The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-09-07
" vim neyer thInk oi Mentioning

blessings you will never think OF mentioning
before God
We must sec blind man led along by his
dog before we learn what n grand thing II is
to have ones eyesighf. We must see man
with ~. vitus's dance before we learn what a
grand thing II II TO have the use OF our physi-
cal energies. We must some soldier
crippled, lmping along on his crntch or his
empty coatslecve pinned up. before we learn
what n grand thing Il IL 10 have the use OF
all our physical faculties. In other words,
we are so stupid that nothing but the misfor-
tunes OF others can wake us up TO an appre-
citation OF our common blessings.
We get on board train and start for Bos-
ton and come TO Norwalk bridge. and tho
draw" Is on and crash goes the train.
Fifty lives dashed out. We escape. We
come home In great excitement and call our
friends around US. and they congratulate us,
and we all knell down and thank God for our
escape while 80 many persisted. But to-
morrow morning you get on n train OF cars
for Boston. You cross that bridge at Nor
walk you cross all the other bridges you
get 20 Boston In safety. Then you return
home. Not an accident not an alarm. No
thanks.
In other words. you seem 20 be moro CRATE
ful when 80 people lose their lives and you
get of than you are grateful 10 God when
you all get OF and you haye no alarm at all.
Now. you ought to be thankful when you cs-
cape from accident. but more thankful when
they all escape. In the one cnsc your grati-
tude Is somewhat selfish I'm the other II is
moro like what It ought to be.
oh, these common mercios, these common
blessings, how little VIZ appreciate them and
how soon we forget them! Like the OK
grazing, with the clover up TO it's eyes. like
the bird picking the worm out OF the furrow
never thinking TO thank God, who makes
the grass grow and who gives life to every
living thing from the nnimaiculp in the sod
| 4 n ha nh IN, hR af.tt I'M.
on the 27th OF November, in the autumn of
the year. but blessings hour by hour and day
by day and no thanks at all.
Icompared our indifference TO the brute,
but perhaps | wrongcd the brute. do not
know but that among its other instincts II
may have an instinct by which IL recognizes
the divine hand that feeds II. do not know
but that God IL through II holding commu-
nication with what we call "irrational crea-
tton." The COW that stands under the will
low by the water course chewing its cud
l looks very thankful, and who can tell how
much a.bird means by its song? The aroma
OF the flowers smell liko incense. and tho
mist arising from the river looks like tho
smoke OF morning sacrifice. on. that we
were as responsive
| II you were thirsty and asked me for a
l drink and gave You this glass OF watcr YOUR
common instinct would reply. Thank you"
I And yet, how many chalices ot mercy we get
I hour by hour from the hand OF the Lord. our
Father and our King. and we do not oven
/ think TO say. THANK you" Moro Just to
/ men than we are just TO God.
Who thinks OF thanking God for the water
| gushing up In the well, ioaming In the cas-
cadc, laughing ovcr the rocks. pattcring In
/ the shower, clapping its hands In the sea2
I Who thinks to thank God for that Who
thinks TO thank God for the air. the fountain
| OF life, the bridge OF sunbcnms, the path of
| sound, the great fan on u hot summer dat?
| Who thinks To thank Col for this wonderful
/ physical organism. this sweep OF vision this
| chime Of harmony struck into tho ear,
this crimson tide rolling through arteries and
veins, this drumming OF the heart ON the
/ march OF Immortality
! | convict myself and I convict everyone
OF you while | say these things. that wa
/ are unappreciative OF the common mercies
/ OF life. Aud yet II they were withdrawn, the
! heavens would withhold their rain and the
earth would crack open under our feet. and
desolatiOn and sickness ani woe would stalk
across the earth, and the whole earth would
| become "a place of skulls
! oh, my friends. let US wake up to an ap-
/ probation OF the common mercies OF life. Let
every day be IA Sabbath. every meal sacra.
ment, every room holy OF holies. We all
have burdens TO bear let us cheerfully bear
1thenl/ Va oil have battles 10 fight LET us
courareouHs yhystthem.
We wa Ay froiffght, we must live right.
rod yv iroliie and attend 20 St'pr lxits sphere
OF duties. will go home and attend TO my
little sphere OF duties. You cannot do my
and Incidence will win the hiss OF everlast-
Ing scorn, while faithfulness will gather its
garlands and wave its sceptre and sit upon
its throne long after the world has put on
ashes and eternal ages have begun their
march.