Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-12-07
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

lie was White-headed man, who
had passed his fore-score years, and W as
only quietly waiting till he should be
summoned home; though TO practical
John, his son, or Martha, Johns ener-
gctic wife, he seldom oflate had spoken
concerning this, for he had overheard
them talking Of him TO each other, with
compassionate pity. " Childish" they
said he was growing. " and n little trou-
blesome withal." So he had got in the
way OF remaining on the sunny piazza
in fine weather; sitting there with the
open Bible till the rays Of the sctt;n :
sun threw their fading gleam over the
rim OF the western hill, when he quiet
IL went To his own room.
Not that they were unkind to him
oh no! Only John said that " fathers
faculties are not what they used to be"
and Martha, who was orderly 10 pam
fui degree, was worried when she
found his cane or his spcctacles mis-
placed-and then he often forgot to
bring the easy-chair in from the porti-
co, or omitted TO hang his hat on its Gus
tomary nail in the entry.
" ! do wish you would be more par
ticular. father" she had said, rather
sharply; " you left the west door open
twice to-day, and you always forget to
wipe your feet on the husk mat"
1t was not the words that touched
him so deeply, but the tone.
As he took his accustomed place, af-
ter dinner, on the pleasant portico, he
felt a greater degree of languor steal
over him than usual: so much 80 that
he said rather ieebly to Martha, ho
was vigorously sweeping the little en-
try:
guess, Martha. if you'll give me
your arm, Ill lay down spell on the
soty in the dinin' room: don't feel as
though | could get up stairs to bed"
" Nonsense, father" was Martha's
careless answer. d" dinin rooms got to
be swept and aired, the furniture busted
and the drugget put down: YOU d better
sit still spell, and, if you don't feel
better, I'll come out and help you up
stairs"
The afternoon waned: and as the old
man watched the shadows creep over
the purple hills, golden ray fingered
for moment on the open leaf of his
Bible, by whose soltened light his
dimmed eyes read:
He giveth power to the faint: and
to them that have no might. lie in
creaseth strength. Even the youth
shall faint and be weary, and the young
man shall utterly fail"
The tide of years rolled back. and he
saw himself, young. willful and pleas
ure-ioving, casting behind him all re-
straint. taking his own path, that led
now through ilowery meadows, but Of
tenest over steep mountains and bv the
edge of terrible abysscs, plucking from
ovsrhangiug boughs fair fruits which
nauscated, and yainly attempting to
slake his thirst with bitter waters, al
ways striving TO reach gorgeous CITY
whose palaced domes appeared ever
ahead-the city of cloudland. And
then he saw hand outstretchcd, lead
IN the wayward youth from the road
he had chosen. and with thrill of full
ness OF JOY he saw Him cruc,fed. saw
ing: " Follow Me:" and in spirit he
again .ose up and followed; leaving the
past with its sins in the hand that had
first guided him; no tears might avail
to blot them out. no remorse could atone
for them-only in Gods keeping was
the past lost To view.
Onentimes fainting, with feet weary
and sometimes bleeding, he followed
the divine footsteps through the wears;
sometimes 50 nigh him that he could al
most touch the hem of his garments:
sometimes at distance, when his form
seemed indistinct and shadowy, he
tainted by the way-side and fain would
rest; but even then did the prophecy
come true, and asking, his strength was
increased.
His way, in the last years, had been
through deep rivers, but when al times
their waters had almost gone over him
and yet had recedcd, even then had he
seen the form OF Him whom he followed
stM beckoning from the other shore.
and he had heard His voice saving !.
Lo. | am with YOU all the DAYS, even
unto the end"
They that wait on the Lord" The
gscaming OF the evening was around
him, but he wist not: the words seemed
TO shine from the page before him.
Have | not waited on thee, Lord, +"
was the cry of his heart, =" imperfeetly
and feebly, yet according to the strength
which thou gavest me. Lord besus. let
not my waiting be very long. if so be
thy holy WILL