Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-07-21

really CuttElul, bF1kul anu lllItN0lN's
speak not OF such nights as come down with
no star pouring light from above or silyered
wave tossing up light from Overwhelmingly,
hurtling, portsntous-but such as you often
see when the pomp and magnifcenre of
heaven turn out on night parade, and 1t
seems as though the song which the morn
ing stars began 80 long ago were Ginning
yet among the consultations and the sons
of God were shouting for Joy.
Such nights the sailor blesses from the
forecastle, and the trapper ON the vast
prairie, and the belated traveller 10y the road-
side, and the soldier from the tent, earthly
hosts gazing upon heavenly, and shepherds /
guarding their aocks aheld, 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 q 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.
dllleras Glorious night mid sea after n
tempest Thank God for the night Tho
moon and the stars which rule 1t are light
houses on the coast toward which, l hope,
we are oil sailing and blind mariners are We
II with 30 many beaming, burning, flaming
glories to guide us we cannot find our way
into the harbor. My text may well suggest
that as the natural evening II often luminous
30 II shall be light In the evening OF our sor-
rows-of old age OF the worlds history-oi
the Christian life "At eventime It shall be
light"
This prophecy will be fulfilled In the even.
ing OF Christian sorrow. For Il long time h
ia broad daylight. The sun rides high. In
Vulnerable activities go ahead with thou
sand feet and work with Il thousand arms,
and the pickax struck Il mine, and the bat
terry made discovery, and the investment
yielded its 20 per cent. and the book came to
Its twentieth. edition, and the farm quad.
rupled In value and the sudden fortune
hoisted to high position and children were
praised, and friends without number swarIned
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
hcation gathered around this Jupiter hold
/ ing In his hands so many thunderbOts OF
power.
But every sun must set, and the brightest
/ dsy must have its twilight Suddenly the
sky was overcast The fountain dried up.
The song hushed The wolf broke into tho
family fold and carried of the best lamb.
/ deep howl OF woe came crashing down
through the Joyous symphonies. At one
rough twang OF the hand Of disaster the harp
strings all broke. Down went the strong
business firm Away went long established
credit Up flew a flock OF calumnies' The
new book would not sell. patent could
not be secured for the invention. Stocks
sank Ike lead. The insurance company cx-
ploded How much says the sheriff,
Twill you bid for this piano. How much
for this library How much for this
family pictureE
viii 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 hoot? Did
they lie down in the dust weeping, wailing
and gnashing their teeth When the rod OF
fatherly chastisement struck them, dld they
strike back? Because they found one bitter cup
on the table OF Gods supply did they upset
the whole table2 Did they kneel down at
their empty money vault and say "All my
treasures are gone" Did they stand by the
grave OF their dead saying There never
will be q resurrection
Did they bemoau their thwarted plans and
say. THE stocks are down would God
were dead" Did the night of their disaster
come upon them moonless. .starlrss. dark anL
bowling, smothering and choking their Hives
outY No! No, No, At eventime II was
! light The swift promises overlook them.
The eternal consultations from the circui
! about Gods throne poured down an infinite
luster. Under their shining the pillows o
trouble took on crests and plumes OF gol'
and iaspar and amethyst and flame. All th'
trees of life rustled in the midsummer air o
Gods love. The night blooming assurance
V OF Christs sympathy filed all :he atmos
phere with heaven. The soul at every stel
seemed to start up from its feet brigh
winged Joys warblng heavenward.
at is good that | have been afflicted,
cries David. 1.-The Lord gave, and the Lor'
j hath taken away. exclaims job. 'Sorro"
| Ent III
"And God shall wipe away all tears IRON
r their ewes" rxclaims John in apocalypti
:, vision. At eyentme It was light. Iigh
from the cross Righv from the promises
j. Light from tho thronoi Streaming, Joyous
outgushing, everlasting light
t The text shall also find fulfllment in tn
Y time OF old age. 1t Is grand thing 10
young to have the sight clear ana tue q heal
II Ing acute and the step elastic and all OF
&c nulses marching on to the drumming OF
> stout heart. Midlife and old age Will be d
II MED many OF us, but youth-wo all kno
=. what that is. Those wrinkles were not "A
~ ways ON your brow. That snow was not d
lie ways on your head. That hrawny mus
n aid not always bunch your arm l"u ha
not always worn spectaclcs. Grave ana III
le nined as you now are, you once Went coz
J., ing down the hillside, or threw on your II
y for the race. or sent the ball flying SKY hlS
onIv long enough TO give us eXubernnt sp
y. 10 and broad shoulders for burden carr
ing and an arm with which to battle
n, way through difficulties. Lie pain II y
- fellow il long enough will come under lroW
OF ing crag and across trembling chuse"d
=, Blessed old age If you let 1t come natural
es You cannot hide II. You may try to coy
g. the wrinkles, but you cannot cover |
wrinkles. II the time has come Tor You
SO ha old be not ashamed to be old. i
aa orandest things In all the universe are o
Old mountains. old rivers, old seas
., stars and an old eternity. Then do not
an ashamed to be old unless you are older IN
the mountains and older than the stars.
ty How men and women Will lie IheS
l. thew are 40, but they are 60. They say tn
no are 90 but they are 80. They say they
in eo hut they are 80. How some people "
iiei Glorious old age II found In the way
u righteousness How beautiful the old I
at of Jacob, leaning ON the top OF MS sum,
Jobn Quincy Adams falling with the harm
ng on. OF Washington Irving sitting pen IN ha
aa amid the scenes himself had made classic
OF John Angel James to the last procialnl
nj the dospel to the masses Of Birmingham,
Theodore Frelinghuysen down to feeblen
~ and emacation deyoting his illustri'
he faculties to the kingdom OF God. At ev
tide 1t was light
We See that you do hopor to the aged.
of philosopher stood at the corner of the str
IN day after day saying to the passes
I'LL 1You will be an old man. You will be
nd old man" "You will be an old woman;
,uii, be an old woman" People thought
was crazy. / do not think that he
smooth the way for that mothers feet
az have not many more steps to take. Ste
G. those tottering limbs-they will soon b'
Do rest Plow not up that face with any II
at, wrinkles. Trouble and care have marke'
y, full enough. Thrust no thorn into tnat
" heart. II will soon cease TO Deat. Inc
the that mocketh its father and rcfuseth to o
Ind its mother, the ravens OF the valley shall
'"u NV II out, and the young eagles shall eat 1t. "
for The bright morning and hot MONDAY
life have passed with many Is ci'