Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-09
A Little Heaven on Earth.

When we hear this term applied TO hap
py, harmonious family, we feel that It is
rightly applied, for what can be nearer heav-
en- than n family where peace, good will,
and Christianity make home seem In reality
a place of the highest happiness and enjoy
ment. To those who have enjoyed such n
home the song Home, Sweet Home" is
full Of meaning, while to him who has never
known the joys Of home, or whose home
has been full Of discord and quarreling, the
song has no more attraction than any other
pretty song.
But there is one other place where we can
feel, more than anywhere else except, per-
haps, in the perfect family, that we have
loretaste OF heaven on earth. | have been
led into this train of thought by an incident
which occurred last sabbath evening. Hav-
ing stroled out of the village in company
with u friend, enjoying the cool, fresh even
ing Nir OF spring. and prolonged our walk
along the railroad track farther than was
and we realized that we were near the vii
lage of c., several miles from the point of
starting. and the bell was ringing for the
sabbath evening service. Turning to my
companion proposed stepping in and lis
tening TO tho service, which we accordingly
did. We found the congregations Of the two
churches of the village united in union
meeting. My friend and had attended
many meetings at home; that very day |
had listened to n sermon wherein the terri
BILE penalties of disobedicnce were pictured
out, and where rules OF faith and rules of
| practice were laid down which | regarded
ns altogether erroneous, and the preacher
had pronounced tho dire penalty of condem-
nation against all who should fail to come up
to his standard. I had gone away from that
meeting feeling it had not been profitable to
me, and wondering il in that church people
were never offered any inducements to better
life except the desire to avoid the punishment
of the damned, and wondering why the
love OF God, and the beauties aud joys OF
mutual Christian love were not given the
preference; wondering If that minister nov
or told his congregation Of the " sweet peace
in believing, and joy in the Holy Ghost
feeling that presentation OF the beautie:
and joys Of Christian life, the happiness of thi.
ehTlniy llc when SWceIeueu anu puTlHeu DN
the love of God and our fellow men, If prop
erly presented, would have far more inhu
once for good than the terrible threatening,
and denuneiations which had heard hclC
out for the disobodient.
Now l saw people whom knew rs politi
cal antagonists; people whose religious be
liefs were very different; people from thu
stor0 and the grange, from the farm, thu
workshop, and the counter, uniting as il
one voice to proclaim tho religion Of love
peace, and good will to men. My heart wa
filled with the beautiful and happy spirit o
the meeting. All was harmony and love
the gray-haired sire of threescore and ten
and the boy of twelve united in tho sam'
! story of Jesus and his love, and felt that
had really been in "a little heaven on earth.
Not only this, but l believe each one VIII,
joined in those exercises went forth stronge
; to meet the cares and nnxieties Of daily. lie
through the spirit Of Him who " is love.
which was there 80 freely distributed. Per
> haps some went from that meeting fully de
termined to make their homes, us one speak
er said his had just become through his bow
ing to the Savior, " a little heaven on EARTH
ZoLLIKoFFER.