The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-08-20
IN THEIR PLACES.
BA1ANc1Nas OF The CLOUDS.
A Beautiful Pen Picture on Sub
ject that Few People Think Of.
Richmond Times.

ject that Few People Think Of.
Richmond Times.
How the clouds are balanced and
kept in their levels so, as beautifully,
bountlfully, and seasonabiy to serve us
is one of the wonders Of creation. If
the balancing of the air and the densi-
ty of the vapors, and the affinity of the
water drops were not wisely and nicely
adjusted, we should have only oceans
covering the earth, and light steam
driven away to the heights. But a
strange wisdom pervades and governs
Natures hydrostatics, hydrodynamics,
and hydraulics and the vapors and the
dews and the frosts and the clouds and
the rains and the rivers ana the ocean,
In divine order and beauty, serve us
and bless us and glorifys the Almighty.
Each, in Its Office, is study.
We have sometimes thought that
the Book of Job is not in its place IN
the Holy Scriptures. There is nothing
in it to mark Its chronology, except
that it was along down In time after
the world was peopled, and countries
and tribes, and birds, and beasts had
names, and men were doing great
deal of observing and thinking of
things, and the coursesof things. It
looks as if it might be;a grand intro
duction to the great, early history of
mankind. 1t is a great picture of man
In the hands OF God, an epitome, or
solemn prologue to the sdrama of life.
It is birds eye view Of creation, and
lights all the works of the great Crea-
tor with divine light, and makes them
praise and magnify Him. The wise
man says: He has made everything
beautiful in his time and He hath set
the world in mans heart. There Is
nothing In nature to which some Sc
cret chord or senslbility or thought OF
ours doess not respond. He has sur
rounded us with wise and beautiful
things to arouse and feed and stimulate
and expand the heart and mind and
body. Sermons In stones, books in
running brooks, and wisdom and good
ness in everything.
The balancings of the clouds are
beautiful contemplation, and most in
teresting study. They bespeak live, in
tell1gent, loving control. At different
heights, balanced on their levels, at
different speeds, travelling in different
directions, they make net work or great
masses of glory and beauty. In the
morning and evening, they overwhelm
the soul with tenderness and grandeur,
with their delicate tints and gorgeous
splendor. They testify to the soul of
man its divineness. There is no room
for godlessness or vice in this beautiful
world. The jungles are the place for
strife and mutual devouring. The les
SONS OF these balancings are very ia
miliar. They tell us OF the protecting,
staying hand of Providence in our af-
fairs The clouds teach us, in their
way, just as the lilies do in theirs
The lilies go on in their gentle, beau
tiful, fragrant lives, and know no care
or resistance, nor effort. The air and
light and common ground supply
their happy lives. They fear neither
accident nor want. They are taken
care of. The clouds are the constant
ministers of heaven, moving about to
comfort and cheer mankind, and who
knows what is their mission, or what
they bear? There is no Danger OF
their falling down upon us to oppress
or drown or smother us. They are
balanced in their places. They drop
down their rain and dew in their times
and seasons. They are stayed in their
work, balanced in their places, and
sent on their way by controlling pow
er.
And 1t is just so in our affairs.
Events and over-hanging possibilities
frlghten us like park clouds. But
they are balanced In their places they
go on their way, or let down their
freight in the time and place most
needing them. There are no ruptures
/ or accidents in the dealings of the AL
mighty with his little ones-the people
4 of His pasture and sheep of His hand.
The balancing and staying of events
for their appointed time, make us all
acknowledge miracles in our lives.
And every mans life is full of them.
| Social levels, estates, degrees, and
dignities are balanced In their places
lust as the levels OF the clouds are.
And the order and beauty and happi-
ness and peace of society is maintain
ed by the same hand that balances the
clouds