Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-10-03

III one ulEeCuOu, tucg Wouiu ASti"N"
their steps by these notches and start
ont 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" 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
n heart as true as honesty itself. Look
ing back over the long years, you re-
member 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 a neighbor,
WHO was left an executor by law, had
robbed poor widow Of her all. An,
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
'Iast 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 a boy
ever received. He left to you an un-
tarnished name, the example OF
fathers life well and honestly lived.
Even as l speak now and talk about
his past life blush mantles 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; i
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 1t now
"BIazing" Marks.
Then, again. | further study the
''blazing' marks along the paths which
led ND to the home Of our childhood.
| find out that these paths were Chris
tlan paths and always led toward the
throne of God. How do know! Sim
ple enough. Let me illustrate: When
I was In Europe l always, as far as
posslble. got away from the beaten
tracks of tourists. | never could see
what enjoyment there was for SUM-
mers. tourist to 20 to Paris and live
| with Americans in an American hotei'
and 20 to Rome and live with Ameri-
cans in q hotel run there for Amer
leans. and 90 to Berlin and live with
| Americans In Berlin. When 60 10
Europe as far as possible | live there
among the natives. and for the most
part among the common people. Now,
again and again. when l have turned
my back upon European cities ana
| climbed the unfrequented paths Wnlch
lead over the mountains, ! have been
startled with finding here a cross and
there an altar. | would find these
crosses and affairs far. far away from
anv house or church Then, as l have
concealed myself among the trees ana
waited. have seen weary peasants
come along with great big packs strap
ned to their shoulders. Then l nave
seen them stop and look around to see
IL any one was watching. Then have
seen them unstrap their burdens and
Inv them at the feet of the image OF
Christ and then and there kneei IN
prayer. Well. my friend, In going
along the pathway which was "blazed
by your mothers bread knife and KNIT
ting needle, come upon altars every
where find that there was hardly q
step that she took in life but she had a
place where she could stop and knee
In prayer And at every altar nno
indentations in the rocks where she
laid her burdens at the Saviours rect
And. oh, my friend. what lot OF
burdens she had to lay upon ner Sa'
yiour's breast in her journey OF llfe
There was that awful burden OF phys
ical sickness. do not know how you
may remember your mother. but mos'
Of us think of mother when she was
physically sick. She seemed to be sc
long dying. Now it was the pain IL
the head; now it was the disordereo
nerves. Then 1t was that long, Ions
time. when we had trained nurse
"How is mother today?" the younger
children would ask. and we would an
swer. mot very we'll, my dear; mo-
[ very we'll" think one OF the SAD
dest and yet the most beautiful pray
ers my mother used to make. in tn'
last wear and half Of her earthly ex
istence, was this: 20 God. may m!
children never have to physically sur
fer as have suffered" Yet, for thu
most part, our mothers lost their phys
ical health by living and doing for U.s.
A GIoriGed Roadway.
20 a little farther along this chris
tan path Of your dead mother. mt
also the place where she laid at Christ
feet the burden of her anxiety for I'M
salvation Of her children. Some peopl'
love to think Of their mother. first b!
picturing her sitting and sewing 10
their advent. 1t is beautiful sight I
see the young wife by the evenln
lamp, with her needle in her hanc
making the little white garments 10
the stranger soon to come. Our moth
ers thought and planned for the cradi
and the little wardrobe weeks Defor