Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-16
Onr SahhaIhs :
A GLIMPSE AT THE PAST.


\ illMG~t Al liff G-ANl.
BY MRS. NJ. p. N. sASGsTER
When was n child" said dear friend
to the writer, was taught to count seven
stars on Saturday night, and then come into
the house and put on holy thoughts
The expression struck me foreibly. |, too,
in early days, had been wont to begin the
Sabbath on Saturday night not, indeed, in
the actual observance of the day, so far as
worship was concerned, but in sweet and
quiet preparatory sort of service. Our toys,
our work were all put by on particular
shelf in the closet, and the secular papers
and books were laid away until Monday
morning Then, gathered around the mother,
we read Gods word and went softly up stairs,
feeling. as we laid our heads upon the pill
lows, a brooding peace lowering over US, that
was happier than our everyday mlrth.-
Such sense Of finished work as always came
over us on Saturday nights The six days
round was completed, and the six days duty
done. The cooking for the Sabbath had made
high festival in the kitchen for us on Saturday
morning. and cakes, pies and great loaves OF
bread in the pantry, would enable the NOR
row to be indeed a day of rest to every one
under the home roof. We should spend
the whole day in the public and private cx-
ercises of Gods worship, except so much as
should be taken up in works Of necessity and
mercy"
Those still Sabbaths Of childhood They
were not irksome far from it. They are
green spots to look back upon How silvery
we're the Ginning bells that bade us como
with Joyful feet to the courts of the Lord
/ How delightful was the hour in the Sabbath
school before morning service. | suppose
there were about fifty boys and girls Assem-
blcd there, and looking at ii with the expert
| ence Of maturer years, | know that the schoo
was ill-graded disorderly, and not as eflicien
| as it should have been. But we were taught
the Bible conscientiously and thoroughly
and when the Superintendent made the clos
ing prayer, " Holy holy holy art Thou
Lord God Almighty y the invariabe forlnula
with which it began, a solemn hush fell owe
the restless children, and we went from th'
gallery into our pews below, feeling that W
were indeed in the presence of the King
The sermon might be long, the prayers wearl
some TO us who did not comprehend their fer
yency of petition, but we had "put On holy
thoughts and we emerged from the sanctu
ary into the noon that was glorliying thu
world out of DOORS somewhat nearer to Goo
than we were before.
Would it not profit us, sometimes, to paus
and ask ourselves, whether, in the less rigi'
keepinr of the Sabbath that obtains anon
many Christians now We have gained o
LOST Are we giving to cur children as GU
parents gave to us shcaf Of blessed memo
ries to carry all their lives, the smell of whlc
Is like incense, aud the biuding whereof Is
golden band, engraved with Remembe
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy ?" Are W
doing all we can to make it not only pleas
ant bright, cheerful day, but holy ais
and honorable ?
was talking one day with bent old VIC
man, who had been a slave, and whose lit
had worn away under hard ask-masters.-
She spoke of long days afeld, of weary night'
of separation from husband and children, bu
over the wrinkled face there came a glow, a
she said, But, Missie, We always had Sun
day on our plantation. Den de ole man com
to see me, and we put on our best clothes, an
went to meetn togedder."
What flash OF light through darkness
What door of hope What taste O
heaven Work pain, grief, for six days
the seventh, Gods angel ON the threshold, an
p Gods right hand giving rest
! If there be, in our home, one class ratbt
, than another for whom we should guard th
, Sabbath, it is the boys. Not the little te
lows in long curs and petticoats, who ar
a sure of a seat on auuties' or sisters laps, an
a share of petting from all the family. The
. should be interested and amused. do NJ
advocate neglect of them, but am thinkir
especially of their brothers, Of Fred and Tor
n from fourteen to seventeen, standing on Il
q border.and between boyhood and manhoo'
4, and feeling soi.conscous and awkward, an
i in eyerybodys way Get them into Bib
. class, under the care of an earnest cultivate
;, magnetic teacher, lady or gentleman, who b
q not oulived the buoyancy of youth, Sou
h happy people are young when gray hal
9 cluster round their temples. They are u
a requisites being added. Give them som
thing to do in the young peoples meeting
i press them into Gods servive before the deN
musters them among his recruits. Mothc
lean on your boys arm, introduce him to yo'
friends, keep him as the apple of your eye
Father, admit him to confidential companion
6 ship Make his Sabbaths charming to hi
/. by especial kindness and watchful love
One word more Save the golden hour
u the Sabbath the twlight-ior home scr
ice of song. Old and young, great al
:. small, if you have an instrument, invoke
y aid if not sing without it, but sing u
songs of Zion together. So shall the sabbat
IS begun with holy thoughts, expire with liit'
o music that shall reach the eternal throne