The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-05-21
The Family tlock.

family clock that measured of th,
hours If my childhood that uttered il,
call 10 study, 70 school, 10 work thai
struckits merry peal when the task wa,
ACCOMPLISHED. and smiled chcerily a,
the whole beyy Of boys and girls thai
had sprung up around my father
hearthstone. bouAdcd forth to sport
and frohc- the clock, whose evening
chime gathered parents and children tc
the alter Of cheerful, holy sacrifce.-
All yes the whole scene is before me
Ny father mo other was ever more
revered and beloved as the priest Of
his household, seems invested with q
sal city, not unlike that with which our
childish imaginaiions clothed Abraham,
aud Isaac, and Moses. Even my moth
er as she takes her accustomed seat, re-
CARDS him with look, that seems rev.
erential. No other sound than his voice
save the ceaseless "tiek-tick" Of the
familiar clock is heard while the holy
page is read, ana mingled supplieation
and thanksgivings ascend TO be offered
with the prayers Of all saints upon the
throne" The impressive words of par
entail admonition and counsel linger ON
our ears, os the good night is spoken
and our last conscious thoughts, as
slHmber steals oyer us, are of God, who
SO loved us as to give his Son to die for
us, and the infinite danger of sighting
the great salvation thus provided
But the clock tieked away the Years,
aud each brought its changes to our
happy circle The chubby, rosy cheek
ed little boys, playing so lately in frock
and pinafores, grown TO stalwart boys,
They put away childish things" and,
one after another they 90 forth to en-
gage for themselves in the great battle
of life The LA lowed influences of that
home are around them, and its teach
ings are never forgotten. They under
stand the responsibility resting upon
every man gloryiiy God every day in
every business transaction, as well as
in Sabbath worship The influence they
exert sayors of that freside instruction,
and as they become the centers of new
homes, the scenes in which they min
gled, under the parental roof, are re-
peatcd there. From one family altar
there are erected four, from which as
cend, each morning and evening, incen-
Sc and the pure offspring In other
homes, the sisters, who shared their
sports, now wives and mothers, are
daily imparting the same lesson their
mother taught them, to the children
who shall yet rise up and call them
blessed
Meanwhile, the ticking of the clock is
heard more distinctly in the old home.
1t looks upon d scene, changed indeed
Two easy arm-ehairs, the same as old,
stand just where they stood SO many
years. They who occupy them are the
same, but there is less of action and
more of repose iii tie attitude and
countenance OF each. They tell now Of
days long gone By, when the voices of
laughing boys and singing girls made
cheerful music III their now quiet halls
They relate pleasant incidents in the
childish life OF each, and a smile at
many well remembered roguish prank
They recount the deeds OF thoughtful
love and the contentious regard for
truth and honesty that then flied their
hearts with hope and Joy, and which
have now npened INTO rich trultion.
They review the eaHiy years OF thelr love
and welded life, ana thank God for all
the happiness they have enjoyed, and
that their children live To 10 tAem hon
or-that one daughter remains to mln-
lister 10 then comlort, ana tiIat, with u
single exception, ali Their Children have
set them dwelling near the paternal
mansion.
But the clock ticks on, and it brings
Il day when one oItnese chars Is vacant
Ii was hard at inst, ior her vino had
occupied 1t, to reilnqmsh the place,
which, ior tiity years, she lad held, ut
the head of her faniiy. She knew now
the heart OF her husband trusted III her
and how he would mss ler society ana
her accustomed attentions, ana she
prayed thai her lite and health might
De spared while he should need her Ioye
But the stroke ot God Is upon her
The limbs which have been 50 active III
then ellauds OF mercy, are paraIyzed;
the hands, always busy, rest trom tinelr
labors; hardest OF all, the taitermg
tongue can with difficulty express the
thoughts and feelings, which occupy
and interest her. but she does not
The cheerful, playful humor
winch had always gwen 10 her society
a peculiar charm to children, docs moi
foIesake her now. IL often breaks
all the restraint OF the SACK
room, and calls smiles To the synipathi-
zing faces bending over her, When sui-
ferlng would otherwise break up the
of tears. But no natural cheer
fuiness could triumph over the many
months Of WEAKNESS and pam allotted
to her. The God in whom she had
placed the hope Of youth draws near,
puts underneath her his everlasting
arms, and gives her support III all her
trials with the assurance oi Their gIorI- /
ous termination. her husband SUI !
inds much pleasure III her society, ana
ais ministrauons To her are very tender .
larry and late be is ut her beadsiae---
1ut. the old clock is measuring OH ms /