The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-05-26

UO0 fOr an early CuIlStidu nome!
bring to mind another passage In the
history OF your life. The day came when
you set up your own household. The days
passed along in quiet b!essedness. You
twain sat at the taole morning and night
and talked over your plans for the future.
The most Insignificant affair Ia your lie
became the go bject OF mutual consultation
and advertisement. You were SO happy
you felt you never could be any happier.
One day a dark cloud lowered over your
dwelling, and 1t got darker and darker,
but out Of that cloud the shining messen-
ger OF God descended to incarnate an i'm
mortal sp rit. Two little feet started on
ri eternal journey, and kou were to lead
them, a gem to flash in heavens coronet,
and you to polish it; eternal ages OF light
and darkness watching the starting out OF
q newly created creature. You rejoiced
and you trembled at the responsibility that
In your possession an immortal treasure
was placed. You prayed and r%ejoiced and
wept and wondered; you were earnest in
supplication that you might lead it through
life into the kingdom of God. There was a
tremor in your earnestness. There was 4
double interest about that home. There
was ar additional interest why you should
stay there and be faithful, and when in q
few months your house was filled with the
music of the child's laughter you were
struck through with the fact that you had
q ~stupendOus mission.
Have you kept that vow? Have you
neglected any of these duties? Is your
home rs much to you as it used to be?
Have those anticipations been gratiieh?
God help you in your solemn reminis-
cence, and let His mercy fall upon your
soul if your kindness has been i'll requ iredI
God have mercy on the parent on the
wrinkle of whose face is written the story
Of q child's sin! God have mercy on the
mother who, in addition to her otl er
nnrv1 1or Abo " ~ An Iii - 80
Oh, there are many, many sad Ounds in
this sad world, but the saddest sound that
Is ever heard is the breaking Of d mothers
heart!
l find another point in your life history.
You found one day you were in the wrong
road. You could not sleep at night. There
was just one word that seemed to 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 camc to
your heart. In the breath OF the hill and
in the waterfalls dash you heard the voice
of Gods love. The clouds and the tree.
hailed you with gladness. You came into
the house of God. You remember how
your hand remhled as you took up thecup
of tho communion. You remember the old
minister who consecrated it, and you re-
member the church officials who carried it
II IL tADiNs ~ EAO WV
people who ut the close Of the service took
your hand in theirs in congratulating SYM
| pathy. as much as to say, ''Welcome home,
you lost prodigal!" And, though those
hands be all withered away, that COM
muniOn Sabbath is resurrected to-day.
Blu | must not spend any more of my
time in going over the advantages OF your
life. Lust put them in one great sheaf,
apd ! call them up in YOUR memory with
one loud harvest song, such as the reapers
sing. Praise the Lord, We blood bought
immortals on earth. Praise the Lord, va
crowned spirits Of heaven.
But some Of you have not always had 4
smooth life. Some of you are now in tho
shadow. Others had their troubles years
ago;you are a nero wreck Of what You
once were. | must gather up tho sorrows
of your past life, but how shall 1 do it?
You say that it is impossible, as you have
had SO many troubles and adversities.
Then l will just take two-the first trouble
and the last trouble. AS when you are
walking along the street, and there has
been music in the distance, you unconscious.
~ find yourselves keeping step to the mn.
sic, so when you started life Your very life
was q musical time beat. Tie air was
full OF Joy and h~ilarity: with the bright,
clear oar you made the boat skip. Yo,
went on, and life grew brighter, until. af-
ter awhile, suddenly a voice from heaven
said. Halt" and quick as tho sunshine
you halted, You grew pale, you confronted
Your first sorrow. You had no idea that
the flush on your child's cheek was an IN.
healthy flush. You said it cannot be any
thing serious. Death in slippered feet
walked around the cradle. You did not
hear the tread, but after awhile the truth
flashed on you. You walked the floor.
Oh. ii 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 as ii YOU could not
put the long lashes over the bright ewes.
never to see them again sparkle. 1t YOU
could have taken that little one in your