Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-12-20

ready come. and they are going to come
! In all departments, but those duil
times through which we have
passed have destroyed great many men:
The question of livelihood Is with vast
multitude the great question. Tnere are
young men who expected before TINS 10 SET
up their household, but they have been dis
appointed in the gains they have made.
They cannot support themselves. now can
they support others? And. to the curse OF
modern society. the theory is abroad that
man must not marry until he has achieved
fortune. when the twain ought to sart
at tho foot OF the hill AMI together climb to
the top.
That IS the old fashioned way, and that
will be the new fashioned way If society is
ever redeemed. But during the hard times,
the dull times, so many men were discouraged,
so many men had nothing to do-they could
get nothing to do--a pirate bore down on
the ship when the sails we're down and the
vessel was making no Roadway. People say
they want more time to think. The trouble
Is, too many people have had too muchtime
| 10 think, and If our merchants had not had
their minds diverted many OF them would
long before this have been within the four
walls of an insane asylum. These long win
ter evenings, be careful where you spend
them. This winter will decide the temporal
and eternal destiny Of hundreds OF men in
this audience.
Then the winter has especial temptations
In the fact that many homes are peculiarly
uhattraclive at this season. In the summer
months the young man can sit out on tho
steps, or he can have bouquet In the vase
on the mantel, or, the evenings being so
short, soon after gaslight he wants to retire
anyhow. But there are many parents who
do not understand how to make the long
winter evenings attractive to tleir children.
II is amazing to me that so many old people
do not understand young people. To hear
some OF these parents talk you would think
I they mad never themselves been young and
had been born with spectacles on. Oh, it is
dolorous for young people to sit In the house
from to IL o'clock at night and to hear par
ents groan about their ailments and the
nothingness ofthis world. The nothingness
of this world! How dare you talk such
bIasphemy2 1t took God six days to make
this world, and He has allowed it 5000 years
to hang upon His holy heart, and this world
has shone on you and blessed you and ca
ressed you for these fifty or seventy years,
and yet you dare talk about the nothingness
of this world! Why, 1t Is magnificent
world 1 do not believe in the whole uni
verse there is world equal to ii, except it
dren to stay in the house these long winter
evenings TO hear you denounce this star
lighted, sun warme1, shower baptised,
flower stFewn, angel watched, God inhabit-
ed planet.
Oh, make your home bright Bring In the
violin or the picture. 1t does not require
great salary, or big house, or chased sill
yer, or gorgeous upholstery to make happy
home. All that is wanted is fathers heart,
mothers heart, in sympathy with young
folks. have known a man with 500 sal
airy, and he had no other income. but he had
a home so happy and bright that, though
the sons had gone out and won large for
tunes and the daughters have gone out into
splendid spheres and become princesses of So
ciety, they can never think of that early
home without tears of emotion. 1t was to them
the vestibuIe of heaven, and all their man.
sions now and all their palaces now cannot
make them forget that early place. Make
your homes happy. You go around your
house growing about your rheumatism and
acting tho !ugubrous, and your sons will 60
into the world and plunge into dissipation.
They will have their own rheumatisms after
awhile Do not forestal their misfortuues.
You were young once, and you had your
bright and joyous times. Now let the young
folks have good time. l stoo in front OF
house, and l said to the owner fthe house,
"This Is splendid tree" He said
will fade" 1 walked around in his
garden and said, "This is glorioul
garden you have" "Yes," he said, "but it
will perish" Then he said to my little
child, whom I was leading along, "Comss
and kiss me-" The child protested and
turned away. He ssid, ooh, the perversity
of human naturep' Who would want 10
kiss him2 was not surprised to find out
that his only son had become q vagaoond.
You may groan people out OF decency. ont
you can never groan them into 1t, and de-
care in the presence OF these men and Ho-
men OF common sense that It is q most i'm
portant thing for you to make your homes
bright il you want your sons aud daughters
to turn out we'll.
Alas, that old people so much misunder-
stand young folksI There was a great Sun.
day-school anniversary, and there were
thousands OF children present-indeed all
the Snnday-schools Of the town were In the
building, and 1t was very uproarious and
full of disturbance, aud the presiding officer
on the occasion came forward and In very
loud tone shouted, "Sllence" and the more
noise the presiding officer made, the more
noise the children made. Some one e'se rose
on tie platform and came forward and with
more stentorian voice shouted, 'Silencew
and the uproar rose to greater height, audit
did seem as if there would
be almost riot and the police
have to be called in when old d.. Bea-
man, his hair white as the driven snow said,
"Let me try my hand" SO he came for.
ward with slow step to the front of the
platform, and when the children saw the
venerable man and the white hair, they
thought they would hush up that instant
and hear what the old man had to say. He
said: "Boys, want to make bargain with
you. II you will be still now, while SPEAK,
when YOU get to be as old us | am | will
be as still as a mouse" There was not
another whisper that afternoon. He was
as much a boy as any OF them. Oh, in
these approaching holidays let us turn
back our natures to what they were
years ago and be boys again aud girls
again and make all our homes happy. God
will hold you responsible for the influence
you now exert, and it wi | be very bright
and very plea; ant If some winter night
when we are sleeping under the blankets of
snow. our children shall ride along in the
merry party and .hushfng n moment into
solemnity, look off and say, "There sleep
the best father and mother that ever made u
happy new year." Arm yourself against
these temptations of December, January and
February. Temptation will come to you in
the form Of an angel OF light
know that the poets represent satan as
horned and hoofed. II / we're poet aud l
were going to picture satan, would repre-
sent him as human being, with manners
polished to the last perfection, hair falling
in graceful ringlets, eye q little bloodshot,
but floating in bewitching langor, hand soft
and diamonded, foot exqulsitely shaped.
voice mellow as a flute, breath perfumed