The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-07-11

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bucket that the old well fetched up. You
go for the cows at night, and find them
wagging their heads through the bars.
Outlines in the dusty and busy streets
you wish you were home again on that
cool grass, or in the rag carpeted hall of
the farm house, through which there was
the breath of new mown hay or the bios
som of the buckwheat.
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 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 never could be any
happier. One day 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 start
ed on an eternal journey, and you were to
lead them-a gem to fash in Heavens
coronet, and you to polishit; eternal ages
Of light and darkness watching the start
ing out of newly created creature. You
rejoiced and you trembled at the respon-
sibility that in your possession an i'm
mortal treasure was placed. You prayed
and rejoiced and wept and wondered;
you we're earnest in supplication that you
might lead it through life into the King
dom of God.
There was a tremor IN your earnest
ness. There was double interest abo ut
that home. There was an additional in
terest 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 stupendous
mission. Have you kept that vow? Have
you neglected any of these duties? Is
your home as much to you as it used to
be? Have those anticipations been graft
fed? God help you to-day in your solemn
"reminiscences, and let His mercy fall upon
your soul if your kindness has been i'll
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
her other pangs, has the pangs of child's
iniquity. Oh, there are many, many sad
sounds in this sad world, but the saddest
sound that is ever heard is the break
ing Of mothers heart. Are there any
here who remember that in that home
they were unfaithful? Are there those
who wandered off from that early home,
and left the mother to die with broken
heart? Oh, l stir that Renaissance to-
day.
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, or through your shop, or your
bedroom, and that word was Eternity"
| You said: 81 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 trembleG
as you took up the cup of the communion
You remember the old minister who con-
secrated 1t, and you remember the church
officials who carried it through the aisle
you remember the old people who at the
close of the service took your hand il
theirs in congratulating sympathy, as
much as to say: "Welcome home, yoJ
lost prodigal;" and though those hands
are all withered away, that communion
Sabbath is resurreeted this morning; it i
resurreeted with all its prayers, anC
songs, and tears, and sermons, aud trans
figurations. Have you kept those VOWS
Have you been backslider? God hell
you. This day kneel at the foot of mercy
and start again for Heaven. Start to-day
as you started then. I rouse your sou
by that Renaissance. But l must no
spend any more of my time in going Owe
the advantages of your life. 1 just pu
them all in one great sheaf, and 1 wral
them up in your memory with one louc
harvest song, such as the reapers sing
Praise the Lord, We blood-bought immor
tails of earth! Praise the Lord, y
crowned spirits of Heaven!
But some of you have not always had
smooth life. Some of you are now in tn,
shadow. Others had their troubles years
ago; you are mere wreck of what yol
once were. l must gather up the sorrows
OF your past life; but how shall do it
You say that is impossible, as you hav
had so many troubles and universities
Then will just take two, the first trouble
and the last trouble. As when you ar
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been music in the distance, you uncon
sciously find yourselves keeping step t.
the music, so when you started life you
very life was musical time beat. TIL
air was full of joy and hilarity; with tn
bright, clear oar you made the boat skip
You went on, and life grew brighter unit
after awhile suddenly a voice from
Heaven said: "Haltw and quick as TIA
sunshine you halted; you grew pale, yo1
confronted your first sorrow. You had n,
idea that the flush on your child's chez
was an unhealthy flush. You said it cam
be any thing serious. Death, in slippere,
feet, walked round about the cradle. Yo
did not hear the tread; but after awhil
the truth flashed on you. You walke
the floor. oh, if you could, with you
strong, stout hand, have wrenched tina
child from the destroyer. You went t
your room and you said: "God, save m
child God, save my child" The worlt
seemed going out in darkness. You said
81 can't bear it; l can't bear it." Yo
felt as if you could not put the long lashe
over the bright eyes, never to see Their
again sparkle. Oh, if you could hav
taken that little one in your arms an
: with it leaped the grave, how gladly yo
} would have done it! Oh, if you could lie
your property go, your houses go, you
land and your storehouse go, how gladl