The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-05-17

, used to sit at the door little bent over,
cap and spectacles on, her face mellowing
with the vicissitudes Of many years may
have put down her gray head on the pill
low in the valley, but forget that home
you never will. Have you thanked God
for it! Have you rehearsed all these
blessed "reminiscences? O, thank Col for
Christian father; thank God for Q
Christian mother; thank God for an early
Christian altar at which you were taught
to kneel; thank God for an early Christian
home.
I bring to mind another passage In the
history Of your life. The day came when
you set up your own household. The
days passed along in quiet blessedness.
You twain sat the table morning and
night and talked over your plans for the
future. The most insignificant affair in
your life became the subject Of mutual
consultation and advisement You were
so happy you felt you never could be any
happier. One day a dark cloud lowered
over your dwelling and it got darker and
darker, but out of that cloud the shining
messenger of God descended to incarnate
an immortal spirit Two little feet started
on an immortal journey, and you were to
lead them-a gem to flash in Heavens
coronet, and you to polish it; eternal ages
of light and darkness watching the start
ing out of newly created creature.
You rejoiced and you trembled at the
| responsibility that in your possession an
immortal treasure was placed. You
prayed and rejoiced, and wept and won
| dered. and prayed and rejoiced, and wept
and wondered; you were earnest in sup
plication that you might lead it through
- -
| a tremor in your earnestness. There was
a double interest about that home. There
was an additional interest why you
should stay there and be faithful,
ami when In a few months your house
was filled with the music of the child's
laughter you were struck through
with the fact that you had a stupendous
mission. Have you kept that vow? Have
you neglected any of these duties: Il
your home as mu ch to you as 1t used to be!
Have those anticipations been gratifed!
God help you to-day in your solemn re-
miniscence and let His mercy fall upon
your soul il your kindness has been ILL
requited. God have mercy on the parent
on the wrinkles of whose face Is written
the story of a child's sin. God have
mercy on the mother who in addition to
iniQuity. o, there are many, many sad
sounds in this sad world. but the saddest
sound that is ever heard is the breaking
of mothers heart Are there any here
who remember that in that homs they are
unfaithfu? Are there those who wan
dered off from that early home, and left
the mother to die with a broken heart?
o, l stir that "reminiscences to-day.
I find apofhar MONT in yonr life history
You found one day you were in the wrong
road; you couldn't sleep at night; there
was just one word that seemed to sob
through your banking house, or through
your office, CIR through your shop, Or Your
bed room and that word was Eternity"
You said, Il am not ready for it. o God,
have mercy" The Lord heard Peace
came to your heart In the breath of the
hill and the waterfalls dash you heard
the voice of Gods love; the clouds and
the trees hailed you with gladness. you
came into the house of God.
You remember how your hand trembled
as you took the communion. You remen-
Der the old minister who consecrated it
and you remember the church officials who
carried it through the aisle; you remem-
Der the old people who at the close of the
service took your hand in theirs in con.
graduating sympathy, as much as to say:
Welcome home, you lost prodigal;" and
though those hands are all withered away
that communion Sabbath is resurrected
this morning; it is resurrected with all its
prayers, and songs and sermons and trans
figuration. Have you kept those VOWS:
Have YOU been a backslider! God help
YOU. This day kneel at the foot of mercy
and start again for Heaven. Start to-day
as YOU started then. rouse your soul by
that "reminiscences.
But must not spend any more Of my
time in going over the advantages of your
life. just put them all in one great sheaf
and wrap them up in your memory with
one loud harvest song, such as the reapers
sing Praise the Lord, ye ood-bought
mortals of earth! Praise the Lord We
crowned spirits OF Heaven!
But some Of you have not always had q
smooth life. Some of you are now in the
shadow. Others had their troubles years
ago; YOU are a mere wreck of what you
once were. must gather up the sorrows
of your past life; but how shall l do il:
You say it is impossible. as you had so
many troubles and Universities. Then l
will Just take two, the first trouble and
the last trouble. As when you are walk
ing along the street, and there has been
music in the distance, You unconsciously
find yourself keeping step to the music, so
when you started life, your very life was
a musical me-beat. The air was full of
joy and hilaTity; with the bright clear
oar you made the boat skip; You went on,
and life grew brighter until after awhile
suddenly a voice from Heaven said
| "Haltw and quick as the sunshine you
halted; you grew pale, you confronted
your first sorrow. You had no idea that
the flush on your child's cheek was an I'M
healthy flush. You said it can't be any
thing serious. Death in slippered feet
walked round about the cradle. You did
not hear the tread, but after awhile the
| truth flashed on you. You walked the
floor o, if you could, with your strong
stout hand have wrenched that child from
the destroyer. You went to your room
and you said: God, save my child; God,
save my child" The world seemed going
out in darkness. You said: II can't bear
it; can't bear it." You felt as if you
could not put the long lashes over the
bright eyes, never to see them again
sparkle. o, if you could have taken that
little one in your arms and with it leaped
the grave, how gladly you would have
done it! o. if you could let your property
go, your houses go, your land and your
storehouses 60, how gladly you would
have allowed them to depart, if you only
could have kept that one treasure!
But one day there arose from the
heavens chill blast that swept over the
bedroom, and instantly all the light went
out, and there was darkness-thick,
murky, impenetrable, shuddering dark
ness But God didn't leave you there.
Mercy spoke. As you took up the cup