Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-30

At the So.liers' home In the suburbs
Of this city ] often admire the peaceful
AID coatcnted looks of the venerable
heroes rs they sit under the trees or 80
IN ard out the fine abode that our gov
cT1,:ncnt has appropriately provided for
them. They are rot longing for other
Ca2pultcpecs. They do not want to
undertake another South Mountain.
Their foot does rot ache to get into
the stirrup of the cavalryman. They
are not l.nging for the bareback of
the soldiers breakfast along the Chick
ahominy. They have no desire for an
other ride in the ambulance to the field
hospital. When the Spanish war broke
out, they sometimes wondered if their
rheumatic knee would allow them to
keep step in n march, and if their
sight was good enough to see an adj
yancing foeman, and if their ear was
alert enough to hear the command
Charger But for the most part they
are glad that there is no more war for
them. So let all of the aged in peace
with God. through the blessed Christ,
cultivate contentment and thank the
Lord their Sedan has been fought and
the war is over. Let not him that
girdeth on his harness boast himself
as he that putteth it off"
There are old farmers who cannot
do one more days work. What har-
vests they raised in 1870! They knew
the rotation of crops as well as they
knew the rotation of the sea sons. I'm
der what bIistering suns they swung
the scythe and the cradleI Through
what deep SHOWS they drew the logs
or cut their way to the foddering of
the cattle! What droughtS, what fresh
cts, what insectile invasions, they re-
member, To clOthe and feed and edu-
cate the household they went through
tolls and self sacrifices that the world
knew but little about. Rest, aged man:
Let the boys do the shOveling and
thrashing and cutting and sweating.
You have put the harness off, and do
not try to put it on again.
There are old mechanics that can no
more shove the plane or pound with
the hammer or bore with the bit or run
up the ladder to the scaffolding. Mas
ter mechanics they were or subordi-
mates who wrought faithfully in the
work of house or barn or ship building.
You have n right to quit. You have
finished your task Be thankful that
your work is done.
Faithful Service Remembered.
Then there are aged physicians. What
tragedies of pain and accident they
have Witnessed How much suffering
they have assuaged! How many brave
battles they have fought with lancet
and cataclysm! How many fevers they
cooled! How many broken bones they
set How many paroXysms they quiet
ed! How many anxious days they
passed when they knew that human
lives depended upon their skill and
fidelity! They drove back death from
many cradle.
And there are the old ministers. Once
they were foremost in general assem-
blies and conferences and associations,
They have preached in Pentecosts.
They have stood by Christian death
beds and seen Elijahs go up in flaming
chariots of glory The gospel they
preached for fifty or sixty years il
lumines their every feature. They have
stopped preaching for their breath is
short, or their nerves are a-jangle, OIL
they lose their thread of discourse OF
suffer from confusion of ideas. Cheer
up, aged dominies and doctors. The
Bible says God forgets our sins when
we repent of them, but he never for
gets faithful services rendered. He re-
members that revival where you stood
watching the souls that came ''as clouds
and as doves to the windows He has
indicated by your physical or mental
condition that it is time for you to stop.
Be content to stop. Your helmet bears
the mark of many a battleax; your
sword is bent from many a holy strug
gle; your shield is dented with the
thrust of many spear. Now hang up
the armor with gladness.
Unvvise Braggadocfo.
Again, l learn from Benhadad's be-
havior the unwisdom of Boosting of
what one is going to do. Two mes
sages had he sent to the king Of Israel,
both messages full of insolence and
braggadocio. With trimming beaker
in hand he is talking with the royal
group about what he will do with the
spoils of the victory he is going to
achieve that afternoon. He takes it
for granted that Samaria will surren-
der. He gives command for the cap
ture of some of the inhabitants Of
Samaria who are approaching, Saying,
whether they be come out for peace
take them alive, or whether they be
come out for war take them alive"
But behold the fugitive king in fright
ened retreat before sundown! Better
not tell boastingly what you are going
to do. Wait until it is done. You do
well to lay out your plans, but there
are so many mistakes and disappoint-
ments in life that you may not be able
to carry out your plans, and there is
no need of invoking the worlds de-
riSion and caricatIIre Nannleon was