The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-03-24

tected-Bundles Which Are Blessings.
TExT: The soul q nv Lord shall be
bound in the bunil. Of life with :he Lord
NY Cod samuel XIV. -9.
Beautiful Abigail. in her rhythmic plea
Dor the rescue OF her inebriate husband,
who died within ten GAYS, addresses David.
the warrior. in the words OF the text. She
InHgests that his life. physically and in
tallectually and spiritually, is a valuable
package or bundle. divinely bound up and
to be divinely protected.
The phrase bundle OF life" heard many
times in nv fathers family prayers. Fam
lily prayers you know, have trequent repcti-
tons, because day by day they acknowl-
edge about the same blessings and deplore
about the ZANE t~railties and synpathiZe
with about the same Infsfortunes, ard | DO
not know why those who lead at household
devotions should seek variety OF compost
ton. That familiar prayer becomes the
household liturgy. | would not give one
OF my old fathers prayers for fifty elocu-
tionary supplications. Again and again.
In the morning and evening prayer, heard
the request that we might oil be bound UP
in the bundle OF life, but l did not know
until n few days ago that tho phrase was a
Bible phrase.
During tho last spell OF cold weather
there were bundles that attracted the at
tention and the p!auIits OF the high hcav-
SDS, DuuN!tS oil FIOlIl.C on the way from
comfortable homes to the door OF the
mission room. and Christ stood IN the
snowbanks and said as the bundles passed:
naked, and yo clothed me. InaSmuch as
70 have done Il unto one Of the least OF
these my brethren We have lone it
unto me-" Those bundles are Innltibly-
ing. Blessings on those who pack them.
Blessings on those who distribute them.
Blessings ola those who receive them,
with what beautiful ptitu1a did Ahioail
In my text speak OF the bundleo Of life, Oh,
what a preeious bundle is life. Bundle OF
memories, bundle of hopes. bundle Of
ambitions. bundle of destinies, Once in
a while a man writes his autobiography,
and II Is OF thrilling interest. The story OF
his birthplace, the story Of his struggles.
the story OF his sufferinCs, the story Of his
~triumphs! But If the autobiography OF the
most eventful life Were we'll written it
would make many chapters OF adventure,
OF tragedy, OF comedy. and there woul6
not be an unlnterestinS step from cradle
to grave.
Bundle OF memories are YOU HovhOod
memories, with all its iniustices from piav-
mates. with HI its game with bali and bat
and Kite and sled. Manhood memories.
with all your struggles in starting-ob-
stRoles. opposition, accidents, miefortun.s.
losses, successes. Memories OF the first
marriage you ever saw ~solemnized, Of thu
ASS " W. % Cii'b VI liN
first mighty wrong YOU ever suffered. Of
the first victory you ever gained. Memory
q the hour when you were affianced, mem
DRY OF the first advent In your home. mem
DRY OF rOSeate cheek faded ant Of blue
eyes closed In the last sleep. memory Of
anthem and Of dirSe. memory OF great
pain and OF slow convaiescence. memory o;
times when al things were against YOU.
memoir Of prosperitles that came in like
tho lull tide OF the sea. memories OF a life
time. What q bundle.
Bundle OF hopes and ambitions also is al
most every man and woman, especially ct
the starting. What gains he will harvest.
Or what reputation he will achieve. or
what bliss he will reach. or what love hs
will win. What makes college commences
ment day SO enhancing to all OF us rs we.
see the students receive their diplomas and
take up the garlands thrown to their feet?
They will be Faradays In science: they will
be Tennysons in poesy; they will be Willard
Parkers in surgery; they will be Alexander
Haniltons In national finance: they will be-
Horace Greeleys in editorial chair: they
viil bs Websters In the Senate. Or She
will be a Nary Lyon in educational
realms. or a Frances Willard on reforma-
tory platform, or q Helen Gould In military
hospitals. Or she will make home life
radiant witt heipfulness and selt-sacrihce
and magnificent w~omanhood. Oh, what a
bundle OF hopes and anbitions. 1t IS a
bundle OF gariands and scepters irrn
which | would not take one spric Of
inlHnonette nor ~eXtinguiSh one spark OF
brilliance. They who start life without
blight hopes and inspiring ambitions
might rs We'll not start at all. for every
step will be y failure. Rather would I add
TO the bundle ana II l open it now il will
De because | wish to take ANYTHING from
1t, but thatI nay pUt intoit more coroucts
aud hosan0Gs.
D,olt, - .' -
every woman, Power 10 thin. 10 think
oithe past and through all the future. TO
think upward anil higher than he highest
pinnacle OF heaven, or - think downward
until Their" IS 10 lower abysm 20 fathom.
Iowertothinh right poW"rto think wrong.
power 10 think forever, for. once having
begun 10 think. there shall lie TO terminus
for that exercise. and eternity itself shall