Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-02-08

Amid all tho flower leaves rnat drifted like
,ummer snow into the window, in the
fnkle and dash of fountains in the sound
of thousand leaves futing on one tree
branch, In the cool breeze that came up
20 shake the feverish. trouble out of the
kings locks-there was nothing that spake
of death, but there he diedl In the winter,
when the snow Is q shrond, and when the
wind ts dirge. It is easy to think of our
mortality, but when the weather is
pleasant and all our surroundings are
agreeable, how difficult it is for us to
appreciate the truth that we are mortal
And yet my text teaches that death does
sometimes come to the summer house. He
Is blind and cannot see the leaves. He is
deaf and cannot hear the fountains. Oh.
IL death would ask us for victims we
could point him to hundreds of people who
would rejoice to have him come. Push
back the door Of that hovel. Look at the
little chfld-cold, and sick, and hungry
II has never heard the name of God but in
blasphemy. Parents intoxicated, rstag-
gertng around its straw bed. Oh. death,
there fs mark for theei Up with 1t into
the light Before those little feet stumble
on HES pathway give them rest.
Here is an aged man. He has done his
work. He has done 1t gloriously. The
companions of his youth all gone. his
children dead, he longs to be at rest, and
wearily the days and the nights pass. He
says. Come, Lord, Jesus, come quicklyp
Oh, death, there is a mark for theel Take
from him the staff and give him the scep.
ter! Up with him into the light, where
eyes never grow dim, and the hair whitens
not through the long years of eternfty
All, Death will not do that. Death turns
back from the straw bed and from the aged
man ready for the skies and comes to the
thou bony, CHASTITY monster, amid this
waving grass and under this sun
light sitting through the tree
branches2 Children are at play.
How quickly their feet go and theiI
locks toss in the wind. Father and moth.
on, enjoying their glee. 1t does not seem
possible that the wolf should ever break
into that fold and carry off lamb. Mean
while an old archer stands looking
through the thicket. He points his arrow
at the brightest OF the group-he is a surs
sPeedsl Hush now. The quick feet have
stopped and the locks toss no more in the
wind. Laughter has gone out of the hall
Death in the summer housed
Here is father in midlife. His coming
home at night Is the signal for mirth. The
children rush to the door, and there are
books on the evening stand, and the hours
pass away on glad feet. There is nothinC
wanting in that home. Religion is there
and sacrifices on the altar morning and
night. You look in that household and
say, 81 cannot think of anything happier.
do not really believe the world is so sad
a place as some people describe it to be-"
The scene changes. Father Is sick. The
doors must be kept shut. The deathwatch
chirps dolefully on the hearth. The chill.
dren whisper and walk softly where once
they romped. Passing the house late at
night, you see the quick giancing of lights
from room to room. 1t is all overi Death
In the summer house!
Here is an aged mother-aged but not
inflrm. You think you will have the joy OF
caring for her wants a good while yet. As
she goes from house to house, to children
and grandchildren, her coming is a drop.
ping OF sunlight in the dwelling. Your
children see her coming through the lane.
and they cry, "Grandmother's GOMEZ
Care for you has marked upon her face
with many deep wrinkle, and her bach
stoops with carrying your burdens. Some
day she is very quiet. She saws she is not
much longer have a mot
with you no Hore4 th9 Iai.hed ner
hearth. Her soul goes out so gentryT .sInt
do not exactly know the moment of its go.
ing. Fold the hands that have done SO
many kindnesses for you right over the
heart that has beat with love toward you
since before you were born. Let the pill.
grim rest. She is weary. Death in the
summer housel
Gather about us what we will OF comfort
and luxury. When the pale messenger
comes, he does not stop to look at tht
architecture OF the house before he comes
in, nor, entering, does he wait to ex.
anime the pictures We have gathered
on the wall, or, bending over your
pillow, he does not stop to see
whether there is color In the cheek OF
gentleness in the eye or intelligence in
the brow. But what of that? Must We
stand forever mourning among the
graves of our dead? Mol Mol The people
in Bengal bring cages of birds to the graves
of their dead, and then they open the cage.
and the birds go singing heavenward. SC
would bring to the graves OF your dead
all bright thoughts and congratulations
and bid them sing Of victory and re.
demption. stamp on the bottom o.
the grave, and 1t breaks through into
the light and the glory Of heaven. The
ancients used to think that the strait,
entering the Red sea were very dan
gerous places, and they supposed that the
wrecked that have gone through those
straits would be destroyed, and they were
In the habit Of putting on weeds of mourn
ing for those who had gone on that voy.
age. as though they were actually dead
Do you know what they called those
.traits2 They called them the "Gate OF
Tears"
After the sharpest winter the spring dis.
mounts from the shoulder of a southern
gale and puts its warm hand upon the
sarth, and In its palm there comes the
grass, and there comes the flowers, and
God reads over the poetry of bird and brook
and bloom and pronounces it very good
What, my friends, II every winter had not
ts spring, aud every night its day, and
svery gloom its glow, and every bitter now
is sweet hereafterl II you have been on
he sea, you know. as the ship passes in the
hight, there Is phosphorescent track left
behind 1t, and as the water rolls up they
:oss with unimaglnable splendor Well,
across this great ocean of human troubles
Jesus walks. oh, that in the phospores-
'ent track Of His feet we might all follow
Ind be illuminedl
There was gentleman in a rail car who
aw In that same car three passengers of
-ery different circumstances. The first
vas maniac. He was carefully guarded
~ his attendants. His mind like a ship
lismasted. was beating against a dark,
lesolate coast, from which no help could
ome. The train stopped and the man was
AIKEN out into the asylum to waste away
'erhaps through years OF gloom. The sec
md passenger was a culprit. The outraged
aw had seized on him. As the car jolted
he chains ratified. On his face were crime
lepravity anil despair. The train halted and
le was taken out to the penitentiary to
which he had been condemned. There was
he third passenger, under; far different
She was q bride. Every
lour was as gay as marriage bell. Life
Uttered and beckoned. Her companion
vas taking her to her fathers house. The
rain halted. The old man was there tc
Welcome her to her new home, and his
White locks showed down upon her as he
ealed his word with fathers kiss. Quick
y we fly toward eternity. We will soon be
here. Some leave this life condemned cul-
'rits, and they refuse to pardon. Oh, may
be with us that, leaving this fieeting life
Or the naYf "a npH Eat har IL
o greet US to our new home with Him for
verl That will be a marriage banquet
Fathers welcome! Fathers bosoml Fathers
,issl Heavenl Heaven!
Dependency unnerves a nan, hope
invigorates him.
The house of Capet has the longest
succession in the male line
from Hugh Capet, king of France in