The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-02-20
For tho RgoIsrEB.
The Merchants Dream.

route.
For the REosrsn.
The Merchants Dream.
The crowning glory of the year had
departed, and autumn's sombre hues were
spread like a pail over the face of nature,
as if it would, were it possible, shut out
from the heart Of man, the gay and lively
interest, which had been manifest in the
external world, during the more genial
and balmy days of summer. 1t is well
that there are times, when the mind, los
es tho excitement arising from the invi.
tation of the senses, to the lively enjoy.
ment Of the outward world, and is obl;g-
ed to seek for other sources of amuse-
ment and diversion it consequently turns
inwardly upon itself much more readily,
oitentimes, seeking to solve the hidden
mysteries of the soul, through develop
ment of those God-given principles which
are the inherent rights Of every man. 1t
was at such time, and with such
thoughts as these, impressing the mind
during every interval of relaxation, that
l had all day long been busy, adding to-
gether column after column of figures
making goodly show of gain, in the
months that had passed and gone. AS
this last word came to mind, it struck
responding echo in my heart, and l re-
peated to myself gone gone! where are
they gone.
Busy feet since early morning, had
passed in and out, and as watched them
come and 60, do not recollect now that
| was even once reminded that there was
any relation between us. or obligation ex.
isting, other than that Of courteous dis.
charge of our mercantile duties. had
observed with inward qualification, the
readiness of the young men l employed.
to perform in faithfulness to me, the du.
ties devolving upon them. With feel
ing of satisfaction, at least so for as this
world was concerned, l closed my books
when the business of the day was over,
and turned my steps to where might
find repose, preparatory to again plung-
ing into the vortex of worldly ambition.
l sought my couch Of rest. and resigned
myself into the arms of Natures sweet
restorer." Soon the scene was changed,
and though l stood at the same desk with
an open book before me, it was with feel
ings softened, and subdued that listened
to tho account recorded there. The
white winged messenger was by my side,
ever and anon, pointing to tho deeds OF
omission, and Of commission. Instantly
the mind wandered back over the past, to
the time, when in years long since gone,
| took upon myself, the solemn o5liga.
tions Of the child Of God; breathing
earnest VOWS of constancy and devotion,
to the cause l had espoused. And sure
ly, said |, have not kept them fully
Let us see. The ordinances of the church
have been faithfully observed, the pray
ermeeting has not been neglected, the
family altar has been sustained, and 9th.
trwise, l have endeavored to walk cir.
cumspectly before God and man. Ah
said the messenger, you forget that God
sees not as man sees. He looks at the
motives which actuato US in the perfor.
mances of every duty and the inmost re.
cesses Of the heart, are always visible to
tho eye of Him with whom We have to
do. Tho human heart is deceitful above
all things aud desperately wicked"
First Of all, He continued, you have
felt too anxious, to accumulate a certain
amount of this worlds goods. not always
consid ring yourself steward of God /;
too often passing by the child of want.
.f to !, a,
iently clothed, and feel only in prayer
asking that this might be, forgetting that
those only which, do the will Of our
Heavenly Fathei, can receive the prom
ised reward.
Hearts there are with grief oppressed;
Forms in tattered rament dressed
} Homes where want and woe abide:
a. Dens whore vice and misery hide;
With bounty large and free.
Give, as God hath given thee
,, Then again. your anxiety to do well in
. the world has led you to equivocate with
, regard to certain prices Of merchandise,
and evade the necessity oftelling plainly
the truth, lest you may be the loser
thereby and you have partially succeed
ed in making yourself believe, that you
have told nothing wrong about it. This
has been observed by those in your en-
ploy making them feel, that religion can
I, bo obtained and lived, at very cheap
! rate and on the whole, perhaps they are
just as well off without it. Now God
has placed those precious immortal souls,
within the circle of your influence, that
you might cultivate within their hearts,
the precious seeds of morality and truth
and will just us surely hold you account
D able for the Improvement or misimprovo-
+. mont of this privilege, as that you are, to
3 Judgment brought Why have you not
. taken them by the hand. and pointed
them to the Lamb Of God showing by
: tho consistency of your daily life, that
there is indeed, a reality, beauty in re-
ligioD, whose price is far above rubics ;
that all the wealth Of this world, could
not compensate, in any degree, for the
compi omise Of those Heavenly principles.
which it was the mission of our Divine
Rsdesmsr to premulgats on the earth.