Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-01
For the \
Sunshine.
BY MRS. $. r. oRAHAM CLARE.

For the Vermont watchman.
Sunshine.
BY MRS. $. R. GRAHAM CLARE.
Don't 60 creeping round the world when
you might walk sniveling, when tits quite
as well to laugh. had rather any day hear
man sing than cry, and am not peculiar
in my preference. There are enough walk
ing miseries, flesh and blood guide-posts to
the dismal swamp, without your appointing
yourself to the office.
We talk about blue days, dark days, as if
there never were any other sort. There
never was yet day SO dark but that man
could see something in it, and one day only
measures twenty-four hours. II we had one
dark day every month regularly, they would
only amount to twelve in a year, and that is
small part of three hundred and sixty-fve.
Count your mercies, forget your SORROWS,
and reckon up, if you can, all the bright
days allotted you thus far in life. Look at
them well, pass none by-childhood's hours,
mothers hymns, summer rambles, winter
sports, Christ's first soul kiss, baptismal
waves, your early love, your wedding-day,
the bright-eyed babe who gave you sufficient
love in its short life to obiterate from your
remembrance all loss life ever held. Oh, the
precious past Crystalzsd sunshine
Yes, the world holds sunshine, ladies and
gentlemen,-sunshine, plenty of it, sweet
and pure, free and abundant, without money,
without price, for everybody. Clouds, did
you say2 Well, yes we have some, to be
sure, but they are the exception and not the
rule,-aloays the exception, not nearly as
comfortable, harder to be obtained, higher
priced. But sunshine is as cheap as a
baby's smile, or woman's tears.
You say hopes have departed. Birds al
ways flee from winter, the sun and flowers
welcome their returning. Summer never
dies utterly because of winter blights. You
are not quite as hopeless as you think, or
you would never mourn. Hopelessness has
no tears. When one you loved died you
wondered at the singing birds and ripping
waters, vexed that all nature did not mourn
with you. You shut your windows then
and drew close the curtains. You could
forbid the sunshine entrance, but not exist.
ence. 1t still shone on for those who chose
to see, and earth blossomed while your hopes
withered. You might as well throw up youl
windows and lift the curtains high, walk
forth into the light, and raise your eyes
baauan r1 Sipna Gn1 ofi he
seasons come and go; since God still reigns
spring-time of joy awaits you yet
Spread wide your arms to embrace it vel
come it with glad tears, sunshine and show
ers; cherish it with your blessings; grow
with it into larger life and beauty 1t viii
wrap you in its sheeny robes when cold, anc
comfort you; it will melt your icy chains, il
bound, and give you freedom. Few of earth's
benefactors are comparable with sunshine
All, but you say, You know so little
about it. l have SO many things to bear
OF course you have. If you had not you
might question whether God loved you
now you are sure. 1t is written "He re
membereth that we are dust" My heart ha
often added, "and tries us as if we wer
gods ~ but he understands. A quaint OLE
writer says: "The Almighty often hang
great weights on slender wires" True. Di,
you ever notice how seldom a wire breaks
Lift up your heads, o ye afflicted Sorrow
and pain are Gods alternatives to your faith
Think you he would trust weak faith unde
such assault 1t might fail and betra
him. Nay, but your trial is his boasting i
your integrity. He says to-day as of ole
"Hast thou considered my servant job" et'
Then, after all, are things so very dark q
they seem2 Death has robbed you of some
how many has he left behind? A frien
has deserted you; how many have bee
true2 Your house has been burned down
the children that made home remain
You have lost few thousand; what abou
the balanceP You have not much money
you may have much grace. You al
alone many need friend, find them. Yo
are in debt thank God somebody truste
you in your need. You are sick some al
heart-broken. You have too much work
be thankful, for some have none. You hav
few opportunities do you improve thos
you have2 you can make more. Lii
hangs heavy; give it purpose Life lool
dark turn it the other side up. Ho
would you like to part with it altogether
If it is worth keeping, it is worth brighten
ing; you can do it if you will, and do
easier than another. Life bristles wit
difficulties, thank God Smooth shod,
might slide down hill beyond redemption
Its roughness fits it for climbing. Loo
about there are plenty Of hill-sides waitin
your exertions.
o have courage, have courage The cart
has enough mourners. 1t needs few helpful
hopeful, back-broadened men and wome
Who thanks you for being cheerful when a
is well 1t takes no great hero to marc
to the sound of fife and drum,-cannon bal
prove his mettle. You don't admire ca
non balls 2 Bless you, who does ? But yo
wouldn't flee from them surely If they la
between you and success Commend N
to the man who wills to do thing and do
} it; who lives his own manly life and an
swers the ends for which he was made
spite of all difficulties, and the better b.
cause of those difficulties. Obstacles wei
intended to give life an impetus, not to in
pede it hopelessy. God pity the man WI
sits down before the first hill of difficult
he meets, signing disconsolately because
obstructs his course. Think you it will ev,
move to oblige him ? Do you know of al
one kind enough to carry him over bodily
Signing is very good in its place, no doub
as "Windham " is among the hymn tune
but let me advise all readers (,ninjsters g
pecially) TO administer them carefully as
medicine not an esculent, and always
, homeopathic doses.
= Sunshine should dare trust the o.
school in Us administration. Its streau
need no abatiug, its force no check Su
shine 1t brings bees, birds, flowers, an