The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-01-18

] tttIIltl Dt glNn. we must 20 through
that ore pass. There s no rounda-
bout way, no bypath. no circuitous
route. Die we must, ard B., VIII be
TO us a shameful occurrence or time
of admirable behavior. Our friends
may stretch ont their hands to keen
MS back. out 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
will stop. You may hang the couch
with gorgeous tape. try. Dut what dcss
death care Tor bed curtains? You
may hang the room with the frest
works of art but what does death
care for pictures? You may fill the
house with the wailings Of a widow
hood and orphanage-does death mind
weeping?
This ought not to be a depressing
theme. Who wants to live here for
ever? The world has always treated
me well, and every day feel less and
less like scolding and complaining,
but yet ] would not want to make this
my eternal residence. love to watch
the clouds and to bathe my soul in the
blue sea Of heaven, but expect when
the armament is rolled away as a
scroll to see a new Heaven, grander.
higher and more glorious. You ought
10 be willing to exchange your body
that has headaches and side aches and
weaknesses iunumerable. that iimps
with the stone bruises or testers with
the thorn or flames on the funeral
pyre Of fevers, for an incorruptible
body and an eye that blinks not be-
fore the jasper gates and the great
white throne. But between that and
this there is an hour about which no
man should be reckless or foolhardy.
! doubt not your courage, but ! tell
you that you will want something bet
ter than a strong arm, a good aim and
a trusty sword when you col.e to your
last battle. You will need a better
robe than any you have in your ward
robe TO keep you warm in that place.
Circumstances do not make so much
difference 1t may be bright day
when you push off from the planet
or il may be dark night and while the
owl is hooting from the forest. 1t
may be spring, and your soul may go
out among the blossoms, apple or
chards swinging their censers in the
way. 1t may be winter and the earth
in snow shroud. II may be autumn
and the forests set on fire by the re-
treating year; dead nature laid out in
state. II may be with your wife's
hand in your hand or you may be In a
strange hotel with a servant faithful
TO the last. 1t may be in the rail train,
shot off the switch and tumbling in
long reverberation down the embank-
ment-crashl crash / know not the
time; l know not the mode. but the
days of our life are being subtracted
away, and we shall come down to the |
time when we have but ten days left,
then nine days, then eight days, five
days, four days, three days, two days,
one day. Then hours, three hours, |
two hours, one hour. Then only min
utes left. five minutes. four minutes, |
three minutes, two minutes, one min
ute. Then only seconds left, four Sec
onds, three seconds, two seconds, one |
second. Gone The chapter of life
ended. The book closed The pulses
at restl The feet through with the
iourneyl The hands closed from all
work. No word on the lips. No
breath in the nostrils. Hair combed
back to lie undisheyeled by any hu-
man hands. The muscles still. The
nerves still. The lungs still. The
tongue stlll. All still. You might put
the stethoscope to breast and hear no
sound. You might put a speaking
trumpet to the ear, but you could not
wake the deafness. No motion. No
throb. No life. Still! Still!
On earth with many of you the
evening is the happiest part of the "a
hours. You gather about the stand.
You talk and laugh and sing. You re-
,ount the day. You plan for the NOR
row. You have games and repartees.
Amid all the toll OF the day that is
he goal for which you run, and as
rou take out your watch or look at
he descending sun you thrill with the
hought that il is toward evening.
20 death comes TO the disciplel What
( the sun of life is about to set?
Tesus is the dayspring from on high;
he perpetual morning OF every ram
omed spirit. What il the darkness
omes? Jesus is the light of the world
md of Heaven. What though this
.arthly house does crumble.? Jesus
las prepared a house Of many man
ions. Jesus is the anchor that always
lolds. Jesus is the light that is never
clipsed. Jesus is the fountain that
S never exhausted. Jesus is the even
ne star. hung up amid the gloom OF
he gathering night.
You are almost through with the
buse and backbting of enemies.
hey will call you no more by evil
.ames. Your good deeds will not
onger be misinterpreted or your hon.
n flched. The troubles of earth will
nd in the felicities Of Heaven! To-
yard EVENING" The bereayements OF
arth will soon be liftedl You will
lot much longer stand pouring your
rief I'm the tomb like Rachel weeping
or her children or David mourning
Or Absalom Broken hearts bound
ID. Wounds healed. Tears wiped