Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-08-16
SATURDAY NIGHT.

One by onr the days go out Saturday
night cores.
One by one the hopes go out Eternity
comes Like hailstones, the DAYS drop
from the cloud OF the time to fall cold and
dreary into a fathomless past. Each day
is life-a history The hopes of che
morning are tears by night-the air castles
OF Monday are graves hy Saturday night
alas to oft. God gives us sun, life, health.
ram, friends, and that which is more blessed
than all, golden hope All the rest desert
us but hope, twin sisters Of immortality, is
ours through the week--intO the grave to
bear us dry and happy through the stvgian
food and on to God. Blessed be Hone. and
blessed be nights which call us to kneel at
her altar.
Changes have come during the interim
between this and last Saturday night.
Many a mound in the church ward or Gem.
etery marks God praises on the desolate
human heart. Many heart Joy has been
nipped in sadness. Many a dress which
one week since was white is now the deepest
mourning. Some mourn. Some wear
mourning while the heart reioices Some
there are whose hearts are darker than the
grave, for the lamp of love is broken and
the joys Of years have gone home Scarlet
buds, sombre blossoms Such is life.
Who Of us Is nearer heaven than one
week since? Who Of US have laid up treas
ures above? Who of US have mellowed the
earth in which all must rest? The ac.
count Is for or against US We all thought
and vowed one week since to do right. but
alas for temptation ALL US have argued
With the subtle reasouer-a few of US have
come off victorious Prayers have been
uttered since last Saturday night. Curses
have been invoked The record has been
perfectly kept, and some day it viii be open
ed TO our eyes. Let US rest from labor and
renew our VOWS. By the family freside-
by the family altar-by the cot and the
couch, there is much to do this night
Look back down the dark lane. See what
wreck Is there strewn. Hopes which
have died. Promises badly broken. Good
intentions and noble resolutions lie bleeding
and torn as far back as the eye can reach
Hard words lie where soft ones would have
been better. There are disappoiutments
and betrayal, bitter words and wicked acts
strewn thick over the ground Ruins
ruins ruins Here and there a frtgrant
flower lifts its silent voice and rears its per
ly leaf to gladden. the debris around Here
aud there a blossom. Here and there, but
to far apart, can be seen the beautiful in
strange contrast TO the ruins and wrecks
Life is a dark lane Would to God there
we're more flowers and fewer ruins Would
there were more loves, fewer hates, More
white and less red
How the changes come o 'er Us! What
gave joy is now pile of ashes. The lips
We loved to kiss a week since, now have no
nectar The hand which once thrilled in
rapture at the Slight touch of love, now
forget to answer back The eye has grown
cold or worse than Indifferent Who Is to
blame Gulns one aud phy nome Dut
God eau tell truly As the sun goes down
and the Sabbath rises, let Us strive again
Mother, clasp still closer to your heart the
pledge you now caress- for God may want il
back before Saturday night is yours. The
pet you kissed and caressed a week ago has
been taken away-who viii go next2 Deal
gently with those who have erred Heaven
( Is forgivinc God is love strive to be hap
py. Let kind words, good wishes and hber
ality of sentiments, expand all our hearts
this night, for they are blessed influences
none to plenty.
IF you have a friend draw him closer to
your heart IF you have u life in your
keeping, do by it as you would be done by.
Pause ere you do evil Think of the re
ward there for those who love Look back
Listen \ little prattling voice, now stilled
in death A mothers gentle tones, per
haps well nigh forgotten a sister plaintiye
eye is calling you to happiness Look over
the past-the blessed momories-the mo
mentoes of the heart-and tell US If you are
not glad that Heaven is nearer by one more
Saturday night