. Do not stop where 1 could go no fur
ther, for, after SO long teaching, l feel that / have
ust begun to learn, begun my work. No man
can feed us always : welcome. then, each wiser
guide who points you out a better way. On earth,
1 shall not cease TO be thankful for your Patience,
which has borne with me SO much and long for
your sympathy, nearest when needed most, and
the examples Of noble Christian life which l have
found in some of you,
TO whom is given
MI -. 49, - -
Who, rowing hard against the stream,
Soc distant gates OF Eden CLEAN,
And never dream it is a dream
But hear by secret transport led,
Even in the charnels of the dead,
The murmur of the Fountain head
Who will accomplish High Desire,