Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-01-10
THE NEW YEAR.

"A place where two ways met."-MARK xi, 4
Have the children come to such a
place this New Year? Are some lit
tie ones standing wondering which
way to take-whether TO go on the
old way and the broad way, or to turn
into the new way and the narrow way?
Very quietly and surely the days and
weeks have brought them to this spot
where the two WAYS seem to meet, and
bright eyes search in vain for any sign
post plainly marking the road to heav-
en- or the road to hell; and perhaps
even to-day the prayer is trembling on
some youthful lips, Show me the way
in which | should CO."
One day last summer q father, moth
er, brothers and sisters, started for a
long country ramble, but Fanny, the
eldest girl, was not ready to start off
with them, and was to follow. Direc-
tions were left her which road to take
At last she started, and for time
there was no difficulty in following the
others; but after little she came 70 "a
place where two roads met, She had
now to stand and think; but the more
she thought the more difficult it SEEM
ed to decide. Both roads stretched
out into the sunshine; both led into
the country; but which was the right
way?-which led to the fathers side?
AS she stood puzzled and wonder
ing, her eyes rested on the sandy path,
and there, written in round, childish
hand, were the words, Fanny, this is
the way" All doubt was at an end;
she simply believed the written mes
sage, obeyed, and followed, aud soon
had the joy of reaching those "gone
before" and learned that her little sis
ter had fingered behind to write those
words on the dusty road.
Oh! children, does not the story re-
mind you, as it did me, Of the pierced
hand that long ago traced on the mar
row path to heaven the words, Il am
the way, the truth, and the life; no
man cometh unto the Father, but by
me? And reading the passage to-day,
will you not start at once for heaven?
Fanny never thought of doubling
the truth of her little sisters writing,
and shall we doubt the writing of
Jesus? He is the Life also; and not
only our life eternal, but the very life
we should live in this world
You, girls, know what it is to
match the beautiful shades of wools
and silks, SO as to copy piece of
work exactly, and just in the same way
we should try to copy every shade of
Christ's life and character There is a
text in the Bible that seems just help
for boys and girls in matching the col
ors; it is this: Whatsoever things are
true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
thing are pure, whatsoever things are
of good report, if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on
these things" Had you not better
learn the text, so that you may know
just the right colors to ask for? 1t is
in Philippians iv. 8
Has not the little story a beautiful
lesson in it for any who are walking
on the safe way to heaven? Peahaps
brother, or sister, or friend is follow
ing you, and they have come to the
place where you have turned into the
narrow way, but they do not know
which road to take. Won't you try to
make the writing clear to them, and
won't you so live that they may read
in your lives the words, This is the
way" and, following you, may soon
rejoice in the loving embrace Of the
heavenly Father?- Christian.