The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-03-27

starting the suspicion in regard 70
themselves, that the reason they do not
like the corn is because it is not ground
in their own mill. How long before we
shall learn to be fair in our religious
criticism! The keenest jealousies on
earth are church jealousies. The field
of Christian work is so large that there
is no need that our hoe handles hit.
What round of insincerities many
people run in order TO win the favor OF
the world. Their life is a sham and
their death is an unspeakable sadness.
Alas for the poor butterflies when the
frost strikes them,
Compare the lie and death of such a
one with that OF some Christian aunt
who was once a blessing to your house
hold. do not know that she was ever
offered the hand in marriage. She
lived single, that untrammeled she
might be everybOdy's blessing. When
ever the sick were to be visited. or the
poor TO be provided with bread, she
went with a blessing. She could pray.
or sing Rock of Ages" for any sick
pauper who asked her. As she got old
err, there were days when she was little
sharp. but for the most part auntie was
sunbeam-just the one for Christmas
eve. She knew better than anyone else
how to fix things. Her every prayer. as
God heard it, was full of everybody who
had trouble.
The brightest things in all the. house
dropped from her fingers. She had
peculiar notions. but the grandest no
ton she ever had was to make you hap
pv She dressed well-auntie always
dressed well: but her highest adornment
was that of meek and quiet spirit,
which in the sight of God is of great
price. When she died you all gathered
lovingly about her. and as you carried
her out to rest the Sunday school class
almost covered the coffin with japonicas
and the poor people stood at the end of
the alley with their aprons to their
eyes. sobbing bitterly. and the man of
the world said with Solomon. Her
price was above rubies:" and Jesus. as
unto the maiden OF Judea commanded,
II say unto thee. arise!'
But TO many through insincerity this
life is masquerade ball. AS at such
entertainments gentlemen and ladies
appear in the dress of kings or queens,
mountain bandits or clowns. and at the
close of the dance throw off their dis
guises. So in this dissipated life, all I'M
clean passions move in mask. Across
the floor they trip merrily. The lights
sparkle along the wall or drop from the
ceiling-a cohort of fire! The music
charms. The diamonds glitter. The
feet bound. Gemmed hands stretched
out, clasp gemmed hands. Dancing feet
respond to dancing feet. Cleaning
brow bends to cleaning brow. On with
the dance. Flash and rustic and laugh
ter and Unreasonable merrynakingi
But the languor of death comes over
the limbs and blurs the sight. Lights
lower, Floor hollow with sepulchral
echo Music saddens into wall. Lights
lower, The maskers can hardly now be
seen. Flowers exchange their frag-
rance for a sickening odor, such as
comes from garlands that have lain in
vaults of cemeteries. Lights lower!
Mists fill the room. Glasses rattle as
though shaken by suilen thunder.
Signs seem caught among the curtains.
Scarf falls from the shoulder of beauty
"a shroud. Lights lower, Over the
slippery boards. in dance OF death,
glide iealousies, dissppointments. lust,
despair. Torn leaves and withered
garlands only half hide the ulcered feet.
The stencil of smoking lamp-wicks al
most quenched. Choking damps. Chill
ness. Feet still Hands folded. Eyes
shut. Voices hushed. Lights out.