The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-12-10

y ~. - 1o0a~ We ven i1tonssb
ehocks1 when King Humbert was skot
and Whsa Prssldsnt Cannot was assas-
sinated with knife thrust. But why
should we be 90 shocked ut the sudden
death Of this man or that. az with the
tremendous emigration Of vast host
each year from earth into the realm
beyond the grave? This IL not q plati-
tude. purposeless saying. 1t Is a
statement which ought to be pregnant
with the most tremendous import to us
all. Can any here be sure that before
another Christmas rolls around the
death angels wing will not have fiut
tered over our beds2
oh. my friends, IL we are ever going
to have Christmas reconciliations we
had better have them now. Human
life at the longest Ia short. When
children have grown and scattered how
soon they die. A family may exist in
tact for ten, twenty, thirty years. but
after the death angel calls one child
he IL very apt to come back soon for
another and another until all are gone
When the family plot Is once selected
and couple OF graves dug therein the
hearse gets into the habit of travelling
In the same direction and the black
horses to stopping Mt the same gate.
Then the sad truth is that when death
does come regrets may bc piled In
flowers mountains high upon the
casket, brothers may weep over the
dead brother the hands may he press
ed and the lips pressed and the fore
head strokcd, but the dead will hear
not one word. He will not lift one eve.
lid He will not smile one look of FOR
giveness back to those who want 10 hc
forgiven. oh. regrets. regrets, How
often have we wcpt our regrets over
the coffin lids, How often that word
might have been chisclcd as epitaph
upon the tombstone of the dead, Re
grots. bitter, hoartrcnding. hut useless
regrets Regrets, burning rcgrcts in
reference To our kith and kin who are
gone.
Family dsscnsions should cease.
this immanput truth? But if this warn
ing comes with mighty force TO broth
crs and sisters how much more should
II come 10 the fathers and mothers who
are angry or indifferent with their chill
dren, Many people are apt TO Judge
the children harshly when domestic
troubles arise between parents and
their offspring, But rs men and women
grow older and have children of their
own they arc more willing TO blame the
parent for the estrangpment than they
are 10 blame the child. Have you, par
cnts, ever tried TO win back the afiec-
tions of your children? Did you ever
try TO recall that cruel remark you once
made 10 your obstinate boy? That re
mark cut into his heart as a surgeons
knife buries itself in the flesh Quivcring
upon the operating table. Have you,
y parent, since that second marriage,
which 50 trampled upon the love of
your children, gone regularly to visit
your children, as you used 20 do before
their mothers death? DO you send to
them the warm, cordial invitations to
come home and insist that they come
with their families? Do you. the par
ents, try to instill into your children the
thought that their father and their
mother are absolutely dependent for
happiness upon their boys and girls
Parents, let me ask you one blunt
question. SuppoSing your children have
lone wrong-and in all probability they
lave-who ought 10 forgive first? Who
ought 10 be continually forgiving until
he old sweet relationships are re
stored; Ought not the first forgiven. the
chief forgiven, be you, O father, o
mother. you who have been worshiping
lt Christ's feet for forty years? Ought
I not 10 be you rather than your child.
who has not been a member of the
church more than five years? Ought
pot the father and the mother try 10
show 10 their children forgiving ma
lures, no matter what those children
have said or done; Remember the
prayer you have been saying ever since
7ou learned il at your mothers knee.
Forgive US our trespasses as we for
give those that trespass against US"
That means, Forgive US. o God, as we
IRE willing 10 forgive our children"
Cannot the parents who are cstrang-
I'd from their children realize that the
years are very few in which it is Dos
sible for them 10 have Christmas rec
]nclliauonsf When child despises q
parent, living or dead, that child must
suffer the most awful agonies that can
ever come 10 human being this side
1f the grave. Bear, forbear, forgive
and be forgiven are the teachings, ION
.arth peace, good will toward men"
Before the next Christmas comes
around II will be impossible for some
~ forgive or 70 be forgiven. The
.asket maker is even now manufactur.
ng coffin. The grsvedigger is even
now sharpening bis pick and spade.
The quarryman IL even now cutting a