Milford chronicle., 1901-05-24

work and brains with which TO unlnK.
The amusements of life are merely the
orchestra playing while the great tragedy
of life plunges through its FIVE acts-in-
fancy, childhood. manhood. old age and
death. Then exit the last earthly op-
portunity. Enter the overwhelming reali-
ties Of an eternal world
/ 90 further and say that all those
amusements are wrong which lead into
bad company. If you go to any place
where you have to associate with the in
temperate, with the unclean, with the
abandoned, however well they may be
dressed, in the name Of God quit it. They
will despon your nature. They will I'M
dermine your moral character. They
will drop you when you are destroyed.
They will not give one cent to support
your children when you are dead. They
will weep not one tear at your burial
I had a friend in the west-a rare
friend. He was one Of the first to well
come me to my new home. To fine per-
sonal appearance he added a generosity,
frankness and ardor Of nature that made
me love him like a brother. But l saw
evil people gathering around him. They
came up from the saloons, from the gam
bling hells. They piled him with a thou
sand arts. They seized upon his social
nature, and he could not stand the charm.
They drove him on the rocks, like a ship,
full winged, shivering on the breakers. ]
used to admonish him. ! would say,
Now. / wish you would quit those bad
habits and become a Christian" oh"
he would reply. Il would like to, / would
like to, but l have gone so far | don't
think there is any way back" In his
moments Of repentance he would go home
and take his little girl of years and en-
brace her convulsively and cover her with
adornments and strew around her pic
lures and toys and everything that could
make her happy, and then, as though
bounded by an evil spirit. he would go
out to the infaming cup and the house of
shame, like a fool to the correction Of the
stocks.
The Final Scene.
was summoned TO his deathbed.
FASTENED. ! entered the room. l found
him, to my surprise, lying in full every
day dress on the top Of the couch. ! put
out my hand. He grasped it excitedly
and said, "Sit down, Mr.. Talmage. right
there" I sat down. He said: "Lasi
might l saw my mother. who has been
dead 20 years. and she sat just where you
sit now. 1t was no dream. | was wide
| awake. There was no delusion in thC
matter. ! saw her just as plainly as
see you. Wife. ] wish you would take
these strings off me. There are strings
spun all around my body. ! wish yoJ
would take them off me-" saw it wal
delirium. "Oh," replied his wife, "my
/ dear there is nothing there, there il
nothing there" He went on and said
"Just where you sit. Mr.. Talmage, ny
mother sat She said to me. Henry, d.
wish you would do better ! got out O
bed, put my arms around her and said
Mother, / want to do better. / havi
been trying to do better. Won't you hell
me to do better2 You used to help me.
| No mistake about It, no delusiOn. saw
her-the cap and the apron and the spec
tacles, Just as she used to look 20 year
ago. But do wish you would take thes
strings away. They annoy me so! cal
hardly talk. Won't you take then
awayY l knelt down and prayed. cor
scious Of the fact that he did not realiz
what ! was saying. got up. / said
"Goodby. I hope you will be bette
soon. He said. "Goodby, goodby."
That night his soul went up to the Go
who gave it. Arrangements were mad
for the obsequies. Some said, "Don'
bring him in the church; he is too dissC
lutte" "Oh." l said. "bring him. d
was a good friend of mine while he wa
alive, and l shall stand by him now this
he is dead. Bring his to the church"
As sat in the pulpit and saw his bod
earning 10 through the aisle | felt as if