The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1893-06-09


eyesight were only good enough we
could see Babel in many dooryard
Oh, the struggle is fiercel 1t is store
against store, house against house, street
against street, nation against nation.
The goal for which men are running is
chairs and chandeliers and mirrors and
houses and lands and presidential
equipments. If they get what they an
ticipate, what have they got? Men are
not safe from calumny while they live,
and, worse than that they are not safe
after they are dead, for I have seen
swine root up graveyards.
One day man goes up into publicity,
and the world does him honor, and peo-
pie climb up into sycamore trees to
watch him rs he passes, and as he goes
along on the shoulders of the people
there is a waving of hats and wild
huzza. Tomorrow the same man is
caught between the jaws Of the print
ing press and mangled and bruised, and
the very same persons who applauded
him before cry: down with the traitor!
Down with him!"
Belshazzar sits ut the feast, the
mighty men of Babylon sitting all
around him. Wit sparkles like the wine
and the wine like the wit. Music rolls
up among the chandeliers; the chande-
liers flash down on the decanters. The
breath of hanging gardens floats in on
the night air; the voice of revelry floats
out. Amid wreaths and tapestry and
folded banners finger writes. The
march of host is heard on the stairs.
Laughter catches in the throat. A thou
sand hearts stop beating. The blow is
struck. The blood on the floor is richer
hued than the wine on the table. The
kingdom has departed
Belshazzar was no worse perhaps than
hundreds of people in Babylon, but his
position slew him. Oh, be content with
just such position as God has placed
you in! It may not be said of us, "He
was q great general" or HE was an
honored chieftain," or "He was mighty
In worldly attainments," but this thing
may be said of you and me, "He was a
good citizen, faithful Christian, a
friend of Jesus" And that in the last
day will be the highest of all eulogiums.
EYES AND SEE NOT.
learn further from this subject that
death comes to the summer house. Egg
lon did not expect to die in that fine
place. Amid all the flower leaves that
drifted like summer snow into the win
dow; in the tinkle and dash of the foun-
tains; in the sound of thousand leaves
fluttering on one tree branch; in the cool
breeze that came up to shake feverish
trouble out of the kings locks, there
was nothing that spake of death, but
there he died! In the winter, when the
snow is shroud, and when the wind is
dirge, it is easy to think of our mortal
ity, but when the weather is pleasant
and all our surroundings are agreeable
how difficult it is for us to appreciate
the truth that we are mortal! And yet
my text teaches that death does some
times come to the summer house.
He Is blind and cannot see the leaves.
! He Is deaf and cannot hear the foun.
tains. Oh, if death would ask us fol
victims, we could point him to hundreds
of people who would rejoice to have
him come. Push back the door of that
howell. Look at that little child-cold
and sick and hungry. It has never heard
the name of God but in blasphemy. Par
ents intoxicated staggering around its
straw bed. Oh, death, there is mark
for theel Up with it into the light Be
fore these little feet stumble on lfe's
pathway give them rest.
Here is an aged man. He has done
his work. He has done it gloriously
The companions of his youth are al
gone, his children dead. He longs to b,
at rest, and YEARLY the days and tn,
nights pass He says, "Come, Lord Je
sus, come quickly" Oh, death, there il
mark for theel Take from him tn,
staff and give him the scepterl Up will
him into the light, where eyes neve
grow dim, and the air whitens no
through the long years of eternity. All
death will not do that. Death turn
back from the straw bed and from tn
aged man ready for the skies and come
to the summer house.
What doest thou here, thou bony
CHASTITY monster, amid this waving gras
and under this sunlight sitting througl
the tree branches? Children are at play
How quickly their feet go and thei
, locks toss in the wind! Father an,
mother stand at the side of the roon
looking on, enjoying their glee, It doe
, not seem possible that the wolf shoul
, ever break into that fold and carry off
, lamb. Meanwhile an old archer stand
| looking through the thicket. He point
his arrow at the brightest of the grou
, he is sure understandable bow bends
the arrow speeds! Hush, now! The quic
} feet have stopped, and the locks toss n
more in the wind. Laughter has gon
{ out Of the hall. Death in the summe
3 house,!
, Here is father in midlife. His CON
; ing home at night is the signal for mirtE
The children rush to the door, and thel
are books on the evening stand, and I'll
hours pass away on glad feet There
nothing wanting in that home. Religio
is there and sacrifices on the altar NOR
ing and night. You look in that hous
!. hold and say: II cannot think of an.
> thing happier. l do not really belle,
the world is SO sad place as some pc
!. pie describe it to be-" The scene change
. Father is sick. The doors must be ke]
: shut. The deathwatch chirps doleful
! on the hearth. The children whisp
: and walk softly where once they rompe
! Passing the house late at night, you s.
. the quick glancing Of lights from roo
to room. 1t is all over. Death in Il
= summer house!
THE DARK SIDE AND THE LIGHT.
Here is an aged mother-aged, but n
! infrm. You think you will have the j.
= of caring for her wants a good while ye
! As she goes from house to house, to CHI
:, dren and grandchildren, her coming is
! dropping of sunlight in the dwellin
; Your children see her coming throus
!, the lane, and they cry, Grandmother
. Gomez Care for you has marked up h
face with many deep wrinkle, and b
t. back stoops with carrying your burden
W Some day she is'very quiet. She Says
lie is not sick, but something tells you y,