The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-01-20
Winter.

Winter.
The Holiday season interrupted oul
thoughts on winter. Christmas time
have a way of their own of turning oul
thoughts away from everything else
and fixing them upon the festal days
But they are gone though winter stays
with US, so we may again resume oul
thoughts upon this stern evangelist OF
nature and list to his sermon which he
thunders into our ears, and resume
where we left off few weeks since.
Come thou, says the poet, to life's
feast, with dove eyed meekness and
bland charity and thou shall find even
winters blast, the teacher of thy well
tuned soul and when the last drop of
thy cup is drained, an sing with song
of praise-go up to the eternal ban
quet.'
While we, during the lnclemency of
the season, enjoy convenience and COM
fort, let US not forget sthe poor and
needy, who want even the commonest
necessities of life. Remember those
whose miserable novels and shattered
panes cannot screen them from the
piercing cold. Think of the shivering
creatures whose tattered garments
scarcely cover their bodies. Let US
think kindly of and help the hungry
poor, who, after hard struggle to de-
termine which they will relinquish,
give up their scanty pittance of bread
to get some fuel to warm their aching
limbs.
Think of the hatless, stockingless,
half clad hungry waits who wrangle
over lump of coal that is jostled from
the passing wagon; of those who cry
for hunger, or talk in their sleep as
visions of theold home and its abundance
come up before them. Help the old
and infrm, the sick and diseased, com
fort and cheer them by giving a little
OF your abundance that the blessing of
them that are ready to perish may
come upon you. 1t is the council of the
Lord that changes the face of the de-
clining year. At his bidding the sun
shortens his race and the wintry days
appear, Hoar frost and fleecY snow de-
scend and clothe the earth and streams
are chained in icy letters.
The hasty hours of the day family
smile. Fields and gardens mourn, for
the brow of winter IS not decked with
lucious fruit or blooming flowers. The
beams of the sun are withdrawn;
warmth departs, and nature is droop-
ing and apparently lifeless like the
heart of man.
The sun of righteousness returns with
soul reviving rays and changes mental
winter into spring and the gloom OF
sorrow into the brightness of JOY. We
long for the beams of this light to be
displayed, that our dropping Joys may
be restored and that we may be guided
to realms of day where the frowns of
winter are never seen.
Life too, has its seasons. Fair fieeting
days of infancy they are gone like a
cream. IT'S the spring time of life.
Youth comes with its buoyant limbs,
ardent glance and kindling soul-it is
the burning summer time. Manhood,
matured with fruit of wisdom. when the
fruit of learnings deep pursuit is gath
cred comes as the autumn follows the
prime of summer. But this. too, soon
passes away. Then comes the languid
eye, the bowed form, the tottering
frame, the hoary head, the quivering
hand and the DER cast soul. 1t is win
ters sickenlng whitening blast-th sea
son Of life, for it is the last
Let the soul arouse itself from its
slumbers to see how soon the glories of
this life flee away and the footstep of
decay come stealing on them. AS we see
the rolling tide that is so rapidly bear
ing our hours away let US employ the
present hour to the best advantage and
prepare our frail craft for the ocean of
eternity, in which the stream of our
life, however circuitous it may be, is
bound to engolf us--the ocean who Sc
waves roll over the proud monarch OF
the noblest kingdom and engulfs crown
and throne with peasant and pauper,
nay all regardless of position, Influence,
wealth or rank. The beauty of God is
seen in the spring. when his tenderness
and love flush the fields while nature
revives and rejoices in newness of life.
Hearts then bound with joy. Summer
proclaims his glory and 1.-THE sun shoots
perfection through the swelling year. y
Lurid lightnlngs and deafening thun.
der utter His voice. Autumn speaks
of the bountiful repast which He
spreads for all that lives, but winter
with clouds and storms and rolling TEN.
pest proclaims the terror. of the fierce
ness of the wrath of Him who makett
the winds His chariots; rideth on the
whirlwind; bidst the world adore anC