Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-10-30
RELIGIOUS READING.
God Knows Best.
II we could Push ajar the gates Of life,


And stand within, and all Gods working
sec.
We CO Id interpret all this doubt and strife
And for each mystery finds Already key.
But not to-day. Then be content, lad heart
Gods plants, like lilies, pure and white
unfold,
We must not tear the tender leaves apart;
Time will reveal the calyxes Of gold
And IL through patient toll, we reach the
land
Where tired fest with sandals loosed may
When we shall clearly know and understand
think that we will say, God knew the
Lest"
Garry Him to His Mother."--2 Kings
The father of old led forth his young
son at morning amid the reapers; but
when the noontide came, and Syria's sun
beat ficrcely down up the young child's
head, he dropped and was sick; and the
father said, "carry him to his MOTHER
How true picture of every days ex-
perience is this The father, with joy
and pride, leads forward the young,
healthful, exultant being and glories IN
his beauty and strength; but when the
buoyant footsteps falter and the cheek
grows pale, he surrenders him to other
and tenderer guardianship-he is car.
ricd to his mother. And how constant
is this instinct in the heart of childhood.
Its young companions, its pleasures, any
novelty will allure it from its mothers
side while health lasts, but the first
touch of illness throws it unhesitatingly
into its mothers arms, as if there, alone,
were comfort and peace. Her presence
and attention are all that the childish
spirit needs.
Among all that blooms and fades in
life's pathway, the mothers love stands
alone in undying beauty and freshness.
The world grows cold and forgets her
cherished one, calumny is busy with its
fair name, disappointment folds its sad
attired robe around it, but the mother is
true to her trust, loving the more, the
more her love is needed. 1t seems inf
mite in strength and tenderness.
And what is the mothers recompense
for such flood of affection, poured un,
reservedly upon her child's head2 Not
unmitigated joy by any means. Such
love is too full of fears, too suspicious OF
the worlds tenderness Could she al
ways keep her treasure by her side and
stand between it and unkindncss and
scorn, this would be all her prayer, but
not such is Gods will. He prepares the
furnace of affection, and takes the
child's hand from the mothers and leads
it through the fiery trial. His purpose
yelled. His decision inscrutable.
He requires of her to believe that His
love surpasses hers, even while he holds
the Christening rod, and that in due time
she shall reap if she faint not. When
her child suffers, how hard the lesson Of
resignation; and when it dies young,
how difficult to say, in the remembrance
Of all her sufferings, tolls and sacrifices,
Thy will be done. She almost feels that
she has earned the right of that young
spirits safety and continuance with her,
and her anguish seek to swallow up the
remembrance of her Joy.
Garry him to his mother" Aye, that
is sweet recompense to her. She can
sooth when no other is able; her pres
encc can bring the only CLEAN of joy
that visits the sufferer. If slumber ca3
come at all, it will visit the weary one
pillowed upon her b east, and her cool
hand upon the burning brow is like beg
ediction from the God of mercy.
The poor exile sinks beneath disease
where foreign skies bend over him, and
stranger faces greet him. Wealth lured
him from the covert at home, from his
mothers counsels and prayers, from his
fathers guidance, and he went forth
manfully to win a position among his
fellow men. Disease tracked his foot.
steps and death lurked for his prey; and
while contending for life, voice within
that will not he silenced, calls for the
friend that shielded his childhood and
prayed and wept for him as no other
friend might do. 'Carry him to his
mothcrr' but it is too late; he must await
her in heaven.
Let not, then. that love be sighted
which is so precious, so enduring, so I'M
like all other love in its absolute unset.
fshness. As year by year departs, the
once elastic step becomes slow and heavy,
the once bright eye dim; but the heart
never withers, never forgets. 1t carries
to the tomb the same spirit of self
sacrifice that watched unwearily by the
cradle of the tender infant; it bears into
eternity the same yearning fondness that
blessed youth and manhood.
Let the young seek to strengthen that
love by every endearment, by every vir.
tue. The Saviour's example is left us.
He obeyed his mother, and in the ago.
mics of cruel death commended her tc
the one He much loved and they alone
are blessed who followed Him in this as
in all other of His righteous ways.