Year: 1868




The world is but vast field of conflict,
in which man is placed to contend against
the host of cares, perplexities, dangers
and temptations arrayed against him 1;
and oftimes the soul grows faint and weary
beneath the burden of toll allotted unto it.
And yet, scattered along the pathway of
laborious striving are beautiful resting
places, all radiant with these welcome
gifts of our Heavenly Father-Leisure
moments.


These are the vases, the fowery dells
in the desert of life, toward which we
look forward with yearning gaze, that
there we may rest awhile from the worlds
busy din, and cool the fevered pulse of
action in the soothing fountain of thought,
to draw sweet draughts foom the spring of
memory, or, perchance, paint fair pictures
of fancy on the canvas of the future. Yes,
they are precious gifts, these Leisure Mo-
ments; but, are they given us only to
squandcr away in idleness and dreamy
self-satisfaction over what we deem work
we'll done? Nay, we think they are be-
slowed for higher, holier purpose. God
hath not planted the rose merely to bloom,
wither and die; but while it unfolds its
beauty to gladden. the eye of the beholder,
the wandering bee revels in its richest
sweets, and the pale invalid blesscs the
flower that shakes out its fragrance on the
dewy air. The pearl was not designed to
rest hidden in its native shell beneath the
ocean wave, but, brought to light by the
adventurous diver, and wrought by the
skillful hand of art it is bound around fair
brows to render beauty still more beauti-
full. The glittering diamond elicits no
admiration in its dark birthplace, amid
the murky coal but, fashioned by the
cunning artisan, it sparkles in the diadem
of royalty, the most precious of all gems.
The cleaning gold of California confers
no favor on men until the swarthy miner
tears it from its mountain-bed, that it may
become the medium of commerce, and in
the hands of men with souls unstained by
Avarice, it shall render many home hap
py, and drive gaunt poverty from the
widow and the fatherless.


And thus it is with our Leisure Mo-
ments, while they are given us for recre-
alton and pleasure they should not be con-
sidered as mere baubles, nor be suffered
to pass away unadapted to some useful
purpose; for they are the roses, the pearls,
the diamonds, and the precious gold of life
But, says one, how shall | best make use
of them that they may be both pleasant
and happy? Perhaps you have friend
on whom disease has laid its hands, who
cannot go forth with you to drink in the
charms of nature, or bow at the shrine of
Pleasure. Bind some of these rosy mo-
ments into a boquet of cheerfulness. and
carry it, all sparkling with the dew-drops
of Hope, to the chamber Of the languish-
ing one, and the grateful smile and kind
ling love-light in her eye shall bestow a
pleasure which time can never steal away
Yonder is widow, who has laid her
only son on the sacred shrine of liberty
Gather few of these pearls, and weaving
them into coronal of Consolation, place
it on her care-worn brow, whispering
words of Faith, that tell her she shall
meet her loved one in the bright world
beyond. In the busy street wanders an
outcast orphan child, o let us spare him
some of our golden moments, and in the
loom of Benevolence weave him warm
garments to shield him from the pitiless
winds; and all through coming years the
chambers of memory will glow with the
light of our polished gems. AS we look
abroad we may behold reeling to his
wretched home sad wreck of humanity,
with all his God-given attributes blighted
and scared by the burning breath of In
temperance, Let us take some of the
diamonds of time and setting them in d
crown of Truth, Virtue and Religion,
place it on our fallen brothers temple,
and reinstate him on the glorious throne of
Manhood, and this angels of heaven will
cease to sweep the trembling wires of their
golden harps, to turn and whisper "well
done"


Have you still more of the Leisure
Moments Take then the Roses, the
Pearls, the Gold and the Diamonds, and
bring them all glittering in the sunshine
of Gods love, to lay ON the altar of Grat-
itude an oblation to the glorious giver.
VACATION.


Retirement, July 22nd, 1868.