The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-07-14

som OF buckWhcat.
You may have in your windows now
beautiful plants and flowers brought
from across the seas. but not one OF
them stirs i'm your soul so much charm
and memory as the old ivy and the yell
low sunhoWer 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 com,
in sunburncd from the field and sii
down ON the doorsill and wipe the
sweat from his brow may have gone Ia
his everlasting rest. The mother who
used TO sit at the door little bent over.
cap and spectacles ON. her face mellow
ing with the vicisstudes of many years.
may have put down her gray head ON
the pillow i'm the valley. but forget that
home you neyerwill llavcY you thanked
God for it? Have you rehearsed an
these blessed "reminiscences? Oh. thank
God for Christian father Thank God
for Christian mother Thank God for
an early Christian altar at which you
were taught 10 knccl. Thank God for
an early Christian home.
! bring 10 mind another passage i'm
the history of your life. The day came
when you set mp your own household.
The days passed along in quiet bless
cdness. You twain sat at the table
morning and night and talked over
your plans for the future. The most
insignificant affairs i'm 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 hoycrcd over your
dwelling. and il got darker and darker.
but ont Of that cloud the shining mes
senger of God descended TO incarnatc
an immortal spirit. Two little feet
started ON AN eternal Journey. and YOU
were to lead them. gem TO flash i'm
Heavens cOronet and YOU 10 polish H.
Eternal ages of light and darkness
watching the starting ont of a newly
created creature. You reioiccd and YOU
trcmbled at the responsibility that i'm
your possession an immortal treasure
was placed. You prayed and reioiccd
and wept and wondered. You were ear
nest i'm your supplication that You
might lead il through life into the
kingdom Of God. There was "a trcmor
in your earncstnes.. There was
double interest about that home. There
was an additional interest why Won
should stay there and be- faithful. and
when i'm few months your house was
filled with the music Of your child's
laughter YOU were struck through with
the fact that you had a stupcndous mis-
sion.
Have You kept that VOW? Have You
neglected any Of these duties? is your
home as much TO you as 10 used 10 be? I.
Have those anticipations been graf /
fled? God help you in your solemn |
reminiscence. and let His mercy fan /
upon your soul. if your Kindness has
been in 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 10 her other pangs.
has the pang Of a child's iniquity. Oh.
there are many. many sad sounds i'm this
sad world. but the saddcst sound that
is ever heard is the breaking Of a moth
er's heartl
! find another point i'm 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 hat
seemed 10 sob through your banking
house or through your Office or your
shop or your bedroom, and that word
was eternity" You said: I'm not
ready for it, Oh, God have mercy" The
Lord heard. Peace came TO your heart
In the breath of the hill and in the
dash you heard the voice
IF Gods love; the clouds and the trees
nailed you with gladness: you came
nto the house of God. You remember
now your hand trcmbed as YOU took up
he cupof the communion. You remem-
Der the old minister who cOnsccratcd IL.
md you remember the church officials
.ho carried it through the aisle; YOU
the old people who at the
lose of the service took your hand I'm
heirs in congratulating sympathy, as
much as TO say: Welcome home. YOU
ost prodigal." and. though those hands
'e all withered away. that communion
sabbath is resurrected to-day. 1t is
csurrccted with all its prayers and
ongs and tears and sermons and trans
Have YOU kept those VOWS?
lave YOU been a backslider? God help
on. This day kneel at the foot of
Mercy and start again for Heaven.
tart now as YOU started then. I rouse {
our soul by that "Reminiscences.
But ] must not spend any more of I
ny time i'm going over the advantages I
+ your life. just put them i'm one T
reat sheaf. and call them up i'm your
iemory with one loud harvest song. 81
Ich as the reapers sing. Praise the q
ord We blood bought immortals on II
lrth. Praise the Lord, We crowned +
pirits of IIeaven.. u
But some of you have not always had Il
smooth life. Some Of YOU are now I'm n
ne shadow. Others had their troubles d
'ars ago. You are mere wreck of 4
hat You once were. must gather up O.
he sorrows of your past life. But how II
lall do it? You say that is impossi- r
e as YOU have had so many troubles =
nd adversities Then ! will just take "
vo-the first trouble and the last n,
oube. As when you are walking "
ong the street and there has been o.
usic in the distance YOU unconscious N