The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-06-15

Lord, ye blood bought immortals on
earth! Praise the Lord, ye crowned
spirits of Heaven!
But some of you have not always HAD
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 sorrows of your past life. But how
shall do It? You say that is impossi-
bic, as you have had so many troubles
and adversities. Then will just tak0
two-the first trouble and the last
trouble. As when you are walking
along the street and there has been
music II the distance you unconscious
" find yourselves keeping step to the
music. SO. when you started life, y0nr
very life was musical time beat. The
air was full Of joy and 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: Haiti" and
quick as the sunshine you halted, you
grew pale, you confronted your first
sorrow. You had no idea that the flush
en- 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. But after awhile the
Truth flashed on you. You walked tho
floor. Oh, il 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 child!'' The
world seemed going out In darkness.
You said: Il can't bear 1t; can't bear
It," You felt AZ il you could not pus
the long lashes over the bright eyes.
never to see them again sparkle. 1
you could have taken that little one IL
your arms and with it leaped the grave,
how gladly you would have done i'll If
you could let your property 60, yonr
houses go, your land and your store
house go, how gladly you would hare II
lowed them to depart II you could only
have kept that one treasure!
But one day there came up chill
blast that swept through the bedroom.
and instantly all the lights went out,
and there was darkness thick, murky,
impenetrable, shuddering darkness.
But God did not leave you there. Mercy
spoke. AS you took up the bitter cup
to put it to your lips God said: 'sLet il
pass" and forthwith, as by the hand of
angels, another cup was put into your
hands. It was the cup ~of Gods con-
ISOLATION. And as you have sometimes
lifted the head of q wounded soldier md.
poured wine into his lips, SO God puts
His left arm under your.head and with
His right hand He pours into your lps
the wine Of His comfort and His con-
ISOLATION. and you looked q the empty
cradle and looked at your broken heart
and you looked at the Lords chastise-l
ment, and you said: Even 20. FatheEs
for SO it seemeth good In Thy sight
All, it was your first trouble. How did
you get over it? God scomforted you
You have been better man ever since.
You have been better woman ever
since. In the jar Of the closing gate Of
the sepulcher you heard the clanginE cf
the opening gate OF Heaven, ana y0u
felt an irresistible drawing Heaven
ward. You have been spiritually better
ever since that night when the little one
for the last time put its arms around
your neck and said: Good night papAi
good night, mamma. Meet me in
Heaven"
But must come to your latest sor-
row. What was it? Perhaps II waD
sickness. The child's tread on the stair
or the tick of the watch-on the stand
disturbed you. Through the long
weary days you counted the aguresEilz
the carpet or the flowers il the waIl -
| per. Oh, the WEAKNESS Of exhaustioAi
Oh, the burning pangsl Would God e
were morning, would God II were night,
was your frequent cry. hut you are
better, or perhaps even well. Have yor
thanked God that to-day you can Spal
ont in the fresh air; that yotl are II
YOUR place to hear Gods name and a
sing Gods praise and to imploFe Gedss
help and to ask Gods for9fyenesss
Il 49, n