Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-11

bOu ueSCenUPU TO lflCNTNHte an Immortal
spirit. Two little feet started on an eter-
nal journey and you were to lead them,
gem to flash in heavens coronet, and
you TO polish it. Eternal ages Of light
and darkness watching the starting out of
a newly created creature. You rejoiced
and you trcmbled at the responsibility
that in your possession an immortal treas
ure was placed. You prayed and reioiced
and wept and wondered. You were ear
nest in suppllcation that you might lead it
through $40 into the kingdom of God.
There was tremor in ysur earnestness.
There was a double interest about that
homo. There was an additional interest
why you should stay there and be faechful,
and when In - few months your house
was filled with tho music of the child's
! laughter you were struck through with
the fact that you had u stupcndous mis-
/ sion.
Have you kept that vow? Have you
neglected any of these duties? IL your
home as much to you ms 1t used to be?
Have those anticipations been gratiflcdp
God help you in your solemn "Reminiscences,
and let his mercy fall upon your soul, II
your kindness has been i'll requited. God
have mercy on the parent on the wrinkles
of whose face is written the story of u
child's sin. God have mercy on the mother
who in addition to her other pangs, has
the pang Of Il child's iniquity. Oh, there
are many, many sad sounds In this sad
world but the saddest sound that is ever
heard is tho breaking of mothers hearth
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
Ii l.,
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 tho waterfalls dash you heard the
voice of Gods love; the clouds and the
trees hailed you with gladness; you came
into the house of God You remember
how your hand trembled as you took up
the cup of the communion. You remem
Der the old minister who consecrated It,
and you remember the church officials
who carried it through the aisle; you re
member The old people who at the close Of
the service took your hand in theirs in
congratulating sympathy, as much as to
say, welcome home, you lost prodigal, "
and, though those hands be all withered
away, that communion Sabbath is resrr-
rected today. 1t is resurrected with all its
prayers and songs and tears and sermons
and TRANSPORTATION. Have you kept those
vows? Have you been a backslider? God
help you. This day kneel at the foot of
mercy and start again for heaven. Start
now as you started then. / rouse your
soul by that "Reminiscences.
But must not spend any more of my
time in going over the advantages of your
life. I just put them in one great sheaf,
and / call them up in your memory with
one loud harvest song, suoh as the reapers
sing Praise the Lord, We blood bought
immortals on earth Praise the Lord, ye
crowned spirits of heavenl
In the shadows.
But some Of you have not always had q
smooth life. Some of you are now in the
shadow. Others had their troubles years
ago You arc n mere wreck of what you
once We're. ! must gather up the sorrow,
of your past life. But how shall | do it
You say that is impossible, as you hav,
had so many troubles and adversitics
Then | will Just take two-tbe first trou
bic and the last trouble. AS when you art
walking along the street and there has
been music in the distance you uncon
sciously find yourselves keeping step tt
the music, so, when you started life, you
very life was musical time beat. Th'
air was full of joy and hilarity. With thu
bright clear oar you made the boat skip
You went on, and life grew brighter un
til after awhile suddenly voice from
heaven said, "Haltr' and quick as thu
sunshine you halted, you grew pale, yol
confronted your first sorrow. You had M
idea that the flush on your childs cheel
was an unhealthy flush. You said it can
not be anything serious Death in slip
percd feet walked round about the cradle
You did not hear the tread. But aftc
awhile the truth flashed on you Yo,
walked the floor. Oh, if you could, will
e your strong, stout hand, have wrencheC
t that child from the destroyer! You wen
o to your room, and you said; God, saw
r my child God, save my child!' Thu
world seemed going ont in darkness, Yo,
' said, 81 can't bear it; l cant bear it,
5 You felt rs if you could not put the lonl
i lashes over the bright eyes, never to Sc
1 them again sparkle If you could hav
r taken that little one in your arms an,
+. with it leapcd the grave, how gladly you
Y would have done it, If you could let you
L property CO. your houses go, your Liant
q and your storohouse go, how gladly yol
. would have allowed them to depart if 20,
i could only have kept that one TREASURED
u But one day there came up "a chill bias
t that swept through the bedroom, and in
o stantly all the lights went out, and Their
n was darkness-thick, murky, impenetra
BILE, shuddering darkness But God di
not leave you there Mercy spoke. A
y you took up the bitter cup to put it t
n your lips God said, Let it pass" an
g forthwith, as by the hand of angels, Al
y other cup was put into your hands.
= was the cup of God 8 consolation. And q
|, you have sometimes lifted the head of
Il wounded soldier and poured wine into hi
n lips, so God puts his left arm under you
Il head and with his right hand he pours il
a to your lips the wine of his comfort an
n his consolation, and you looked at tn
n empty cradle and looked at your broke
heart, and you looked at the Lords cha
:, tisemcnt, and you said, Even so, Father
v for so it secmeth good in thy sight.
/. All, it was your first trouble, How di
a you get over it? God comforted you. 70
Il had been better man ever since. Yo
"a have been n better woman ever since. /
N the jar of the closing gate Of the scpulcht
a you heard tho changing of the openin
n gate of heaven, and you felt an irresistib
81 drawing hcaycnward. You have bee
v spiritually better ever since that Nigh
= when the little one for the last time pl
IA It's arms around your neck and sale
N Good night, papa; good night, mamm'
rs Meet me in heaven"