The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-04

the air have flown. The same Father,
however, guideth upon its appointed
path through all the mazes of the
storm, amid all the countless hosts that
fly about it, each separate particle of
snow. The same Father who careth
for the sparrow, directs the snow
flake and shall he not guide thee in
safety and bring thee at last to thy rest
in his bosom, thou who art of more value
than many sparrows, of more value than
a sky full of snow-fakes
HE saith to the snow, Be thou upon
the earth" To what end Accumu-
lating on the tops of high mountains, it
is preparing to make more tolerable the
burning summers of many land. The
breezes that, in hot seasons, sweep over
these mountains, gather, from eternal
SHOWS, moisture for consuming vegeta-
tion, and coolness for the brow of man.
Here, too, are the sources of many a
stream that waters the earth. The
fountains are kept forever full by the
melting snow. In severe climates the
rigors of winter are rendered less terri
BILE by the SHOWS it brings. They wrap
the plants in their soft, warm mantle,
and protect them from the frost. They
afford, in those climates, shelter to GER
tain animals who bury themselves in
the drifts till spring calls them forth.
Even in more temperate zones, the pres
ence of snow is most valuable safe
guard to vegetation, "pulverizing and
moistening the ground, and affording
warmth where it is much needed"
But there are other uses. A study of
the conditions in which man is placed
upon this planet, will show US that
zones Of perpetual summer are not the
ones most favorable to intellectual life
or the development of the stronger
qualities of manhood. The temperate
zone in which winter is added to the
seasons, is the one in which the best
mental work is accomplished, and the
strongest characters built. 1t needs a
dash of cold in the air, furry of snow
in the atmosphere, to quicken the hu-
man powers.
Well, there was the snow coming
down-yes, "he giveth snow like wool" :"
Gradually the streets and walks of the
city were hidden, the dust was settled
at last, and every unsightly thing COW
cred up. Very gently and tenderly it
was done, reminding assef that charity
which covereth a multitude of sins,
which strives to hide the defects and
faults of its object. Symbol is it of an
earth-wide love that wraps this sad and
sinful world in its pitying arms.
Then, there is that pathetic prayer
of David,-we think of that,-poo
David who had sinned so grievously
and suffered so deeply: "Wash me
and shall be whittier than snow." Was
it the immaculate wbiteness that spoke
to his conscience and reminded him of
his lost innocence +? We know not, but
it may bring this lesson to us every
snowflake is thought of God, its white
ness and purity reminding of him whose
name is Holy, and admonishing us to
let our thoughts be as these bright and
shining crystals. 1.-THE pure in heart
shall see God"
The season carries us back to child
hood, when the first snow storm was
heaven full Of angels. There is story
of lady who went South, out of the
reach Of the snow, lived there for many
years, and at last came North again.
When the first snow fell after her re-
turn, she ran out to meet it with all
the delight of child, caught fake in
her hand and kissed it. With its men,
ories of the early home-life, when the
dear faces that now are dust beamed
upon us,-may the snow bring back
forgotten counsels and loving admoni-
tions.
l wonder whether there was not an
other message those flakes whispered,
as they came into your faces and set
tied down upon your fur collars. Did
they not bid you remember the saying
of Jesus, 1.-THE poor ye have always
with you ?" While the snow may re-
mind us that one part of pure religion
and undefiled before God and the
Father, is to keep unspotted from the
world, it reminds us of the other part
also, ''to visit the fatherless and wild
ows in their affliction."
1--WE speak of the snow," says Rob
ert COllyer, "as of an image of death.
1t may be that, but it hides the ever
lasting life away under its robe,-the
life to be revealed in due time, when
all cold shadows shall melt away before
the ascending sun, and we shall be, not
unclOthed, but clothed upon, and NOR
tslity shall be swallowed up of life."
-"How to encourage the minister
Don't discourage characterization Regis
ter.