BJ 1571 G54 mmm TPDQ mmmmmmm mmmmmmtm mmtmtmmm w miini wwwotMXMii nnni iiii o wiiw m ii urn i uni mum mi ir ti-utt ^m^i LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, @^tp*5'_.._ Sojnjrtgljt ^n. Shelf '.GrS 4 & ■f -";>. LIFE'S Perfected Steps; OR, THE KING'S PATHWAY PEACE AND HAPPINESS SARAH MATHER GIBBS. If mechanics were as ignorant of the machines they nse as individuals are of the great human machine, every one of them would be discharged. " CHICAGO : illinois printing and binding company. i88q. 3883, BY TEE AUTHOR. LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO MY DAUGHTERS, JENNIE and BESSIE. CONTENTS. Pag*. Infancy 1 1 Nursery Life — , 20 School-days 43 Youth 61 Marriage , 87 Ripening Years 103 Going Home 125 PREFACE What is a book? The pages of some life un- folded. And thought! what is it? The hidden meaning between the lines ; as the author says to you, the reality of himself or herself, as each thread of life is picked up and dissected. Books contain for us the reality of some life. In conceiving the idea of giving to the growing youth a perfected thought of life, I have had some experience myself to draw these pages from, hav- ing traveled along the road and been taught the way by digging from life's hard problem the mystified answer. I feel it would be a loving duty to scatter a few seeds of kindness along the path of the young people, whom I claim as friends, hoping that all will not fall upon stony ground, and that some of the good herein contained may take root and grow. By thus shedding a ray of light along the shad- owed wayside of the many busy toilers scattered all over this broad land of ours, may the thought of the writer, sent forth in all sincerity, help lighten some of the burdens, and diffuse and blend into each one's life the true harmony of thought this little volume is intended to convey. BABYHOOD. CHAPTEK I. BABYHOOD. "Come in the morning, so fresh and so sweet, Over earth's darkness, heaven's dawn-beams to meet, Early consider your ways and His will, Best in the even by Love's peaceful rill." — Havergal. O, morn of life! O, shining Light! Awake a new born soul, Which, soaring upward in its flight, Finds heaven its surest goal. A tiny thought imbued with life, A touch might rudely blast; Thou'rt launched upon this ebbing tide, Almost too frail to last. Methinks thou know'st not whence thou came'st, Or why thou should'st be here; Fret not, thou wee one, — God, who gave This life to thee — is near To show to thee the way, the truth, That all who come must learn; Lean now on Him, He shields thy youth, To thee can come no harm. (ID 12 life's perfected steps. Unfold thy thought — expand thy mind, Thou'rt guided on thy way; So shalt thy footsteps, like the hind, Ne'er falter, — never stray. You come to us in perfect mould, Like He, who came to save; He taught us then in days of old, How to be good and brave. God loves thee, keeps thee, all His own, Hast thou then aught to fear? Anchored here safe, — work and be strong Assured because He's near. Then falter not, live, love and strive To win a life of fame; Be all that's noble, pure and bright, Just work in His dear name. Only a baby! Why do we hear that expression so frequently ? Because a wee little life seems so small to us of maturer years. Because Ave have not weighed the responsibility of this one great oppor- tunity, which has come into our hearts, lives and homes. Because it is such a common thing to have a win- some, prattling, loving little life dropped down in our very midst, possibly we do not appreciate or un- derstand such a blessing. Judging from the lives of the human race, taken in all its phases, surely proves this true. What resources are lying undeveloped yonder, in that little bundle of thought and life, so cosily dressed, and so carefully tended? Dare we predict BABYHOOD. 13 the future of one of God's little ones sent to us from out the great unknown ? Dare we scarcely face the responsibility of the stupendous undertaking of caring for the physical, mental and spiritual needs of one little child just starting out on the boundless ocean of care, sorrow, joy and happiness of a check- ered human life ? This little bud of promise needs much at our hands. The most careful, considerate thought, the kindest words, just decision, a deep pure love for the good of the life just ushered in. A pure thought of healthful, bracing trust, that all, that is good, is for them. Building strong bodies and minds, that they may be able to grasp, in this early time, the true understanding of life, and thus in the future learn to live it. Think you, we can diffuse over this unfolding too much of the truth as taught by the Divine Teacher? How beautiful thoughts, like the dew-drops, strengthen the physical as well as the mental growth. From this unfolding thought, dear reader, may yon some lesson glean, which shall say to you, as you gaze into the depths of those pure, innocent eyes, into the