Year: 1865

On the airy cloud painted on the forest leaves
and doomed by the ocean waves as they lash
the shore. But change is not always sad Au-
tumn is but the harbinger of spring. The flow
er drops and mingles with the dust, that ano-
ther, no less beautiful and dear, may bloom.
If happy hearts are made sorrowful by unfor-
tunate occurrences, sad hearts, too, are made
joyful by pleasant 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 inter
est in the hearts, and home in the affections,
of those about them, gladdened by the good
fortune that has bettered their condition.
| Suppose revelation were given us to-day that
everything henceforth in this world was to
abide as it is; that the time for change had
ceased, and should be known no more again
forever; 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 as 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 mis-
fortune assalls US, there is hope that some kind
change may suddenly turn things to our advan-
tage and we bear our burdens more lightly as
we remember the mutability of earthly things.
We are accustomed to speak sadly of earth s
changes; but where is the person who would
! be satisfied with fixed, monOtOnOus, UNMARRIED
life? Change is the power which keeps all
things moving, the impulse which stimulates
Us in everything we do; and in thanking the
benefcent Author of existence for the many
| blessings we enjoy, we should bless him for the
changes that checker our lot.


In the spiritual as well as the material world
there is continual change, and vastly more i'm
pOrtant. 1t is a law of nature that nothing
stands still; that in everything there is pro
gIession or retrogressiOn. The human mind Is
either advancing in goodness and knowledge
/ or it is taking the downward road of Ignorance
| and degradation. BY far the most important
change, then, depends wholly on our owl
choice. Earthly change will affect us little il
the mind and heart are becoming better, more
enlightened nearer to the inhabitants of tha
world who know no change but from the beau
tiful to the more beautiful, the good to tn,
better, becoming ever more holy, more happy


advancing nearer to the King of glory, forever


progressing upward and onward. But tn,
great first change must be here Here mus
be the preparation for the endless progression
or retrOgression. As the duties of one houl
fit us for the next, so the doings of our present


state fit us for the everlasting future. Let us
then, instead of bewailiBg the changes which
time is working around us, see carefully to the
changes it is working within us, and see, too
that they be such as shall prepare us for tht
elevated society of the just made perfect il


heaven, that the last mortal change may intro


duce us to the sweet surprises and fadeles


glory of happy eternity. Let the mutation


OF life stimulate us to greater earnestness.