Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-04-26
The Value Of the Soul.

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The soul! How shall we estimate
the value Of it? Well, by its exqul-
site organization. It is the most won
derful piece of mechanism ever put
together. Machinery is of value In
proportion as it is mighty and silent
& at the same time: I was talking the
other day with a man who runs the
machinery in the PHILADELPHIA mint.
Said he, eff you could see it perform
ing its wonderful work, you wouldlbe
surprised to find how silently it goes.
Machinery that roars and tears soon
destroys itself, but silent machinery
is often the most effective" said he.
So it is with the soul of man, with all
I, its tremendous faculties; it moves in
silence. Judgment, without any rack
ct, lifting its scales; memory without
any noise, bringing down all its treas.
ures; conscience taking its Judgment
Seat without any excitement; the
understanding and the will all doing
their work. Velocity, majesty, might:
but all is silent. You listen at the
door of your heart, you can hear n no
sound. The soul is all quiet. 1T IS SO
1 delicate an instrument that no human
hand can touch it. You can break a
bone, and with splints and bandages
the surgeon sets it; the eye becomes
intlamed and the apothecary's wash
cools it. But when soul is off the
track, unbalanced, no human power
can readjust it, With one sweep Of its
wing it circles the universe, and over
vaults the throne of God.
Why, in the hour of death the soul
! is SO mighty it throws aside the body
as if it were toy. 1t drives back
medical skill as irnpotent. 1t breaks
through the circle of loved ones who
stand around the dying couch. With
one leap, it springs beyond star,
moon, sun, and chasms of immensity.
& A soul is superior to all material
things. No fires can consume it; no
floods can drown it; no rocks can
crush it. 1t wants no plummet with
which to sound depth. A soul SO
mighty, so swift, so silent, must be a
priceless soul.
How much JOY it gets in this world
out of friendships, out of books and
clouds, out of the sea, out Of flowers,
out of ten thousand things. The soul
speaks to God and says: go Father,
where art Thou?n and out of every
flower, tree and blade of grass, sil-
ver pool and twined thicket, voice
will come: God is in me-. The dew
brings jewels to the soul; the winds
bring perfume; the forest sings ano
the air is all sweetness, as if the an,
& gels 6f God had gone through, bear.
{ ing spices homeward. The storms are
but as hocks Of mighty birds which
spread their wings and sing in the
+ high heaven. These ore blessings
which the soul of man is capable OF
4 enjoying down here in this world.
Yes, the soul Of man is capable OF
loving, and enjoying everything that
lives in the great book of nature
Every dew drop that twinkles to the
morning sun, and every flower that
blossoms in the copse, although it
lives unseen and wastes its sweetness
in the forest air, in every bird that
warhles on the spray, in every lamb
that skips m the meadow. But so
many of US look upon these things
as matter of course, not realizing
the fact that God gave them, for the
soul to admire and enjoy while, pass
ing on to the great beyond.
j.. RUSSELL, WRIGHT.
st, Augustine, Fla.
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