Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-06-14

would not conjunction be avoided an
calamity? We cannot bind the soul
my friend, by any laws but its own
1--we is drawn by likeness Of quality
afinities combine. If you and yonl
husband are to reach an eternal union,
Won must love and delight in the same
tbiups. You must be of like quality
Your hearts must so beat that the flow
of life is reciprocal, and the pulses
move in unity. You must become like
him. or he must become like you. In
contingency lies the surer hope? An.
swer to your own soul, my friend. II
he is receding from yon, getting all the
while to a further distance, why is it
What does it mean? Is he rising OF
decreasing? growing better or worse
Which is it, Helen ?
sHe is rising. He is growing better.
sAnd vet receding!
4 have felt it for long time, Mar
garrett
Then GRID your loins-bind sandals
to your feet-up, my friend, and press
onward the. way you see him gong,
and draw once more close to his side.
As vou love him with Il pure heart
tenderlv, seek for The graces Of spirit,
for the qualities of soul he loves. Cnl-
tivate ali heavenly affections. be gem
tie, kind, considerate, loving-in a
word, seek all the Christian graces-
and there will be no happier wife in all
the land. With such a husband as
yours-and I will take yonr own por-
traiture-what can stand in the way OF
all feliciti-s but an undiscip plined will p
III he will only love an angel, there
is no hope for me- replied Mrs. AShby.
I am but woman, intirm Of will, aud
stumbling along darkly i'll my path OF
life. Oh, Margaret! you are giving
me light only to shov me the hopeless
ness of my case
No, so,' replied the friend. your
husband is not very far away from :'7ss-
If were talking with him of his own
state, he would use language quite as
strong as yours. The inhrm will, the
darkened way, the stumbling leet-
they are his as well as your and mine.
Those in advance of us do not walk as
serenelv as we think, there are always
difficulties in the way, and the further
advance we make, while in this world,
the more of them we shall find but
for these a higher strength, with pa
tience and humility, are given. Be
gin by stunning such things as, IN the
l;oht of reason and Gods Word, you
know to be wrong. Lay a tranquil
hand on your temper, and hold back
from utterance all harsh words that
can do 10 good. Have charity for the
weakness. the inirmities, and short
comings of others and If you can
speak approvingly, say i'll. So shall
move onward in the way your beloved
is roinc: so shall you draw near to
him in spirit; so shall his soul, and
that unity of life be attained which
makes of two one forever
And You think there is hope for me,
Maryaret-hope of winning back the
love that seems vanishing?' said Mrs
Ashbv. 4 see the way, it has gone as
nv eyes follow your pointing finger
The lovely are beloved, Helen
Il must become loyelier, then 2
In spirit for love is Of the spirit
If you indulge in passion, i'll nature
evinces, evi! speaking and unchanta
bleness, can one who is trying to put
these mclean things out of his hart
who turns from them as fonl and hate
ful draw closer to You and take yo'
as the embodiment of all perfection
into his soul? 1t is simply impossible
Helen. The good cannot love us TN
less we are beautiful in spirit. To ask
them to do so is to require an impossi
bility.'
More than a minute passed. Their
lifting her eyes from the floor, where
they had been resting, Mrs. Ashby said
'Whereas was blind, now see. On
my friend, You have come As an ange
to lead me out of the wilderness into
plain way. If my husband is advanc
ing while I stand still, what wonder i
it that he recedes? If I do not wall
by his side as he ascends the mountain
of spiritual perfection, the necessit.
that divides us is Of my own creation
As you have urged, my friend, s.
will I do-gira up my loins, bind san
sdals to my feet, and press onward il
the way he is going
sAnd sooner than you think for, He
en- was answered, swill you be at hi
side. He is not very far in advance
The road to perfection of life is neve
passed over with rapid feet. Yer
} slowly the steps are taken Your hns
baud loves You. bnt he can not love i
vou what is unlovelv. Put away. then
all the unbean'ifnl things that veil von
: attractions. Be in his eyes gentle low
ing, charitable, and kind. Be NOR
} ready to see as be sees then to fin