The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-04-03


the Seas. and chung to that purpose for
years and years against obloquy and
taunts and sneers, will you. in the
same persistent enthusiastic way. fight
to alleviate physical suffering? viii
you attune your life to the upliftment
Of mankind, as John Howard sang his
sweet song in convicts cells, or Flor
ence Nightingale sang her song among
the booming guns of the Crimean war?
win you become Christ'S apostle TO the
Gentiles down in the slums, as John
Eliot was called the Apostle to the
Massachusetts Indians?" In the old
country village meeting house the lead
or of the choir, before tie age OF or
gan or piano, would arise and with a
little bar Of steel strike the keynote Of
the song. Every human being has Il
note by which to start his song. Upon
what keynote, 0 man, are You today
starting the music Of your life's song?
The theme The theme! What is the
inspiring, uplifting theme Of your life's
musicf
The Chorus of the Woods.
Again, God bids us, like the song
birds sing because he does not expect
us TO be soloists, but to take an essen
tial part in great life's chorus The
true beauty of the song birds singing
is that he carries part and not Il
whole days solitary musical recitation,
Like the piccolo, or the clarinet, his
voice may be shrill, or like the flute.
soft and sweet, or like the bass viol,
loud and deep: but whether soft or
loud, his voice has a part, an csSentia,
part. in the chorus Of the woods
If you would know how essential the
birds voices are for the musical sweet
ness of the woods just go with me some
day up among the forest covered hills.
AS we tramp on and the tWigs snap
under our feet and our voices are toss
cd in echo from tree to tree the birds
scurry away or silently hide behind
their curtain of leaves. They act a
good deal as do the village children
when city people are riding through
the country. They run into the house
or barn and keep very quiet. But If
you pay no attention to those children
they will begin to peek out of the win
dows or behind the wood house. and
then they will gradually come out and
watch you as you disappear down the
road Such is the way the feathcred
musicians Of the forest act. When you
first enter the woods and call to them
to sing they will keep as silent ms tho
grave, but il you lie down at the foot
Of some giant oak and pretend you are
asleep the many voices of the birds
will then begin their seemingly endless
chorus. First there viii be twitter,
then an answering call, then q duet,
then third voice will break in and
make the trio Then off In the distance
n woodpecker will beat time, like the
drumstick tapping upon the sheepskln.
Then a great wave OF harmony, like
Handels "Hal'eluiah Chorus will roll
over you. Then sudden silence. Again
the music will start, and new concert
will be masterfully rendered. each
birds voice not much in itself, but
each an essential part Of the great
woods chorus.
An Inspiration.
II Is wonderful to realize how quick
Is a musical conductor knows when
any of his musicians are not doing as
they ought to do. | once read Of
great orchestra Of hundreds Of pieces
beirg gathered together. When every
musician was doing his part, and the
sounds rose ands.fell like voices Of
many waters, the piccolo player
thought he would stop and sec if tile
leader would miss him. No sooner did
he stop than the leader pointed big
baton toward the silent man and said.
play. Play You are an essential
part Of the piece. DO you hear me?
Play" So. in the great musical chorus
for the salvation of the world. God
bids us each to sing and take our part.
as each bird Of the woods has his
singing part Sing. Sing! Today In
Chrisfs name sing. as the song birds
in the springtime. Sing your part in
the Song Of Moses and the Lamb"
Like the singing birds. we should not
only sing because we have IN essential
part in Gods great chorus. but because
each song bird inspires other song
birds 10 sing A little canary IN Il
room alone may not care to MARBLE.
But it is different when two OF three
birdeages are hanging III tho windows
through which the sHn is shining Then
zoe birds note will inspire the other
birds. one birds song viii make the
other birds sing. 50 men and women,
singing Christ's songs. viii inspire
ether men and women TO sing them.
Men and women pray better ana often
or If they pray together They love
God more ard are more willing 10
make sacrifices for the Master. If tises
love and serve him In groups. as the