Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-10-05

your mother and her ways.
Clear Away the Rubbish.
But. come. let US take our axes to-
day and clear away some of that rub
Dish. Let us explore the old path
stead. when the first settlers entered
the Michigan woods they used TO
'blaze" the trees. That means that with
their axes they would chop a notch
out of this tree and that and the other
tree as they went along. Thus, IL they
could not find the right place to settle
in one direction. they would retrace
their steps by these notches and start
out in the woods from another direc-
ton. Well, these old paths which once
led up to the homes of our childhood
may not have been used for quarter
of a century, but they can be easily
followed. Our parents "blazed" them
all the way along.
AS | follow these "blazings" I find
they were morally straight paths. They
were as straight as a die. Your father
may not have had much money. In all
probability you. as farmers boy, re-
member him for the most part clothed
in overalls and a wooden shirt. But
under that rough exterior there beat
heart as true as honesty itself Look
ing back over the long years, you re-
membey him travelling that straight
path" You cannot think of one act
your father ever did which was dis
honorable. People sometimes said "he
was close" in reference to money. He
had to be close in order to furnish
bread enough for his babies mouths.
You cannot remember your father once
losing his temper and uttering male
dictions unless perhaps 1t was on the
day when he found that neighbor.
who was left an executor by law. had
robbed a poor widow of her all. All.
that old father of yours may have
worn shabby clothes and may have
been poor in pocket. but he was rich
in character The path he travelled to
and from the old homestead was al
! ways a straight path" Though the
'last will and testament" which he
signed made provision for few trim
kets. Bible and a gold headed cane
and perhaps a snuffbox. that father
left you the grandest legacy boy
ever received. He left to you an I'M
| furnished name. the example of
fathers life well and honestly lived
| Even as l speak now and talk about
his past life blush nantes your
cheek. When you contrast his pure
life with yours and you remember
some of the mean. sneaking things you
are accustomed to do in your dealings
with your fellow men. you say: 81
wish had always followed in the foot
steps of my father. | wish | had al
ways followed in his straight path"
Why don't you. my brother? Why
don't you now? Are the thickets too
strong about you? Are the jungles of
sin too dense? God is telling you to-
| day to seek the old paths. Ask for
the old path, the straight path. the
honest path. which your father once
trod. Seek it now
"BIazing" Marks.
Then. again. | further study the
blazing" marks along the paths which
led up to the home of our childhood.
find out that these paths were Chris
tian paths and always led toward the
throne of God. How do know? Sim
pie enough. Let me illustrate: When
| was in Europe | always, as far as
possible, got away from the beaten
tracks of tourists. | never could see
what enjoyment there was for sum
mer tourist to go to Paris and live
with Americans in an American hotel
and go to Rome and live with Ameri-
cans in a hotel run there for Amer
leans. and go to Berlin and live with
Americans in Berlin. When | go tC
Europe as far as possible | live there
among the natives. and for the most
part among the common people. Now
again and again, when | have turned
my back upon European cities ant
climbed the unfrequented paths which
lead over the mountains. | have beer
startled with finding here a cross ant
there an altar. | would find these
crosses and affairs far, far away from
any house or church. Then. as / have
concealed myself among the trees ant
waited. | have seen weary peasant:
Guile dlOuS VIII SIcut DlS pdSho Sti Az
ped to their shoulders. Then l hav'
seen them stop and look around to SCI
If any one was watching. Then | hav
seen them unstrap their burdens ant
lay them at the feet of the image o
Christ and then and there kneel il
prayer. Well. my friend. in goin
along the pathway which was "blazed
by your mothers bread knife and knlI
ting needle. come upon affairs every
where. ! find that there was hardly
step that she took in life but she had
place where she could stop and knee
In prayer. And at every altar ! fin
indentations in the rocks where sh
laid her burdens at the Saviour's feet.
| And. oh. my friend. what a lot o
: burdens she had to lay upon her So
, viour's breast in her journey of life
, There was that awful burden of phys
, lcal sickness. | do not know how 20