Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-19
UNCLE H1RAM's SUNSHINE FACTORY


then you've missed a treat
For he's the sweetest tempered man that
eer you CHANGED to meet
He always sees the beautiful, wherever he
may be,
If looking at hobo, some redeeming trait
he'd see.
The neighbors always send for him when
ever they get blue.
And presto, change! It's wonderful what
Uncle Hi can do.
He sits right down beside them in friend
ly sort of way
And soon they're all a smiling and a feel
ing bright and gay.
They say he may be counted short on the
ologic creeds.
But long enough and wide enough in doing
Christian deeds.
And now. about his factory, I'll tell you
on the sly,
It's just little harmless joke agin my
Uncle Hi.
1t happened when away from home lit
tie while ago,
A visiting the Panorama out in Buffalo.
My Uncle was looking round and taking
In the sights,
And what astonished him the most was
them electric lights.
They razzle-dazzled everyone; II seemed a
wondrous trick,
That water could be made to burn through
miles of candle wick
And then such victuals that he saw In tab
let form compressed,
You push the button down your throat and
nature does the rest.
Such startling things confused my Uncle
more than l can tell.
So when on Sabbath evening, half asleep in
church. he fell
To musng on the present, in a happy
frame of mind,
And thinking of the future life, at peace
with all mankind.
He dreamed that even sunshine could be
crystalized, like pills.
And he chuckled as he reckoned how they d
tighten doctors bills
And all the while, the preacher was endea-
voring to say
That sunlight was a sovereign sure to drive
the blues away,
And then he said, quite fervently, 80
brethren. why not start
A sunshine factory right at home; l feel
1t In my heart
To emphasize the statement so I say it
Ger again.
My Uncle caught the meaning and he
shouted out, "Amen!'
Next day my Uncle started with this pro-
jeCt on his mind
To organize company if happily he could
find
Sufficient capital to coax the sunlight from
the skies,
For he was sure that men of means could
make it crystalze.
He went among the millers, but they told
him, half in fun.
His fact'ry would not work at all where
smoke obscured the sun.
He climbed the hill where palaces were
built with towers high.
With roofs of glass and windows large up
lifted to the sky.
He thought he'd struck it rich at last, the
sun shone down so fair
The owner kicked him off the place, he had
no light to spare
He wandered on from house to house, till
weary, sad and sore,
Ee sat down to rest awhile besire a cot
tage door
And while he was resting, disappointed like
and faint,
Yet not inclined to worry or to make the
least complaint,
He heard a gentle voice within that part
ly open door
Repeat joyful message that had cheered
him Oft before,
Twas how the King of Glory sent His Son,
the FRINGE of Peace,
To give US light and liberty, from bon
dage to release.
This satisfied my Uncle that he find a well
come there;
He recognized relation in that simple word
Of prayer.
With confidence he entered, feeling quite a
bit relieved
And sure enough. the sequel proved that he
was not deceived.
He found a helpless cripple propped with
pillows in a cot,
But still. she seemed quite happy and con-
tented with her lot.
The scope of her horizon was that little
darkened room,
A prisoner, some folks would say, within a
living tomb.
Yet not to her prison, but stately pail
ace hall,
Where royalty she entertained her neigh
bors one and ALL
My Uncle sat and listened while this saint
ly woman told
Her visions Of a city where tho streets
were paved with gold.
thought, they journeyed onward and ex-
pored far distant lands
Till they found a final Judgment in house
not made with hands
Thus they talked of things celestial, voic-
ing sentiments inspired,
And when Uncle started homeward he for
got that he was tired.
started in
To give a brief description of the places
where he'd been.
He told us first of all, about tho invalid he
met,
And II Aunty hadn't stopped him he'd be
likely talking yet.
He demonstrated clearly what was patent
from the start
That manufactured sunlight Is a product
of the heart,
For he whose daily life Is spent supplying
others needs.
Has crystallized the sunlight into noble
acts and deeds.
It's plain, that If the sunbeam through a
prism can diffuse
"A momentary splendor. flashing brilliant
rainbow hues,
The heart can take a sunbeam--if the heart
be not impure
And radiate an atmosphere of colors that
endure.
This application struck my Uncle Hi as
something new,
But when l had explained 1t. he admitted
IL was true,
And when Aunt Martha newfoundland
she said IL with a smile