The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
Fox q'EE CRHTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
LES SONS BY THE WAY.

VOC ooateu ih Iho rdilrOdu Gar, Wy VIZ oioN
of lady from whom death had not long be-
fore taken ava one of the best of husbands.
In the prime his life, in the midst of bis
usefulness, hoi red and loved for superior
intelligence, f an accomplished education,
for a gentle ture, refined courtesy, and
elevated grow np piety-he had left US for
a better world, 1t filled the hearts of many
with d to part with one so dear; and
ihass :hsSheart 9T her who was
"the aes' tyes. There is always
something c1iiar sacredness, something
deeply touc in the aspect of one upon
whose head t torn of this world heaviest
desolation b Just broken. may perhaps
think of it more from remembering, as
if it had been Tut yesterday, how it was in
my childhood, when such calamity from
the Almighty widowed my own mother.
1t is commonly the best way, when first
meeting with fereaved friends, to open the
subject at once Their hearts may be dead
to other things, but are tenderly alive to this.
They are full. and it is relief to let them
overflow. They desire and expect you to
mention the ul$tter, and are disappointed if
it is passed BY. Who has not sometimes
known the assSaging power of even little
sympathy? Happy is the man who can look
back upon life, and say as truthfully as did
he who first uttered the words, 81 caused
the widows heart to sing for joy" Would
that had oftener made that happiness mine;
but for this once at least the blessing came
in full measure. As again and again /
gave this bereaved one refreshing water from
the great and ever blessed fountain, she said
at last with many tears.of gratitude, and as
one who felt the comfort in her very heart
81 am go glad you have talked to me in this
way it does me 80 much good,
Having begun the journey of that day
with purpose by Gods help, 70 keep an
open ear to its Instructions, could not fail
to understand that here was al lesson worth
receiving. What Christian is not conscience
stricken upon the review t many way-side
opportunities of doing gooo, shich he has
utterly neglectt Who of VI has not the
most urgent c, s,rsy over his offences
in the omission & dayj "Lorc, lay not this
sin to my charger"
But as the train was whirliDg along, and
we were in the midst of the conversation re-
ferred to, my afflicted friend pointed through
the window to little cottage, and said, 81
think / have received more good from that
house, than perhaps from any other in the
world" A glance was enough to see that
it was the abode of absolute poverty. An
nquirng look, seemingly to ask some further
explanation, drew out simply the statement
that it was the house of two aged women in
very dependent circumstances. "But," she
added, "they are almost as good as they can
be-" Nothing more was asked, fearing it
might trespass upon that delicacy which
would rather conceal than exhibit its visits
of mercy to the dwellings of want. But
who could be so dull to the passing incident,
as not to treasure up some Of those useful
reflections we may always gather from
"The short and simple annals of the poor"
/. How often we overlook objects of great
est interest. In passing over country we
look after its splendid MANSIONS, and the fam
lilies and fortunes of their owners. The
humble cottage hardly receives a transient
thought. l should not have noticed the one
referred to, had not the finger of my friend
pointed it out, and her remark awakened my
interest. But how often does the high and
lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, who
dwelleth in the high and holy place, dwell
also with the contrite and humble spirits
found in the abodes of poverty! When q
house is thus tenanted, faith beholds this in.
scription written on the walls, s," The Lord
lives here" Let US learn to estimate things
es, God ssss -thamzs.szthe l.et of eternity.
How soon will accidental distinctions pass
away, and personal distinctions-ch character
alone, avail snything. Death will soon STRIP
} the poor of his rags, the rich of his purple
, and bring them both "naked to the eartt
from whence they come"
2. The poscsr of a holy example, euen n
poverty. Perhaps it might be said that it
3 power is the greater because of poverty
. Certainly many of the lives which have mos
J., powerfully impressed others were anon,
"the poor of the world" and We feel tn
o charm of the narrative would be half gon
: had they been rich. Who does not feel tina
!. the names of John Calvin and John Wesle
9 men that moved the world as few ever di
d ARE invested with far higher grandeu,
= because they were voluntarily as poor q
l. peasants?
t. The Dairyman's Daughter is case i
2 point. The story of her life is told with a
e most matchless simplicity, and beauty; br
>. it's true power is in the life itself, not in th
% pen of Leigh Richmond. And what ma
!" vellous power it has become in the kingdol
s. of God upon earth. Before its author die
10 he knew personally of about three hundre
r, conversions to God, through its instrumel
a tality. Many years ago, when DIR. Hun
,e phrey, of Amherst College, visited the Is
b Of WIGHT he snneht the graveyard Hhe,