Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-30
I Blot Out a Day.

keep on desk before me calendar of
the year, with the day Of each week by nu-
merals. When the day is passed draw
my pen across a figure or the figures re-.
presenting day. 1t is gone, and blot it
out. So far as the column Of numerals is
concerned, can do SO.
But am startled by the words, II blot
out day. A day is a wheel in the great
machinery of life-a link in the chain OF
my probation. It is as truly Fart of vi
tai and essential being as year or GEN.
fury. The day is given me. Will it van
ish at my bidding? did not originate it,
I only received it. have no more power
to blot it out than to bring it in.
It was gift. How should treat the
Giver if could and would blot it out? It
came as a proof of the love Of the Glver.
To many that day came not. It was! on
it's way, but the chain broke. But Divine
kindness would not allow me to be loser.
Shall not honor the Oliver?
A day of sadness perhaps! Blot it out
for that reasonp If my sins made the
sadness of the day, then let the day stand
"a memento of and reminder of my folly.
That day is worth saving that brings such
voice Of reproof. Perhaps the day was
sad under Divine discipline. Surely, then,
it ought to stand lest, blotting it out, Of
fence be given to Him who af1lcts s'for our
profit that we might be partakers of His
holiness.''
A day of gladness, perhaps-the sky
bright. the air balmy. joy IN friends and
all worldly comforts above all, joy in the
Lord and gladness in his salvation. Shall
mar such beautiful picture? Shall I
blot out such day? AS erase the figure
with pen shall drop it out of my mind
as if there had never been such day? Is
this the kind return?
A dayl That day just erased from my
calendar. how much could have been ac-
commplished in it What noble river of
holy emotions might have rolled through
my soul in that one day! What fervor of
love, ardor in prayer, and workings Of
faith, bringing the light and joy of heaven
unto the soul
There hangs my calendar. I cannot
blot out much longer. The last day of
the year is at hand. The symbols of W hat
remains may be erased by my driving pen;
but these links of life-these waymakers
of the path to eternity, these gifts of God,
these opportunities of usefulness my
gratitude shall welcome them, MY love and
zeal carry out their great design. They
shall aid in the grand result, that my
name shall not be blotted out Of the Book
of Life.
A WONDERFUL CLoCK.-The most
astonishing thing a contemporary ever
heard of in the way of a time piece is a
clock described by a Hindoo rajah as be-
longing to native prince of Upper India,
and jealousy guarded as the rarest treas
ure of his luxurious palace. In the front
of the clocks disc was gong, swung upon
poles, and near it was pile of artificial
human limbs. The pile was made up OF
the full number of parts of twelve perfect
bodies. but all lay heaped together in
seeming confusion.
! Whenever the hands Of the clock indi-
Gated the hour of one, out from the pile
crawIed just the number of parts needed
to form the frame of one man, part join.
ing itself to part with quick metallic
click; and, when completed the figure
sprang up, sliced mallet, and, walking
up to the gong, struck one blow that sent
the sound pealing through every room and
corridor in the stately palace. This done
he returned to the pile and fell to pieces
again. When two o'clock came, two men
arose and did likewise: and SO through all
the hours, the number of figures being the
same as the number of the hour, till al
noon and at midnight the entire heal
sprang up, and, marching to the gong
struck one after another each his blow
and then fell to pieces.
HE that pryeth into every cloud may b.
stricken with thunderbolt.
PLEASURE comes through toll and no
by self-indulgence or Incidence.