The age-herald., 1900-11-25
THE MURMUR OF THE WORLD.

1t shines for ever, everywhere the white sign of the cross for mans regeneration, re-creation the blessed and beautiful mark pointing to the ways of righteousness wherein men and women shall walk in love and constancy, loving one another in the appointed course.
 The bride is the most luminous individual in the worlds life and progress. She 1t is in whom every one feels something of a personal interest; to whom the best of all good wishes go out in great flood of hu- man sympathy in its broader and purer cs- sence to whom virtue filings the kiss of virtue and love, and to whom even vice un- covers and bends the knee unused to pray- CT
 In a far land where the old faith is for ever new and souls are sunny and hearts are true, the wayfarerS uncover when tho bride passes by, and the lips of strangers speak the worlds bond of union, God bless you Even so and likewise when the uns known dead are borne by, and when holy man or woman receives the gentle hail Of the faithful.
 And so the bride is the most radiant of human fignres-the bride at the altar re. ceiving the blessed sacrament of marriage. There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass, Or night dews on still waters between walls Of shadowing granite, in a gleaming pass.
 All men and women and children eagerly seek to pay court to the bride, and everyone gives her good wishes and fond hopes abundantly, whilst she sways and thrills in pride and nameless and wondering hap piness all the happy past forgot and all the happy future ignored in the superlat tive joy of the living present Daughter of joy, twin-sister of laughter, handmaiden of di. vine promise, she is one whom all observers praise and adore. Around and about her 4r ed, and repining is silenced, whilst care is blown far away by the wind of happy cirs cumstance.
 It comes to every one of us, my beloved, this love of maidens, this adoration of brides. We all of us have had our sweet. hearts; some of us have stood at the altar, and thither the power of love shall bear others In some way the bridal comes into every life; and so 1t is of first significance the world around and the ages through, Thither all our yesterdays lighted the glaq way, and thither all the morrows shall lead us in gladness. The old remember 1t; to- ward it the young are hurrying, and youth sees it afar; and of it and about 1t all sing sweetest and tenderest and truest and no. blest.
 Everybody has had a sweetheart. Many an old man has rested himself with the burden of old age for a pillow, and so fails en asleep with that blessed word upon his Hps-sweetheart. Many an old womans worn out to frail and feeble housing or heE pure soul in loving and doing good, and in making the world brighter and better. has crossed her poor old hands upon her poo5 old breast, and gone to rest with that key to heaven-sweetheart. Many hero In life's great strife, fallen in the last strug' gle with the enemies of virtue and truth and justice has held resolutely in the sight of the gods the white banner of stainless life crossed in letters of golden light-t sweetheart. Many maiden pure of hears has made that name spoken in prayer rina