The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-21
Beautiful Thoughts.
Sunday 1n.the YplIey.

It wasa beautiful, brightmorning, and
all nature proclaimed thatit was the Sab
bath-the day of peace and rest and wor-
ship. Aholy stiffness brooded in the air,
and cnyeloped theYmountains and the val
ley. The hunt Of toil-the lowing of
herds-the warbling of birds-all were
hushed. Not a sound, or an echo, broke
upon the heavenly repose. The breeze
swept stealthily through the air, and rus
tied not a leaf, and shook not a flower.
The babbling brook and impetuous river
fettered their chatting currents. The cas-
cade and the cataract muff1ed the foaming
floods that madly leaped down their rug
gcd walls. Not O cloud tlecked the azure
of the heavens. The sun shone with q
soft, rosy light. The sky was ,darkly,
deeply, beautifully blue. The very noun
tains, in their grand loneliness, seemed to
catch the inspiration Of the scene, and
piously lift their frowning SUBMITS high
er and nearer to heaven. All the crea-
lures of Goldman and beast, mountain
and glen, earth and air-blended into one
majestic worship their voiceless tributes
of homage and praise. The very air glow
ed with devotion. AS / stood, the solitary
was recalled from my wanderings and my
worldliness by a summons mightier than
the warnings of the pulpit, and my mind
and my heart were filled with reverence
and awe, and alteration and love. Here,
in the auietude of this secluded and
full valley, amongst these towering peaks
and dark glens, I realized with a vivid
and startling consciousness the presence,
and the might, and the majesty of God.
Temples and churches, rituals and creeds
and choirs-al the solemn services Of the
sanctuary-seemed but the pious minis
try of that majestic and holier worship
which natures works 1autely render to
natures God.
Not he who gives tho most to the
church, or subscribes loudly in causes OF
charity, whose name is praised for his be-
nevolent gifts not he always possesses in
its serene beauty that pearl of great price,
u~nselfishness. Seeithat lonely woman in
yOnder tenement house, watching overs
sick neighbor in the silence Of the night
when the world is asleep and unconscious
of the waves OF sorrow rolling over it
expecting no return, for her neighbor il as
poor as herself. She will receive the re-
ward at last, when perhaps the giver Of
thousands will be classed among tho sci.
fish ones Of earth. I suppose a mothers
love for her babe approaches the nearesl
to our idea, of unseltish human affection
What sacrifice will she not make for her
child, the little helpless being that car
give her no return? When pain enwraps
its little frame, how strong she is to carry
the poor suffering one, hushing in hel
never-wearying way the pitiful cry. o.
distress; not thinking of self; tina
thought comes when care and watching
avail no more, and she sees her darling
lying in its coffin, the baby soul gone
home to God, to a deeper, sweeter love
even than a mothers.
Begin the education of tho heart, no
with the cultivation of noble propensi
ties, but with the cutting away of those
that are evil. When once the noXion!
herbs are withered and rooted out, thel
the more noble plants, strong in them
selves, will shoot upwards, The virtues
like the body, become strong. and heal
thy by labour than n%ourishlnent.-
Fighter.