Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-13

there Ia no power this side OF hea re,
which will make a man triumph Owe
his physical ailments and overcome hi
troubles and trials so surely as the in
SEPARATION Of some high purpose Of lifc
which will never allow him one mo.
ment to cease labor. "what, sick, Liga.
rius?" said Brutus to his friend in the
great shakespearean tragedy. mo
Brutus," answered Ligarius to the as
sassin Of Caesar. "1f thou hast any
noble enterprise on hand I am we'll"
That means, "Oh. Brutus. II thou hast
some work for me to do--some worthy
prize for me to strive after--that high
aim Of life will rouse my tagging ener-
giles and can do the work Of giantW
But" you say, "how do you know
that my parents are true Christians
and that they are begging me to reach
out for higher mental and spiritual
life7 Perhaps they do not inspire me
Alright and that Is the reason I am not
doing as they advise and am satisfying
myself with small things" when
you preach that sermon" said my aged
friend to me, "be sure to emphasize
the fact that parents may be Just as
neglectful in pleading with their chill
dren for the higher educational and
spiritual life as the children them
selves are in not seeking It." Perhaps
you are right, my friend, but I think
such conditions nre exceptional. My
experience in talking with parents in
all parts of the country Is that they are
anxious for the Advancement Of their
children. I know instances in which
fathers and mothers are denying them
selves luXures that they may pay the
expenses of their sons through college.
In earlier years, when a son Is only
boy ut school, the father or the mother
will try to kindle his ambition and
promise him that IL he will study at
school and do his utmost to get on
they will not grudge the cost Of high
er education for him. Is not that your
experience? My brother. will you not
crafty your parents ambition? Think
Of it. In honoring them by fulfilling
their hopes YOU are laying the founda-
ton Of a long and useful life.
But" some one says. IL cannot fol
low the advice Of my father and moth
err am not Il young man. l am mid
die aged. and my hnr is already turn
ing gray. | am not a Child. ! am
parent and have children of my own.
All, sir, wish had done as you ad
wise thirty years ago. But it IS too late
now. The past can never be recalled.
My father died nearly quarter Of n
century ago and my mother ten years
later. cannot follow their advice, for
their dead hands are now lying over
their silent hearts in the village grave
yard" VIVA. my friend, yon cannot
| follow your fathers and mothers ad-
vice because they are dead? Why.
man. your mother is never SO much
alive to you as today.
When Thomas Guthrie. the great
Scotch preacher, grew old he seemed
to become n child again. When he was
on his dying bed he would call to his
devoted wife and sHy. MY dear, sing
me bnirn's song" Yes. nothna
soothed him so much rs the old song
with which his mother used to lullaby
him to sleep. Though for awhile yov
may have driftel away from YOU
dead mothers influence. yet her looks
her songs, the touch Of her hand a.
her advice are becoming more real
you every day. Only last week whe-
you were travelling the old road OF sell
ishness and sin she seemed to come
you and put her two arms about yoIl
neck and look into your face us Of oil
and say, "Oh. Willie. why do you live
as you do and break my hearth" NJ
brother. will you back track and real
just your purposes of life? Becausc
you have misspcnt ten, twenty, thirty
years of your lie VII you destroy til
whole? Oh. why today will you no.
honor your father and Your mother an
live for the truor and the higher spir
ltual and temporal life. as they woult
have you and now are pleading with
you to do, and thus pro!ong your life
for future days of service for Christ?
Wit thou not do rs they would have
you do on earth that thou mayst dwell
with them and With their Christ for
ever in heaven?
Copyright 1906 by Louis Kopsch.l