Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-15
NO. PA
Miseellauepns.
A RETROSPECTIVE SERMON.

Rev. Dr. Talmags preached sermon on Retro
spection, in which he said on small island just
oil Nova Scotia, passed Sabbath in delightful
solitude. l had resolved would have one day Of
entire quiet before l entered on my autumn york.
had thought to spend the day in laying plaps for
Christan work; instead of that it became day
of tender reminisce noes. reviewed my psstor-
ate and shook hands with long departed friends.
My days of boyhood came back; WAS ten years
old. eight years, tve years. There was bus one
house on the island, and yet from Sabbath day
break, when the birds chant woke me- tin the
evening melted into the Bay Of Fundy, from shore
to shore, there were ten thousand memories, and
all the groves filed with voices that long ago
ceased. Youth is apt too much to spend all It's
time IN looking forward; old age in looking back
ward, but those who are in middle life look both
ways. But still we spend good deal OF our time
in anticipation; we live not so much in 1877 ss IN
1880, 1890 and 1900, and think of the fortunes we
will make, and the success we will achieve. see
no harm in it if it does not make US disseminated
with our present lot, but it is good thing also to
look back and see the mercies we have received.
propose to pass in review this morning some of
our advantages in trouble; it is precious har-
vest, and must be careful how sweep the scythe.
Among,the advantages of your early life was
your home and its surroundings; the bad men Of
to-day, for the most part, dipped their heated pas
sions out of the bubblIng spring of an unhappy
home. Perhaps your early life was in the city.
II might have been in the days when Canal street,
New York, was far out of town, and the site of
this present church was an excursion into the
country. The old house may have been demol-
ished, but you it still the sitting room where
the loved ones sat by the lamplight; the mother
at the evening stand; brothers and sisters long
ago gathered to rest, then plotting mischief on
the floor or under the table; the father with firm
voice, commanding silence that lasted half min
ute. Your mirths and griefs were April sunshine
and showers, your heart had not been racked with
bubbles, and no lamb had . warmer sheepfod
than the home in which your childhood nestled.
Or perhaps you were brought mp in the country.
I GU stand under the old tree that you climbed
before the fruit WAS ripe; the brook murmurs over
the pebbles; you step behind your father in his
shirt-sleeves, shouting to the lazy oxen; you
frighen the swallows from the rafters OF the barn
to get their eggs; you drink out OF the bucket ct
the well; you go for the cows at night and find
them with their heads through the bars. Now
you may have beautiful flowers brought you from
other lands, but their fragrance does not equal
that of new mown hay or the buckwhest waited
over the white scrubbed hall of the house. II
The father who came home and wiped the sweat
from his brow may have gone to his everlasting
rest, the mother whose voice was mellowed with
the vicissitudes OF many years, may have laid
down her gray head on its pillow in the valley,
but forget that home you never can. Have you
thanked God for Thank God for Christian IA
ther and Christian mother, and for your early
Christian home. There was another passage in
your life. The time came when you set up your
own household, and the days passed along quietly
and pleasantly. You twain sat at the table morn.
ing and night, and talked over plans for the fu-
ture, and the most Insignificant affairs became the
subject OF consultation and advisemept. But by-
and-by your house was filed with the music OF
childhood's laughter, and you were struck through
with the thought that you had tremeptlors 70.
sponsibility. Have you fulfilled your trust have
you neglected any Of those duties is your home
as much to you as it used to be NJ III
God help you IN your "reminiscences, and let hi,
mercy TALL on your soul If your kindness has bee
Ill requtted. God have mercy on the parent on
the wrinkles ol whose face is written the record
of child's sin. There are many sad sounds in
this sad world, but the ssddest sound ever heard
is the breaking of mothers heart. Are there
any here who remember that in that home thew
were unfaithfnli -
Are there those here who wandered of from that
early home and left that mother to die With 4
broken heart stir the reminscence to. .dsy: can
be that you sowed thorns in that vay can il he
that you killed herr Among your other blessing,
was the conviction of sin, your repentance, md
iorsiveness p ana admission in the church of God.
But you have had your troubles too, and thew
may have been so various that will venture 10
take only your first and your last There were
times in your life when everything was musical:
you had health and hope, and you wondered how
any oooy could Do sad; You had no idea that the
nush on your chids cheek was unhea lthy.
Death In slippered feet walked around the cradle
and you could not hear him, but after while the
truth flashed on your brain. You felt as though
you could not put down the long lashes over the
orignt eyes tnat never more would sparkle; il
was your first trouble, but God comforted YOU.
Perhaps your last trouble has been sickness, but
you are well again, OF better. Thank God for
that. Thank Him for His mercies; in sickness
thank him for past health; in adversely, thank
linn ior prosperity. All "reminiscences, however,
SHRINK isto insignifcance before the "reminiscences
be then -