The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-04-18
FARMVILLE. VA. FRIDAY, APRIL Is 1902.

not ready.
As our sorrows are new, our JOYS
are new and all our experiences are
new. Our life is one long discovery
Of things that we did not know and
could not know, because We have not
passed this way before. We have
found, for instance, that gratitude is
the rarest Of virtues. You used to
suppose that il you DO a kindness it
viii be fully appreciated and recip-
rocated. You have found out by sx-
perence, as you could have found out
in no other way, that gratitude is
apt TO be only another Ak to grind.
While there il possibility that you
may return still more service you are
thanked. but when you can return no
more advantage you are dropped.
Here is a man whom you have helped
In political elevation. When the time
comes for the compliment TO be re-
turned. you are not only refused help,
but you receive positive opposition.
You have found out that you should
do the right thing not with respect
to reward or gratitude, but because
Il is the right thing 10 do. Many are
miserable because they are all the
way looking for gratitude which they
cannot find. You might as well go
down Pennsylvania avenue. Washing
ton, or Broadway. New York. or Tre-
mont street, Boston, your eyes scruti-
nizing the payements looking for tur-
quoises and emeralds and rubies. Per-
haps you might find them. but there
is not much probability that in 80
years you would find one Of them.
We talk about the great discoveries
OF the age, the electric power, the
telescope and microscopic power, but
DO not say anything about the discoy-
cries We all make year by year and day
by day. There are surprises all the
time. 1t is new road we are travel
ing. "Ys have not passed this way be-
fore"
But closely allied is the other fact
which We limited at IN the opening
that We will not pass this way again.
This is our only opportunity for doing
certain things that ought TO be done.
On all sides there are griefs we ought
to solace, hunger we might feed, cold
that We ought 10 warm, kind words
that we ought to speak, generous deeds
We ought to perform. All that you and
I do toward making this world better
and happier We must do very soon or
never do al all. Joshua and his troops
never came back over the way they
were marching toward the crossing Of
the Jordan. The impress Of the sandal
or the bare feet OF each soldier showed
in what direction he was going, bu,
never did the impress of the sandal OF
any one Of them show that he returned.
We are all facing eternity 10 come.
There is no retreat. Alsrtnsss and
fidelity would not be so important II .
we could tru>> fully ssy: 81 will be .
back here again. The things I neglect I
now I will 90 the next time. ] will be /
and I will resume my .
earthly obligations. Having then more .
knowledge than hsve now, l will dis
charge my earthly duties better than
I can now discharge them. do not give
solemn farewell TO these obligations
and opportunities, but a smiling and
CHEEKY good-by until ! see them again"
No, We cannot say that. There will be
DO new and corrected edition Of the
OF our earthly lifs. After We
make exit from the stage al the closs
" the fifth act we cannot reentcr. How
many millions OF people have lived and
lied I know not. but OF all the human
race who have gone only seven persons
hat / now think OF have returned, the
'on OF the widow at Zarephath. the
-oung man OF Main, the rulers daugh-
er. Tabitha, Eutychus, Lazarus and
7hrist Among all the ages 10 come
do not suppose there will be one more
10 return TO this life, having once left
{.
Lord Bacon said that he who shall
discover the way to make myrrh solu-
be by human blood will discover i'm
Mortal life on earth, but no such dis
'overy will ever be made. With what
solemnity does this thought
hargs every hour Of our earthly ex-
stence. It is said that II Is possible
o know which way the wind blew al
he time Of the deluge by the mark OF
he waves still to be found in the sand.
nd the direction OF our influence. how
yer slight. will leave a mark that Will
asst forever.
o hearer, stop bothering about your
kit from sublunary scenesl BY the ,
race Of God get your heart right and
hen 20 ahead. II the Lord takes care
I you clear on TO the bank on this side
Z the river, think you can trust Him
o take you from bank to bank. from
he willows on this side the stream to =
he palms on the other side, from the
lst kiss Of sorrowing onss on this side
o the welcome, sanity, cherubic Sc
aphic, deific on the other side. Keep {
our eve on the ark, and whatever be-
ides you will go through all right.
One Easter morning Massena. the
larshal Of France. appeared with IS
DO armed men on the heights above ,
he town OF Feldkirch. There was no ,
rms to defend the town, and the in
abitants were wild with terror. Then 7
he old dean Of the church cried out: I
Ny brothers, this is Easter day! We a
ave been depending on our own 7
.rength and that fails. Let US turn 10
cd. Ring the bells and have service !
; usual" Then the bells rang out 1
ysetly and nightly from the church