Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-14
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Change.

How insidiously the hand Of change steals
upon us Often along life's devious pathway
is its icy hand laid upon its brightest and fair
est prospects, blighting hopes prospective
blossoms and chilling the fair, fIail buds Of
expectancy, while the fond tendrils Of trust
ing faith often lie torn aud dismembered
from about the once reliable support. For
"Change is written on the tide,
On the forests leafy pride
On the streamlets cleaning bright
On the ieweled crown Of night"
And how forcibly in the succession Of the
quickly years we arc brought to
feel the transitions to which all are liable.
Then let US each see to it that if change be
inevitable to us as to all else, time may bring
no cause of reproach to us individually in
its changeful fight. Let US not in any real
ity feel that
"Our life is but tale, dance, dream,
A little wave that frets and ripPles by.
Our hopes the bubbles that IL bears along,
Born with a breath and broken with sigh"
Life to us should have broader, grander
meaning than the faIlacies of dream, the
explosive corporations Of a bubble. We
live to do and endure, as well as to move,
and breathe and have being.
The grandest lives are ever those from
which flows the greatest good to our fellow
men, and from whose Utmost soul trad
iates the purest incense of enduring influence,
like sweet odor distilling itself upon the
barren and desolate wastes of life. "lnas-
much as ye do it unto one Of the least Of
these ye do it unto Me-" says one whose
| life was a continual incense Of "love TO God
aud good will to man"
No one of us can live to self alone. An
influence must emanate from our existence ;
let that influence fall upon the few or the
many, in the sweet, secluded walks OF life,
upon the rough, barren wilderness which is
TO be made to blossom as the rose; or upon
the broader fields Of intellectual labor, where
many minds imbibe our written sentiments.
Everywhere may the "good seed" be scat
tered broadcast.
We have the assurance of one that cannot
lie, that it "shall not return to US void, but
shall accomplish that which He pleaseth. y
"He that goeth forth weeping, bearing pre-.
cious seed, shall doubtless come again bring
ing his sheavos with him." 1t may not be our
to reap or gather into barns, yet He that
giveth the early and the later rain shall him
self garner the rich, ripe grain, aud we shall
find it'yet again 10 the stOrehouse of God
when He makes up His jewels. There il
much to live for, aud much TO make lii,
sweet to those who seek to walk Alright. W,
are abundantly rewarded for every good deed
or noble, sef'sacrifcing action. One broker
word Of gatitude from crushed or broker
heart, which the oil Of sympathy may hav
soothed and healed by the fond bands of low
through our ministration, brings a deeper
purer glow of happiness than many ga.
sound Of thoughtlOss mirth. Many swee
friendship may thus he formed, that shall b.
enduring as life, and grow purer and brighte
until the perfect day, when all shall be Swsl
lowed up in the ever-increasing beauties o
eternity. Notwithstanding life is changeful
yet
'Ihe summer Of life bears not all aeeting flowers
For a wreath Of immortelos forever is oursi
And their fragrance and beauty treasure at RooI
AS holy memento OF LIES sunny June"
1t is now the time of the holiday
Thanksgiving aud Christmas, with thei
happy reunions, festivities, etc, have passed
{ happy to some, yet o, how many have passe
) the precious hours in sorrow aud sadness
! And have we done all in our power to chang
3 sorrow into Joy, and soothe the heart by al
guish riven, with thoughts OF Him who's
y life was given to Danish fear2 Seyenty-6V'
/ dear to us by many sacred associations, mus
: be wrapped in its snowy shroud, having lai
, down its Sceptre, and be known no NOR
/ save in the Utmost heart where memoir
0 reigus supreme monarch, aud to Him VII
0 numbers the countless ages Of eternity.
b The hopes that have been born and hay