Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-02-12

spselhIl Inquiry
I.ost oppoHnnlllesT Whose and
what, tell me my counsellor and
friend,
lilo paused IN his walk, aud remoy'
ing igom his shoulder the scylhe, 10
rested on il and began
I'VE have gone back Tar enough to
learn the lessoa Of the day, Tie dis
lance We have walked IA IN time one
year, The wrecks aad rufus so have
passed, and lhoss nov 10 sight, arc
tho resolutions made, The purposes
formed, the works began, the chances
enjoyed, the means neglected lhs
mischief done, deeds leit unfinished,
friendship lost, Sabbalh' 'polle''
months run 10 waste, weeks liultless,
days idled away, hours spent ~ vain !
each one 81 these lot opportunities
IL q wreck AMI skeleton on the path
way of Thy eSi'tence' ilad't thou
done thy whole duly In this Que year
over which no have walked, tbs shall
tered frame, nov helple'Sly ruined
would have been In beautiful opera
ton, working out u noble mission Tor
tho good al mau, llad'1 thou
stretched 0ut u baud 10 save llie strug'
Cling fyllow,man. 90 let him lean on
lhy shoulder, when he was weak aud
thou strong for the struggle OF lile'
he would now he by Thy side, or II
! LETT behind would he praying Tor thee,
as he pressed on toward the mark
Yon have done we'll for yourself, hut
no man llyeth to himself, It he lives
rightly. You may make long jour-
ncy aud at last rest from your labor''
but you will never forget those me-
MORALS OF lost opportunities that now
cry TO thee from the ground"
/ was cut to the heart by these
words Of rcproof, and in my remorsc,
perhaps inspired by that terrible allo'
sion to tho death of Abel, exclaimed,
cam ! my brothers Keeper
Certainly, thou art" he said, with
camncss that was more severe III
contrast with the earnestness OF my
cy." "The whole world is kin, and
thy brother is he unto whom thou
cans't do a good turn, as both pursue
the journey Of lie. All are parts OF
one great whclc members OF a large
family the strong must bear the
burdens of the weak 4; the tempted
are to be shielded they that ere out
of the way arc to be reclaimed the
shining, yer, the very wicked are
to be sought and saved
"And shall have one more year in
which to repent Inc of the past and TO
do works meet for repentenceT
And old Father Time shouldered
his scythe, turned himself about, took
me by the hand and said, softly
.sThat is not for thee of me to know.
Thy times are in the hands Of Him
who gave thee life and opportunities.
The present is thine, and Of that only
art thou sure. Improve the present.
With thy might do what thy hand
tindeth to DO. Tomorrow never is.
Yesterday is gone forever. Now is
the accepted time; behold now is the
day of salvation.
He was gone scythe and all; his
| snow Wnite BeaTu sun sio"S !" ny
mind. but the vision was past, the
sunlight was piercing the crevices OF
the window blinds, and the shout OF
"Happv New Year" announced the
advent of another morn.
But it was not all dream, The
river flows toward the sea. The YES
sells, with their freight and the sailors,
are borne onward. The pathway is
thronged with travellers, brothers and
sisters all. The year is to be full OF
opportunities, golden opportunities to
be useful. In the household lie the
best and hottest duties to be done. "A
cheerful heart, and voice, and counte-
nance, an open hand, word OF bless
ING when another heart is weary or
in pain, the thousand littls tender ser
vices, too small to have name. prec'
ious in the eyes of love, are noted in
the book that records each cup ct cold
water child of Christ receives.
By this time the uproar was too
great for doing or meditation, and
changing the robes of night for those
of day. we were soon amid the glad
dest scenes of the year. Let us hope
that 1t will be ended as happily as it
begins. DR.. Prime, in N y. 90.
server.