The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-05-08


in sunbulmt from the fields and sit down on
the sill and wipe the sweat from his brow,
may have gone 10 his everlasting rest The
mother, who used 70 cit at the door q little
bent over, cap and spectaclcs on, herface
mellowing with the vicissltudes OF many
years, may haveput down her gray head on
the pillow In the valley, but forgot that
homo you never will Have you thanked
God for iti Have you rehearsed all the
blessed reminiscencesi o, thank God for O
Christian father; thank God fora Christian
mother; thank God for an early Christian
altar at which you were taught TO lxneel; (;
thank God for an early Christian home.
bring to mind another passage in tho
history of your life Tho day came when
you set up your own household. The days
passed in quiet blessedness You twain sat
at The table morning and night and talked
over your plaps for the future, The most
Insignificant affair In your life became the
subject Of mutual consultation and ad-
visement You wore so happy you felt you
never could be any happier. One day o
dark cloud hovored over your dwelling and
IL got darker and darker, but out Of that
cloud the shining messenger Of God de-
scended 10 incarnate an immortal spirit
Two little feet started on an immortal jonr-
ney, and you were 10 lead them--a gem to
fash in heavens coronet, and you TO polish
IL; eternal ages Of light and darkness watch
ing the starting out Of o newly created crea-
tre. fig!cy.G T5 .i!.er.stle ia. Il
You reioiced and you trembled at the re-
sponsibility that in your possession an i'm
mortal treasure was placed. Youprayed and
reioiced, and wept and wondered, and prayed
and reioiced, and wept and wondered; you
were earnest in supplication that you might
lead It Though life into the kingdom Of God.
There was a tremor IN your earnestness.
There was adoubleinteresta about that home.
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 child's laughter you were
struck through with the fact that You had o
stupendous mission.
Have you kept that vowl Have you neg
lected any Of these dutiesf Is your home as
much TO you as 1t used 10 BET Have those
anticipations been gratifedl God help you
to- day in your solemn reminisconce, and let
His mercy fall upon your soul II your kind
ness has been i'll requited. 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 achild's
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 home they were un-
faithfuli Are there those who wandered
of from that early home, and left the
mother to die with broken hearti o, stir
that "Reminiscences TO day
l find another point in your life history.
You found one day you we're 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,
or through your shop, or your bed room. and
that word was ETERNITY" You said, II am
not ready for It. o God, have mercyn The
Lord heard. Peace came 70 your heart In
the breath Of the hill aud the waterfalls
dash you heard the voice Of Gods love; the
clouds and the trees hailed you with glad
ness; you came into the house Of God.
You remmeber how your hand trembled
as you took up the cup Of the communion.
You remember the old minister who conse-
Grated IT. and you remember the church Of
ficials who carried II through the aisle; You
remember 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 resuTected this
morning; IL Is resurrected with all Il
prayers, and songs, and tears, and sermons,
and transhguratlon. Have you kept those
vowsi Have You been q baclrslidcri God
help you. This day lmeel at the foot Of
mercy and start again for Heaven. Start
today 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, We blood bought
immortals Of earthl Praise the Lord, ye
crowned spirits OF Heavenl t
But some Of you have not always had a
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. l must gather up the sorrowso OF your
past life; but how shall lido III You say that
II is impossible as you have had so many
troubles and adversities. Then will Just
take two, the first trouble and the last trou-
BILE. As when you are walking along the
street, and there has been music In the dis
tance, you unoonsciously find yourself keep
ing step TO the music, 80 when you started
life your very life was musical time-bcat.
The air was full Of Joy and hilarity; with
the bright, clear oar you made the boat skip;
after while suddenly a voice from Heaven
said, "Haltl" and quick as the sunshine you
halted; you grew pale, you confronted your
first sorrow. You had no idea that the
flush on yourchilds cheek was an unhealthy
flush. You said IL can't be any thing
serious. Death In slippered feet walked
round about the cradle. You did
not hear the tread, but after while
the truth flashed ON you. You walked the
floor. o, II you could, with your strong,
stout hand, have wrenchcd that child from
the destroyer. You went 10 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.p You felt as n you could not
put the long lashes over the bright eyes,
never TO see them again sparkle. o, II you
could have taken that little one In your
arms and with II leaped the grave, how
gladly you would have done itl o, II you
could let your property 30, your houses 20,
your land and your store.house go, how
gladly you would have allowed them 10 de
part II you could only have kept that ono
traaauraI