Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-08-18


You reiofced and you trembled at the re-
sponsibility that in your possession an I'D,
mortal treasure was placed lou pray ca ahu
rejoiced, and wept and wondered; ana PRAYED
and rejoiced, and wept and wondered lou
were earnest in supplication that you might
lead IL through life into the kingdom OF 0od-
There was a tremor in your eaFhesthoeS'
There was double interest about tina. nome.
There was an additional interest WI! you
should stay there and be faithful, anu "neh
in a few months your house was filled with
the music of the child's laughter you were
struck through with the fact that you had
stupendous mission
Have you kept that vow? Have you ne
elected any of these duties? 1syour nome as
much TO you as ii used TO ne: ha'e 1nooo
cr+icinations been rratifed? God help you
to-dav in vour solemn "Reminiscences and let
His mercy fall upon your soul II your KIM
ness has been i'll requited! Goo nave mercy
on the parent on the wrinkles OF WHOSE 90
is written the story Of child SIN dod
have mercy on the mother who in adoltlonto
her own pancs has the pang OF chllds IN
iuuity Oh. there ara many. many sdd
sounds in this sad world, but tne saoues'
sound that is ever heard is the breaking VI d"
morner's nearr. Are there any mere VINO re-
member that in that home they were untalth-
full? Are there those who wandered on nom
that early home and left the mother TO Ue
with broken heart? Oh, l stir that rem
iniscence to-day!
L
you round one DAY you were In the wrong
road you could not sleep at night. There
was Just one word that seemed to sob through
your banking house. or through your ounce,
or your shop, or your bedroom, ana mat
word was ..eternitv" You said II am not
ready for It. O God. have mercy!'' The
Lord heard. Peace came to your heart. You
remember how your hand trembled as you
took the cup of the holy communion. You
remember the old minister who consecrated
Ir. Hnu you remember the cuurcn omcIaIs
who carried it through the aisle You re-
member the old people who at the close or
the service took your hand in theirs In con-
graduating sympathy. as much as to say
Welcome home, you lost prOdigal, and
though those hands have all withered away
that communion Sabbath is reSurrected to-
dav 1t is resurrected with all its prayers
and songs and tears and sermons and trans
fguration. Have you kept those VOWS?
Have YOU been a backslider? God help you
This day kneel at the foot Of mercy and start
again for heaven. Start to-day as you
started then. I rouse your soul by that
Renaissance.
But must not spend any more of my time
In going over the advantages of your life. I
just put them all in one great sheaf, and [
bind them up in your memory with one loud
harvest song, such as reapers sing. Praise
the Lord, We blood bought mortals Gu earth
Praise the Lord, ye crowned spirits of heav-
en-
But some of you have not always had
smooth life. Some of you are now in the
shadow. Others had their troubles years ago
you are mere wreck of what you once were.
l must gather up the sorrows OF your past
life, but how shall do it? You say that is
impossible, as you have had SO many troupIes
and universities. Then I will just take two,
the first trouble and the last trouble.
And when you are walking along the street
and there has been music in the distance
you unconsciously find yourselves keeping
step to the music, so when you started life
your very life was musical tmebeat. The
air was full Of Joy and hilarity- With the
bright, clear oar, you made the boat skip.
You went on, and life grew brighter, until
after awhile suddenly voice from heaven
said. ''Haltr' And you hated. You grew
pale. You confronted your first sorrow.
You had no idea that the flush on your
childs cheek was an unhealthy flush. You
said it cannot be anything serious. Death
in slippered feet walked round about the
cradle. You did not hear the tread, but
after awhile the truth flashed on you. You
walked the floor. Oh, it you could, with
your strong, stout hand, have Wrenched the
child from the destroyer!
. You went to your room. and you said:
'"God. save my child God. save my child ~
The world seemed going out in darkness,
You said, II cannot bear it, cannot bear
it '" You felt as if you could not lAIt the
lashes over the bright eyes never to see them
again sparkle. oh, if you could have taken
that little one in your arms and with it
leaped into the grave, how gladly you would
have done it Oh, Il you could let your
property go, your houses, your land and
your storehouse go, how gladly you would
have allowed them to depart if you could
only have kept that one treasure!
But one day there arose from the heavens
a chill blast that swept over the bedroom.
and instantly ali the light went out, and
knpSS-fhjcE inn
trable, shuddering darkness. But God did
not leave you there. Mercy spoke. AS you
were about to put that cup to your lips God
said, ''Let it pass" and forthwith as by the
hand OF angels, another cup was put into
your hands. 1t was the cup of Gods conso-
latIon. And as you have sometimes lifted
the head of wounded soldier and poured
wine into his lips, so God puts His left arm
under your head, and with His right hand
He pours into your lips the wine of His COM
fort and His nsOlatlOn. and you looked at
the empty cradle and looked at your broken
heart and you looked at the Lords chas-
tisement, and you said, Even SO, Father,
for so it seemeth good in Thy sight"
All, it is your first trouble. How did you
get over it? God comforted you. You have
been q better man ever since You have been
a better woman ever since. In the jar Of the
closing gate of the sepulcher you heard the
changing of the opening gate of heaven aad
you felt an irresistible drawing heavenward
You have been purer and holier of heart ever
since that night when the little one for the
last time putits arms around your neck and
said: Good night. papa. Good night.
mamma. Meet me in heaven
But must come on down to your later
sorrow. What was it? Perhaps it was sick
ness. The childs tread on the stair or the
tick of The watch on the stand disturbs YOU
Through the long, weary days you counted
the figures on the carpet or the flowers in
Z q W. no aorio