The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-08-09
the breath Of new-mown hay or the
bl.ssom of buckwheat.


low sunflower 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 sunburnt 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 at the door a 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 Sod for itP Have
you rehearsed all these blessed remi-
niscencesp o, thank God for Christian
father; thank God for Christian
mother; thank God for an early Chris
tian altar at which you were taught TO
kneel thank God for an early Christian
home.
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 inslg-
nificant affair in your life became the
subject of mutual consultation and ad-
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 mes
senger of God descended to incarnate
an immortal spirit. Two little feet
started on an eternal journey, 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 newly
/ created being.
You rejoiced and you trembled at the
responsibility that in your possession
an immortal treasure was placed. You
psayed and rejoiced, and wept and won
dered; you were earnest in supplication
that you might lead it through life into
the kingdom of God. There was trem-
! or in your earnestness. There was q
| 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 had stupen-
dous mission.
Have you kept that vow? Have you
neglected any Of these dutiesP Is your
home as much TO you as it used to beP
Have those anticipations been graft
fed? God help you to-day in your sol
emn reminiscence, and let His mercy
fall upon your soul II your kindness has
been ill-requited. God have mercy on
the parent, on the wrinkles OF whose
face Is written the story of a child I
sin. God have mercy on the mother
who, in addition TO her other pangs,
has the pangs of child's iniquity O.
there are many, many sad sounds II
this sad world, but the saddest SOUND
that is ever heard is the breaking OF
mothers heart. Are there any here
who remember that in that home they
were unfaithful? Are there those whr
wapdered off from the early home, and
left the mother TO die with broker
heart? o, stir that "reminiscences to
day.
find another point in your life his
tory. You found one day you were II
the wrong road; you could not sleep a
night; there was just one word tha
seemed TO sob through your banking
house, or through your Office, or you
, bedroom, and that word was "Eter
nifty" You said, 81 am not ready fol
/ it. o God, have mercy" The Lore
heard. Peace came TO your heart. Yol
remember how your hand trembled Al
J you took the cup of the Holy Com
| munion. You remember the old min
| lister who consecrated it, and you re
) member the church officials who car
) Red II through the aisle; you remem
: Der the old people who, at the close o
| the service, took your hand in theirs II
congratulating sympathy, as much a
l to say: "Welcome home, You lost prod
5 igal" and though tbDse hands hav
: withered away, that Communion Sab
7 bath is resurrected to-day; II is resur
| rected with all its prayers, and songs
: and tears, and sermons, and transhg
: uration. Have you kept those vows
| Have YOU been backslider God he'll
: YOU. This day kneel at the foot o
: mercy and start again for Heaven
a Start to-day as you started then.
a rouse your soul by that reminiscence
a But must not spend any more Of m
: time in going over the advantages
: your life. just put them all in on
, great sheaf, and bind them up in you
r memory with one loud harvest song
q such as reapers sing. Praise the Lort
t We blood-bought mortals on eartl
Praise the Lord, ye crowned spirits {
Heavenl
s But some Of you have not alwaysha
a a smooth life. Some of you are now |
r the shadow. Others had their trouble
Q years ago; you ore q mere wreck
J. what you once were. must gather u
u the sorrows Of your past life; but ho'
: shall do 1t? You say that is imposs
y BILE, as you have had so many trouble
!, and adversities. Then | will just TAX
a two, the first trouble and the la
q trouble. AS when you are wallxin
along the street and there has bee
g music in the distance, you unconsciou
n ly find yourselves keeping step to u
u music, so when you started life yo,
e very life was musical timebeat. II
y air was full Of JOY and hilarity; wit
g the bright clear oar you made the boz
p skip; you went on and life gre