Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-10-02
Beautiful Thoughts.

A story is told of n woman who freely
used her tongue to the scandal of others,
and made her confession to the priest OF
what she had done. He gave her II ripe
thistle-top, and told her to 60 out in vari-
Gus directions, and scatter the seeds, one
by one. Wondering ut the strange pen
ance, she obeyed, and then returned and
told her confcssor. To her Amusement he
babe her 90 back and gather the scattered
seeds; and when she objected on the ground
that it would be impossible, he replied
that it would be still more impossible to
gather up and destroy all the evil reports
which she had circulated about others
ANY thoughtless, careless child can scatter
handful of thistle seeds before the wind
but the wsesl and strongest man cannot
gather them again.
We never wake in the morning but W.
want strength for the day; we never 20 10
bed al night without needing grace to COW
er the sins of the past. We are needy Al
all periods of life; when we begin with
Christ in our journey days we need to be
kept from sins and folIies. In middle life
our needs are greater, and in old age we
are needy still. So needy are we that in
lying down to die we need our last bed to
be made for us in mercy. So needy are
we that if Jesus had not prepared Il man
sion for US in Heaven We should have no
place to dwell in, We are full of wants,
as the sea is full of water. We NUT keep
those two adjeclves close together IN oul
confession, Il am poor and needy"
There is wonderful clock in the great
an bnbrnl ut Str.Shtru whi,.h
thousands of visitors. 1t tells the hours,
seconds. months and seasons of the year.
at twelve o'clock Il cock crows thrice, and
twelve apostles walk around figure OF the
Lord. But there is II more wonderful
clock than this, which you may see ut any
time IL was Gods will that man should
BIZ able to measure and reckon time, THAI
he might learn its value AMI regulate its
employ ment For this purpose he has
placed in the heavens II most magnificent
and perfect clock, which tells the hours,
days, weeks, months, seasons and years ;
II clock which no one winds up, goes con
stanty and never goes wrong.
lie who knows nothing of pillow prayers
is ignorant of ono of the sweetest modes OF
prayer open to men on earth. The day
with its cares being gone, it is II good time
for candid. sincere thoughts OF ourselves,
our sins, our wants, our hopes; and the
turning of them up heavenward. Many Il
tlmid boy at arding school has kept alive
his priced communion with his Father on
high, and saved his soul by pillow prayers
Boys try them. Girls don't neglect them
Invallds with eyes held open in the weary
night season, di,lrust not pillow-prayers
Almost every person wants to be doing
some great thing something that heroes
and herones have done; but little thing
common, everyday thing, such thing
rs must be done out of every body's Sigh
in daily home duties Or in school, or ir
business, that seems IL poor kind work tt
DO for the Lord. Naaman's servants saw
in their masters face this very feeling
when he refused to go and wash in ih'
Jordan. 1t took some time to bring him
to reason, and make him see that the little
thing he was bid to do was the best ant
the greatest in the end.
Our highest thoughts do not reach wha
will be the level of our happiness hereafter
At first our everlasting life will be like ;
summers day, so calm and beautiful ant
long. But it will prove a day th,t will
last on and on and on. And when nj
night comes. and when we do not &c
weary, and all things keep Frightening
about us, rs the eyes ofour understanding
open-then, little by little, we should be
gin, in awe and wonder, to feel what it i
TO be immortal.
| In one of the coal mines of England
there is the constant formation of new
rock from the dropping of water. Th'
water is full of lime, which it deposits a
it falls. When work is going on, and dus
flying, the lime is colored gray. Day anC
night are thus marked with layers o
white and gray. On Sabbath there i
formed BROAD white stratum, which thu
miners call " Sunday stone.'
Who can tell but 10 angel eyes there ar
white marks in our hearts and character
formed by every one of our sweet, peace
full Sabbaths of holy rest? Be content t.
have quiet Sabba,hs. The still hours ar
needed that the foul dust of earth ma
settle, and, in the same, be formed whit
mark.