The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-05


dazzling splendor on the snow covered
ridges which surrounded us on all sides,
and we seemed to have left our little globe
behind Us and 10 DO on our way To
another ~orld.
Naturally We talked Of the Great
Beyond which was apparently not far
distant. Conversation under such cir
cunstancss must needs be serious. One
cannot be trivial when he Is looking on
the grandest Of Gods great works. 10
was tine when souls were In close rels-
tions to each other; when inmost
thoughts came to the lips and uttered
themselves almost unconsciously. as in
soliloauy.
Ny comrade spoke freely Of loss he
had Suffered A little child had been
called from the family circle. had sped
away In the night ana gone where no
human eyes could follow her. With a
broken heart. but still In somewhat
stoicai language. he referred TO that
vacant chair. "Gone eonel" was his
despairina exclamation. / listened 10 the
story, and at its close quietly remarked:
Yes, gone, but not gone far In the
brighter land you will sos her again."
Then We lapsed into silence, a silence
only broken by the sound of the horses
iron shoes on the crisp and frozen snow.
''lf / could believe that, - he said after
q little, "nine-tenths OF the burden would
be removed. But TO feel that such fare
wells are forever, that is very hard. " and
the strong man trembled with suppressed
emotion. while tears made 1t impossible
to continue the conversation.
thought TO myself tnat after all, this
world Is Of very little Importance unless
we have another world to look forward
TO. What makes the present life sndur-
able is y firm and unshaken belief in
another life. If love can die. then love
Is only prolonged agony: tut the convic-
tion that love can never die strengthens
broadens and ennobles tho soul.
lt would DO an act OF unspea kable
cruelty on the part OF God to teach us
how to love, to place us amid circum-
stances in which love develops all that is
chivalrous and grand, and then tell US in
the supreme moment Of parting to say
goodby for time and eternity. The Lords
Prayer would become an impossibility,
nay. more than that. grim sort of
farce and in his innermost depths man
would not only rebel, but lose his self
respect and his respect for tire la ws of the
universe. 1t is clear that it would have
been 50 much better TO make him incapa-
in m aff hnn IN Ias. q ~.
object OF his affection. and bid him 20
home from the cburchyard despairing,
hopeless creature.
Faith can do SO much for man, is so
necessary TO his spiritual and even to his
physical we'll being, that IL you take il
away he is in a worse plight than the
animals of the fields and forests, for he
appreciates his loss and thsy do not 10
be born dog and TO die dog is one
thing, but to be born man and then to
die dog is something which just and
Creator will not ask of us. 1t
IL unlike what We have learned or His
methods that we are quito right in rro-
nouncing such a statement libellous.
Your faith in Providencs is the best of
all your possessions. It IS worth more to
you than your fame, your social position
or your weslth-worth more than all
these combined. Give me in my relation
with God that mysterious something
which the child has for its mother-a
feeling that He knows who and what /
am, that at my call He will come to me-
that avery day. He leads and every night
protects me-and there is very little more
than can ask or desire. / have the one
best thing in the world, and therefore
am content
The ulant that has sunshine and dew
will blossom before the frost comes. aud
with God, the sun OF my soul, to shine
On me. i shall not only blossom into
noble thoughts, but bear the fruit of
good deeds. a man becomes miracle
worker from the moment when he is con-
scious of Gods presence and love. Life
may DO hard, but at the same time 1t is
glorious. Even sickness and death are
3nly the miry spots which leads to the
sternal upland. There is repose In the
soul, a vigor, an enthusiasm and power
~ chobiouSo botiiihB cio0 OIL
this wide world can give.
Tell ne how to doubt--that is, how to
,ut loose from my trust in Providence
and you tell me how TO bs IN iserable On
tho other hand. confirm my belief in
iod. in the illustrations of His angels,
m the possibility Of continuous, al un-
broken communication with heaven, and
Tou make my life more beautiful than
words can express. Is long rs dread the
'uture, my present is leaden; il 1 am
sure Of the future, and know that my
lear ones will greet me there with un-
diminished love- my tears are like the
rain cloud on which the sun shines and
makes n rainbow.
Take from me what you will, but leave
me my faith. for IL is my only real pos
session. All else will pass like a dream
. pleasant dream, but still q dream. To-
day j ain rich, tomorrow j may be poor.
am we'll today. tomorrow may be i'll.
But my faith remairs with me, is closer
to my heart than the closest friendship,
and oiv mo oood cheer "a hen 4 wall IN