Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-05-15

est trouble was like an April shower, NOR
!; sunshine than shower. The heart had no
been ransacked by troubles, nor had sick
ness broken it, and no lamb had warme
sheepfold than the home in which youl
childhood nestled,
Perhaps you were brought up in the conn
try. You stand now to-day in memory un
der the old tree. You dubbed it for fru
that was not quite ripe because you couldn't
wait any longer. You hear the brook rum
bling along over the pebbles. You steI
again into the furrow where your father ir
bis shirt sleeves shouted to the lazy oxen
You frighten the swallows from the rsfteri
of the barn, and take JUST one egg, anG
silence your conscience by saying they
won't miss it. You take drink again eu
of the very bucket the old well fetched up
ou go for the COWS at night, and find them
wagging their heads through the bars. Oft.
times in the dusty and busy streets you
wish you were home again on that COO
grass, or in the rag carpeted half of the
farmhouse, through which there was the
breath of new-mown hay or the blossom OF
tbn8k wheat.
You may have in your windows now
beautiful plants and flowers brought from
across the seas, but not one of them stirs in
your soul so much charm and memory as
the old ivy and the yellow sunfiower that
stood sentinel along the garden wall, and
the forget me nots playing hide eand seek
mid the long grass. The father, who used
to come in sunburnt from the fields and sit
down on the door sill and wipe the sweat
| from his brow, may have gone to bis ever
lasting rest. The mother, who used to sit
at the door 8 little bent over, cap and spec
tacles on, her face mellowing with the vicis-
situdes of many years may have put down
her cray head on the pillow in the valley,
but forget that home you never will Have
YOU thanked God for it? Have you re-
hearsed all these blessed "reminiscences
Oh. thank God for Christian father
thank God for Christian mother; thank
God for an early Christian altar at which
you were taught TO kneel; thank God fol
an early Christian home.
| 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 blesssdness. You
twain sat at 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 could be no happier. One day a
dark cloud hovered over your dwelling aud
it got darker and darker. but oat of that
cloud the shining messenger OF God de
scended to incsrnate an immortal spirit -
Two little feet started on an eternal jour.
ney aud you were TO lead them-a gem tC
fash iu Heavens coronet. and you to pol.
ish it.; eternal ages of light and darkness
watching the starting out of newly
created creature.
You rejoiced and you trembled at the re.
sponsibility that in your possession an inn
mortal treasure was placed. You prayed
and rejOiced, and wept and wondered, and
prayed aud rejoiced aud wept and won
dered; you were earnest in supplication
that you might lead it through life into the
kingdom of God. There was tremor in
your earnestness. There was double
interest about that hcme There was an
additional interest why you should stay
there and be faithful, and when in few
months your house was filed with the
music Of the chiId's laughter, you were
struck through with the fact that you had
stupendous mission.
Have you kept that vow? Have you
neglected any Of these duties? Is your
home as much to you as it rsea TO bel
Have those anticipations been grasifed?
Grd help you to-day in your solemn RENT
niscence, aud let HIS mercy fall upon your
soul if your klnduess has been Hire
Quilted. God have mercy on the parent, on
the wrinkles of whose face is written the
story of child's sin. God have mercy on
the mother who, in addition to her other
pangs, has the pangs of a child's iniqulty
| Oh, there are many, many sad sounds in
this sad world, but the saddest sound that
is ever heard is the breaking Of a mother 8
heart Are there any here who remember
that in that home they were unfaithfuls
Are there those who wandered off from that
early home, and left the mother TO die with
a broken heart? On, / stir that reminis
cence to-day.
! l fiud another point in your life history.
You found one day you were in the wrong
ro d.; you couldn't sleep at uight; there
was Just one word that seemed to sol
through your clearinghouse, or through
your office, or through your shop. or youl
bedroom, and that one word was "Eter
nity." You said, 81 am not ready for it
o God, have mercy" The Lord heard
Peace came to your heart. In the breati
of the bill and the waterfalls dash yor
heard the voice of Gods love; The cloud
aud the trees hailed you with gadness; yOr
came into the house of Ghd.
You remember how your hand trembiet
as you took up the cup of the Communion
You remember the old minister who coase
Grated it. and you remember the church of
ficials who carried II through the aisle
you remember the old people who at th'
close of the service took your hand il
theirs IN canCratulating sympathy, as muc'
as to say, "Welcome home. you lost pTodi
) gall" aud though those hands are all with
cred awav, that Communion Sabbath i
resurrected this morning; it is resurrectet
with all its prayers, and songs, and tears
, and sermons and TRANSPORTATION. Hav
you kept those VOWS? Have you been
backslider? God help you. This da
, kneel at the foot Of mercy and start agai
: for heaven. Start to day as you starte
: then. rouse your soul by that reminis
r cence.
But l must not spend any more of m
time in going over the advantages Of you
. life | just put them all io one grea
sheaf, aud wrap them up in your mem
ory with one loud harvest song, such a
D the reapers sing. Praise the Lord, y
D blood bought immortals of earth Prais
/ tho Lord, ye crowned spirits OF heaven
: But some OF you have not always had
3 smooth life. Some of you are now in th
7 shadow Others had their troubles year
ago, you are mere wreck of what 20
/ once were. I must gather up the sorrow
/ of your past life; but how shall ] do ii
!, You say that is impossible, as you hav
had so many troubles and adversities. The
t / will just take two, the first trouble an
r the last trouble AS when you are walk
ing along the street, and there has bee
l music in the distance, you unconsciousl
find yourselves keeping step to the music
r SO when you started life your, very life wa
: musical life beat. The air was full {
r joy ard hilarity; with the bright clear oa
It you made the boat skip; you went On, an
T. life grew brighter until after awhile sue
S denly voice from heaven said, "Halt!
9 auG quick as the sunshine you halted; yo
It grew pale, you confronted your first sorrow
n You had no idea that the flush On yor
3 chid's cheek was an unhealthy flush. 70
If said it can't be anything serious. Deaf
y in slippered feet walked round about th
n cradle. You did not hear the tread; br
after awhile the truth flashed on you. Yo
,, | xraILad the floor Oh if Won could wit