Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-08-12

the dusty and busy streets you wish
you were home again on that cool
grass, or in the hall of the farm house,
through which there was the breath of
new mown hay or the blossom of buck
wheat.
You may have in your windows now
beautiful plants and flowers brought
from across the seas, but not one OF
them stirs in your soul SO much charm
and memory as the old ivy and the yell
low sunfower that stood sentinel along
the garden walk, and the forget-me-
nots playing hide-and-seek mid the
long grass. The father who used to
come in sun-burnt from the fields, and
sit down on the door-sill and wipe the
sweat from his brow, may have gone to
his everlasting rest. The mother, who
used to sit Mt the door n little bent
over, cap and spectacles on, her face
mellowing with the vicissitudes of
many years, may have put down her
gray head on the pillow in the valley,
but forget that home you never will.
Have you thanked God for it? Have
you rehearsed all these blessed reminis-
cences? Oh, thank God for a Christian
father: thank God for n Christian moth
err: thank God for an early Christian
altar at which you were taught to
kneel; thank God for an early Christian
home.
1 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 blessed
ness. You twain sat at the table morn
ing and night and talked over your
plans for the future. The most insig-
nificant affair in your life became the
subject of mutual consultation and adj
visement. 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 descends to
incarnate an immortal spirit. Two
little feet started on an eternal jour-
ney, and you were to lead them: gem
to flash in Heavens coronet. and you
to polish it; eternal ages of light and
darkness watching the starting out Of
a newly created being.
You rejoiced and you trembled at the
responsibility that in your possession
an immortal treasure was placed. You
prayed and rejoiced, and wept and
you were earnest in suppli-
cation that you might lead it through
life into the kingdom of God. There
was tremor in your earnestness. There
was a double interest about that home.
There was an additional interest why
you should stay there and be faithful,
and when in few months your house
was filled with the music of the child's
laughter you were struck through with
the fact that you have had stupend-
Gus 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 granted?
God help you to-day in your solemn
and let His mercy fail
upon your soul if your kindness hos
been i'll requited. God have mercy on
the parent, on the wrinkles of whose
face is written the story Of childs
sin. God have mercy ON the mother
who, in addition to her other pangs,
has the pang of child's iniquity.
/ find another point in your life his
tory. You found one day you were in
the wrong road: you could not sleep At
night; there was just one word that
seemed TO sob through your banking
house, or through your Office, OF your
shop or your bed room, and that word
was eternity You said IL am not
ready for it. OGod, have mercy" The
Lord heard Peace came 10 your heart.
on remember how your hand trembled
rs You took the cup of the holy com
nunion. You remember the old min
ister who consecrated it, and you re-
the church officials who car
ried it through the aisle; you remember
the old people who at the close of the
service took your hand in theirs in con-
sympathy, as much as to
say, "Welcome home, You lost prod
igal;" and though those hands have all
withered away. that communion Sab
bath is resurrected to-day; it is resur'
rected with all its prayers, and songs,
and tears, and sermons, and. tranfigura-
ton. Have you kept those vows? Have
you been backslider? God help you
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; must gather up
the sorrows of your past life, but how
shall | do it? You say that is impossi-
BILE, as you have had so many troubles
and universities. Then will take just
two, the first trouble and the last
trouble. AS when you are walking
along the street and there has been
music in the distance, you unconscious