Connecticut western news., 1896-04-02

hau or secular interests 1 wish that our ponds and cur rivers and our capi. toline grounds might be all aQuake with the heel and the shout of the swift skater. wish that when the warm weather comes the graceful oar might dip the stream and the evening tfde be resonant with boatman's song, the bright prov splitting the crystalline bill low.
 We shall have the smooth and grassy lawn, and we will call out people of all occupations and professions and ask them to join in the ball player sport. Ton will come back from these outdoor exercises and recreations with strength in your arm and color in your cheek and a fash in your eye and courage in your heart. In this great battle that is open- ing against the kingdom of darkness we want not only eonsecrated soul, but a strong arm and stout lungs and mighty muscle. bless God that there are SO many recreations that have not on them any taint of iniquity, recrea tions in which we may engage for the strengthening of the body, for the clear ing of the intellect, for the illumination of the soul.
 There is still another form of recrea- tion which commend to you, and that is the pleasure of doing good. have seen young men, weak and cross and sour and repellipg in their disposition. who by one heavenly touch have waken- ed UT and become blessed and buoyant. the ground under their feet and the sky over their heads breaking forth into music. "Oh, says some young man in the house today, "I should like that rec reation above all others, but have not the means. My dear brother, let us take an account of stock. You have 8 large estate if you only realize it. Two hands, two feet. You will have per haps during the next year at least $l0 for charitable contribution. You will have 2,6o0 cheerful looks if you want to employ them. You will have 5000 pleasant words if you want to speak them. Now, what an amount that is tc start with
 You go out tomorrow morning, and you see case of real destitution by the wayside You give him 3 cents. The blind man hears the pennies rattle in
  God bless youi'' You pass down the street. trying to look indifferent, but you feel from the very depth of your soul profound satisfaction that you made that man happy. You go on still farther and find a poor boy with a wheelbarrow, trying to get it up on the ourhetone He fails in the attempt. You say, "Stand back. my lad 'lee mo try. |" You push it up on the curbstone for him and pass on. He wonders who that we'll dressed man was that helped him. You did a kindness to the boy. but you did great joy to your own soul You will not get over it all the week.
 On the street tomorrow morning you will see a sick man passing along. '.Ah, you say, ''what can l do'to make this man happyf He certainly does not want money; he is not poor, but he is sick Give him one of those 2,6o0 cheerful looks that you have garnered up for the whole year. Look joy and hopefulness into his soul It will thrill him through, and there will be Q reac- tion upon your own soul Going on Q lit tie farther, you will come to the store of friend who Is embarrassed in busi- ness matters. You will go in and say "What fine store you have! think business will brighten up, and you will have moro ouStom after awhile. think there is coming a great prosperity to all the country. Good morning. You pass put You have helped that young man. end yon have helped yourself.
 A Thouxht to Carry.
 Colonel Gardiner, who sat with his elbow on Q table, spread with all extrav- agant viands, looking off at a dog on the rug, saying. "How would like to change places with him, be the dog and he be Colonel Gardiner" or those two Moravian missionaries who wanted to go into the lasarctto for the sake of attending the sick, and they were told !: "If you, go in there, you will never come out. We never allow any one to come out. for he would bring the conta- gion." Then they made their wills and went in. first to help the sick and then to die. Which was the happier-Colo- nel Gardiner or the Moravian mission aries dying for others? Was it all sacri- | ioe when the missionaries wanted to \ Barbados, and, being denied the privi- lege. sold themselves into slavery. stand ing side by side and lying side by side down in the very ditch of suffering, in | order that they might bring those men | up to life end God and heavenr Oh, there is thrill in the joy of doing good It is the most magnificent recreation to which a man ever put his hand or his ! head or his heart.
 But before closing I want to impress ! upon you that mere secular entertain ments are not a fit foundation for your soul to build on. I was reading of 8 woman who had gone all the rounds of | sinful amusement, and she came to die. She said, "I will die tonight at 6 o'clock. "Oh," they said, 1T guess not; you don't seem to be sick" "I shall die at 6 o'clock. and my soul will
 be lost. 1 know it will be lost. have | sinned away my day of grace" The | noon came. They desired her to seek re- hRious counsel "Oh," she said, "it is of no use. My day is gone. have been all the rounds of worldly pleasure, and | it Is too late. I shall die tonight at 6 o'clock" The day wore away. and ii came to o'clock and to o'clock. and
 she cried out at 5 o'clock: Destroying
 spirits, ye shall not have me yet; it is
 not 6, it is not 6f' The moments went
 by. and the shadows began to gather,
 and the clock struck 6, and while il
 was striking her soul went What hour
 God will call for us do not know
 whether 6 o'clock tonight, or 8 o'clock
 this afternoon, or at o'clock. or at this
 moment. Sitting where you are, falling
 forward, or dropping down, where will
 you go tor
 The last hour of our life will soon be
 here, and from that hour we will review
 this days proceedings. It will be a sol.
 emn hour. If from our death pillow we
 have to look back and see life spent iu