Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-04-21
Sha dow and Sunlight.

my chamber window deceilful world,
full Of fair promises ,hs, are always bro
ken, of brigh, an,icipalions that are new
er Realised. thought Of the long wall OF
anguish ,ha, is evermore rising from the
earth Of The broken homes, The bleed
ing hearts, the crushed hopes. remem-
Der that every time lhe clock ticks, some
soIl, gaspipg, grosning, sgonlzlng, IS
toru from irs fra,l body and sent forh ma
ked aud shudderinC into the mysterious
future.
Here a bride with the marriage VOW
scarce on her lps-the orange flowers
lhat wreath her hair unfaded-ls sirlck-
en- down. Death claims her for his bride,
and they fold her pale hand over the snIl
bosom, and the sunshine and The glory OF
the eartn seems buried in her grave.
Little children around whom many
fond hopes clustered. all by the way.
/ Fathers and mothers. brothers and sisters,
loose their warm clasp OF our hands
breath few faint words Of farewell and
pass over the cold river, leaving US moth
ing but sad memories and daTkenec
homes. The green mounds multiply in
the graveyard, and the vacant seats by
the freside.
Isnno. weary world-a lonesome
world ?
Then thought Of the long catalogue
of crime that with each days record
grows longer and blacker; how man
hates and persecutes his brother man,
until The blood OF many murdered Abel
calls to God from the ground OF the
prison houses ,bsl DO, the earth, each
with its share OF crime, and the wicked
uess thai no prison bars conflne; OF me
gross ignorance and superstition tha. hi
tho world-lhe deeds OF darkness done
for righteousness sake of the Pagan
mother throwing the child God has COM
ml,ed 10 her care into the swiit rlVer, or
burying il in The ground, even while n1
sweet, pleading eyes are turned 10 hef
Tor protection.
And again thought Of the high aspIra-
tons tia, find no fulhlmen-the broken
day dresm.-the restless search after
happiness-of The many who seek, the
lew who find it.
Fame. pleasure, learning. all have
,heiI yolsnes-lhirsIing painting Tor
something to fill The sOui's deep yearn-
ing. and finding but "cislerns, broken
cisterns, ,hs, can hold no water A
weary. weary world.
Blu, hsrk what was il that brought
the glad tears 10 my eyes, and made me
say iuvolunlarily Life is pleasans-llie
10 pleasant, and God is good !
1t was bu, birds song-s wild sweet
carol from the elm tree, but it thrilled
through every gloomy corner OF my
heart. carrying sunshine with II and span
ming my clouds with the bow OF promise
"HaIelujsh !" cried my exuI'sn1 soul,
"for the Lord Goo omnipotent re'gneth."
Hiss glorious world to live in-a
beautiful world, for God made 1t; end
from the frozen Norlh to the burning
tropics, he has crowded il with scenes OF
beauty.
Out on ,he wild prairie. where none
but angels can see it, he has planted the
Wild flower. and painted lis tiny petals as
none but God could paint them. Away
in the green forest, where the breath OF
tie pines is sweet, the sunshine falls
cheer'ly through the thick booghs, and
the old woods are vocal with liie-happy
life. Everywhere, in the all, IN she wa
Ter and on the earth are myrisds OF JOY
Gus creatures who know no care. no sin,
no fear.
And among men, who will say that
even now more of sorrow mlnglss with
their lot than JOY.
True, there are sad hearts, but so are
there many happy ones. Every night as
The sun bids good bye 10 one smiling vii
lage after another, thousands BOT little
children, with folded hands and quiet
hearts, kneel by mothers side. and in
dferen. languages pray 10 the one good
Father in Heaven then peacefully fall
asleep to wake with fresh glee in the
morning.
True, dying grosn is heard every
second, bul around how many death beds
angels stand waiting and when the poor
glazed eye closes on the loved OF ear'h,
does i, no, open on Him who tasted
death for every man
True, the world is full of sin and SUI
fering, bu, its soil has been trodden by
The cross of Him who knew no sin, and
The Prince of Peace shall yet reign King
of nations.
True, we are striving always TO drink
at The broken cislerns. but if we will We
nav come 10 The fountain OF The living
waters; and above the turmoil OF life Is
heard ever the voice of the worlds Re.