The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-10
nTHE OTHER HOME.

A. lady VINO spent the summer Vacatiou
months in remote corner OF New England,
relates. in letter to friend pleasant IN
oident OF Christian faithfulness and trust.
She went one day to visit an old lady. who
within the brief space of a year had been
called upon to part with husband. daughter
and brother-almost he last OF her surviving
kin.
There was. however, no sign Of mourning,
eitherin the aged woman's dress or manner,
and her visitor wondered at hersweet cheer
fulness OF face and speech, her sunny. self
forgctful sympathy and evident peace OF
mind and heart. Presently the conversation
turned to religious topics, in which the
reality of Gods love. the restfulness OF
faith and the hope of Immortality were SIM
ply and in the most childllke acceptance
dwelt upon by the good woman.
The visitor finally said: Mrs. j.. you have
given me more hope and cheer in the half
hour l have talked with you than l think l
have ever received from any other Christian
friend. And yet you have been called upon
suddenly to bear burden Of sorrow and
bereavement such as falls to the lot OF few
of Gods children"
Yes" replied the dear old lady, 'hus-
band, brother and child have been taken
from me-and yet 1t does not seem as II they
had gone Tery far away. When | was q
child, my older sister. whom l loved dearly,
married. and went to live in house about
a mile from our home. At first | almost
cried nv eyes out but one day mother said :
why, Eunice Don't you see that Sarah
hasn't left us? She has only gone down the
road to make another home where we can
go-a home as full OF love and welcome as
this. Now you have two homes instead OF
one. Come. put on your sunbonnet and run
down to the other home. After I had ac-
cepted that view, you may be sure no more
tears we're shed. Just in this way / think
Of my dear ones who have left this earthly
house. They haven't gone far-slmply Just
over to the other home. And before long l
am going to put on my sunbonnet Just as L
did when was little girl. and 20 to see
them"
The wrinkled face was lighted by smile
OF unspeakable sweetness, and the aged
eyes shone with wistful Joy, as they looked
away into that blue sky where faith sees its
many mansions"
Death would be robbed Of its terror. be-
reavement Of its pang, mourning OF Its tears,
if we all had this trusting woman's concep'
ton of the life beyond the grave. Her faith
was based upon the Great Teachers declar-
alton that death Is not a narrowing, but
widening, OF the horizon OF life and love
the multiplying OF those ties which unite
us with the great household Of God.-EX-
change.
Do we get the most and the best possible
in our bereayements from tie truths which
Christ brings to US? Does not our faiths
vision often become so dim with our tears
that we lose sight altogether Of the immor-
tality into which our Christian dead have
entered? We say, we believe in the endless
life: but too often it is such q shadowy. neb-
ulous thought which we have Of it that no
comfort comes from it. We really mourn
our departed friends rs lost. while we &C
on saving in our creed, Il believe in the life
everlasting" let we are robblng our oWD
hearts of the comforts that God has pro.
vided when we do not take to OUT selves the
blessed hopes and consultations OF our Chris
tian faith. We really hold no living friends
with such a sure clasp rs that which makes
our sainted ones ,urs. There ere many ways
of losing living friends ; but those who have
passed into Gods keeping are forever be-
yond the possibility Of being lost to US
Whittier has written in ''Snowbound -
And yet. dear heart, remembering thee,
Am I not richer than of old?
Safe in thy Immortality.
What chance can reach the wealth 1holdf
What chance can mar the pearl and gold
Thy love hath left in trust with me!
And while in life's late afternoon.
Where cool and long the shadows grow,
I walk to meet the night that soon
Shall shape and shadow overflow.
I cannot feel that thou art far
Since near at need the angels are;
And when the sunset gates unbar,
Shall not see thee waiting stand,
And. white against the evening star.
The welcome OF thy beckoning hand?'
Rev. J. r. Miller, D. D.