The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-09-27


we may sit. and n lounge where we may lie,
and n serenity OF peace IN which we may re-
pose. and that refuge Is home. The English
soldiers. sitting on the walls around Sevas-
topol, one night heard n company OF mu-
sicians playing Hone. Sweet Home" and
II IL said thnt the whole army broke out into
sobs and wailing, 30 great was their home
sickness. God pity the poor, miserable
wretch who has no home
Now. suppose Christ should come into
your house. First the wife and the mother
would feel His presence. Religion almost
always begins there. II IL easter for women
TO become Christians than for US men. They
do not fight 40 against God. II woman
tempted man originally away from holiness,
make any fuss about II. but somehow every
body In the house knows that there II n
change In the wife and mother. She chides
the children more gently. Her face some-
times lights up with m unearthlv glow.
She goes into some unoccupied room for n
little while, and the husband goes not after
her. nor asks why she was there. He knows
without asking that she has been praying.
The husband notices that her face Is brighter
than on the day when, years AGO, they stood
ut the marriage altar. and he knows that
Jesus has been putting upon her brow q
wreath sweeter than the orange blossoms.
She puts the children TO bed. not satisfied
with the formal prayer that they once offered,
but she fingers now and tells them OF Jesus
who blessed little children and OF the good
place where they all hope TO be at last. And
then she kisses them good night with some
thing That the child feels TO be q heavenly
Notwithstanding that shall hold onto
the boy after he has become n man forty or
my years OF age, for there IL something In n
good, loving, Christian mothers kiss that
hftv wears cannot wipe of the cheek.
Now the husband Is distressed and an
noyed and almost vexsd. II she would only
speak to him no would 'blow her up" He
does not like TO say anything about IL, but
ne knows thnt she has hope that he has
not and peace that he has not. He knows
that, dying rs he now IL, he cannot 10 TO the
same place. He cannot stand It any longer.
Some Sunday night, ms they sit in the church
side by side, the floods OF his soul break
forth. He wants TO pray, but does not know
how. He hides his face lest some OF his
worldly friends SEQ him, but Gods spirit
arouses him, melts him. overwhelms him.
And they go home, husband and wife, in
silence. until they get 10 their room, when
he cries out "Oh, pray for 80 And they
kneol down. They cannot speak. Tho
word will not come. But God does not want
any words. He looks down and answers sob
and groan and outgushing tenderness. That
night they do not sleep any for talking OF all
the years wasted and OF that Saviour who
ceased not TO call. Before morning they
have laid their plans for u new life. Morn
ing comes. Father and mother descend
from the bedroom. The children do not
know what Is the matter. They never saw
father with Bible In his hand before. He
says. "Come children I want you all to sit
down while we read and pray" The chill
dren look at each other and are almost dis
posed TO laugh, but they see their parents
are In deep earnest. IL Is n short chapter
that the father reads. He is good reader
NJ other times, but now he does not get on
much. He sees so much TO linger on. His
voice trembles. Everything IL so strangely
new to him. They kneel-that Is, the father
and mother do, but the children come down
one by one. They do not know that they
must. IL Ia some time before they all get
down. The sentences are broken. The
phrases are little ungrammatical.
The prayer begins abruptly and ends ab.
ruptly but, rs far as can understand what
they mean. II Is about this: 20 Saviour
help us We do not know how to pray
Teach US. We cannot live any longer In the
way we have been living. We start to-day
for heaven. Help US TO take these children
along with US. Forgive US for all the past.
Strengthen US for all the future, and when
the journey Is over take us where Jesus Is
and where the little babe Is that we lost.
Amen" IL ended very abruptly, but the
angels came out and leaned SO far over TO
listen they would have fallen off the battle.
ment but for a stroke OF their wings and
cried "Hark, bark Behold, he praysw
That night there Is n rap at the bedroom
door. "Who Is thereY" cries the father. II
Is the Oldest child. "What Is the matter?
Are you sickp" "No; l want to be saved"
Only little while, and all the children are
brought into the kingdom OF God And
there is great Joy In the house. Years pass
on. The telegraph goes click click What
Is the news flying over the country? "Come
home. Father Is dying" The children all
gather. Some come in the last train. Some,
too late for the train, take a carriage across
the country. They stand around the dying
bed OF the father. The oldest son uphods
the mother and says Don't cry, mother. ]
will take care OF you." The rarting bless,
ing Is given. No long admonition, for he
has, through years, been saying TO his chill.
drsn all he had TO say to them. II Is n plain
"good-by!" and the remark, II know you
will all be kind to your mother" und all Is
over.
LIES duty done, as sinks the clay,
Light from its load. the spirit flies
While heaven and earth combine 70 say
How blessd the righteous when he dies.
Awhole family saved forever! II the do.
luge come, they are all in the ark-father,
mother, sons, daughters. Together on earth,
together In heaven. What makes Il so? Ex.
plain It. Zaccheus one day took Jesus home
with him. That is all. Salvation came TO
that house.
What sound is 1t hear tonight Itis
Jesus knocking at the door OF your house.
Behold a stranger at tha door
He gently Anocks-has knockei before.
II you gazed out OF your window and saw
me going up your front steps, you would not
wait, bur go yourself to open tho door. VIII
you keep Jesus standing on the outside, His
locks wet with the dews OF the night2 This
day is salvation come to thy house. The
great want of your house IL not anew carpet
or costlier pictures or richer furniture. tits
Jesus
Up 10 forty years men work .or them
selves, after that ior their children. Now,
what do you propose 10 leave them. Nothing
but dollarsp Alas, what an inheritance! II
Is more likely 10 be a curse than a blessing.
Your own common sense and observation
tell you that money, without the divine
blessing, Is curse. You must soon leave
your children. Your shoulders are not so
strong as they were, and you know that they
will soon have 10 carry their own burdeSs
Your eyesgnt is not so clear as once. THey
will annn haya n nick out thair axvp xrats