Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-07-29
HISTORY.

sweep the past as with a telescope. And
whether the record be that Of individual
lives or of nations and governments, the
thoughtful mind can find material for
study, for reflection and for profit.
How wildly it brings before us the
littleness of worldly grandeur, the folly
of worldly ambition. while we see those
multitudes founding empires and build
ing lofty structures, to keep their fame
through the coming ages, then sinking
from sight and the works of their hands
perishing with them.
How we are charmed by a glimpse of
those beautiful cities which fourished in
the light of science, the abode of the
gifted in intellect and song, full Of gay
crowds of busy mortals. But as we look
again all has vanished, overwhelmed, it
may be, by the volcanoes food or crushed
by the iron tread of the conqueror.-
Perhaps there are days when the white,
winged dove of peace broods over the
nations, but in the early centuries this
is rare sight, and is quickly succeeded
by ages stained by the fierce conflict of
men, when the red hand of war rules
and ruins. Occasionally we see little
CLEANS of light, which came from the
triumph of right and truth in the earth,
but scarcely are they seen when they are
hid by the heavy clouds of. superstition
which lower over fair lands, and soon
we hear the rumblings and .upheayings
of national earthquakes. ESQ, :.
These impartial records of the past
have something of encouragement and
warning for every class of mind. The
warrior searches for the triumphs and
defeats of marshalled hosts on the bat
tie field, so he may learn the secret of
leading armies to certain victory. s.
The patriot finds those high examples
of stern integrity, and all-absorbing love
of country, which makes the names Of
those old heroes seem more than honored
now. . .essssEa>u7ssR s,.ass
The statesman looks for those princi
Piles of human government, which, EN-
bodied in law, have succeeded in con
trolling and ruling nations: The man o
letters finds rich feasts for thought il
the treasures of art and literature, gath
cred from every cline, and preserved il
this wonderful garner of history. TIL,
christian world turns over the pages o
history with careful hand, searching 70
those bright triumphs of christianit,
} which are scattered here and there thro
the volume of the past as the stars ar
scattered through the sky. How is tn
believing heart eheered and comforts
while in this worlds wilderness, as
sees the chosen people led forth to tn
, promised land by the pillar and cloud
r 0, sad ones mourning because the sun
light is gone, do you remember how tn
: guiding hand of God was in the cloz
2 even?
2 With what an emotion of awe and rev
erence do we see how prophets visio
1 brought before men the glorious event
o of coming ages. How their minds, touch
1 ed by the finger of God, grasped thos
: living beams of gospel truth who's
: shadows, seen in those dim ages. gay
e but faint promise of their all-illumina
e ing power.
o And they, too, of whom the world W;
not worthy, who with joy went up
S wear martyrs crown in glory, the
II names are written, and through the loI
e years which are sleeping their memol
o comes back to us like breath of i
II cense, pure and blessed.
lr And while history keeps with care Il
D names of the great and good who ha'
y blessed the world by their lives, it pr
i serves, too, in ignoble fame, the hyp
Of critic, the traitor, the various enemies
e. humanity, and the foes of the chur
re and the nation. History is venerat
O. instructor her teachings cannot be ne
lie lected with impunity, and the beams
lg light which she throws in upon the pre-
l. ent are not blind guides.
al BEULAH.
10 Crattsbwy, July "a, 1872.