The age-herald., 1900-05-20
THE MURMUR
 OF THE WORLD

The bird of the sea laves in the clear waters of the deep, and mounting upon the pure air rising wave on wave of the yiewless wind, soaring ever high and higher, breasting the breath of earth on the upward way of the sun-bars illimita- ble, seems to rest at last fleck of snow far up between the restless blue of ocean and the restful blue eternal in the heavens, a thing of divine beauty, bright as fleet ing ray of light in dream vision of puri- tyi Thus so it is the centre of the watch mans vision, a precious thing placed in the crown of light under the over-arching splendor of the sky, and mirrored upon the sweeping glory that bathes continents in floods for ever unresting and unfathom- ed creature of wings worn white, and unweary of laying in limpid waters, breasting blissful breeze, mounting sun ward, and come in good time upon wide spread pinions to glster far and fair Tn the blazing brightness resplendent. mus is truth made to shine in the world. The white messenger from earth to sky would be put a poor fowl of the mudbank did IL not lave it's wings and wear them ln the sunlight upon the winds, wear them In soaring upward as if to greet the light and bathe in its glory. The rock that croaks in shadows is black; but the ptarmigan that nests upon the windswept mountain is as the snow in whiteness. The moss is grey upon the marsh; but the fern lifts Its head upon the moor
 
 There may be gems of purest ray in the black bed of the ocean: but the world A,,h h,1n ra6 pf1h the imprint of the maiden's dainty tread may rest diamond that an emperor ran som might be, but its imprisoned light IS valueless. One little seed may hold within it's little compass the lily's lovehness' put it needs to burst and grow burgeon ana bloom. The gem may be saved from the oceans deep, and brought to blazon the throbbing of beauty's breast. The diamond may be claimed of it's hundred cubits of earth and wrought to crown the maiden and challenge the light of her eyes of love- and the lily may grow to deck the altar of her beautiful bridal. But to bring these things to pass in their fullness there must be toilsome endeavor patient perseverance, confident hopefulness, persistent seeking or cherished purposes. The rust must be worn away, and-with the wearing comes the full fillment of anticipations that promise brightness and beauty and joy,
 If we hide from ourselves the precious jewel of truth, put away the light of hope, we shall never feel the blessed touch of the angels wing, never drink of the brimming cup of gladness. Felt you ever the touch of the angels wing, beloved? In grief or in gladness, in sorrow in joy in hope or in hopelessness, in peace or in pain, have you not been thrilled by something of transcendant uplifting bouyant bounding into a higher atmosphere where murmured the music of happy voices of love in per fume as of a million flowers there sway ing gently as if swung by chubby hands of little children? Haven't you thrown your self prone upon the green grass and in bit terness of soul cried for mercy in surcease of sorrow, and in that hour when pain seemed hardest to bear, felt yourself lifted up to face world of love and loveliness? Haven't you walked amongst the flowers and the vines with the clinging tendrils, feeling that your soul bursting with the very madness of joy, when suddenly you were turned into yet brighter garden with yet more beautiful flowers, and raised to still higher heights of happiness, if all the legions of bliss had been let loose to flood your spirit with melody, and you felt yourself going stark mad in the aband- on of your delirious intoxication? Have you hushed the widows moan in a smile and stihed the orphans cry in laughter, and placed your poor plenty where there was poorer want? Have you lifted up the fallen and shame-stricken and led them the way to prayer? Have you nerved the hand of unfaith to fasten upon the cross? Have you believed? Have you known blessedness? So? Then you have felt the touch of the angels wing.
 
 Love is born in a smile All the virtues are born in smiles. If all the effort that has been put forth to create smiles had been expended in gross toll it might have bridged the sea with gold; but it has achieved a nobler purpose. It has girdled the globe with gladneSs. The smile of fair woman is coin current in the realm of worldly hap piness, and is promise to pay in the higher life. It begins an prison and ends in benediction. Its first tremor is in the trem- ulous lids of eyes that flash beacon lights of a spirit that is pure, and moving out
 
 derness, signalling to pink lips that curve and part as if slow to answer pleasures soft call reluctant to yield to the tempting beads upon the cup of heart-satisfaction with its priceless pearl of innocence. Mirth, inpatient doffs his cap and jingles his bells, and softly rebellious beauty filings back her fair face and the full, free, riot ing smile is there to challenge man to idolatry. That smile were worth a sinners redemption, and the striving of life to win. And one might stand apart in a multitude and make soul-obeisance to that empress of smile.
 It were better to wear your heart upon your sleeve for jackdaws to peck at, if jackdaws there be, than to keep it con- cealed by the fools armor of false pride and arrogant ignorance for canker-worms to feed upon. Men. denied their desires and baked of their purposes, give strongest proof of unworthiness by sour-yisaged dis content as if awakened from a night of