St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-11-03
ST. gnhnsburp -lradrmp Column
Barriers

man race To construct walls anu barriers
of some description for the purpose of
av"rting impending danger.
To-day. the ruins of the wall built
10y the Emperor SeNeIns to keep out
from Britain the malaudng Picts and
Scots. still stretches across the bleak
moor> of Northumberland The great
wall of China. was built to keep out the
Northern harharianS from the Celestial
Kingdom. Medieval cities are sur
rounded 10y walls and towers of i'm
mensc strength. to ward of the armies
of nations.
Modern barriers are constructed with
Il different end in view. for protection
against natures destructive elements.
For this pun Ipo>c We build fire walls and
lcvce>: our haIh"rS are protected 10y
break waters: railroads are covered
with SNOW sheds: and in short every
thing that human ingenuity can devise
is used for our safety. Let Us look at
the case of Holland. Ages ago. that
bordering on the North sea and known
a> the Kingdom ot the Netherlands.
consisted of large tracts of swamp and
mInI;l>> watrrcd 10y several large rivers.
BN the expenditure of many millions OF
capital. the people constructed huge
dl k,>. extending many miles on both
river and coast line.
They reclaimed much valuable land
that before waS Il waterN waste. and
where formerly rolled the hilnW> of
the North Atlantic, now stand the
homes of Il contcutcd and industrious
people. Nothing WAS neglected every
prccaution was taken to make these
barriers impIegnablc to the watery elc-
mcnt but nature sometimes oNcrCame
man. the waves have often burst
through their limits. spread over the
hald-rancd land and eryWhcre car
ricd death and devastation.
In some instances the land has never
been recovered: though generally the
people have risen from each succeeding
misfortune and proved themselves equal
to the emergency. New dN kc> have
replaced the old watchmrm patrol
them To guard and give warming on ap-
plnacl of danger: machinery and hard
Labor have restored to them their sub
merged possessions.
The Importance of strong walls and
barriers to ward from Us the billows ot
evil that constantly surround us can
scarcely he over estimated. Our >itua-
ti"n is often as precariou> ;> that of the
IIollander>. We are hourly encom-
passed 10y Il sea. which if not kept at
bay hccopncS in its cncroachmrntS more
terrible than the waves of the North
Sea.
Invasion 10y the forces that surround
us does not mean temporary ruin: it
means Il lasting devastation. We may
look on scenes of Undesirable lowell
ness; we may appreciate all the enjoy
mcntS OF the S,n>c>: but let us bc sur,.
of our dN keS. The waves that cmcirclc
us will come ripping in before our eyes
radiant and glittcring with every i'm
aginablc form of small temptations. and
will break at our feet in IL low thrill of
irresistible music. They will cntice us
on and on with their bright promises.
until the hOarSe roar of the coming
storm bursts on our startled cuIS. and
Il. !,
ing on their threatening, toamy creSt>
the images of deeper sorrow. These
waves will thoroughly test our walls.
the fort will he hard pressed, every
nook and crevicc will he watched and
woe hc it to us if the walls fail. Hence
we must bc cncompasScd by barriers of
strong moral courage; we must live III
fortress of strong moral principle.
We are to blame for failure; but We
are still more to blaine if we do not re
build our barriers by beginning anew
and doing constantly in the right dircc-
tion.
At least. when our walls are empty.
and we ascend above, when We knock
at Heavens gate, when the Christ God
meets us, asking, ''llave We kept your
barriers firm Have We been strong and
enduring unto the end - what shall We
answer? +. r Is.
NEIGHRORs' CHILDREN.-A farmer
WAS walking with IL friend through Il
beautiful meadow, when he chanced to
observe Il thistle growing thriftily on the
opposite side of the fence. lmmedi-
atcIl he sprang over and cut it off close
to the ground. Is that your field
asked the other. - y no but bad
weeds don't care much for fences. If
should leave that thistle To blossom on
my neiphbol's field, should soon have
rlentv in my own" His answer may
serve as IA hint to fathers and mothers
1t is of importance to them how then
neiphbor's children turn out. Heal l.
weeds care less than thistles for bound
e ary fences. Boys and girls VIII" go to
the same school. or who live Ill the same
ueipbborhood, catch many tlalt hoh