Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-04-17

boys heart had ceased to beat did she
turn away and bury her crushed life in
a distant city
The Cheerful View.
But take brighter and more cheer
ful view OF the resurrection of Jesus
Christ I'm the early dawn. 1 believe that
Jesus Christ appeared unto Mary in the
early dawn. when the birds were
stretching their wings for n morning
bath. when the cocks were sounding
their reVeille OF the barnyards. when
the dogs from hunger We're trying TO
hunt around for stray bone for their
breakfast. Christ wants to- teach us
that just as soon as possible he shall
appear to explain all our sorrows and
heartaches and mysteries and trials
and separations. Christ could have ap-
peared the first Easter day at the sec
ond watch, when all Jerusalem was
stirring. or at II O'Clock noon, or even
at the tenth hour, or just before sunset,
and still have fulfilled the prophecy
that he should rise again on the third
day. But such tardy action is not like
that of my Lord and King. He would
his sorrowing friends. Just as soon as
the prophecy was fulfilled he burst the
bonds of death and revealed himself
unto the broken hearted Mary. and just
as soon as Christ can return and we
are prepared for his message he will
appear again and explain away many
perhaps not all. but many-of the hith-
erto inexplicable mysteries OF our lives.
Divine explanations this side of the
grave as well as the other side of the
river of Deathl oh, my brother. is
not this to you glorious Easter
thought? / do not want to wait until
l reach the heavenly land before 1
shall have had at least some of the
reasons given why my troubles were
sent to me upon earth. want some
Of the reasons explained terrestriaIly
as well as celestially. By these earth
ly explanations want to be spiritually
stronger to DO the work which has been
given me to do. even though to do IT
my bleeding feet must pass over bis
tering and thorny pathways. 1 want
to have the same divine revelations ap-
pear TO me when earthly troubles como
that came TO the wife of a church offi.
Ger whom I visited a short time ago.
For years this husband and wife had
been childless. But at last God blessed
their home "A little one came and
stayed just long enough TO be loved.
and then her spirit fed. Was that
Christian mother hopeless, bitter and
rebelliousf Oh, no. The Christ who
had appeared unto Mary in the early
dawn stood with her by the empty
crib. "Mr. Talmage." she said. do
not think because my baby is dead that
she has brought no blessing into my
husbands and my own life. She lived
long enough for us to pity the husband
and the wife who never had child.
hhe lived long enough to bring my
bleeding heart into sympathy with
those who have troubles all round me.
] can thank God for my little empty
cradle. And / can thank God for my
little grave" oh. my brother and sis
ter. In the early dawn OF the morning
would you not like Christ to come and
reveal himself to you? BY divine in
spiration do you not wish. like this
Christian lady, TO be able TO hopefully
and blcssedly explain many OF the
earthly troubles which now seem ready
90 oycrwhelm you?
The Missisn OF Mary,
The risen Lord appeared unto Mary
80 that she might go and tell tho dis
cipies that she had seen the living
Saviour. This was no small mission
upon which TO be sent. Must not the
transporting news OF n resurrected
Christ be carried to the farthermost
parts OF the world? Must not this
news naturally first be spread broad
cast by the testimony OF those who had
lived nearest and closest TO Jesus? IL
Mary Magdalene and Peter and John
and James and Mary, the mother of
Christ, would not be true and announce
TO the world risen Saviour, would the
Pharisees or the Roman guard that
had been bribed or the blatant bIns.
phemers, who hated Christ and his
doctrines, do SOP And If we, who are
the professed followers of Jesus, will
not bear testimony to his divine power.
will that gospel testimony be scattered
by those who know him not?
And why should not we, the profess
Ing followers OF Jesus be willing To
announce TO the world the glad tidinus
OF risen Christ? Surprising that to-
day your wife was sick and had to un-
dergo very serious operation, would
You not notify her mother and father
ana brothers and sisters OF the i'm
pending danger? And II that opera
ton was success would you not make
the telegraph wires thrill with the
news, THE doctors say the operation
WAS md hat cl.
well?" II you would thus hasten TO
send the news that your wife had been
saved from the jaws OF death, how
much more should every one who
realizes what the resurrection of the
Lord means to our dying race Join I'm
the effort TO send broadcast through n
perishing world the glad news that
Christ has risen from the dead?
We can imagine the Joy that was felt
many years ago in an old farmhouse
on a certain occasion during the late
civil war. One OF the sons, who was n
soldier boy, was reported to have been
shot. His name appeared In the death
column. The oldest brother immedi-
ately went to the front to find out how
the lad was shot and, If possible. to
bring the body home for burial. When
he FOUND his brothers regiment and
captain, lie was told the young man
was not killed, but only wounded. The
elder brother did not even wait to see
his wounded brother. He rushed to
the nearest telegraph office and sent
these words to the old folks: "Charley
is not dead, but alive. l shall bring
him home as soon as he can leave the
hospital" All, yes. there was Joy in
the old farmhouse over the seemingly |
miraculous resurrection OF the dead |
boy. Is there to be no joy scattered |
abroad by us when we announce ev-
erywhere the glad tidings of Easter |
morn?
The Christ Of Easter Day.
But there is one result OF Mary's mes !
sage TO the disciples upon which ! !
would like TO touch before close. She |
carried that news to doubling Thomas.