The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-11-27
Lesson from Nature.

pleasure of rising early in the hourSofday,
and who has perceived the modest bushes
of light and the brilliant purpled tiats
Illuminating the eastern horizon, who has
also carefully observed the gradual change
in the color of the sky at the stealtby an
proach of dawn. will concur with me when
| say that it is one of the most beautiful
sights that anyone can behold. It is a
sight which has called forth the admiration
of artists, the praise of poets, and millions
of people who have testified in glowing
silence their appreciation of its magnif-
cenee and beauty. So might &C gu and
elaborate, but do not purpose in this
article to picture or eulogize the glories Of
the antumnal dawn; | could not do jas
tice to it anyway, would only like to say
that the Sabbath morning on which the
events occurred about which | now relate,
was alike, in its full representation, i'm
possible to describe.
I have said that it was a beautiful Sab
bath morning. | should nave added that
there was something about tits peculiar
stiffness etc.-which made one feel that it
was a hallowed day. For the sun shining
in feryent splendor above the top of 2
neighboring mountain, and peeping into
the windows of many dwellings las sooth
ing the occupants into a state of inactive
WaRDIuliiSSS WHICH WIS So general III us
effect that even the sun itself, as it orept
up along the sky that calm morning, must
have blushed deeply when it peered into
some of the chambers and saw their ocou-
pants fostering that tempting inclination
which must inevitably end in an excuse for
being too late for church.
l had been up some time, had taken a
walk and had returned for breakfast. After
dispensing with the usual repast, | took
another stroll and my aimless wanderings
led me to a foot of a mountain which |
assembled. From its height, it furnished
an excellent position for viewing the sur
rounding country. For miles and miles as
Milton says: 1.-The mountains huge appear
ed emergent, and their broad, bare backs
upheaved into the clouds" Far above the
valley to the North could be seen the
range Of the Blue Ridge. The sky was
clear and not a mist shaded the boundless
horizon. Little villages squatted along
the banks Of the winding Schuylkill were
perceptible. To the west far in the dis
lance ard stretching along the horizon,
was the famous Broad Mountain which
separates the regions of the Sehuylkill and
Mahanoy. To the east was the Sharp
Mountain, running almost parallel with
the former, which marks the limit OF the
anthracite coal field of Pennsylvania.
There are many pleasing scenes which l
could enumerate as being also located with
in view, and even the far away sigBs of
rural life ale observed in the little cottages
lying back against the hills, with grassy
plots in front and COW grazing down 10
the field but a short distance away. The
bright meadow with its sloping surface
and d~iminutive ~rivulets flowing silently on,
can just be seen in the dis lance. just
beyond there is a little field of yellow corn
stalks ripening in the Autumn sun. and
this together with a small patch of wheat
%springing up, covering the earth With
green. makes a very pretty contrast with
the variagated tints of t e dying foliage in
the background.
Hardly had | noted these scenes which
had attracted my attention, when | heard
the village church bell tolliug ia the valley
below NE. 1t was calling the Inhabitants
of the little tow Of MiBersviile and yicin-
iy to Sunday service. ! paused and listen
ed. Its faint echoes die way in the list.
less woods. Again it came. Solemnly
and family its tones borneon zephyr wings
ofineffa0le tenderness r~everberated through
the valley and filled tie air with mex
pressable melody. In a little while the
tolliDg had ceased; the last note had died
away and lost itself in the depths of the
wood.
Il seemed rather early yet for the regu-
lar services TO begin, and the thought oe-
Cured to me that it might be a funeral Of
one Of the victims OF the mine disaster. Of
a few days before. aud being somewhat
anxious to satisfy my curiosity, | descend
ed TIE mountain, and having reached tie
foot, walked across q vacant lot which led
me 10 one of the streets which passes The
chapel. There were numbers insid g and
entering, and drawn by a sentiment so
co~nspicuously manifested by those around
me. ! unhesitatingly entered.
The interior of the church, like the put
side, was very plain; there was nothing
whatever ornamental about it. Nor were
there any existing forms Of conventional
ity present, but the occupants were simply
attired in material which suited the oeca.
sion, for hardly bad | crossed the entrance,
when | perceived that it was a funeral ser.
vice. The pastor was reading the words:
Gould my tears forever flow
Could M zeal no languor know
When the first sounds of voices ard The
rich tones of music had finally died away
in the Rock of Ages cleft for me, Let me
hide myself in Thee" there was q pause.
Just at that moment there seemed to be a
feeling of inspiration manifested through
out the entire church. The all prevailing
presence of a Supreme Power was almost
apparent, and the melody was OF an eleva-