The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-07-15
Tile World Not Finished.

Tile World Not Finished.
The first inhaitants of the earth would
hardly know their old home, should they now
revisit it. Changes have been going on in
every part; mountains have been lowered in
some places and lifted up in others great
lakes and rivers have disappeared the plants
Of different sections are not the same as for
rnerly; old breeds Of animals are gone and
new ones have appeared, and everywhere the
great work of improving and finishing the
world is going on. Every summers sun and
winters frost does something to change the
face of nature; rocks crumblc little by little,
are washed down the hillsides, and help to
fill the valleys The streams are wearing
away their banks and carrying earth to de-
post it in new places. The ocean slowly adj
vanccs on some coasts and retires from others
Now and then a volcano or an earthquake in
y few hours sweeps away all old land marks,
and large district is thus at once made over.
Equally great changes are going on among
men, in their appearance, habits, customs,
laws, and character. Whole races have pass
cd away and left only here and there mark
to show that they existed, and new nations
arc coming forward to rule the progress Of the
world It is remarkable that IN all these par
ticulars there is, on the whole manifest i'm
provemcnt. Nature and men are less fierce
| than formerly. The ages Of fearful monsters
and ferocious nations have nearly passed
| Peace, order, beauty, and happiness, are grad,
| ually advancing; the world is being finished
by its Great Creator, The six days work in
the beginning, described in the Bible, was
| merely the bringing together of materials and
| putting them together roughly The adjust
| ing and polishing have yet to be completed
All have part to do in the great work. The
sunbeam that enliyens little plant by the
waysidc helps to make tho world better the
boy or girl who lives right is like a whole sun
scattering light on every hand, and as surely
do his Oh her work iu society, as the rays Of
the natural sun perform their appointed part.
Let's all take hold and try to finish up the
world by making somebody better.
] ! ARE You READY-Are you ready for
life with all its multiplied cares and response
bilities, its trials and temptations, its adverse
| ties and affections, sorrows and disappoint-
1 lnents Are you ready, for death, its pains
!! ind wcakn ness, its farewells and partings !?
] Arc you ready for the Judgment, its review
and its exposure Of your inner life, as well as
4 your outward acts and spoken words Are
| you readyafo that august tribunal where all
| must appear to hear, from the lips Of Christ,
Ia welcome to the joys Of Heaven Or the doom
of banishment which shall consign the soul to
|uttcr darkness and despair Are you ready
| to walk with the saints in light, ready to en-
ter upon the employments and enjoy the so
ciety of the better land
! If you arc not ready for these things, think
| most seriously how short the time for prcpas
| Grafton or salvation ; remember that it is
alone through repentance towards God and
faith in our Lord J esus Christ and a holy
| life, that you can get ready for the future
Let not another moment pass without giving
your earnest attention to this important work
of life Rest content with no state of mind
short of assurance. z ....-... .lss...-..
/ A PHENOMENON in THE CASPIAN SEA-
| A phenomenon of most extraordinary ma
lure, says the Pail Mall Gazette, has lately
Itecn witnessed by the inhabitants of the Dor
ltacrs Of the Caspian Sea. This huge salt
Flake is dotted with numerous islands which
| produce yearly quantity of naptha and it is
| no uncommon occurrence for fires to break
! out in the works and burn for many days be
| fore they can be distinguished. . EARLY in
April, owning to some subterraneous distur
Dances, enormous quantities of this infam
mablc substance we're projected from the
naptha wells, which spread over the entire
surface Of the water, and becoming ignitcd,
Notwithstanding every precaution, converted
i the whole sea into the scmblancc Of a gigan-
| tic flaming punch bowl, many thousands Of
square miles in extent. The fire burnt it
/ self out in about forty-eight hours, leaving
the surface strewn with innumerable fishes.
Herodotus mentions tradition that the same
phenomenon was once before observed by the
tribes inhabiting the shores of the Caspian
Sea
$50 --.-->@ s2
/ FLoWERs.-Lovcrs Of the beautiful are
lovers Of flowers There is a daintiness about