Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-09-17

vet 10 live. ! may not live an hour, but
then | must lay cut my plans inteil-
gently and for a long life. Sixty years
added TO the 20 | have already lived
that will bring me TO so. | must re-
member that these 50 years are only
brief preface to the five hundred thou
sand millions Of quintillions Of years
which will be my chief residence and
existence Now, understand my oppor-
tunitics and my responsibilities If there
is any being in the universe all wise
and all beneficent who can help man
in such juncture, want him.
The old hook found among the family
relics tells NE there is a Gcd and that
for the sake Of his son, one Jesus, be
will give help to Ian. To him ap-
peal God help mel Here have 90
years yet to do for myself and to do for
others. | must develop this body by all
industries, by all gymnastics, by all
sunshine, by all fresh air, by all good
habits. And this soul must have swept
and earnished and illumined and glo-
rifed by all that / can do for it and all
that | can get God 10 do for it. 1t shall
be a Luxembourg Of fine pictures. lt
shall be an orchestra Of grand har-
monies. 1t shall be palace for God
and righteousness to reign in. ! wonder
how many kind words l can utter in
the next 90 years? | will try. ! wonder
bow many coed deeds can do in the
rext 60 years? | will try God help me.
A Life Worth Living.
That young man enters life. He is
buffeted, he is tried, be is perplexed. A
grave opens on this side and grave
opeus on that side He falls, but be
rises again. he gets into a hard battle,
hut be gets the victory. The main
course Of his life is in the right direc-
tion. He blesses everybody be comes IN
contact with. God fCrgives his mis-
takes and makes everlasting record OF
his holy endeavors, and at the close OF
it God says 10 him: We'll done, good
and faithful servant Enter into the joy
Of thy Lord My brother. my sister,
do not care whether that man dies at
| 30, 40. 80, 60, 20 or 50 years If age;
you can chisol right under his name on
the tombstone these words, His life
was worth living.
Amid the hills Of New Hampshire, in
olden times, there sits a mother. There
are six children in the household-tour
bows and two girls. Small farm Very
rough, hard work to coax a living cut
Of it. Mighty tug TO make the TWO ends
of the year meet. The boys 90 to school
in winter and work the farm in sum-
mer Mother is the chief presiding
spirit With her hands she knits all the
stockings for the little feet, and she is
the mantua maker for the boys, and she
is the milliner for the girls. There IS
only one musical instrument in the
house. the spinning wheel The food Is
very plain, but It Is always well pro-
vided. The winters are very cold, but
are kept ont by the blankets she quilt
ed. On Sunday, when she appears IN
the village church, her children around
her. the minister looks down and Is re-
minded Of the Bible description OF
good housewife, Her children arise up
and call her blessed; her husband also,
and be praiscth her.
Some years 60 by, and the two Oldest
bovs want collegiate education, and
the household economies are seyerer,
and the calculations are closer, and IN
iii those two boys get their education
there is hard battle for bread. One OF
these boys enters the university, stands
in a pulpit widely influential and
breaches righteousness, Judgment ana
femperance, aud thousands during his
ministry are blessed. The other lad
who cot the collegiate education goes
into the law, and thence into legisla-
tive halls, and after awhile he COM
mands listening senates as be makes
plea for the dOwuuodden and the out
cast. One of the younger boys becomes
a merchant, starting at the foot OF the
ladder, but climbing on up until his
success and his philanthropies are rec
opnized all over the land. The other
son stays at home because he prefers
farming life, and then he thinks ne
will be able TO take care Of father and
mother when they get old.
OF the two daughters, when the war
broke out. one went through the hospi-
tails Of Pittsburg Landing and Fortress
Monroe, cheering up the dying ana the
homesick and taking the last message
to kindred far away, 80 that every time
Christ thought of her be said, as OF old,
1.-The same is my sister and mother. -
The other daughter has bright nome
Of her own, and in the afternoon-the
forenoon having been devoted to hei
? household-she goes forth TO hunt up the
3 sick and to encourage the discouraged
leaving smiles and benediction all along
: the way.
, But one day there start five telegrami
from the village for these nye aosen'
a ones. saving, Come, mother is danger
ously i'll. " But before they can be ready
D to start they receive another telegram
saving. Come, mother is dead. In'
: old neighbors gather in the old farm
! bouse 10 do the last offices Of respect
J But as that farming son, and the cier
eyman, and the senator, and the mer
chant. and the two daughters stand BY
the casket Of the dead mother takinl
+, the last lock, or lifting their little chill
! ! dren to see once more the face Of dea
old grandma, l want 10 ask that grsul
around the casket one question, ID
YOU really think her life was worth iiv
: ipe;'' A life for God. life for others
;. a life Of unselfishness. a useful life,
!. Christian life, is always worth living.
% Right Living.
d Iwould not find it hard to persuad
n you that the poor lad, Peter Cooper
y making glue for a living, and the
&c amassing a great fortune until he coul
y build a.philanthropy which has had II
J. echo in 10, 600 philanthropies all owe
h the country-I would not find it har
'r to persuade you that his life was wort
Ip living. Neither would ] find II hard
persuade you that the life of Susanna
20 Wesley was worth living. She sent OF
l. one son to organize Methodism and q
{, other son to ring his anthems a
d. through the ages | would not hnd