The free press., 1893-06-22


tering on one tree branch in the cool Dreeze
I 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 a snrold, ana WheH .no
| wind is a dirge, it is easy to thlhs oi oui
| mortah.y, but When the weather is pleasant
| and all our surroundings ara agreeable how
| difficult it is for US to appreciate the truth
| that we are mortal And yet my text teaches
| that death does sometimes come to the sum
| mer house.
He is blind and cannot see the leaves He
i Is deaf and cannot hear the fountains. On
| if death would ass Us for victims, we coau
! point him to hundreds OF people who would
rejoice to have him come. Pusa back the
| door of that hovel. Look at that little child
| cold and sick and hungry 1t has never
| heard the name OF God but in blasphemy.
| Parents intoxicated staggering around Its
| straw bed. Oh, death, there is marx Tor
| thee Up with it into the light! Before
thes, little feet stumble on ifes pathway give
them rest.
Here is an aged man. He has done his
work. lie has done it gloriously. Inc com
panions OF his youth are all gone MS emil,
dren dead. He longs to be az res'' anu u
YEARLY the davs and the nights pass ne
says '!Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
Oh. death. there is marx for thee Iaka
from him the staff and give him the sceptre
Up with him into the light. where eyes never
grow dim. and the hair whitens not through
the long years Of eternity All, death will
not do that Death turns back from the
straw bed and from the aged man ready tor
the skies and comes to the summer house
What doest thou here, thou bony, CHASTITY
monster. amid this waving grass and under
this sunlight sitting through the trss
branches? Children are at play How quickly
their feet 90 and their locks toss in the Wind
Father and mother stand at the side OF the
room looking on. enjoying their glee. 1t
does not seem possible that the Vol shoulo
ever break into that fold and carry of
lamb Meanwhile an old archer stands look
ing through the thicket He points his arrow
at the brightest OF the group-he is sure
marksman-the bow bends, the arrow speeds
Hush, now The quick feet have stopped,
and the locks toss no more In the wlncA
Laughter has gone out OF the hall. Death
in the summer house
Here is a father in midlife. His coming
home at night is the signal for mirth. the
children rush to the door and there are books
on the evening stand, and the hours pass
away on glad feet There is nothing want
ing in that home. Religion is there and
sacrifices on the altar morning and night
You look in that household and say II can
not think of anything happier. l do not
really believe the world is so sad place as
changes. Father is sick. The doors must
be kept shut The deathwatch chirps dole
fully on the hearth. The children whisper
and walk softly whore once they romped.
Passing the house late at night, you see the
quick glancing OF lights from room to room.
Ii is all over Death in the summer house.
Here is an aged mother-aged, but not in
firm. You think you will have the JOY OF car
ing for her wants 4 GOOD while vet. AS she
o,;I
grandchildren, her coming is q dropping OF
sunlight in the dwelling. Your children see
her coming through the lane, and they cry.
"Grandmother's Gomez Care for you has
marked up her face with many a deep
wrinkle, and her back stoops with car
rying your burdens. Some days she is
very quiet. She says she is not
sick, but something tells you you
will not much longer have mother. She will
sit with you no longer at the table nor at the
hearth Her soul goes out SO gently you do
not exactly know the moment of its going.
Fold the hands that have done o many kind
nesses for you right over the heart that has
beat with love for you since before you were
horn. Let the pilgrim rest. She is weary
Death in the summer house
Gather about US what We will of comfort
and luxury, when the pale messenger comes
he does not stop to look at the architecture
of the house before he comes in, nor entering
does he wait to examine the pictures we have
gathered on the wall or bending over your
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very different Circumstances. The first was