The Baltimore County union., 1883-12-29
'corrssPoHdeHee BaitiaOrs County Cn:oH.
REFLECTIONS.

MCsars. Editors :-Dreary winter has settled
down upon us. II has few charms TO me- One j.
forced away from nature 90 find cnjoymen, in self.
and what blessing IL Is that, amid such outdoor
dreariness We have had the past week, the mind
can turn TO books and papers and feast upon the
thoughts contained therein. ! know great
many talk Of sleighing and skating. bu; for ine.
give me the blazing Gre, the book tcemiug with
the thoughts of the minds tha, move the world. or
the new magazine, With my memory free TO rove
the past and bring up all the fond Tecollections
that 80 thickiy crowd IL. All this IL the joy that
shuts out all the tenspests and lifts the mind far
above aud beyond them.
"My mind, TO me, kingdom is
often think that the creates, affection that can
beiall any one Is 10 lose h.eiJ-bc mindle.s-the
brain world Of hideous, inshoato fane,es and no
tions. and no mind 10 act on aud control the BRAIN
= ruider docs the vessel. The braia and mind
are two difcrent things. Few think Of that
The brain evolves ideas, fancies, notions the
mind ehTysialiEes these. shapes them, gives them
direction. The crazy man has rleaty o. hrains
but NO mind. lie Is rudieriess, uabaiiastel.-
These are queer thoughts for Christmas night
yet they are selections almost qaeer as
over a mAn sometimes who sits down 10 discdss
the question of suicide. don't believe IL il only
eraEy people that kill Themselves because can
imagine froG.s my osn experience that thsre
tiaes when life becomes n burden, "a grierous
burden and heavy 90 be borne" At such times
everything seems 60 be 6esOlaie waste. just like
nature outdoors. Now gloomy. full Of woe. un
speakabie depression and sadness the only sign
Of life any where being the aoeks of black crows
iaEiiy tapping their Tay through the gathering
gloom Of approaching night. Death every where
lie lays h. 10y lagOrs upon orF thoughts and
thea upon our hearts. We ask oETFclves, what l.
the Of living. what Is the objee, of life and
what its gain? And then the burdens Of lite, its
grieis that come like the tornado and tears every
dbre of our hearts. Ah. yes. one brief moment Of
time. one instant of possible pain. and We can
escape all these AMI attain the bright beyond. l.
it any wonder that 80 many under such thoughts
a. tLsss picnge into that abyss of the unknown
"Into the Silent Land.
To you. ye bouniless regions
Of all perfection Tender morning visions
Of besu;eoas souls Eiernity's own banl!
Who in Life's battle irm doth stand
shall bear Hopes tender blossoms
Into tLe Silent Land!'
In that verse is the argument and the aasWer.
oh, sSFfssfsl heart be comfoFtedi Lay your
weary head upon the boson Of Jesus aud have
your heart allied with fresh courage, for "Iie shall
feed Ilis Eock like q shepherd; lie shalt gather
the IAmt. witk Ills asm and carry them in His
bosom. confoFi ys, eonfari 70, my people, saith
our Cod"
oh. Lord. pray Thee touch
Ny sinful. mute. earth-kissins lips with
Thy pare ksnd.
And give me grace Thy will and way TO understand.
Lord ~ tnts boon TOO much!
The World Sf to-day is a world Of thought. in
tense, mental activity, roaming restlessly through
the arehievss es the pas, and letting 10 bursts Of
daIEling electrical light upon tbs mus,y traditions
and histories that line the track Of the centuries
past. l. IL any wonder then that reflective minds
get staggered ty the very rapidity Of revelation
upon revelation. which rend 90 p.eses 50 many Of
the theories and s,afeents III have become parts
of our sKistenees where will u all endi In for.
gstfalnsss sf God No, rather 20 the greater
glory and sajcyment sf lIis truth, more Esrson-
Al sense Of His continual presence aud providence.
George Herbert says.
Our life 10 Gods. Oar time to come IL gone,
And His 10 right.
lie is our night at noon. lie Is at night
Our noon alone.
Thee tkouyht. bring me back 10 my boyhood
/ days when my father sAid, "aeEYe God aud keep
\ His eommandmsnts, for this Is the ShSls duty %
Es-s.' This causes one 10 again thiak Of the
suicide idea and ask. what Il life aftsr all! IL is
bat brief period Of time, span. breath. passed
hsrs 10 . state of selfabnegAtion, sclf-saeridee,
Hving nos for sass sslg bet for others. To shrink
from this, to be 40 snxious % lay d0uL tho bur
den as 10 ones self cutting short the tie, 70, aer
Il requires courage to ive' Il is weakness to vol.
asisssiy 1is.
"Lifs's mere IsaH dsasL, aud The quick round Of
blooi.
We live 10 deeds. not ysau in thoughts, no,
brsaihs.
We sAoaId sseat time by hear, ,hrObs. lie mos,
Who thiaks most feels the nobies, se,s the best.
Life's bat . means unto an end"
BlLLY BARIow.