Year: 1865

Every hour comes freighted with
change. Every hour brings decay and
death. Change is whispered in every
passing breeze-written on the airy cloud
painted on the forest leaves-and boom
ed by the ocean waves as they lash the
shore. But change is not always sad
Autumn is the harbinger of Spring. The
flower droops and mingles with the dust,
that another, no less beautiful and dear,
may bloom. If happy hearts are made
sorrowful by unfortunate occurrences,
sad hearts, too, are made joyful by pleas
ant changes. If some are left desolate
and alone, who were surrounded once by
kindred and friends, so some who were
friendless and uncared for have found an
interest in the hearts and homo in the
affections of those about them, gladdened
by the good fortune that has betterea
their condition. Suppose a revelation
were given US to-day that everything
henceforth in this world was to abide as
is; that the time for change had ceased,
and should be known again no more for
ever; what CONSERVATION would seize us.
Do any live wholly in the present Are
we not all looking for the coming future
to bring US the higher good we seek? 1t
is true as trite that man is never quite
satisfied; the good he pursues is never
quite reached, and were all to stop now,
farewell to ever accomplishing the great
aim for which he lives. Now misfortune
assails US: there is hope that some kind
change may suddenly turn things to our
advantage, and we ear our burdens more
lightly as we remember the mutability of
earthly things. We are accustomed to
speak sadly of earth changes; bvt where
is the person who would be satisfied with
fixed, mOnotonous, UNMARRIED life p
Change is the power which keeps all
| things moving-the impulse which slim
ulates us in everything we do; and in
thanking the benifcent Author of exis-
tence tor the many blessings we enjoy, we
should bless Him for the changes that
checker our lot


In the spiritual as we'll as the material
world, there is a continual change, and
vastly more important. 1t is a law of ma
ture that nothing stands still; that In ev-
erything there is progression or retro
gressiou. The human mind is either ad-
Yancing In goodness and knowledge, or is
taking the downward road of ignorance
and degradation By far the most i'm
portant change, then, depends wholly on
our own choice. Earthly change will ef-
feet us little if the mind and heart are
1 becoming better, more enlightened, near
er to the Inhabitants of that world who
know no change but from the beautiful
to the more beautiful, the good to the
better, becoming even more holy, more
happy, advancing nearer to the King of
glory, forever progressing upward and on
ward. But the great first change must
be here. Here must be the preparation
for the endless progression or retrogres-
sion. As the duties of one hour fit us
for the next, so the doings of our present
state fit us for the everlasting future


Let US, then, instead of bewailing the


L j
Isee carefully to the changes it is working


within us, and see, too, that they be such


as shall prepare us for the elevated socie


ty of the just made perfect in heaven, that


the last mortal change may Introduce III


to the sweet surprises and fadeless glorie'
of happy eternity. Let the mutations


of life stimulate us to greater earnestness