Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-05-13

MS DIUW lilly HdHc SOliC W lio CfCi i"op
ing rest. The mother who used to sit
at the door little bent over, cap and
spectaces ON, her face mellowing with
the vicssitrdes of many years. may
have put'dow 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 fatherl Thank God
for Christian mother! Thank God for
an early Christian altar at which you
were taught to kneell Thank God for
an early Christian homel
a C-cat Mission.
| bring to mind another passage in
the history of yorr life. The day came
when You SIT up yonr own household.
The days passed along in quiet blessed
hess. You twain sat ut the table morn
ing and night and talked over your
plans for the future The most insignifi-
cant affair in your life became the sub
iect of mutual consultation and adver-
tisement. 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 clond the shining mes
senger of God descended to incarnate
an immortal spirit Two little feet
started on IN eternal journey, and you
were TO lead them, n gem to flash i'll
heavens coronct. and you to polish it,;
eternal ages of light and darkness
watching the starting out of a newly
created creature You reioiced and You
trembled at the responsibility that in
your possession an immortal treasure
was placed. You prayed and rejoiced
and wcpt aud wondered; you were
earnest in supplication that you might
lead it through life into the kingdom
of God There WAS il trcmor in your
earncstness There was double inter
est about that home There was an adj
ditional interest why you should stay
there and be faithful. and when in a
few months your house WAS filled with
the music of the child's laughter you
were struck, through with the fact that
you had stapendcns mission.
Have you kept that vow? Have you
neglected any Of these duties? Is your
home as mnch to yon as it used to BET
Have those anticipations been gratified y?
God help you in your solemn reminis-
cence, and let his mercy fall upon
your soul if your kindness has been i'll
requited God have mercy on the parent
on the wrinkles of whose face is writ
ten the story of child S sin God have
mercy on the mother who. in addition
to her other pangs. has the pang of a
childs iniqnity Oh, there are many,
many sad sounds in this sad world, but
the saddest sound that is over heard is
the breaking of mothers heartl
Sweet Memories.
I find another point in your life his
tory. You found one day you were in
the wrong road. You could not sleep at
night. There was just one word that
seemed to sob through your banking
house, or through your office, or your
shop, or your bedroom. and that word
was "cternity You said: I'm not
ready for it. Oh. God, have mercy T.
The Lord heard. Peace came to your
heart. In the breath of the hill and in
the waterfall s dash you heard the voice
of Gods love. The clouds and the trees
hailed you with gladness. You came
into the house of God You remember
how your hand trembled as you took mp
the cup of the communion. You re-
member the old minister who conse-
Grated it, and you remember the church
officials who carried it through the aisle
You remember the old people who at
the close of the service took your hand
in theirs in congratulating sympathy,
az much as to say. welcome home,
you lost prodigal!" And, though those
hands be all withered away, that COM
munion Sabbath is resurrected today.
1t is resnrrected with all its prayers
and songs and tears and sermons and
TRANSPORTATION. Have You kept those
vows2 Have you been ii backslider
God help YOU This day kneel at the
foot of mercy and start again for heav-
en-. Start now as you started then. i
rouse your soul by that reminiscence.
But | must not spend any more OF
my time in going over the advantages
of your life just put them in one
great sheaf, and call them mp in your
memory with one loud harvest song.
such as the reapers sing. Praise the
Lord. ye blood bought immortals on
earth Praise the Lord. yc crowned
spirits Of heaven!
But some of yon have not always had
a smooth life Some of you are now in
the shadow Others had their troubles
years ago. you are mere wreck of
what you once were must gather up
the scrrowS Of your past life, but how
shall do il? You say that is impossl
BILE, as you have had so many troubles
and advcrsities Then l will just take
two-the first trouble and the last trou-
BILE. As when you are walking along
the street and there has been music IN
the distance. you unconsciously find
yourselves keeping step to the music, so
when yen started life your very life
was a musical time beat. The air was
full of JOY ard hilarity; with the bright
clear oar you made the boat skip. You
went on. and life grew brighter, until,
after awhile. suddenly voice from
heaven said, "1Ialt" and quick as the
sunshine you halted, you grew pale, you
confronted your first sorrow. You had
no idea that the flush on your child's
cheek was an unhealthy flush. You
said it cannot be ANYTHING serious.
Death in slippered feet walked round
about the cradle. You did not hear the
tread, bnt after awhile the truth flash
ed on you. You walked the floor. Oh
if you could. with your strong, stout
hand, have wrenched that child from
the Destroyer You went to your room
and you said "God, save my child
God save my childl' The world seem,
ed going Out in darkness. You said, 81
can't bear it, 1 can't bear it. You fell
as if you could not put the long lashe:
over the bright eyes, never to see then
again sparkle. If you could have takeI
Il