Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-05-07
Observations Of a Retired Veteran.


Observations Of Retired Veteran.
Editors indicator:
Looking out of my side window little
while ago saw our eldest boy coming !,
home from his select school. But before
I 90 on, why select 2" am quite sure
that our boy is not selecs. HIS motner II.
daily reviewing his sins OF OMISSION sno
commission. says she never saw such a boy
in her life, and his sister VINO Is quiV0
young LADY like says if there a'rns any
better boys there then Penn it can I % very
select" And when shameless rem TO
torts that anyhow she is very gi~o "
have them come to see her and that more
of them would come If she didn't nave hel
hair banged over her nose like an 'id]glt,
can but hide smile. For what can
man say when he has said the same tnlngs
to his own sister forty years ago, as al OF
us have? I think the proprietor "T this
school has made it 'sselect" on the prlncl-
pie of q reforinatOry and has sslette oui
boy among others to make him usefu'
member Of society. In this view his mo
Their woull not agree so do't say this u
her. l take it when one says thing u
his wife which he is sure she will ops ose,
it Is pretty much like man safely
behind fence shaking red flag at an
animal in the next field. 1t may be anus
ing, but the fence ought to lie very
stron
But AS was saying, for We old people
wander great DEAL as our boy was COM
ing home my wife, who was looking out
of the window with me, remarked ''What
shall we make of that boyp' 1t is COM
mon place remark and in reply gave hel
q recipe which, to be used with full effect
can only be applied to the young. l said
I knew of something that it she. or 1, OF
God, or anybody sufficiently interested In
the boy, could make him, I would guaran
tee in return that he should have Wealth
Long Life, Health. Peace and Qulet
Death, and to these 1 would throw in thu
love and respect of his fellow men. She
looked incredulous and when l addet
make him u follower of Christ's teach
ings,' she looked shocked, for she is VERY
orthodox and looked at this as levity, To-
the majority OF Christians it seems to mi
concern themselves so much with th'
spiritual results of their doctrines tina
they forget the material. But as a bust
ness operation l would make our boy wba
( say. He would grow up without bal
habits, that gives him health; be would b.
industrious and not squander his money
that would inevitably give him wealth be
fore many years; he would deal with hi
fellow men conscientlously, and tina
would give him peace with them, and b
would love them and in return would re
ceive their love and respect; finally hi
death would not come at an unseasonabl
time and his departure would be regretted
more by others than by himself. 1t is
discouraging reflection that this recipe 70
spending the time on earth can only b
given to the young. It is hard to kno,
that it must be denied to those whose face
are turned towards the red West and VIII
would give the world if they could loo
back on an unclouded way, and thai
however low, grey heads may be bowed
entreaty, it cannot be given them. 1t ma
not be. Whatever the eleventh hour IL
borer may be promised for future worl
he has forever lost the opportunity {
seeing the early morning dew on tn
grapes in the vineyard of this earth. Their
is great deal more in Christianity tina
mere Heaven" Admission to heaven
at best a chance when applied for late
life, but affairs of this world the younl
can get into their own hands. 1t Is we VIII
are not young that know this. sal
some of these things to my wife and sh
looked at me with unusual tenderness
we look at those who have missed that. "
cannot make up to them. And that nigt
as sat looking out of the window at til
stars which have come out with the Sprin
. and which it is great enjoyment to m
! to watch, she was longer at her prayer
| and heard choking sob. I think 81
was making an appeal for her boy-an
perhaps for one other very dear to her. fl
whom this recipe comes. alas, too latel
Sitting in the corner Of my pew the otl
ser day heard a sermon which was tol
by my neighbour, coming out, was abb
conclusive and convincing. was glad
know it and trust it slew many Of tt
unbelieving in their tracks. 1t wi
reconciling, Predestination and Free VII
= To nv neighbOr Robinson, to whom ca