The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-07-01

see one man who has parents living !
see ten who are orphans. Where are
your childrenP Where / see one family
circle that is unbroken / see three or
four that have been desolated. One
lamb gone out of this fold; one flower
plucked from that garland; one golden
link broken from that chain; here a
bright light put out, and there another,
and yonder another. With such griefs,
how are you to rest? Will there
ever be a power that can attune that
silent voice, or kindle the luster of
that closed eye, or put spring and
dance into that little footP When we
bank up the dust over the dead, is the
sod never TO be broken? Is the ceme-
terry to hear no sound but the tire of
the hearse wheel, or the tap of the
bell at the gate, as the long process
sions come in with their awful bur-
dens of GRIEF Is the bottom of the
grave gravel, and the top dustP No!
mol mol The tomb is only a place
where we wrap our robes about us for
a pleasant nap on our way home. The
swellings of Jordan will only wash off
the dust of the way. From the top of
the grave we catch glimpse of the
towers glinted with the sun that never
sets.
Oh, We whose locks are wet with the
dews of the night of grief; we whose
hearts are heavy, because those we'll
known footsteps sound no more at the
doorway, yonder is your rest. There
is David triumphant; but once he be-
moaned Absalom. There is Abraham
enthroned; but once he wept for Sarah.
There is Paul exultant; but he once
sat with his feet in the stocks. There
is Payson radiant with immortal
health; but on earth he was always
sick. No toll, no tears, no partings,
no strife, no agonizing cough, no night.
No storm TO rutfie the crystal sea. No
alarm to strike from the cathedral
towers. No dirge throbbing from
seraphic harps No tremor in the
everlasting song; but rest-perfect
rest-unending rest.
Into that rest how many loved ones
have gone! Some put down the work
of mid-life, feeling they could hardly
be spared from the store or shop for
day, but are to be spared from it for
ever. Some went in old age. One
came lettering on his staff, and used
to sit at the foot of the pulpit, his
wrinkled face radiant with the light
that falls from the throne of God. An
other having lived a life of Christian
consistency here, ever busy with kind
nesses for her children, her heart full
of that meek and quiet spirit that is
in the sight of God of great price sud-
denly her countenance was trans
figured, and the gate was opened, and
she took her place amid that great
cloud of witnesses that hover about
the throne!
Glorious consolation! They are not
dead. You can not make me believe
they are dead. They have only moved
on. With more love than that with
which they greeted us on earth, they
watch us from their high place, and
their voices cheer us in our struggle for
the sky. Hail, spirits blessed! now that
we have passed the flood and won the
crown. With weary feet we press up the
shining way, till in everlasting reunion
we shall meet again. OH won't it be
grand when, our conflicts done and our
partings over, we shall clasp hands,
and cry out. This is Heaven" BY the
thrones of your departed kindred, by
their gentle hearts, and the tender
ness and love with which they now
call you from the skies, beg you start
on the highroad to Heaven. In the
everlasting rest may we all meet.