Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-08-23

There are abodes In the city humble.
two stories. four plain unpapered
rOoms. undesirable pclgl.borhood and
yet there is a man here today who
would die on the threshold rather than
surrender It. WhyT II Is home. When
ever he tIinks OF It. he sees angels of
God lowering around il. The ladders
OF heaven are let down 10 this house.
Over the cltild's rough crib there are
the chantings Of angels. as those that
sounded over Bethlehem IL is home.
These children may come I'D after
awhile. mud they may win high posi-
tion. and they may have an afiuent
residence. hut they will not until their
dying day forget that humble roof I'M
der which their father rested and their
mother sang and their sisters played.
Oh. II you would gather up all tender
memories. ell the lights and shades Of
the heart, all bsnquctings and reun-
ions. all tilial. fraternal. patcrnal and
coniugal affections. and you bad only
Just four letters TO spell out that height
and depth and leGG,h aud breadth and
magnitude and eternity OF meaning.
you would. with streaming eyes and
trembling voice a6d agi,aiad hand.
write II oat in those four living CAPT.
tails. Il ONE.
Qneep OF the Realm.
What right does woman want that Is
grander than to be queen in such a
realm? Why. the eagles OF heaven cam
not ny across that dominion. Horses,
painting ard with lathercd tanks. are
not swift enough 10 run TO the outpost
OF ;hat realm. They say that the sun
never sets upon the British empire. but
| have TO tell you that on this realm OF
woman's influence eternity never
marks any bound Isabella Ged from
the Spanish throne. pursued by the ma
items anathoma. but she who Is queen
in homo will never lose her throne,
and death itself will only be the an
ncxation Of heavenly principalifips.
When you want to get your grandest
idea or a queen. you do not think of
Catherine of Russia or of Anne of Eng
land or Maria Theresa of Austria, but
wbcn you want to get your grandest
idea of queen you think of the plain
woman who sat opposite your father at
the table or walked with him arm In
arm down life's pathway. sometimes to
the thanksgiving banquet. sometimes
TO the grave, but always together.
soothing your petty gricfs. correcting
your-chii6ish waywardness. joining in
your infantile sports. listening TO your
evening prayers toillng for you with
needle or al the spinning wheel aud on
cold nights wrapping you up snug and
warm And then at last on that day
when she lay In the back room diving
and You saw her take those thin hands
with which she toilcd for YOU so long
and put them together in n dying pray
or that commended you 10 God whom
she had taught you TO trust-oh. she
was The Quccnl The chariots OF God
came down TO fetch her. and as she
went I'm all heaven rose up You cam
not think OF her now without a rush OF
tenderness that stirs the deep founda-
tons or your soul. and you feel as
much child again as when you cried
on her lap. and If you could bring her
back again To speak Just once more
your name as tenderly as she used to
speak 1t you would be willing to throw
yourself on the ground and kiss the sod
chat covers her, crying. Mother. moth
err An. she was the queen. she was
the queen,
Alurcments OF Fashion
Now. can you tell me how many thou.
sand miles woman like that woula
have TO travel down before she got TO
the ballot boxf Compared with this
work OF training kings and queens for
God ana eternity. how insignificant
seems ell this work OF voting for alder.
men and common councilmen and sher-
IDS and constablcs and mayors and
presidents. To make one such grand
woman as | have described how many
thousand would you want OF those
people who go I'm the round OF goddess
ness ana fashion and dissipation. dis
torting their bodies and going as far to-
ward disgraceful apparel rs they dare
go so as not 20 be arrested OF the police.
their behavior a sorrow TO the good
ana caTicature of the vicious and an
insult to that God who made them wo-
men ana not gorgons. and tramplng on
down through frivolous and dissi-
paicd-lifc 10 temporal and eternal de-
struetlonf . woman, with the light
Mug OF Your soul strike dead Mt your
feet all these allurcments to dissipa.
Ton and to fashion, Your immortal
soul cannot be fed upon such garbage.
God calls you I'D TO empire and domin-
ion. VIII you have it? Oh, give to God
your heart. give to God your best ener.
sies, give to God all your culture. give
10 Hod all your refinement. give your
self TO him for this world and the nextl
Soon all these bright eyes Will be
qUenched and these voices will be
husbed. For the last time YOU will look
upon this fair earth. Fathers hand.
mothers hand, sisters hand. chlld's
hand. will be no more in yours. 1t will
be night. and there will come I'd q cold
wind from the. Jordan. and you must
start. VIII IL be lone woman on n
trackless moor? All. mol Jesus will
come up in that hour and offer his
hand, and he will say. "You stood by
me when you were well. now will not
desert you when you are sick" One
wave of his hand. and the storm will
drop; another wave of his hand, and
midnight shall break into midnoon.
and another wave OF his hand. and the
chamber!ains OF God will come down
from the treasure houses of heaven
with robes lustrous. blood washed and
heaven Glinted. in which you will ar
ray yourself for the marriage supper
or the Lamb. And then with Miriam
who struck the timbrei by the Red sea.
and with Deborah, who led the Lords
host into the fight. and with Hannah.
who gave her Samuel TO the Lord, and |
with Mary. who rocked Jesus to sleep |
While there were angels singing in the
air, and with Florence Nightingale,
who bound Up the battle wounds of the
Crimea. you viii from the chalice OF |
God drink to the souls eternal rescue.
Welcome Home.
one twilight after | had been play
ing with the children for some time l |