Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-07-21


While might in all languages is the
symbol for gloom and suffering. il is often
really cheerful, bright and impressive. |
speak not of such nights as come down with
no star pouring light from above or silvered
wave tossing up light from beneath-Tnurky.
hurtling, portentouS-but such as you often
see when the pomp and magnificence OF
heaven turn out on night parade. and II
seems as though the song which the morn
ing stars began so long ago were Ginning
yet among the consultations and the sons
of God were shouting for JOY.
Such nights the sailor biesses from the
forecastle and the trapper on the vast
prairie. and the belated traveller by the road
side. and the soldier from the tent, earthly
hosts gazing upon heavenly. and she Hherds
guarding their focks afield. while angel
hands above them set the silver bells airing
ing, "Glory to God in the highest and on
earth peace good will toward men.
What solemn and glorious thing is night
in the wilderness Night among the NOUN
tains! Night on the ocean, Fragrant night
among tropical groves Flashing night
amid arctic seventies Calm night on Roman
campagna! Awful night among the cor
dilleras Glorious night mid sea after
tempest Thank God for the night! Inc
moon and the stars which rule it are light
houses on the coast toward which, [ hope.
we are all sailing, and blind mariners are We
if with SO many beaming. burning. flaming
giories to guide us we canno: find ouE way
into the harbor. Ny text may well suggest
that as the natural evening if often luminous
so it shall be light in the evening of our sOr-
rows-of old age-of the worlds histOry-of
the Christian life ''At eventime it shall be
light
This prophecy will be fulfilled in the even
ing of Christian sorrow. For long time it
is broad daylight. The sun rides high. In
Vulnerable activities go ahead with Il thou
sand feet and work with a thousand arms,
and the pickax struck mine, and the bat
terry made a discovery, and the investment
yielded its 20 per cent. and the book came to
its twentieth edition and the farm quad
rlpled in value, and the sudden fortune
hoisted to high position, and children were
praised and friends without number awarmed
into the family hive and prosperity sang in
the music and stepped in the dance and
glOWed in the wine and ate at the banquet,
and all the gods of music and ease and graft
fcation gathered around this Jupiter hold
ing in his hands so many thunderbolts of
power.
But every sun must set. and the brightest
day must have its twiligfH. Suddenly the
sky was overcast. The fountain dried up.
The song hushed. the wolf broke into the
family fold and carried off the best lamb A
deep howl of woe came crashing down
through the joyous symphonies. At one
rough tWang Of the hand of disaSte r the harp
strings all broke. Down went the strong
business firm Away went long established
credit Up flew flock of caumnieS. The
not be secured for the invention. Stocks
sank like lead. The insurance company ex-
ploded. How much" says the sheriff,
twill you bid for this piano?'' How much
for this library" ''How much for this
family picture?"
Will the grace of God hold one up in such
circumstances? What have become of the
great multitude of Gods children who have
been pounded of the fail and crushed under
the wheel and trampled under the hoof? Did
they lie down iD the dust weeping, Wailing
and gnashing their teeth? When the rod of
fatherly chastisement struck them, did they
strike back? Because they found one bitter cup
on the table of Gods supply, did they upset
the whole table? Did they kneel down at
their empty money vault and say: can my
treasures are gomez" Did they stand by the
grave of their dead saying There never
will be resurrectiOn?'
,Did they bemoan their thwarted plans and
say, 1.-THE stocks are down-would God [
were dead?'' Did the night of their disaster
come upon them moOnless, starless. dark and
bowling smothering and choking their lives
out? No! No! No! At eHentime it was
light The swift promises overlook them.
The eternal consultations from the circuit
about Gods throne poured down an infinite
luster. Under their shining the pillows of
trouble took crests and plumes of gold
and jaspar and amethyst and flame. All the
trees of life rustled in the midsummer air of
Gods love. The night blooming assurances
of Christ's sympathy filled ali -he atmos-
pherc with heaven. The soul at every step
seemed to start up from its feet bright
winged joys Warhling heavenWard.
1T is good that 1 have been afflicted
cries David. 'The Lord gave, and tie Lord
hath taken away" exclaims JOB. sorrow
ful, yet always rejoicing,' says st. Paul.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes," exclaims John in apocalyptic
vision. At eventime it was light. Light
from the cross Right from the promises
Light from the throne! Streaming, joyous.
outgushing, everlasting light!
The text shall also find fuifillment in tho
time of old age. 1t is a grand thing to be
young-to have the sight clear and the hear
ing acute and the step elastic and all our
stout heart. Midlife and old ago will be de-
MED many of US, but yOuth-wo all know
what that is. Those wrinkles were not al
ways on your brow. That snow was not al
ways on your head. That orawny muscle
did not always bunch your arm. You have
not always worn spectacles. Graveand dig
nified as you now are, you once went coast
ing down the hillside, or threw off your hat
for the race, or sent the ball flying sky hlgn-
But youth will not always last. 1t stays
only long enough to give us exuberant sp1r-
its. and broad shoulders for burden carry
ing, and an arm with which to battle our
way through difficulties. Life's path If you
fellow it long enough will come under frown-
lag crag and across trembling causeway.
Blessed old age if you let it come naturally
You cannot hide il. You may try to cover
the wrinkles. but you cannot cover the
wrinkles. If the time has come for you to
be old, be not ashamed to be old. The
Grandest things in all the universe are Old.
Old mountains. old rivers, old seas, old
stars and an old eternity. Then do not be
ashamed to be old unless you are older than
the mountains and older than the stars.