The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-04-08

But they soon tind, to their almost infinite COST
sometimes, that deep under current OF stern
and sterling facts underhe and fow through It
like food; and when they step down into
this, as soon they must in Gods good time, 1t
overwhelms and bears them away.
would that this experience through which
We are passing might teach us the need OF
more preparation and discipline for the work
OF life before US; there would be less failure,
less tragedy and more OF happiness in lie II
this were 60.
Sitting here as we do to-day in the presence
of this memory. who does not feel that after
all, patience leads to the truest triumphs OF
life? Who, If they had their choice would not
rather sleep IN tie narrow bed upon the hill
side yonder, with humble deeds resting like an
invisible glory above 1t. than to sleep beneath
the giIded dome OF the Invalides across the sea,
where the great Napoleon hes buried? Oh .
love-tears' holy memories cluster about the lit
tie mound whore so lately we laid him to rest.
Tears too have flowed about that old temple
tomb OF the French, tears OF anguish, tears
hot and bitter and violent enough to have
washed the old structure from it's foundation
walls years ago, if only they could have been
poured upon it,
Let us be grateful for the tears that flow
from the eyes OF love and not from the eyes Of
hatred; let us glory in the life that was so
triumphant in its patient, humble toll, that now
as we come to honor 1t, no reproaches need
mingle with our tears, no bitterness with our
grief, no pain in the tender recollectlons we
have of him.
Another thought and one akin to this Is the
value of little things. How they shine in their
native beauty in an hour like this; they make
up our life and when life is gone, IT is to these
we turn for comfort and consolation in all the
after years. Our choicest, sweetest memories
are all made up Of little things; word, a look
silent action, deed Of love, some del
icate attention, these are the gems that make
our memories lustrous. Oh! II God fills our
hearts with treasures more precious than any
others, it is with the memory OF little things
Let the great ones fade il they must, and Al
soon they will; there is beauty enough in Ut.
tie things to mako il still boon to live.
once saw little stresm Of water shoot from Z
mountain summit FAR Aloit, . fall sheer down
thousands OF feet to where il was gathered NJ
by the rocks and poured into the river, to &c
on its winding way TO the sea. 1t vss . mere
lrill, delicate a. foam, we could hardly have seer
1t had it not boon for the sun that Was weaving
slight rain from within and upon it. And the
air, q mere breath, 4 breathing, passing silent
along tho valley, would swerve and wreathe tn,
little stream iuto graceful curves, and some
times almost dissipate il into an unsubstantia
mist before our eyes. Oh, beautiful! beau
tiful was the almost whispered exclamation
as we rounded the sharp curve Of the gorge
into its wonderful presence.
And there were rocks there, and mountain
that lifted their white heads far up toward th,
sky, and the gorge was filled and walled abou
with wild and massive greatness that mad
the brain dizzy and senses swim to look upon
But We turned away from it all, the littl
streamet falling slowly through shifting rain
bows to the ground, chained every eye and hell
every thought; the mountains were forgotten
the rocks, the torrents, the dizzy peaks, tn
great gorge itself passed from the mind a
though they had not been. And to-day, in tn
little pictures that sometimes come to me
there is none more delicate or beautiful thai
that of this little streamlet Of those far ava
! mountains.
Great things overwhelm us oftentmes, bu
little things charm us. And who does not lov
the charm rather than the overwhelming great
ness. 1t is so IN our memories; we turn ava
! from the great exploits to these tender httl
things OF life. And oh! il beauty and rain
bows are ever woven with the recollection W
} have OF those who are gone, they res
! upon little things, as rested the rain
bow upon the little rill OF the mountain,
/ We think OF the life that is gone as il come
to our minds this moment, aud am sure ths
} some one sees beauty there, a quiet, humb
beauty, nothing MASSIVE or pretentious abor
: it, but only that which springs from the IRE
sstable charm OF little things well done. Ol
5 we turn away from the great, the overpower
, ing, to rest our eyes upon this humble lii
scene to-day, there are little kindnesses upo
which we love to dwell. little affections an
tenderness, patient, painstaking devotion
( duty, and to those who relied upon his car
r And do not these constitute the real beauty {
: life? {? What charm would there be to life with
, out them? Would not life be unendurab
without these things? There might be r
and rocks and torrents and giddy peaks, an
!, there are enough of these in all our live
Ambition, hard hearts, impetuous living, tn
grow out of our desire to be great. But VIII
are these without the rill Of kindly and affe
tlonate influence, that after all gives the chi
charm to life? L am sure, my friends, th
i' life would have very rugged scenery for
y all, were it not softened and adorned by the
: little things that flow through it IN streams
l. living beauty. Let us learn the lesson aga
to-day; we need to learn it over and owe aqsi
: we forget it so soon, the ministry OF lit
& things. IL there are rainbows anywhere upt
the life we honor to-day, they rest upon Il
: ministry OF little things. Rainbows of il
IL mortal promise, woven out OF love, tenderne'
u kindly affection, words, looks, silent actic
patient endeavor, faithful adherence to du