Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-14

persisted the friendships formed, and the
sacred ties severed loves won and hearts |
wounded, and even broken resolves made, |
aspirations that have borne the soul upward |
unholy emotions that have chained the spirit |
TO the level with the clay particles Of earth
also the loved friends departed from earth 10
rs, alike have passed into the broad expauss
Of eternity Who Of US cen joyfully commit
all into the hands Of the All Wise, aud con-
6denty wait the unrolling Of the scroll whose
lines have been traced for US by the hand Of
the recording angel.
This brings us to the "Happy New Year."
which is 10 unfold to us new, pure page 10
our life histories. With hush Of solemn
responsibility we enter aud stand upon the
portal Of rs IT'S subject Of deep thought,
who Of us shall write with the indellible
pen Of experience upon the pure, bright
blank opened before us that which shall meet
the appreciation Of the Great Judge, who at
the close Of rs shall write for us in the
book Of life "Well done !"
This is the time Of dispensing Of gifts
"Peace on EARTH good will to men" has been
proclaimed and we would not be wanting In
the spirit Of contributing to the general joy.
Although we may not possess an abundance
Of this worlds goods, and may be of those
whose lot may not have fallen in pleasant
places, yet we may add, like the widow, our
mite. lift be but tear OF sympathy, a
kind word Of encouragement or hope, smile
Of love and pity, it may be in His sight aud
to the hearts Of earth's sorrowing ones, as
truly an act of charity as the Christmas
dinner or holiday attire, if done in His
name, This is all He requires Of us,
"soH, tender words are like the dew,
Or like the summers rain,
That like benediction falls,
And fallOth not In vain."
Thus, unconsciously, the dow drops Of ben
ediction falls upon our own wounded spirits
and instinetively tho .white-winged dove o.
peace shall fold her downy pinions, aud mak'
her abiding home within our troubled hearts
Let us seize the golden moments as they
Fly. making them the bright stepping stones
to reach the great beyond, so labering here
that our rest may be sweet when we ar
called to pass over the River, to bear thu
palm, aud wear the crown and lily whit
robes which those shall wear who shall com
, up out of great tribulaton having the
robes washed and made white in the blood o
the Lamb
This, then, is the object of life: so to liv
that we may reign, thinking not to rest unit
we lay aside the clay garments Of earth 70
the robes of immortality. Life is but th
morning of eternity. Our arduous wor
y will not be done till we obtain the crown
Thus life will be to US more than the wav
that frets and ripples by. Our hopes stretc
forth to grasp the hand Of the Infinite {
Days, and the soul in anticipation sings, d"
know that my Redeemer liveth, and becaus
! He lives l shall live also !"
Will we not, then, make life a progressiv
l work and labor of love, so running that "
i may obtain good to ourselves aud the bless
d ing of dispensing good to others, rememberin
i that the stream Of life broadens and deeper
d as it nears the fathomless ocean Of eternity
& May A. HAMIIN.
r Grore Cottage, Jackson, Me-, Dec 81.