St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-01-30

But while the Old Year is dying, and
the New Year is about to be born, there
is a disposition on the part of man to
stop and listen and think ere he steps
into the days of the New Year. 1t is
time of retrospection and prospectlon.
It is, as the business man would say,
time of taking stock and planning
new business; closing up Of the old
set of books and the opening of new
ones Expenditures and receipts are
carefully figured out, and the profits
ascertained. And man who has been
intrusted by God with 1865 precious
days. and which he has spent one after
another, thoughtlessly or thoughtfully,
godlessly or righteously, selfishly or IN
kindly service for others, ought to take
an accounting at the end of the year
Expended: 365 days, given crisp and
fresh, like new bank notes, from the
hand of God. Receipts: What? Profits:
What? Days should speak, and what
should be their message?
NAYS should speak of human limita-
- lions and uncertainties, and OF God
and eternity. There is an awful lack Of
the consciousness of God and eternity
in the world People spend their days
as though they we're to be without end;
they plan with little thought Of the
limitations and uncertainties which
bound those plans. 1t is positively
pathetic to see the bold assurance with
which man passes through this life. He
lives and feels and acts as though he
were fixture, when he is but "as grass
and as a flower of the field, SO he -four
isheth; for the wind passeth over it, and
it is gone; and the place thereof shall
know it no more" But, on the other
hand, the Lord is the same yesterday,
to-day and forever" and His mercy is
from everlasting to everlasting upon
them that fear Him." and again in I.
Peter 1925, after declaring that "all
flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man
as the flower of grass" the apostle goes
on to proclaim that "the Word Of the
Lord .endureth forever" Mans days
are numbered, eternity is without end;
Mans plans and devices fail, but Gods
plans and purposes are as certain OF
contamination as that day follows night.
What day during the year which is just
drawing to close that has not felt the
tread of the silent reaper Death? It is
said that with every tick of the watch
a human life goes out somewhere in the
world While we are in life we are in
the midst of death. Friends, acquaint-
ances, loved ones have fallen about us
on every hand. AS We look back over
the year, the sad days when the hand of
death has robbed us of those whom we
loved and cherished and esteemed stand
out prominently. And what message do
they speak to us? Is it one only of per-
sonal loss and sorrow? II so, you have
failed to hear it's most important mes
sage to your soul. 1t would speak of
death which is sooner or later to rob
you of all that life now offers you, and
it would point you to God who holds all
you may be possessed of lin eternity.
How much did he leave?" was asked
concerning the wealthy man who had
just died. He left it all" was the sage
reply. And the all-important question is
not what he left, but what did he have
laid up in store on the other side? Did
he have treasure in Heaven? Did he
have Saviour Who was preparing q
mansion for him in the Fathers House,
after the earthly house of this tabernacle
should be dissolved? Is it we'll with your
soul, with my soul ? is the question which
the days filled with death ask as they
pass.
John QUINCY ADAMS, when 80
J years of age, was met on the
streets of Boston one day by a friend
who, taking the frail, trembling hand
of the old man, said: Good morn
ing! And how is John Quincy Ad-
ans to-day" THANK you,' replied
the ex-president, John Quincy Adams
himself is well, sir; quite well, l thank
you. But the house in which he lives
at present is becoming dilapidated. It
is tottering upon it's foundation. Time
and the seasons have nearly destroyed
1t. It's roof is pretty we'll worn out.
Its walls are much shattered, and 1t
u.
tenement is becoming almost uninhab-
liable, and think John Quincy Adams
will have to move out of it soon, but
he himself is quite well, sir, quite
we'll" Days had been speaking to this
Christian statesman. He had heard
their true message of God and eterni-
ty, and his soul, which was almost
ready to move out of the earthly house
of the body, had provided for "the
house not made with hands, eternal in
the Heavens" and he was not troubled
or anxious. He had not stored all his
wealth and ambitions in this life, but
had teen busy during the years laying
up treasure in Heaven. The old ne
gro who was dying was told by the
doctor of his condition, that he must
die ''Bless you, DOCTOR" replied the
man, whose simple faith had reached
up ard laid mold of the Saviour who
had died for him, "bless you, don't
let that bother you. That's what I've
been living fort" and the peaceful
light of eternity overspread his dusky
face. 1t is what he had been living
for. While in life he had been living
for eternity. This was the message
which the days as they passed brought
to hts soul, and it is the message
which the days should speak to every
soul. $50 teach us to number our
day, that we may apply our hearts
unto wisdom" should be the prayer of
everyone.
nut DAYS speak not only of the I'M