Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-08-07
hERAlr
Advertising Rates.
became an infidel.
From Time to Eternity.

became an lnfideL
From Time to Eternity.
But there are times when we can and
ought to give ourselves to the contem-
plation Of that solemn moment when 10
the soul time ends and eternity begins.
We must go throu'a that one pass.
There is no roundabout way, no bypath,
no circuitous route. Die we must; and
/ it will be 10 US a shameful occurrence
or time Of admirable behavior. Our
| friends may stretch out their hands TO
keep us back, but no imploration on
their part can hinder US. They might
offer large retainers, but death would
not take the fee. The breath will fail,
and the eyes will close and the heart
will stop. You may hang the couch
with gorgeous tapestry. but what does
death care for beautiful curtains: You
may hang the room with the finest
works of art, but what docs death care
for pictures? You may fiji the house
with the wailings e widOwhood and
orphanage; does death mind weeping?
This ought not to be a depressing
theme. Who wants TO live here forever:
The world has always treated me well,
and every day feel less and less like
scolding and complaining But yet l
would not want to make this my eternal
residence. / love to watch the clouds
and bathe my soul in the blue sea Of
heaven, but | expect when the firma-
ment is rolled away as a scroll TO see a
new heaven, grander, higher and more
glorious. You ought to be willing 70
exchange your body that has headaches
and sideaches and weaknesses innumer-
able, that limps with the stone bruise or
testers with the thorn or flames on the
funeral pyre Of fevers for an incorrupt-
ible body and an eye that blinks not be-
fore the jasper gates and the great
white throne But between that and
this there is an hour about which no
man should be reckless or fOOlhardy.
doubt not your courage, bat l tell you
that you will want something better
than a strong arm, good aim and a
trusty sword when you come TO your
last battle. You will need better robe
than any you have in your wardrobe TO
keep you warm in that place.
The Gathering Night.
Circumstances do not make so much
difference. 1t may be a bright day when
you push off from the planet, or 1t may
be dark night and while the owl IS
bOoting from the forest. lt may be
spring, and your soul may 90 out among
the blossoms, apple orchards swinging
their censers in the way. 1t may be
winter and the earth in a SNOW shrOud
1t NAV be autumn and the forests set
on fire by the retreating year-dead ma
ture laid out in state. 1t may be with
your wife's hand in your hand, or you
make be in a strange hotel with a serv-
ant faithful to the last. 1t may be III
the rail train, shot off the switch and
] tumbling in long reverberation down
the embankment-crash, crash know
not the time, ! know not the mode, but
| the DAYS Of our life are being subtracted
away and we shall come down to the
time when we have but ten days left,
then nine days. then eight days, then
seven days, six days, five days, four
DAYS, three days, two days, one day.
| Then hours-three hours, two hours,
one hour. Then only minutes left-hve
minutes, four minutes, three minutes,
two minutes, one minute. Then only
seconds left-four seconds, three Sec
onds. two seconds, one second. Gone!
The chapter Of life ended. The book
closed. The pulses at rest. The feet
through with the journey. The hands
closed from all work. No word on the
lips. No breath in the nostrils. Hair
combed back to lie undisheveled by any
human hands. The muscles still. The
nerves still. The lungs still The tongue
still. All still. You might put the steth'
oscope TO the breast and hear no sound.
You might put a speaking trumpet TO
the ear. but you could not wake the
deafness. No motion, no throb, no life.
Still, still!
So death comes to the disciple! What
if the sun of life is about to set! Jesus
is the day spring from on high, the per-
petual morning of every ransomed spirit.
What if the darkness comes! Jesus Is
the light Of the world and Of heaven.
What though this earthly house does
crumble: Jesus has prepared house OF
many mansions. Jesus is the anchor
that always holds Jesus Is the light
that is never eclipsed. Jesus is the
fountain that is never exhausted Jesus
is the evening star, hung up amid the
gloom Of the gathering night.
You are almost through with the
abuse and backbiting Of enemies They
will call you no more by evil names.
Your good deeds will no longer be mis-
interpreted nor your honor flched. The
troubles Of earth will end i'll the felici-
ties. Toward EVENING" The bereave-
ments Of earth will soon be lifted. You
will not much longer stand pouring
your grief in the tomb, like Rachel
weeping for her children or David
mourning for Absalon. Broken hearts
bound mp Wounds healed. Tears wiped
away. Sorrows terminated. No more
sounding Of the dead march Toward
EVENING" Death will come, sweet as
slumber TO the eyelids Of the babe, as
full rations to starving soldier, as
evening hour to the exhausted workman.
The sky will take on its sunset glow,
every cloud fire psalm, every lake
CLASSY mirror, the forests transhgured.
delicate mists climbing the air. Your
friends will announce il; your pulses
will beat it; your joys will ring 1t your
lins will whisper il, Toward EVENING"
The Story of the Salmon.
In the autumn time, and onward to
the beginning of the next year, the
mother salmon ascends the rivers TO de-
posit her eggs, and thus to secure the