St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-03-17
ST. c5ohnsburp Galrdonian.
Light for Darkened Homes.
t. John.nury. VI. Friday. March1,. 1876.

SERMON BY REV. c. l.. GooDELL. ID. ID.
lis it well with the child And she answered 1t
is we'll Kings, I2b
The ShunammIte mother had Il little
boy who went out into the harvest-iield.
PLAYING among the reapers. One day
he was taken i'll and ran to his father.
in his distress. say ing. My head. my
head - His father. peIceiving his sud
den sickness. said to Il servant lad,
..CarIy him to his mother; and when
he had taken him and brought him to
his mother, he sat on her knee until
noon, and then died.
This sad incident of child sickness
and death. drawn 10y hand 81 wonder
fully natural and vivid. Is the llfe-llkc
counterpart of scenes occurring among
us in this great city every day oht
hom the little child WAS well and happy
at his play the next hour he became
sick. and ian as fast as he could go to
his father. How like a child. to seek
his father when trouble comes. He WAS
borne home and put III his mothers
tender care. She folded him to her
bosom and soothed him, and did every
thing that love could do. bat the little
fellow was very sick, and dropped and
sank away rapidly, and before noon
died IN his mothers arms. W heu she
had watched his breath go ont, and
wept. and could do no more. she went
up and laid him on the bed, and left
him there. his sweet face i'll the marble
of death. his busy feet still, his little
soft hands folded, his lips mute.
ON his cheeks, instead of the two
roses. were two lilies. The music of
that home WAS hushrd in helpless, SOL
rowtul silence. No longer sunshine and
laughter. but shadows and tears. The
father will return, but no smile from
his little child will greet him. The hot
August sun OF this Sabbath looks down
on many parents who have passed
through experience like this. and know
all the anguish and suffering i'll theTa.
Ina her distress the Shunammite moth
er went in haste to the man of God.
Sorrow sends us to religion. GehaZl,
the servant of Elisha, met her. and
fearing she was in trouble. said lis it
we'll with the child ?" II question that
is often asked now in city and countIy.
What answer did she give him 1t was
IL question which tested all her t;Iitl and
submission. How easy to have rchcllcd
and mulmurcd "lS it well with the
child ?" Her sweet Christian reply was.
it is we'll. The little CHILD is dead. The
house gIaddcncd 10y his presence and
pIattlc il gloomy and still. lie was II
manly, beautiful boy, cheerful as the
song of the reaperS. But my lleav-
cnly Father did it, and open
not my mouth. He faded ont of my
arms to live in the bosom of the eternal
home. The little head that ached has
IL crown now. There will be Il fresh
grave on the earth but ii new star III the
skies. One child less here, but one
more angel III the singing choir> above.
He will have less of earth, but more of
heaven. 1T is we'll it is we'll with the
child.
As did the Shunammite mother, 81 do
Nou, who have become her sisters III
grief God holds light for Your foot
steps in these dark places You are pass
ing through. He has staff for your
weakened hands all along the rugged
way. You are lonesome, but Nou are
not alone east down. bat not folSaken.
You are parting with treasure these
summer days. and will, parting with it,
not losing it. and the f;ircWclls are sor-
sowfully spoken. But God is making
up his jewels. his little jewels. and it
would he >addcr for YOU. If he wanted
none of yours for his crown.
There is nothing that tends molc to
unsecularize life than Il great sorrow.
In our hcrcaNcmeuts. the shadow ofGud
lies ali bright about us on the earth,
and If We will believe and follow. God
Himself comes through the curtain to
soothe and lead his sufferers.
There Is no class 81 interesting a. the
little children. They draw forth our
best feelings. They awaken and keep
alive the trndcIcSt side of our nature.
They add zest and charm 70 life, and
soften and >wectcn all our being. Our
most lasting work l. for the children.
1t is malhl chiSeled for the ages. Our
most attractive institutions are built IN
THEN behalf. All grades of society are
filled with most delightful provisions
for their enjoyment and culture They
afford some of the brightest spots in
memory. The tondcSt hopes OF the flu
tine center on them. The fair forms OF
children. ever coming and going, like
shadows Oh summer grasses. fill the
world, generation after generation. with
their wlnsomemcSs and glee. Earth
would lie still more unlike heaven with
ont them. Take away flower, and bind.
and star from the world. but leave the
children Danish the laughter of the
waves, and the melody of song. but
leave the children. OF all great books.
the Bible takes the childIeu most into
its plains.
The Old Testament begun its work of
salvation with Il seed II promised child.
All its institutions are built on the hope
of offspring. Its great promises to the
world are through children. Ewes
brighter day was through Il child to be