Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-10-12

more OF Il treasure than the others. but
because il is becoming frail There Is
something in the cheek. In the eye and
In the walk that makes you quite sure
that the leaves OF the flower are going
20 be scattered. The utmost nursing
and medical attendance are Intellectual.
The pulse becomes feeble. the complex
ion lighter. the step weaker. the laugh
fainter. No more romping for that one
through hail and parlor. The nursery
is darkencd by an approaching calam-
lily. The heart feels with mournful an
ticipation that the sun is going down.
Night speeds on. 1t is toward evening.
You have long rejoiced in the care of
mother; you have done everything to
make her last days happy: you have
run with quick feet to wait upon her
every want Her presence has been a
perpetual blessing i'm the household.
But the fruit gatherers are looking
wiStfully at that tree. Her soul Is ripe
for heaven. The gates are ready TO
flash open for her entrance. But your
soul sinks at the thought of separation.
You cannot bear To think that soon you
will be called TO take the last look at
that face. which from the first hour
has looked upon you with affection I'M
changcable. But you see that life Is
ebbing. and the grave will soon hide
her from your sight. You sit quiet:
you feel heavy hearted. The light is
fading from the sky: the air is chill.
1t is toward evening.
You had considerable estate and
fplt I'M m Hxn mi
one fair balance sheet you could see
just how you stood with the world
But there came complications. Some
thing that you imagined impossible
happened. The best friend you had
proved traitor TO your interests. A
sudden crash Of national misfortune
Frustrated your credit You may to-
day be going on in business. but you
feel anxious about where you are
standing and fear that the next turn of
the commercial wheel will bring you
PROSTATE. You forcSee what YOU con-
slider certain defalcation; you think of
the anguish of telling your friends that
you are not worth n dollar; you know
not how you will ever bring your chill
dren home from school; you wonder
how you will stand the selling of your
library or the moving into n palmer
house. The misfortunes of life have
accumulated. You wonder what makes
the sky so dark. 1t is toward evening.
Jesus Comforting Grace
Trouble is an apothecary that mixes
Il great many drafts. bitter and sour
and nauseous. and you must drink
some one Of them. Trouble puts up a
great many packs, and you must carry
some one or them. There is no sandal
so thick and well adjusted but some
thorn will strike through it: there is
no sound so sweet but the undertaker's
screwdriver CRATES through it. In this
swift shuttle of the heart some Of the
threads must break. The journey from
Jerusalem to Emmaus will soon be
ended. Our Bible. our common sense.
our observation. reiterate In tones that
we cannot mistake and ought not to
disregard.-it is toward evening.
oh. then. for Jesus to abide with us.
He sweetens the cup: he extracts the
thorn; he wipes the tear; he bushes the
tempest: he soothes the soul that flies
to him for shelter. Let the night swoop
and the Euroclydon toss the sea: let
the thuuders roll-scon all will be well.
Christ in the ship TO soothe his friends;
Christ on the sea to stop its tumult;
Christ in the grave to scatter the dark
hess; Christ in the heavens to lead the
way. Blessed all such. His arms will
inclose them, his sacrifice free them,
his glory enchant them. If earthly es-
tate take wings, he will be an incorrupt-
ible treasure; IL friends die, he will be
their resurrection. Standing with us
in the morning of our joy and In the
monday OF our prosperity, he will not
forsake us when the luster has faded
and it is toward evening.
Listen to Paul's battle shout with
misfortune. bark to mounting Lati-
mer's fire song; look ut the glory that
hath reft the dungeon and filed the
earth and heavens with the crash of
the falling manacles Of despot.sm and
then look at those who have tried TO
cure themselves by human prcscr!p-
lions, attempting to heal gangrene with
patch OF court plaster and to stop the
plague of dying empires with the
Quackery of earthly wisdom. Nothing
can speak peace to the soul, nothing
can unstrap our crushing burdens.
nothing can overcome our spiritual
Toes, nothing can open our eyes to see
the surrounding horses and chariots of
salvation that fill all the mountains
but the voice and command of him
who stopped one night at Emmaus.
Nearing the Evening.
u Of
TO us all from the fact that we are
nearing the evening OF death. | have
heard 1t said that we ought to live as
though each moment were to be our
last. / do not believe that theory. AS
Tar as preparation is concerned. we
ought always to be ready, but we can
not always be thinking of death. for
we have duties in life that demand our
attention. When a man is selling
goods, it is his business to think Of the
bargain he Is making; when man is
pleading In the courts, 1t is his duty to
think OF the interests of his clients:
when clerk Is adding up accounts. II
Is his duty to keep his mind upon the
column Of figures. He who fills up his
life with thoughts OF death is far from
being the highest style of Christian. l |
knew man who used often to say at
night, Il wish might die before morn |
mgr He is now an infdel. But there |
are times when we can and ought to |
give ourselves TO the contemplation OF |
that solemn moment when to the soul |
time ends and eternity begins. We |
must go through that one pass. There |
Is no roundabout way, no bypath, no
circuitous route. Die we must, and ii |
viii be to us n shameful occurrence or |
n time of admirable behavior. Our |
friends may stretch out their hands to |
keep us back, but no imploration on
their part can hinder us. They might /
offer large retainers, but death would |
not take the fee. The breath will fail.
and the eyes will close. and the heart
VIII stop. You may hang the couch
with gorgeous tapestry. but what does
death care for bed curtains? You NAV