Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-08-17

who used to sit at the door a little bent
over, cap and sncctaclcs on, her face
mcllowing With the vicissitudes of many
years, may have put down her gray
head on the pillow in the valley, but
forgot that home you never will.
Have YOU thanked God for 1t? Have
you rchearscd all these blessed rcnlinis-
cenccs: Oh thank God for Christian
father: thank God for :: Christian moth
er; thank God for an early Christian
altar at which you were taught to
kncrl; thank God fer all carly Christian
home.
I bring to mind another passage in
the history Of your life. The day came
when YOU set Dip your own household.
The days passed along in quiet blesscd-
ness. You twain sat at the table morn
rs aud night and talked over your plans
| for the future The most insignificant
affair in your life became the subject
of mutual consultation and Amusement.
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 messenger Of
God descended 10 incarnate an lmmor-
tai spirit. Two little feet started on
an eternal journey. and you were to
lead them; Il gem to flash in heavens
coronet, and you to polish it; eternal
ages of light and darkness watching the
starting out of il newly created being.
| You rcioiccu and you trembled ut tie
responsibility that in your possession All
| immortal treasure was placed. 1Ou
prayed and rejoiccd. and wcpt aud
| wondered. and prayed and "ejo;cc,l
and wcpt and wondered; you We're earn
est in supplication that you might lead
it through life into the kingdam Of
God. There was IL tremor in your EARL
cstncSs. There WAS double interest
about that home. There was an adtli-
tional interest why you should stay
thrrc and be faithful, and when in q
few months your house WAS filled With
the music of the chld's laughter you
were struck through With the fact that
you had Il Stuprndous mission.
Have you kept that VOW? Have you
neglected any of these duties? Is your
home rs much to you as it used TO be!
Have those anticipatiOns been 2ra:i!ied:
God help you to-day in your sole M
"reminiscences and let his mercy fall
upon your soul if your kindness has
been i'll requite1. God have mercy on
the parent. on the wrinkles of whose
face is written the story OF chlld
sin. God have mercy on the mother
who, in addition to her other DanGS,
has the pang Of {, child's iniqulty. On,
there are many. many sad sounds Ill
the sad world. but the SaddcSt sound
that is ever heard is the breaking OF Il
mothers heart Are there any here who
remember that in that home they were
unfaithtul? Arc there those who wall
ilcrcd off from that early home. and left
the mother to die with Il broken heart!
Oh. l stir that "Reminiscences to-day.
But some of you have not always had
a smooth life. Some Of you are now in
the shadow. Others had their troubles
years ago, you are mere wreck OF
what you once We're. l must gather up
the SORROWS Of your past life, but how
shall l do it? You say that is impossi-
BILE as you have had so many troubles
and adversities Then l will take just
two, the first trouble and the last trou-
Bile. AS 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 Il musical time-beat. The air was
full of joy and hlarity; with the bright,
clear oar you made the boat skip; you
went on until all life grew brishtr. I'M
til, after awhile. suddenly a voice from
havn said Halt" and you halted;
you grew pale. you confronted your
first sorrow You had no idea that the
flush on your child's check was an I'M
healthy flush. You said it cannot be
anything serious Death in slippered
feet walked around about the cradle
You did not hear the tread: but after
awhile the truth flashed upon you.
You walked the floor Oh, if you
could, with your strong, stout hand,
have wrenched the child from the dc
stroyer! You went to your room, and
you said. God, save my child! God,
save my childr' The world seemed 60
ing out in darkness. You said: Il cam
not bear it, l cannot bear it."You felt
as if you could not put 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, if
you could have let your property go,
your land and your storohouse go, how
gladly you would have allowed them to
depart if you could only Lave kept that
one treasure.
But one day there arose from the
heavens a chill blast that swept over
the bed room, and instantly all the
light went out, and there was darkness
thick, murky, impenetrable, shudder.
ing darkness. But God did not leave
you there. Mercy spoke. AS you were
about to put up that cup to your lips,
God said, Let it pass" and forthwith,
as by the hands Of angels. another cup
was put into your hands-it was the
cup of Gods consolation. And if 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
comfort and his consolation, and YOU
looked at the empty cradle and looked
at your broken heart. and you looked at
the Lords chastsemcnt, 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 a better man ever