Connecticut western news., 1893-08-10
MUSING BY THE FIRE.
THE PSALMIST RECALLS THE DAYS
 OF HIS YOUTH.

pr. Talmage Breaches on the Benefits of Solitary Contemp plation-The Hand of Providence In the vioissitudes of Life.
 Preparation For the Hereafter.
 BROOKLYN, Aug. 6.-Rev. Dr. Talmage has chosen as the topic for today pan orama of "reminiscences appropriate to tho season, the text selected being Psalm uxix, 8, "While was musing the fire burned"
 Here is David, the psalmist, with the forefnger of his right hand against his temple, the door shut against the world, engaged in contemplation. And it would be we'll for us to take the same posture often, closing the door against the world while we sit down in sweet solitude to contemplate.
 In 8 small island off the coast once passed Sabbath in delightful solitude, for had resolved that I would have one day of entire quiet before entered upon autumnal work. thought to have spent the day in laying out plans for Christian O day of tender reminiscence. I reviewed my pastorate. I shook hands with an old departed friend, whom l shall greet again when the curtains of life are lift ed. The days of my boyhood came back, and I was 10 years of age, and was 8, and I was 5. There was but one house on the island, and yet from Sabbath day break, when the bird chant woke me, until the evening melted into the bay, from shore to shore there were 10000 memories, and the groves were a-hum with voices that had long ago ceased.
 YOUTH AND AGE.
 Youth is apt too much to spend all it's time in looking forward. Old age is apt too much to spend all it's time in looking backward. People in midlife and on the apex look both ways. It would be well for us, think, however, to spend more time in reminiscence. By the constitu- ton of our nature we spend most of the time looking forward. And the vast majority of people live not so much in the present as in the future. I find that you mean to make a reputation. You mean to establish yourself, and the ad- vantages that you expect to achieve ab- sorb great deal of your time. But l see no harm in this if it does not make you discontented with the present or disquaify you for existing duties.
 It is useful thing sometimes to look back and to see the dangers we have es- capped, and to see the sorrows we have suffered, and the trials and wanderings of our earthly pilgrimage, and to sum up our enjoyments. I mean today, so far as God may help me, to stir up your memory of the past, so that in the re- view you may be encouraged and hum blsd and urged to pray.
 There is chapel in Florence with a fresco by Guido. It was covered up with two inches of stucco until our American and European artists went there and after long toll removed the covering and retraced the fresco. And am aware that the memory of the past with many of you, is all covered up with 10000 obliterations, and propose this morning, so far as the Lord may help me, to take away the covering, that the old picture may shine out again.
 want to bind in one sheaf all your past advantages, and want to bind in another sheaf all your past adversities. It Is precious harvest, and 1 must be cautious how swing the scythe.
 Among the greatest advantages of your past life was an early home and it's surroundings. The bad men of the day, for the most part, dip their heated pas sions out of the boiling spring of an un- happy home. We are not surprised that e xryoo nNy, ,fp-of ion, nq sin when we hear that his mother was abandoned and that she made sport of his infrmity and often called him 'the lame brat" He who has vicious parents has to fight every inch of his way if he would maintain his integrity and at last reach the home of the good in heaven.
 Perhaps your early home was in the city. It may have been in the days when Canal street, New York, was far up town. That old house in the city may have been demolished or changed into stores, and it seemed like sacrilege to you, for there was more meaning in that plain house, in that small house, than there is in a granite mansion or a turreted cathedral. Looking back this morning, you see it as though it were yesterday-the sitting room, where the loved ones sat by the plain lamplight, the mother at the evening stand, the brothers and sisters, perhaps long ago gathered into the skies, then plotting mischief on the floor or under the table; your father with a firm voice command ing silence, that lasted half 8 minute
 HAPPY CHILDHOOD DAYS.
 Oh, those were good daysl If you had your foot hurt, your mother always had soothing salve to heal it. If you were wronged In the street, your father was always ready to protect you. The year was one round of frolic and mirth. Your greatest trouble was an April shower, more sunshine than shower. The heart had not been ransacked by troubles, nor had sickness broken it, and no lamb had warmer sheepfold than the home in which your childhood nestled.
 Perhaps you were brought up in the country. You stand now today in mem- ory under the old tree. You clubbed it for fruit that was not quite ripe because you could not wait any longer. You hear the brook rumbling along over the pebbles. You step again into the furrow where your father in his shirt sleeves shouted to the lazy oxen. You frighten the swallows from the rafters of the barn and take just one egg and silence your conscience by saying they will not miss it. You take drink again out of the very bucket that the old well fetched up. You go for the cows at night and find them wagging their heads through the bars. Ofttimes in 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 or new mown hay or the blossom of buckwheat.
 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 yellow sunfower that stood sentinel along the garden walk and the forgetmenots play