The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-05-11

sPREPARE TO MEET THY GoDv

s'PREPARE TO MEET THY GODv 8'f
Words of more momentous import, were
never addressed to mortals. Should we not
then, do we'll to turn aside from our secular
duties, for a while, and spend at least few
moments in considering this solemn duty
But yesterday, one walked our streets in APP
parent health I; tae angel of death drew his un-
erring shaft, and the aged pilgrim falls pros
trate to the earth--one gasp, and the soul is
in glory.ioiss abss sf.4 ;l SIS. 4
aTs'In vain, the fancy striyest to paint, g
The moment after death,
The glories that surround the saint, II
n ~ When she gives up her breath.''7s,i 4
She, closed the earthly Sabbath by singing the
paascs of redeeming love, and ere the sun at
tanned his zenith on the morrow, was basking
in the sunshine Of eternal Sabbath joining the
thousands that surround the thnone of God in
their anthems of unceasing praise. For her
ITO die is gain"
There is mercy in this strange providence
of God-mefNcy to those who are still out of
the Ark Of Salty, The angel Of death re-
peats, in thunder tones, to the concience Of
each one: Il have message. from God unto
thee" Prepare to meeting God; for ever
lily there is but a step between you and DEATH"
For what is your life ? Ills even as .vapor
that appeareth for a little while, and then van
isheth away. The brilliant colors Of the bow
that spans the evening sky, fade not more
quickly from your sight the flower that cx-
hales its fragrance to the morning breeze, and
ere tho evening shades is cut down and with
ereds, These, alas are fitting types ofAuman
life. And can you trile thus with that i'm
mortal soul Of thine, when only the brittle
thread oflife, which may be snapped at any
moment. keeps you out the yawning abyss
Of hel-that terrible abode of the lost, where
concience, like never-dying worm, is prey
ing upon your vitaIs where cries for mercy
are IN vam9 The rocks and caves of that
gloomy abode of despair will reycberate to
but one sound in answer to all prayers for
help: 'Ye hsew your duty butye did 1t NOT"
Memory, with her magic wand, will recall
sad memories Of the past. A mothers earn
est pleadings and fervent prayers, the coun-
sells of pious friends, the warnings of Gods
faithful heralds of the cross, the sweet tones
of the Sabbath bell, calling you to the house
of prayer. the movings of Gods Spirits-aH
these will be remembered, and that memory
will be Ole of the test.tortures of the lost.
A lost SOUL what words can portray its an
guish IT. e Ai'sl77 n s1a as
! II ssWrapt in Christless shroud, 6iaG5
He sleeps Christless sleep,
Above him. eternal cloud
Z Beneath, the fry deep &as 19 |
30, Christless shroud-how cold -
How dark, 0 Christless tomb!
Q grief. that never grow old!
Oh endless, hopeless doom!
so, Christless sleep-how sad!
What waking canst thou knowe reg
For thee star no dawning glad,
Only the lasting woe.
s'To rocks and hills in vain
Shall be the sinners call,
Oh day Of wrath, and death, and pain,
The lost SOULS funeral.
But, thanks be unto Coz, for all who still
live, there is hope. Jesus stands with open
arms, ready to receive every returning prod
igal, and the arches of heaven ring with Joy
over every sinner, that turns to God. Let
us, then, learn the solemn lesson this sudden
death should teach u.s. "To- day. tomorrow,
every day, to thousands the end of the world
is close at hand. IF Christians, why should
we fear it We walk, as it were, ip the
crypts oflife. At times, from the great cath
edrai above US, we can hear the organ and
the chanting of the choir. We see the light
stream through the open door, when some
friend goes up before US. And shall we fear
to mount the narrow staircase of the grave,
that leads out of this uncertain twilight into
the serene mansions of life eternal ?"
- o.
THE YOUNG Man OF THE PERIOD -
There has been considerable talk about the
"Girl of the PERIOD" but the following in
relation to the '.Young Man of the PERIOD
told by one of our exchanges, is not bad =
He parts his hair in the middle, wears
moustache, calls himself 'sColonel," sMa-
jor," or s'Doctor,'' and devotes his time prin-
clpally to the management of his ambrosial
locks, which he, of course, wears long. We
can endure firt, coquette, or fashiona-
bic woman, but from the pretty "Young
Man of the Period,' good Lord deliver US.
We saw him enter hop at one of the prin-
cipal halls the other night. He took front
seat, and glanced down at himself, run his
right hand twelve times through his ambro-
sials, pushed them back Of his ears, and be-
slowing an encouraging pat on them each
time.
He then, after the manner Of affected
males, Eve mean males affected with few
brains,) pulled one cherished tuft down over
his "marblc brow" to gi7e himself negh
gent air, felt of his necktie, looked at his feet
fondled his monstache, and glanced sternly
across his right shoulder at the young lady
by him. We sat aud trembled. expecting to
see the young woman drop like sparrow
Into the arms Of this serpent-like charmer.-
But she didn't. She only hitched her chair
further away from him.
Mr.. q. J. White, whose death occurred
last week, was stricken on his return from
our last court to his home in Brownsburg