The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-09-04
Athcas Cost.
Athens, Friday, September A, 1874.
Night.

Night.
How lovely 10 nights starry sum
mer night when peace, and quiet, takes
the place Of busy day. Oh, II Is sweet,
to one of mediiaiive mind, TO muse
away the twilight hour, to behold the
stars, one by one, come ont, and the
moon ride high, in her majesty. II
lifts the soul to God, IL brings one In
communication with The Author Of all
things. whom
"sun, and moon. and stars, and seas obey"
How welcome is night TO the weary.
Who has not felt, after the labor OF a
wearisome day, how refreshing il Is 10
lay the tired limbs upon our beds, TO
seek the repose, TO forget our cares, our
troubles. our heart burnings, and sleep
calmly and sweetly as an infants sleep.
Night is the time for dreams, when our
sleeping and waking thoughts seem
blended together, when the past and
the future are before us, and visionary
forms seems fitting about our couch
and lost ones are with US, and we live
over again the days Of other years, and
feel the
Hopes that were cherished In our BIRTH
But persisted young, like things Of earth.
Night is the time for toll, for intel
lectual toll. The student loves the
night he can then explore the fields
of science, inlent 10 find the rich trea-
sures of knowledge, with which to sat.
isfy the aspirations Of an immortal
mind. Turn thee, mistaken one 10 the
fountain of all knowledge, and learn,
that "tbe fear of the Lord is the Begin
ming of wisdom, and the knowledge Of
the Holy One is understanding"
Night is welcome tothe sick, and carth's
weary ones, and TO the homesick mind
II brings the recollections of those we
have loved, and left, it may be, in dis
tant land or who have gone before US,
to that bright land,
Where tits one Summer always and storms
never come.
Night is the time for repentance. We
brood over the many hours misspent,
aud back to our memory comes every
sin and wrong, and unkind word, and
harsh neglect, till the stricken one will
weep, aud Hope will fold her wings,
and Despar's dark cloud settle heavily
over the mourner,'till the bright sun of
Gods forg;ving love dispcs our every
fear. Night ia the time for prayer
Our blessed Saviour oft withdrew from
the busy throng Of men, and in desert
mountain, poured ont his agonizing
prayer, and so will all do who follow
him. They will steal away at evenings
hour. and pray in solitude. Night is
the time TO die. When all nature is
hushed in silence, TO calmly yield up
this mortal breath, TO cease from sin
and toll, TO leave this world of pain.
aud lie down in the grave, to sleep the
sleep which knows no waking, Till we
put ON Immortal bloom in the paradise
Of God | love the night; music is
sweetest. when borne upon the heavy
air of night;
Care T. lighter joy is brighter,
In the still aud peaceful night.
How intensely solemn is moonlight
burial, when the 1owcry May turfis bro
ken for one more grave, and the cofiined
form Git may have been dear to us) is
lowered into its narrow resting place,
which may become to us hallowcd
ground, where we will often come in
the pure and soltened moonlight, and
cit aud think OF them who may lie low
al our feet. And there will DO night,
when you and ] will lie down, to never
rise again. Then, yo needless followers
Of vanity, ye who pass your nights in
minimizing mirth, remember that above
the sky, in Gods book, are remembered
oil your nights and days; and yo, who
arc ready for this SOLEMN tribunal, well
come each night, as one nearer to the
fruition Of your hopes, aud when The
night Of death shall come, joyfully re.
sign your feeble breath for glorious
home IN the skies. Again say, blessed
nightl