Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-05-18

AbOt llAll lOusN, Ia lbdl Snlali IiohoNH
than there is III a granite mansion or
turreted cathedral. Looking back this
morning you see it as though it were
yestcrday--thc sitting room. where th'
owed ones sat by the plain lampiight
the mother at the evening stand, the
brothers and sisters, perhaps long age
gathered into the skies, then plotting
mischief on the floor under the table,
your father with a firm voice command.
ing a silence that lasted half a minute.
Oh, those were good days. If you had
your foot hurt. your mother always has
a soothing salve TO heal 1t. II you were
wronged in the street, your father was
always ready TO protect you. The year
was one round Of frolic and mirth. Your
greatest trouble was like All April shower,
more sunshine thar shower. The heart
had not been ransacked by troubles, nor
had sickness broken it, and no lamb had
a warmer ~sheepfold than the home in
which your childhood nestled.
Perhaps you were brought up in the
country. You stand now today in
memory under the old tree. You dubbed
II for fruit that was not quite ripe be.
cause you couldn't wait any longer. You
hear the brook rumb)ing along over the
pebbles. ION stem again into the furrOw
where your father Ia his shirt sleeves
shouted to tie 4G1y oxen. You frighten
the swallows from the rafters OF the barn,
and take just n egg, ana silence your
conscience by saying they won't miss It,.
You take a drink again out Of the very
bucket that the old well fetched up.
o go for the cows 1T night, and ma
them wagging their heads through the
bars. Ofuimes in the dusty and busy
streets YOU wish you were home again on
that cool grass, CT In the rag carpeted
hal Of the farmhouse, through winch
there was the breath Of new mo"n hoy
OF thc blossom of huCkWhe2t
Gou may have in your Windows now
beautiful plants and flowers brought
from across the seas, but not oncOi them
stiIs in your soul SO much charm .
memory rs the old iv5 and the yellow
sunf wer that stood sentinel along the
garden wall, and the forget-me-nots play.
ing hide and seek mid the long grass
The father, who used TO come III sun
burnt from the fields and sit down on the
door ell and wipe the sweat frsm his
brow. may have gone to his everlasting
rest. The mother, who used TO SIT at the
door a little bent over, cap and sp~ectacles
on, her face mellowing with the vicissi-
tudes Of many years, may have put down
her gray head on the pillow In the valley,
but forget that home o never will.
Have you thanked God for itF Have you
rehearsed all these blessed "reminiscences?
Oh, thank God for a Christian father;
thank God for a Christian mother thank
God for an early Christian altar at which
you were taught to knecl; thank God for
an early Christian home.
| bring to mind another passage in the
history Of your life. The day came when
you set up your W household. The
days passed along in quiet blessedness.
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
80 happy yeu 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 hat cloud the shining
messenger of God descended to incarnate
an immortal spirit. Two little feet started
on an eternal journey, and you were to
lead them-a gem to flash in heavens
c%oronet, and you TO polish it; eternal
ages Va llEhi ahb va SbA shS
starting out Of a newly created creature.
You rejo.ced and you trembled at the
responsibility that in your possession an
immortal treasure was placed. You
prayed and reioiced, and wept and won
dered, and prayed and rejoiced, and wept
and wondered; you were earnest in sup
piication that you might lead it through
life into the kingdom of God. There was
An rarN ~ - a., rD,,~ 90 rnauyy.aua Thara uunS
a double interest about that home. There
was al additional interest why you
should stay there and be faithful, and
when in a few months your house was
filed with the music Of the child's laugh
ter, yOu were struck with the fact that
you had q ~stupendous mission.
Have you kept that vow2 Have you
neglected any Of these duties? Is your
home as much TO you as 1t used to be2
Have those anlic'pations been gratifed?
God help you today III your solemn rem
iniscence, and let his mercy fall upon
your soul If your kindness has been i'll
requlited. God have mercy on the par
cnt on the wrinkles of whose face is
written the story OF a child's sin. God
have mercy on the mother who, in adj
dition TO her other panGs, has the pangs
of a child %iniquity. Oh, there are many,
many sad sounds in this sad world, but
the saddest sound that is ever heard is
the breaking of a mothers heart. Are
there any here who remember that in
that home they were unfaithful2 Are
there those VINO wandered off from that
early home, and left the mother to die
with a broken heart? Oh, | stir that
"reminiscences today.
l find another point in your 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, Dr. 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 water
falls 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 up the cup of the
communion. You remember the old
minister whe consecrated it, and you re.
member the church officials who carried
it through the aisle; you remem-
Der the old people who at the