Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-05-12

York, was tar up town. Ihat oiu mouse
in the city may have been demolished
or changed into stores. and it seemed
like sacrilege to you--for there was
more meaning in that small house than
there is in a granite mansion or tur'
reted cathedral. Looking back. you see
it as though it were yesterday-the sit
ting room. where the loved one sat by
the plain lamp light. the mother at the
evening stand. the brothers and sisters
perhaps long ago gathered into the
skies, then plotting mischief on the
floor or under the table; your father
with firm voice commanding silence
that lasted half a minute
Happy Days Gone by.
Oh, those were good daysl II You
had your foot hurt. your mother always
had soothing salve to heal it If you
were wronged in the street, your father
was always ready to protect you The
wear was one round Of frolic and mirth
Your greatest trouble was an April
shower. more sunshine than shower
The heart had not been ransacked by
trouble nor had sickness broken it, and
no lamb had warmer sheepfold than
the home in which your childhood
nestled.
Perhaps you were brought up in the
country. You stand now today in mem
ory under the cid tree. You clubbed 1t
Tor fruit that was not quite ripe, be-
cause you couldn't wait any longer
You hear the brook rumbling along
over the pebbles You step again into
the furrow where your father in his
shirt sleeves shouted to the lazy oxen
You frighten the swallows from the
rafters Of the barn and take just one
egg and silence your conscience by say
ing they will not miss it YOu take a
drink again out of the very bucket that
the old we'll fetched up You go for the
COWS at night ard find them pushing
their heads through the bars. Outlines
in the dusty and busy streets you wish
you were home again on that cool grass
or in the rag carpeted hall Of the farm
house through which there came the
breath of new mown hay or the blossom
of buckwheat.
You may have in your windows now
beautiful plants and flowers brought
from across the seas but not one OF
them stirs in your soul SO much charm
and memory as the old ivy and the yel-
low sunhower that stood sentinel along
the garden walk ald the forgetmenot-
playing hide and seek mid the long
grass. The father who used to come III
sunburned from the field and sit down
on the doorsill and wipe the sweat from
his brow may have gone to his eyerlast-
ing rest The mother who used to SIT
at the door a little bent over, cap and
spectacles on. her face mellowing with
the vicissitudes Of many years, may
have put down her gray head on the
pillow in the valley. but forget tha'
home vou never will Have yOu THANKED
God for itg Have you rehearsed al
these blessed "reminiscences ; Oh. THANH
God for Christian father Thank Goo
for a Christian mother Thank God fol
an early Christian altar at which yor
were taught to kneel Thank God FOL
an early Christian home!
Great Mission.
I bring to mind another passage il
the history Of your life. The day cam
when You set mp your own household
The days passed along in quiet blessed
ness. You twain sat at the table morn
ing and night and talked over you
plans for the future The most insignlh
cant affair in your life became the sub
iect of mutual consultation and adver
tisement You were so happy you tel
YOU never could be any happier. On
day DIRK cloud lowered over you
dwelling. and it got darker and darker
but out of that cloud the shining mes
senger of God descended to incarnat
an immortal spirit Two little fee
started on an eternal journey, and 20
were to lead them, a gem to hasn
heavens coronet, and you to polish II
eternal ages Of light and darknes
watching the starting out of newl
created creature. You rejoiced and 70
trembled at the responsibility that
your possession an immortal treasur
was placed You prayed and rejoice
and wept and wondered; you wei
earnest in supplication that you migf
lead it through life into the klngdoi
of God. There was a tremor in you
earnestness There was double lntel
est about that home There was an az
ditional interest why you should sta
there and be faithful, and when III
few months your house was filled wit
the music of the childs laughter yo
were struck through with the fact thu
you had stupendous mission.
Have you kept that vowr Have yo
neglected any of these dutiesg Is yoI
home as much to you as it used to be
Have those anticipations been grati1ed
/ God help you in your solemn remini
cence. and let his mercy fall upo
your soul if your kindness has been
reouitedl God have mercy on the parel
on the wrinkles Of whose face Is VII
ten the story of a child's SIM God hay
mercy on the mother who, in additlC
TO her other pangs. has the pang Of
child's iniquityl Oh, there are man
many sad sounds in this sad world Dl
the saddest sound that is ever heard
the breaking of mother's heart
Sweet Memories.
| find another point in your life III
tory. You found one day you were
the wrong road You could not sleep
night. There was just one word tn
seemed to sob through your bankii
house. or through your office. or yo'
: shop. or your bedroom. and that Wo
was eternity" You said I'm n
: ready for it Oh, God, have mercy
The Lord heard Peace came to yo
: heart. In the breath Of the hill and
the waterfall $ dash You heard the vol
e Of Gods love. The clouds and the tire
hailed you with gladness. You can
j into the house Of God You rememb
how your hand trembled as you took
the cup Of the communion You
J ,,o,,bor tha old minister who cons