Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-11-14
What Does Ii Signify?

II AA~s 0S$S ~ Sh6uhy
A letter on my desk from an oil
friend in the city expresses sympath
for me that am deprived of the bless
ings of city life during these days. D,
you want to know what wrote in reply
1t came out of the fullness of my hear
because Of the days now passing. said
"You express sympathy when you ar
the one in need. These days in God
open are so full of real life that you
| city, rich as it is with entertainment ant
sightseeing, seems tame and devoid o
interest. Ipity the man confined in I
little seven by nine apartment, betwe eel
brick walls, with glimpse of sunshin,
only once day, and living all the whil,
from the wilted food of the grocery
stores, or, what is worse, the canned
goods of the factories. All the while W.
in the country are breathing Gods pure
air, fresh from the everlasting hills, anC
drawing our food fresh from the garden
and the field every day. There's nc
possible comparison to be made and
profoundly thankful am that circum
stances are such that can live the free
life OF the country at least eight months
of the year."
The trouble is, we who have so much,
forget to take account of stock and give
due credit. We accept the blessings and
better health insured by country life,
and fail to show our gratitude for what
this means TO US and dear ones. II we
would only "lift our eyes to the hills
from whence cometh our strength" We
would catch a vision so rich that il
would put new song in our mouths.
Never, it seems to me. have we had such
an October as the one just passed, never
have the days been crowded go full of
great world pictures painted by the hand
of the Almighty, and colored with tints
no human hand can equal. Not alone
the glory of the sunsets, but the beauty
of hill and valley, of field and forest,
changing every day, fresh in the morn
ing and resplendent at sunset; all these
are compensstions far too rich to be
overlooked; against these the city has
no attractions which can compensate.
Beyond there has been growing the
ripening of the harvest, telling of the
wonderful transformation going on in
the earth beneath, on bush and shrub
duu lEtC, Oil taO "iooOo
and goodness of God and telling of
the joy and blessing of man.
Words fail to express the wonder and
glory of these autumn days, and it is not
a moving picture shown in darkened
room, but the grsndest panorama ever
spread before mortal eyes and all free
for the looking. One has but to open
wide his eyes 10 get glimpse of glory
and beauty transcending speech. l asked
q friend the other day if he had noticed
the richness of the sunsets, and he re-
piled: mo; / have been so busy /
haven't had time to look"
1t has always seemed to me that one
of the compensstions of country life was
in the fact that as one went about his or
her duties, all that was necessary was to
lift the eyes to the hills for the full
glory to be revealed. So while Others
sing of the joys and pleasures OF the
city, let me rest in the beauty of the
hills and among the wonders of nature
try to read the story of the wisdom and
goodness of God In the infinite care Of
man. If we would but seek these sub
stantial compensstions, there would
come an thrush of thankfulness for the
abundant life of the country and fellow
ship with big things far and away be-
yond what the city can offer. For these
we should be seeking, certain that they
are all about us as we work. 1t would
be. vs. ell for all il we exslt the glory Of
life 10 Gods open country; fellowship
with the great forces there at work for
the best interests of the children OF
earth. He who reads the lesson spread
out in every direction will be inspired to
reach after that higher and closer knowl
edge of what to-day is the mystery OF
life every where.-Dr. G. NJ. Twitchell in
Maine Farmer.