The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-10-17
WHERE l WENT, AND WHAT 1 SAW
BY MRS. G. Il. ALDEN.

little attention, until suddenly pIlcked
up my ears, and sat up aud began to look
for satchels, and umbrellas, and rubbers.
the brakeman had shouted: Next sta
ton, Campbell" And TO Campbell
wanted to go. You want to know where
that is? All right. We are III New York
State, and are travelling on the Delaware
and L ,ckawanna Railroad. You want to
remember that, because it is quite con-
venient to know how to get To places.
Let us see, suppose you find Elmira on
the map; passed through there late in
the afternoon-it will do to guide you.
Now, westward and northward tribe
only Il matter of twenty seven miles, and
we are at Campbell, Steuben County.
What is there Only 4 pretty little
village, very like manr another. l went
to the parsonage. 1t is next to the church.
All the bright days that followed, as l
sat among the trees III the pretty y ard,
saw often bright faces fit by into the
| church, and heard sweet voices occas-
sionally IN song. At last | questioned:
Did they have service every day in the
church. and did the children 60? No;
but they were getting ready for Chill
dren's Day; which was to be next Sun
day. So ''next Sunday" being eager to
see what Children's Day was like,
went early to church. Really, Children's
| Day is. a pretty thing to see, and hear
Over the pulpit was rainbow. Made of
| flowers: red, and blue, and violet, and
orange all the colors glowed before me
in theiI beauty. Just under and back of
the rainbow, was the blue sky, of course,
but there tloated on 1t in tleecy white
clouds, wonderful name, none other
than the Name that is above every
name" Just below this, glowing Grim
son against the blue, was massive
cross, all of red flowers. At its base was
bank of pure white flowers. On either
side the desk there grew up banks of
ferns, and mountain laurel, and lovely
trailing vines, and delicate blossoms.
Below, was golden stairway leading
straight up to the cross. How beautiful
it all was. | have not begun to tell you
either side the church were vases filled
with them. Mounds OF white peonies,
and banks of daisies were on the plat
form, and everywhere there were sweet
|
| come some unique visitors to the church
this day. Singing birds, in cages, alas,
but seeming to feel very happy, were scat
tered about the room, and when the choir
sang their opening anthem, these rival
singers put their heads on one side for IA
moment in listening attitudes. then
swelled their little threats and burst
forth into such warbling as human voices
can never compass. Then they listened
| for little, then chirped forth a ques-
ton: Can you do that? Any of you
ange-lookipg people, who wear your
cages over your heads?'
After the song cime Bible words. Not
read by the minister, but recited 10y the
| boys and girls who were seated all over
| ibis church. Wonderful verses, all about
pledge, or a covenant, between God
| and men. Listening, one had constantly
| to look up to the rainbow and say: "Yes,
there it is sure enough. Gods pledge to
u.s."
did not wonder tina. the nil. ,ster
caught the spirit Of it, aud gave for his
text the words: 81 do set my bow in the
Clouds A graud sermon that was
which followed. A temperance sermon,
don't you think? The great God not
ashamed or afraid to sign pledge! To
stretch it out SO that all might SET! 70
repeat it, and repeH 1t; to make it ip the
form of an arch, the strongest form that
we know anything about. A pledge that
he would never destroy the earth by
flood. After this. shall we hesitate to
pledge that we will never destroy our
selves with alcohol? Shall we be afraid
Shall we hesitate because we have
signed once, Or shall We sign as many
pledges as We have chance, and so
spread our influence, and repeat our
promise whenever it may help anybody?
Yes; liked that sermon. | said to my
self: 81 wish all the children were here
to listsn. am sure they would remem-
Der it. l am sure they would never look
of .,I,. i'll
of it," Then the minister pointed to
that other pledge, the blood red cross;
pledge of Gods love to a sinful world,
token of the way in which he would keep
his rainbSw promise to the nttermost,
and save not only this old world, but all
the souls mp in that other world of glory
above the blue of the sky if they let
Him. The way to that world is up the
golden stairway of Faith, close to the
cross.
"Children's Day found lasted all
day long. In the evening went again
to the service. And heard, oh! beauti-
full things. All thesgolden texts for the
quarter, all the highest, and the Central
thou hts of each lesson, recited by
classes as they were called on speaking
in concert. | heard classes of little
girls sing; II will follow Jesus
| heard the wee ones of til, primary
class sing
Jesus bills us shine, with clear pure light,
Like little CANDLE burning in the night.
heard a young lady recite Mrs. Her
rick Johnson's wonderful poem about
"Voices In The Twilight" heard an
earnest little talk just five minutes long,
from the pastor. l heard much sweet
singing. and don't you think those ca
nary birds always reused themselves
from their evening maps, and shook out
their feathers in time to join in the
chorus,
Well it was good to be there. went