The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-02-13

Now, as stand here, you do not see any
hands outstretched toward me. and yet there
are hands on my brow and hands on both my
shoulders. They are hands Of parental bene-
diction. IL Is quite good many years ago
now since we folded those hands as they began
the last sleep on the banks Of the Raritan
In the village cemetery but those hands are
stretched out toward me to-day, AMI they
are just as warm and they are Just as gentle
as when i sat on her knee at five years Of
age. And l shall never shake Off those
hands do not want TO. They have helped
me so much a thousand times already, and
do not expect to have a trouble or a trial
between this and my grave where those hands
will not help me. IL was not a very splen-
did home, as the world calls it; but
we had n family Bible there, well worn by
tender perusal; and there was family altar
there, where we knelt morning and night:
and there was holy Sabbath there; and
stretched in straight line or hung in loops
or festoonS there was scarlet line
In the window. Oh the tender, prec-
ious, blessed memory OF Christian
homel Is that the impression you
are making upon your children When you
are dead-and II will not be long before YOU
are-when you are dead will your child say
III there ever was a good Christian father,
mine was one. n there ever was a good
Christian mother, mine was oney'
Still further, we want this scarlet line OF
the text drawn across the window of our
prospects To-day, my friends, we sit in the
window Of earthly prospects, and we look of
toward the hills OF heaven and the landscape
Of eternal beauty. God has opened the win
dow for us, and we look out. We now only
get dim outline Of the inhabitants We now
only here and there catch n note of the ex-
quisite harmony.
But blessed be God for this scarlet line in
the window. That tells me that the blood OF
To-. .stI
shall 60 there when my work is done. And
rs put my hand on that scarlet line, every
thing in the future hrghtens.
IL from this window Of earthly prospects
we can almost see our loved ones who went
away, thon from their towers Of light.
think they can fully see us. And so | wave
them the glory, and ! wave them the JOY,
and say Have you got through with al
your troublcsy' and their voices answer
God hath wiped away all tears from oui
eyes | say: rs IL rs grand up there "a
you thought IL would bcy' and the voices an
swer' Eye hath not seen nor ear heard
neither hath IL entered into the heart o
man, the things which God hath prepared
for those that love Him" I say; "Do
you have any more struggle for
breadW and they answer: I'VE hunger nc
more. we thirst no more And | say
"Have you been out to the cemetery
of the golden city, and they answer
''Ihorc ~ no death here. Ana look Uut
through the heavens, and say: "Where dc
you get your light from nights, and what dc
you burn in the templey and they answer
''There is no night here, and we have ne
need Of candle or ot star And say: What
/ book do you sing out OFF, and they
answer: The Hallelujah Chorus And
say: "ln the splendor and magnflcence o
the city, don't you ever get losty and they
answer: THE Lamb which is in the midst
of the throne leadeth us to living fountains o
water
O how near they seem Their wings-d'
you not feel them Their hnrps--do you no
! hear themy And all that through the win
dow Of our earthly prospects across whicl
stretcheth the scarlet line BE that my choic'
color forever. Is II too glaring for you
Do you like the blue because 1t reminds yo'
of the sky, or the green because II makes yol
think of the foliage, or the black because !
has in il the shadow of the night? take tn
scarlet because IL shall make me think OF tn
price that was paid for my soul. q tn
blood! the blood the blood of the Lamb o
! God that taketh away the sin of the world.
zee where you are You are at the crossroads
The next step decides everything. Pause befor
you take It.. but do not pause too long.
hear the blast OF the trumpet that wakes tn
dead Look out! Look out! For in tina
day, and in our closing moment ON earth
| better than any other defence or barricadt
| however high or broad or stupendous, WI
be the little, thin, scarlet thread in the WIN
! dow.