The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-05-12

house. through which there came tbs |
breath of new mown hay or the bios
som of buclwheat.
You may have in your windows now |
beautiful plants and flowers brought |
from across the seas, but not one IF |
them stirs in your soul so much charm |
and memory as the old ivy and the yell |.
low sunnower that stood sentinel along |
the garden walk and the forget-me-nots !
playing hide and seek mid the long ]
grass. The father who used to come
in sunburned from the field and sit
down on the doorsill and wipe the
sweat from Ais brow may have gone to
his everlasting rest. The mother who
used to sit at the door a little bent over,
cap and spectacles on. her face mellow
ing with the vicissitudes of many years,
may have put down her gray head on
the pillow in the valley, but forget that
home you never will Have you thanked
God for it? Have you rehearsed all
these blessed "reminiscences? Oh, thank
God for Christian father! Thank God
for n Christian mother! Thank God for
an early Christian altar at which you
were taught to kneel! Thank God for
an early Christian home!
bring to mind another passage in
the history of your life. The day came
when you set up your own household.
The days passed along in quiet bless
edness. You twain sat at the table
morning and night and talked over
your plans for the future The most
insignificant affairs in your life became
the subject of mutual consultation and
advisement You were so happy you
felt YOU never could be any happier.
One day dark cloud lowered over your
dwelling, and it got darker and darker,
but out of that cloud the shining mes
senger of God descended to incarnate
an immortal spirit. Two little feet
started on an eternal journey, and you
were TO lead them, a gem to fash in
Heavens coronet, and you to polish it,
Eternal ages of light and darkness
watching the starting out of newly
created creature. You reioiced and you
| trembled at the responsibility that in
your possession an immortal treasure
was placed. You prayed and reioiced
and wept and wondered. You were ear
nest in your supplication that you
might lead IL through life into the
kingdom Of God There was "A tremor
in your earneStness. There was a
double interest about that home. There
was an additional interest why you
should stay there and be faithful, and
when in few months your house was
filed with the music of your child's
laughter you were struck through with
the fact that you had stupendous mis-
sion.
Have you kept that VOW? Have you
neglected any of these duties? Is your
home as much to you as it used to be ?
Have those anticipations been graf
flied? God help you in your solemn
"Reminiscences, and let His mercy fall
upon your soul, il your kindness has
been i'll requited. God have mercy on
the parent on the wrinkles of whose
face is written the story of a child's
sin. God have mercy on the mother
who, in addition to her other pangs
has the pang of child's iniquity. Oh
there are many, many sad sounds in this
sad world, but the saddest sound that
is ever heard is the breaking of moth
cr's heart
find another point in your life his
tory. You found one day you were
} in the wrong road; you could not sleeI
at night; there was just one word thai
seemed TO sob through your banking
: house or through your Office or YOU
shop or your bedroom, and that wore
was eternity" You said: I'm no
ready for it. Oh, God have mercy!" Tn,
Lord heard. Peace came to your heart
In the breath of the hill and in tn,
waterfalls dash you heard the voice
of Gods love; the clouds and the trees
hailed you with gladness; you cam,
into the house of God. You remember
, how your hand trcmbed as you took VI
the cup of the communion. You remem
Der the old minister who consecrated il
and you remember the church official
l who carried il through the aisle; yol
, remember the old people who at tn
r close of the service took your hand il
2 theirs in congratulating sympathy, IA
much as to say: "Welcome home, yol
5 lost prodigal," and, though those hand
' be all withered away, that communion
2 Sabbath is resurreCted to-day. 1t j
| resurrected with all its prayers an,
| songs and tears and sermons and trans
5 tiguration. Have you kept those vows
1 Have you been backslider? God he'll
= you. This day kneel at the foot o
E mercy and start again for Heaven
e Start now as you started then. rous
t your soul by that "reminiscences.
r But l must not spend any more o
l my time in going over the advantage
D of your life. | just put them in on
! great sheaf, and l call them up in you
% memory with one loud harvest song
a such as the reapers sing. Praise tn
Lord, ye blood bought immortals o
i earth! Praise the Lord, ye crowne
= spirits of Heaven!
:. But some of you have not always ha
+ a smooth life. Some of you are now i
{ the shadow. Others had their trouble
C years ago. You are mere wreck c
@ what Won pucp were / must rotbpr n