soul's deepest thought, let that index of the inner soul speak to you and say: Help me to live a true life, help me to build a stable foundation for all my future years, so that each unfolding step, which my faltering feet may take, shall be one more link by which a stepping 14 life's perfected steps. stone may be achieved to make a firm adamantine rock, upon which to build all that's good and pure, noble and true. Help me to shun that which will in any way change or dwarf this passive clay awaiting the moulder's willing hand. Give me from out your abundant store of wisdom, harmony, understanding and heart's purest love, a small portion, that the un- revealed in my little life, may grow and grow, re- sponding, ever and anon, to the good it finds in these my heart teachers. Let only loving thoughts, words and deeds come near this little helpless life, just sent to brighten ours. The moulder's work is now fairly begun. How every sweet smile, every satisfied cooing sound of the baby boy or girl, reflects the atmosphere around it. If the sunshine of loving thought, the influence of good lives hover over the little innocent, it re- sponds also with a gentleness and restfulness, which builds a growth of body and mind strong, lasting and true. Susceptible to every wave of thought it absorbs and retains much which is hardly understood as sub- stance. The soft, dewy rain gently dropping freshness on bud and flower, with the gentleness of warm, mellow sunshine, come to budding rose carefully strengthening, carefully helping the growth and assisting toward the maturity of perfect fullness BABYHOOD. 15 in much the same way as the maturer, wiser and more experienced minds lead on and bless the early life of the young child. In peaceful, quiet ways we influence and build up the character of these tender years. They, like the petals of the undeveloped flower, expand gradu- ally, and receive into their little lives this gentle, loving, watchful care. . Were the tempests to come, rudely shaking this bud, we should miss the perfection this flower might have developed, and the beauty we might have pos- sessed would have been desolated forever. Or were the scorching rays of a noonday sun to descend, withering and blighting by the too much- ness of heat and light, ruin is the result. All i& lost and nothing gained. By a lack of wisdom and understanding, we readily see how easily in handling a nervous, delicate young mind and body a cold, unfeeling parent, by his o> her harshness, irritable, careless thought (and of all the cold indifference seems the worst), dwarfs, cramps and almost kills the true development of these trusting natures. Certainly changes and dis- torts the reality of life in these pure germs of thought which have been entrusted to their care. And by being over-careful of them are these guardians liable to err. Too much care and petting- is like the tempest and the rays of the broiling sun upon the tender plants. Could we understand one true idea of the begin- 16 life's perfected steps. ning of life: Bending the twig, not breaking it. By always trying to guide the thought aright, by- keeping a bright, cheery thought about them, the physical development takes care of and grows of itself. By controlling the inner thought life, and lead- ing, not driving, parents, teachers and guardians are the conquerors of the world. Truly has it been said : " The mothers who rock the cradles shape the des- tinies of the future men and women." Could we, my friends, learn that thought controls life from the beginning, what a new awakening for humanity ! When the artist draws his picture he draws it carefully, balancing it on every side and coloring it with different hues and shades, that it may reflect the thought of the artist. Now we draw our picture, so that it shall reflect upon the world health, beauty, harmony, happiness. If life was right from the beginning and lived right all along the different stages of life's pathway, would it not be possible to reflect such a pen sketch ? But our thoughts turn us away from this, which might be, and we are forced to stop a moment to see things just as they are presented to us daily. We will not selfishly cling to only the bright and sunny side, but will portray a little of life as it comes to us in quite an opposite phase, though it is so common. And we readily see on looking about us on every BABYHOOD. 17 side how sad the effects have been, and are, because of the careless thoughts, imperfect training, unjust decisions, unkind words, a dearth of the heart's deep tenderness and love, which has changed and de- formed the whole tenor of these young lives, which have received so little of the true life intended for them. What then for us and them ? Is not this respon- sibility resting upon the parents and guardians of these little* baby lives, simply appalling ? .