Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-28

done her, for thousands or years nave
clapped her applause. But the wives
who in all ages have encouraged their
husbands in the battle of life, women
whose names were hardly known be-
yond the next street or the next farm
house, must have God say to them,
''You did we'll. You did gloriously!
I saw you down in that dairy.
watched you in the old farmhouse,
mending those children's clothes.
heard what you said in the way of
cheer when the bread winner of the
household was in despair. / remember
all the sick cradles you have sung to.
I remember the backaches, the head
aches, the heartaches. I know the
story Of your knitting needle as well as
/ know the story of queens scepter
Your castle on the heavenly hill is all
ready for you. Go up and take it,"
And turning to the surprised multi
tudes of heaven, He will say, "She did
what she could" God will say so.
And now / close with giving my own
| personal testimony, for l must not en-
! join upon others that which | decline
| myself to do. Born at Boundbrook, \.
j., of a percentage as pious as the world
ever saw, | attest before earth and
| heaven that | have always felt the
eieyating and restraining influences of
! having had a good father and a good
! mother, and if ] am able TO do half as
we'll for my children as the old folks
20 I will hn ho NJ yfI forever
/ The years of my life passed on until,
| at about eighteen years of age, l felt
! the pressure of eternal realities, and
| after prayer and religious counsel
| passed into what | took to be q saved
| state, and Joined the church, and | at
! test before earth and heaven that l
! have found it a most helpful and in
| spring association. l like the COM
! panionship so well that / cannot be sat
| isefied if / have a day less of it than
| all eternity. After graduating at col
! legiate and theological institutions l
! had the hands of ten or twelve good men
! put upon my head in solemn ordina-
| attest before earth and heaven that
| the work of the gospel ministry has
| been delightful, and ! expect to preach
until my last hour. Many times | have
| passed through deep water of bereave-
ment, and but for the divine promise
of heavenly reunion, would have gone
under, but | attest before earth and
! heaven that the comfort Of the gospel
| is high, deep, glorious, eternal. Many
| times have l been maligned and my
| work misrepresented, but all such
! falsehood and persecution have turned
ont for my advantage and enlarged
my work, and | attest before earth and
| heaven that God has fulfilled to me the
| promises, 60! am with you always"
and "The gates of hell shall not pre-
i vail against YOU"
| For the cheer of younger men in all
| departments, let me say you will come
| out all right if you mind your own
| business and are patient. The assault
Of the world is only being rubbed down
| by a rough Turkish towel, and it i'm
| proves the circulation and makes one
more vigorous. While the future holds
/ for me many mysteries which | do not
/
pretend to solve, l am living in eXpec-
tation that when my poor work is done
shall go through the gates and meet
my Lord and all my kindred who have
preceded me, precious group whom
miss more and more as the years go by,
and | attest before earth and heaven
that the glories of the heavenly world
illume my pathway. In courts of law
the witness may kiss the Bible or lift
his right hand in oath, but as l have
often kissed the dear old Book, l now
lift my right hand and take oath by him
that liveth forever and ever that God
ID good, and that the gospel is a mighty
consolation in days of trouble, and
that the best friend a man ever had
is Jesus, and that heaven is absolutely
sure to those who trust and serve the
blessed Redeemer; to whom be glory
and dominion and victory and song,
and chorus of white-robed immortals,
standing on seas of glass mingled with
lrc. Amen and amen.