The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-06-20
For the Hartford Herald.
Beautiful Thoughts.

1rhceton, NY. L. h. RlCHEY.
We ARE TRAVELLERS CLEANING By THE
wAY-sIDE.
The subject is one that opens an OK
tensiye field OF thought to every mind Ca
pable Of appreciation and reflection. 1t
pictures life so familiarity and yet 30 sub
lime that the scene pleascs while it over
vLeli1s us with grandeur and beauty.
BY its study some Of the deepest emotions
of the soul are awakened-some ofthe
sweetest and saddest.
Our being travellers suggests that we are
persuins journey;-a journey through
this beautiful world which we inhabit,
circlipg amid others still greater. We
view the world with all Of its lofty
mountains, beautiful landscapes mighty
rivers and variety Of plants, flowers and
fruits reminds US of those that grew in the
garden of Eden. But nothing, Of all these
diversified beauties, presents 50 sublime u
spectacle to man, and so elevates his con-
ception of the Deity as does n contemplaS
ton ofthe heavenly bodies. We see the
sun, moon, and stars shining in their si~
lent mysterious orbits, decorating the
canopy OF heaven, and making beautiful
the darkness Of night When we view
these and think Of each being a world,
We feel that there is a hidden Power, a
Great First Cause and feel like ex-
claiming with the Psalmist: lord, what
is man, that Thou art mindful of him;
and the son of man, that thou visited
himY' Yet God has planted in our being
a principle, which continually urges us
on to new acquisitions, teaching US that
we are but sojoiners, and shall live when
amid these scenes Of enchantment and
beauty which exist around and above us,
man was placed in a state of perfect bliss.
Not contented with this, he volunteerily
abandoned the paradise OF purity and en-
tered the kingdom of sin. Since that
time men have been travellers along the
journey of life, cleaning by the way-sidc,
until landed on the shores OF eternity.
This is proved by every thing around us.
five ascend a lofty mountain, beneath us
we shall see in the distance the mighty
ocean with ships blowing its waves and
going on to come unknown haven; the
placid lake and little skiff with pleasure
seekers daStiny along its fiowary Drinks.
and the Inoonbeam's silvery light reflect-
ell in its liquid depth; the hills covered
with green forests, which wave in the
breeze as fields of grain at harvest time
We descend and see around us fields and
meadows. luxUriant orchards, meander.
ing streams, the shepherd and his flock,
other men hurryins to and fro in the
busy pursuits of life, and tall ancestral
trees surrounding enchanted old castles,
which bring to the imagination vivid
scenes Of pleasure and romance. We see
highways Of commerce leading IN every
imaginable direction thronged with per-
sons going and returning. All these give
evidence OF travellers ladened with what
they have 10y the way-side This is only
q faint sketch of what we gather in our
natural world; but who would, for an in-
slant, compare these gleamiugs with what
may accrue to US 10 the intellectual and
moral world; Is not the soul with its ca
pacity for eternal happiness more granN
than mountains, oceans, seas, lakes, rivers
or highways of commerce Is not the
mind with its thoughts that wander
through eternity and its wealth of intel
lectual power, an object of more interest
and Importance than all Of the treasures
of earth? Who would attempt to draw
a comparison between the visible and the
invisible world? We are incapable, aud
caa only invoke God to help US realize
that I'VE are travellers cleaning by the
wayside," and to guide and direct us in
such manner that We shall only CLEAN
that which is for our welfare and happi-
ness. We CLEAN worldly and spiritual
goods, but in all cases we reap only az We
SOW. Our day and generations afford i'm
mense advantages for intellectual and
moral culture. In these we must sow
if We would reap. Many of us do not
SOW and still expect to reap. Many SOW
sparingly and their proceeds are not so
much as they anticipate. Lives are not
always what they hope TO be. How
many tired feet faint and falter; how
many eyes grow dim with watching for
the dawn that never breaks. Cau one
SOW sin aud reap righteousness. prccras-
tination. and 'reap promptness, idleness
and reap wealth or knowledge? No! to
hope for this would be vain delusion,
for as the seed arc so the frat will be.
Ny dear classmates, our happy school
days will soon exist only in memory
many of us will part perhaps to meet nc
/ ulOIS' we HTc dOOul " iSdNO IhC plaOS
and friends we love so well, and laaneh
upon the active sea OF lie. 1t is i'm
portant that we steer our course Alright
and ask ourselves as we journey on
whittier are we tending and what CLEAN
ing.
'"Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours
AEd ask them what report they bore to heaven
We have manifold duties to discharge
toward Others and character to form fol
ourselves; and nothing can do this for u
we must do it, aided alone by the grea
Jehovah. 1t is of the greatest impor
lance that character be formed in youth
We shall exert an influence either 70
good or evil, which will widen and ex
tend as time moves on, and thsrsfore GU
every action, word and even though