Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-12-23
Seiest 81ding.
From the Il. Y. Dem ocrat.
Our Saturday Night.
Waiting for the CaWn!


Another Saturday night! How little do
the weeks amount to. Now, if they are
are of SO little account as to roll silently
away down the velvet aisles Of Gods time,
of what account is one poor mortal p
The week just gone has taken with it more
than million Of those, who, like US, liv-
ed fer some or for no purpose. The weeks
are Gods coaches. taking us home from
the party! Coach after coach rolls silently
away, as Death, the cunning driver, de-
parts, without disturbing those he will
call for in due time. How very consider
ate ! AS if we were not ready at any
time. Are we ready
Yes At any moment. AS if home
Is not better than this waiting for the
dawn.
Why dc men so dread death 1t is but
the burst of sunrise over the eternal hills
To those who have watched, it brings the
morn. We rejoice at the sunrise, for it
brings better day, with its new beauties
Only the one doomed to suffer for crime
Creals the morn that frees him with the
penalty
When this thing you call death comes,
then will come our sunrise, revealing
splendors the pen is now powerless to de-
pict Then will the night have gone,
and will we be ready for the work all who
are worthy will enter upon
Sometimes, when weary, We long for
the dawn. We would step at once to the
glorious work in the future for which, by
orders from a Higher Power, we are now
in training. AS we all are. The future
has pot one single terror for us. Our faith
is perfect. We do not believe in this
thing you call death There is no endless
deep Nor endless slavery.
The little birdlet comes from the she'll.
There is an efort-the she'll is ruined
the new world open, and, instead of wait
ing in the nest, thing of mystery, the
thing of life and beauty, SO to speak, an
initiates space and lives to a purpose.
And over there SO shall We live. We
shall have worlds to visit-great deeds to
acknowledgement thoughts to write
great audiences to address-great distan-
ces to travel-great minds to gather wis
dom from, and shall be free from that
| which retards US here, both bodily and
mentally.
| We shall there enter upon the duties
we fit ourselves for here The good, the
pure, the noble, the ambitious, the ones of
heart, and soul, and brain. of progress,
sill there be given work to do. The ones
who here strive for good will there be re-
modelled, for our treasures thus are laid
up in Heaven, waiting our coming.
Those who would progress here will
progress there Those who improve
chances offered them here will have abun-
dant chances over there. Those who gro
vel here will do the drudgery there, and
their torment will be in witnessing the
great work and higher commingling o.
those who are earnest while here, for this
alone will take position and precedence
there
Death is but waiting for the dawn
There is no lake of fire paved with skulls
of infants born to perdition. There viii
be no sitting in ritualistic groups over
there, with folded bands, upturned eyes
and heart of cant, blgotry, and fanatacism
All this is left here as Death drives away
with bis seven seated coach flied with mil,
lions There is none of this narrow illib
eral, ungodlike happiness in the beautiful
land just over the river.
There we'll be taken for Just what w
are, aud have been on earth. If we learn
our lessons at school, and strive faithfully
we become meu of influence If We throw
away our book and seek the gutter, We
will have no claims to seat with thu
learned. If We bury our talents, no int
rest will accrue over there, to await GU
coming.
Then will come mating and marry
ing for eternity. Then will come the woiI
to Go. Then will come that full love, con
fdence, and perfect happiness only tbos
touched in advance by the early sunbeam
of Immortality know of Then minds vii
work with minds-soul will help soul
teart will rest with hcart--that conGdenc