Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-07-28

the old homestead to which the boys
at college will direct their letters. aud
the hill on which the house stands
f, will be called OakwOOd or Ivy Hill or
Pleasant Retreat or Eagle Eyrie. May
the future have for every business
man here all t.lat and more besides.
But are you pOstponng your happi-
ness TO that time? Are you adjourn
ing your jOysl Suppose that y0u
achieve all you expect-and that the
vision mention is not up to the real,
ty. because the fountains viii be
brighter. the house grander and the
scenery more picturesque-the mistake
is none the less fatal.
What charm will there be in rural
quiet for a man who has for 80 or 10
years been conforming his entire na.
ture TO the excitements Of business;
VIII 1ocks and herds with their bleat
and moan he able to silence the in
satIable spirit Of acquisltiyeness which
has for years had full swing In the
soul? VIII the hum OF the breeze
soothe the man who now can find his
only enjoyment IN the stock market
VIII leaf and cloud and fountain
charm the eye that has for three
fOurths OF a lifetime found its chief
beauty in hogsheads and bills Of salei
VIII parents be competent to rear their
children for high and holy purpose if
their infancy and boyhOOd and girl
hood were neglected when they are
almost ready TO enter upon the world
and have all their habits fixed and
theIr principles stereotypcdf No, no;
now Is the time TO be happy Now is
the time to serve your Creator Now
is the time to be a Christian. Are you
too busy? have known men rs busy
as you are who had place IN the
store loft. where they went 10 pray.
Some one asked a Christian sailor
where he found any place to pray in
He said, II can always find a quiet
place at masthead" And in the busiest
day OF the season. If your heart IS
right. you can find place to pray
Busy thOrOughfares are good places TO
pray In as you go to meet your various
engagements. Go home a little earlier
and get introduced 10 your children.
Be not a galley slave by day AMI night
lashed fast to the oar Of business. 1T
every day have lis hour for worship
and intellectual culture and recreation.
Show yourself greater than your busi-
ness.
Spiritual DefnlcntiOE.
Again. business men are often tempt
ed to let their calling interfere with
the interests of the soul. God sends
men into the business world TO get ed
ucated. Just as boys are sent to school
and college. Purchase and sale. loss
and gain, disappointment. prosperity.
the dishonesty of others. panic and
bank suspension. are but different les
sons In the school. The more husi-
Ress, the more means Of grace. Many
have gone through widest panic un-
hurt. Are you not afraid you Will
breakr said some one to merchant
In time Of great commercial excite
ment He replied. Aye. shall break
when the fiftieth Psalm breaks in the
fifteenth verse, Call upon me in the
day OF trouble. and | will deliver
thee" The store and the counting
house have developed some Of the most
stalwart characters. Perhaps origi-
nally they had but little sprightliness
and force, but two or three hard busi-
ness thumps woke them up from their
lethargy, and there came a thorough
development in their hearts Of all that
was good and holy and energetic and
tremendous, and they have become the
front men in Christ's army. as well as
lighthouses in the great world or trat'
&c. But business has been perpetual
depletion to many man. IL first pull
ed out OF him all beneyOlence. next all
amiability, next all religious aspira-
tions, next all conscience, and, though
he entered bis vocation with large
heart and noble character, he goes out
Of It a skeleton, enough to scare 4
ghost.
Men appreciate the importance OF
having n good business stand. a store
Oh the right side Of the street or in
the right block. Yet every place OF
business is a good stand for spiritual
culture Gods angels hover over the
world Of traffic 70 sustain and build up
those who are trying to do their duty.
Tomorrow II In your place Of worldly
engagement you will listen for it you
may hear sound louder than the rat
tie OF drays and the shuttle Of feet and
the chnk Of dollars stealing into your
soul, saying, seek ye first the king
dom of Cod aad his righteousness, ana
all other things shall be added unto
you"
Yet some OF those sharpest at n bar
gain are cheated out OF their immortal
blessedness by stratagems more palpa'
bic than any drop game Of the
street They make investments 40
things everlastingly below par. They
puI IDtI NhlbdDlto III cdAN NV AA-N
preof They give full credit to inhu'
ences that will not be able TO pay one
cent on the dollar. They plunge into
labyrinth from which no bankrupt law
or "two-thIrds enactment will ever
extricate them. They take into ;heir
partnership the world. tie flesh and
the devil. and the enemy Of all right
eousness will boast through eternal
ages that the man who in all his busi-
ness life could not he outwiued, at
last tuHeied into spiritual defalcation
and wa3{swindled out of heaven.
Perhaps some Of you saw the fire IN
New York 10 1885. Aged men iell us
that II beggared all description. Some
stood on the housetOps Of Brooklyn
and looked at the red ruin that swept
down the streets and threatened to 81
literate the metropolis. Blu, the COM
merclal world will yet be startled by
a greater conaagration. even the last
sne. Bills OF exchange. policies OF in
surance, mortgages and bonds and gov
ernment securities will be consumed
In one lick OF the flame. The bourse
-. T~.s.ol Neat.c mint will ffIrn