Year: 1876

One by one the days go out. Saturday
night comes.


One by one the hopes 60 out. Eternity
comes. Like hail stones, the days drop from
the clouds of time to fall cold and dreary
into the fathomless past. Each day is life
is history. The hopes of the morning
are tears by night-the air castles of Monday
are the graves of Saturday night, alas, too
oft. God gives us sun life, rain health, friends
and that which is more blessed than all gold
en- Hope. All the rest deserts us, but Hope,
twin sister of Immortality, is ours through
the week-into and beyond Saturday night
into the grave to bear us dry and happy
through the Stygian food and on to God.
Blessed be Hope, and blessed be the nights
which call us to kneel at her altar.


Changes have come during the interim be-
tween this and last Saturday night. Many
a mound in the churchyard or cemetery
marks Gods bruises on the desolate human
heart. Many Il heart joy has been dipped
in sadness.


Many dress which one week since was
white is now the deepest mourning. Some
mourn. Some wear mourning while the
heart rejoices. Some there are whose hearts
are darker than the grave, for the lamp of
love is broken and the joy of years has gone
home. Scarlet buds and sombre blossoms.
Such is life.


Who of us all is nearer Heaven than one
week since? Who of us have laid up treas
ures above? Who of us have mellowed the
earth in which all must rest? The account
is for or against MS! We all thought and
vowed one week since to do right, but alas
for temptation ! All of us have argued with
the subtle reasoner-tew of us have come oil
victorious. Prayers have been uttered since
last Saturday night Curses have been in
voked The record has been perfectly kept
and some day twill be opened to your eyes,
Let us rest from labor and renew our VOWS
| By the family tireside--by the family altar
| by the cot and the couch there is much to
do this night. Look back down the dark
lane. See what wreck is there strewn
Hopes which have died. Promises badly
broken. Good intentions and noble resolu
tions lie bleeding and torn as far back rs the
eye can reach. Hard words lie where sof
ones would have been better There ar,
disappointments and betrayals, bitter word
and wicked acts strewn thick over tn,
ground. Ruins-ruins-ruins Here ant


there fragrant flower lifts its silent voic


and rears its pearly leaf to gladden. the debri


around. Here and there a blossom. Her


and there, but too far apart, can be seen tn


beautiful in strange contrast to the ruins an,


wrecks. Life is dark lane. Would to Co


there were more loves and fewer hates Nor


white and less red.


How the changes come over us Wha


gave us joy is now a pail of ashes The lip


we loved to kiss week since, now have n


nectar The hand which once thrilled i


rapture at the slightest touch of love, no,


forgets to answer back The eye has grow


cold or worse than Indifferent! Who is t


blame? Some one. And why? None br


God can tell truly As the sun goes dow
and the sabbath rises, let us strive again


Mother, clasp still closer to your heart II
pledge you now caress, for God may want
hack before another Saturday night is your


The pet you kissed and caressed one wee


ago has been taken away-who will go mex
Deal gently with those who have erre
Heaven is forgiving, God is love- Stri
to be happy Let kind words, good wish
and hberality of sentiment expand all o
} he arts this night, for they are blessed inf
ences--none too plenty.


: If you have friend draw him closer


your heart. If you have life in your kee
r ing, do by it as you would be done |
Pause ere you do evil. Think of the rewa
, there is for those who love. Look baC
| Listen |! A little, prattling voice now still
c in death. A mothers gentle tones, perhs


well nigh forgotten IA sisters plaintiye {
A is calling you to happiness. Look over t
past-the blessed memories-the mement,
d of the heart-and tell US if you are not <
t that Heaven is nearer by enc more Saturt
g night