Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-10-11
FooTuPRINTs.

that her father had gone to his daily
business without q farewell kiss from
hor, caught up her little hood and
cloak to follow him. But sho was
told that he was already far out Of
sight, that she could not find him and
would be los, in the great city. Look,
iog out of the window, her face brigh
toned, Us she said, go, mamma, but
l couldn't get lost, for sec all his foot.
stops in the new snow. Ill put my
foot first in one, aud then in another,
and another, ard every one, till get
to his store, and ,hcro Ill find my
dear papa"
"But, my child" eaid. the mother,
"the street is full of foot prints; aftor
you leave your own .doorsteps you
would soon lose your fathers and
might follow some naughty or unkind
person for whom you do not caro-"
80, mamma, dearW exclaimed tho
child, in reproving tone, "don't you
think 1 know my father footstc o.
from any other mans. BE sure I do"
How sweet and touching this les
son to our reluctant hearts. This
li:tlo one could rot be happy without
seeing her father, and was willing to
brave tie keen air and to meet stran 90
faces in search for him. So strong
wns her love that she felt sure that
sho could divine the path he had cho.
son, and distinguish his footprints
from those any other.
How often do those who profess to
follow JeUs wheresoover he goeth,
fail TO even miss him when he leavos
them for season; far less do they
seek for his foot prints, sure that they
can distinguish them from those of
any false leader.
Many who are quite willing to put
their foot in tho prints of his, as he
entered g;ory, cannot begin where ho
did on earth. They are willing 10
accept place in his kingdom; but
they care rot to enter it through the
valley of humiliation and the lhorny
road of repentance. The glory in
tho foot prints which ceased st bis cx-
altation but not in those that led to
it through Gethsemane.
How often do we hear church mem.
bers talk of following Jesas," when
we we'll know he has left no foot prints
on the sunny heights and noisy plain
where they have been. Those bless-
ed feet in their weary journeya, new
or entered the scene Of gay and mad
frivolity, nor yot joined in the wild
deluding chase after gold or earthly
fame. In going these ways, those
who bear his name have mistaken his
foot prints for that Of one who will
surely lead them astray.
Sad will it be for US, if, as we de-
secnd into the dark valley, we cannot
discern tho foot prints of Him who is
"the way, the truth and tho life"
Bunyan tells us that vi hon Bfr. Stands.
last bad gone down in the river, he
said to his companions who bad fol-
lowed MIN thither: '"This river hath
been . terror to many yea, tho
thoughtsotit, also. have often frighten-
ed me. Now, methinKsI stand easy :;
my foot is fixed upon that Oh which
the feet of the priest that bore the
ark OF the covenant stood, while Is
rael passed over Jordan. 1 see
myself now at the end of my jour
"eys; my toilsume days aro ended.
1 am going to see tha, head that was
CROWDED, with thorps, and that face
that waslspH ppon for me. !. /. I have
loved to hear my Lord spoken Of, and
whsnsver = have seen the print Of his
shoe iii Gle earth there hdve covot-
ed to set my foot too."- Watehnsan
and Reflector r 7. r.