Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-08-11
Selected aalistrllaup.
SATURDAY NIGHT.

One by one the days go out. Satur-
day night comes.
One by one the hopes go out. Eter-
nifty comes Like hail stones, the days
drop from the clouds Of time, to fall cold
aud dreary into the fathomless past
Each day is life-is history The
hopes of the morning are tears by night
the air castles Monday are the graves
Of Saturday, alas, too oft. God gives
US sun. life, rain, health. friends and
that which is more blessed than all golden
Hope. All the rest desert us, but Hope,
twin sister of Immortality, is ours
through the wcek-into and beyond
Saturday night--into the grave to bear
us dry and happy through the Stygian
food and on to God. Blessed Hope,
and blessed be the nights which call us to
kneel at her alter.
Changes have come during the in
term between this and last Saturday
night. Many mound in the church,
yard or cemetery marks Gods bruises
on the dcsolate human heart Many a
heart JOY has been dipped in sadness.
Many dress which one week since
was white is now the deepest mourning.
Some mourn. Some wear mourning
while the heart rejoces Some there
are whose hearts are darker than the
grave. for the lamp of love is broken
and the JOY of years has gone home.
Scarlet buds and sombrc blossom. Such
is life.
Who of us all is nearer Heaven than
one week since? Who of us have laid
up treasures above? Who of us have
mellowcd the earth in which all must
rest? The account is for or against us
We all thought and vowed one week
since to do right, but alas for tempta-
ton All Of us have argued with the
subtle reasoner-few of us have come off
victorious. Prayers have been uttered
since last Saturday night. Curses have
been invoked. The record has been
perfectly kept, and some day it will be open
to your eyes. Let us rest from labor and
renew our vows. BY the family Preside
by the family alter-by the cot and
the couch there is much to do tonight
Look back down the dark lane. See
what sad wreck is there strcwn. Hopes
which have died. Promises badly
broken. Good intentions and noble
resolutions lie bleeding and torn as far
back as the eye can reach. Hard words
lie where soft ones would have been bet
ter. There are disappointments and
betrayals. bitter words and wicked acts
strewn thick over the ground. Ruins
ruins-ruins Here and there fra
grant flower lifts its silent voice and
rears its pearly leaf to gladden. the debris
around. Here and there a blossom -
Here and there, but too far apart, can
be seen the beautiful in strange CON
trast to the ruins and wreck Life is
dark lane. Would to God there were
more loves and fewer hates. More white
and less red
How the changes come over us
What gave us joy is now a pail of ashes.
The lips we loved to kiss week since,
now have no nectarl The hand which
once thrilled in rapture at the slight
est touch of love, now forgets to
answer back. The eye has grown cold
or worse than indifferent Who is to
blame? Some one And why? None
but God can tell truly. As the sun goes
down and the Sabbath rises. let us
strive again ! Mother, clasp still closer
to your heart the pledge you now caress,
for God may want it back before another
Saturday night is yours. The pet you
kissed and caresscd one week ago has
been taken away-who will 90 next?
Deal gently with those who have erred
Heaven is forgiving. God is love.
Strive to be happy. Let kind words,
good wishes and liberality of sentiment
expand all our hearts this night, for
they are blessed influences too
plenty.
If you have a friend. draw him closer
to your heart If you have a life in
your possession, do by it as you would