* . ' - In the sadness of ignorance and lack of home com- forts, we begin to realize that each and all of ^us have. an opportunity for doing much good or harm. Shall we grasp these privileges or reject them? Do we lose or gain by allowing one of these opportuni- ties for doing ever so little good escape us ? Even one little chance for developing, ever so lit- tle, the inner life of those less fortunate than our- selves. One little effort, on our part, toward helping on toward a more elevated, perfected thought may be the very starting for them, and such a blessing to us. Our consciences tell us to do, and do we must with all our feeble energies. We cannot go farther along this line of thought* because we have just been down into the whirlpool of our busy city, and have been met on every side by the little waifs which seem to belong to city life. I wonder how a large city would seem could these poor, pinched, little lives be gathered up and made strong and happy. I think of them, sitting here surrounded by com- 18 fort and quiet, as thrown upon a barren waste of a desolated beach of want and poverty and crime, buf- feted by the rough waves of adversity, and, sadder still, of the depravity by which they are born and bred. How many are left purposely to be washed and beaten about, to drift back again into the seething current, ever and anon tossed to and fro, always meeting and worrying each other, contending for what? The right to life. Perchance picked up by some good Samaritan, and in this half -grown condition in which they are found, placed in crowded houses called "Homes for the Homeless." There left to still live on, and endure the best they can, the life they must live. Was there ever a sadder expression used for an inscription for doing good than this same " Home for the Home- less?" Do these words here, that you read in large letters over the entrance, mean love, harmony, happiness, development of thought, a growth of body, mind and soul for these little wanderers? What meaning does the word " home" convey to these little unwelcome strangers, launched forth on the sea of life, who have no real claim on any one, and hardly a right to the life they sought not, and •cannot put away. Nothing more than food and shelter, to these hungry, half- starved souls and bodies. These are clothed and fed meagerly and it is the best that BABYHOOD. 19 can be done as life now is. Brain and heart dwarfed, cramped and starved. What can we expect from such, who never have half a life. Is it any wonder our prisons, asylums, poorhouses, insane asylums, and all kinds of reformatories are always over-crowded? The wonder to me is, how they do as well as they do. A few of these unfor- tunate ones, for it is astonishing how life strives for the ascendency in these who receive so little care, and the good things of this life, a few, only a few, wither and die under these blighting influences of poverty, ignorance and want of a purer, kinder, more loving atmosphere. O, Father of mercy and good- ness, methinks it were kinder to take them all, relieving the world of such a* load of sorrow, misery and chance for furthering the callousness of careless, vicious men and women. But as this cannot possibly be, suppose each one who cares to peruse these pages does simply their true duty toward those who need so much from out of our abundance. From our maturer, more experienced thought give out constantly a courageous, energetic, harmonious impulse toward these less favored ones. Filling them with a peaceful, restful influence, will not our courage help them to bear and conquer? Think toward them such words as these: You are gaining wisdom. You are grasping truth. Your life's work is just begun. Persevere. Get a little 20 of the good that is all about you to help you over- come all the impediments you are sure to meet. Do we not see right in this one phase the neces- sity of building up a love for the good, for the truth, for the home, which the greater part of society lacks in the present century? We do feel the past mistakes in the present day. We see its reflection everywhere, and the regret is that it seems to be increasing and not diminishing. Tell me, if you can, why your neighbor comes home in a demented condition and abuses his wife and children? Tell me, if you can, why the jails, prisons and court-rooms are always full. Tell me, if you can, why that child seems to rather tell a lie than to tell the truth, when the truth would perhaps have answered better. Tell me, if you can, why even our grown people prefer to speak ill of their acquaintances rather than good. Tell me, if you can, why thieves abound so largely in the land. Is not this the part that we experience in this present time? And is it not because away back somewhere something has been wrong? What is the wrong? Careless thought. Fathers and moth- ers have either been neglectful of their true duty or have placed all these conditions upon them, and suf- fered perhaps alike with them. Could mankind just realize that the thinking powers shape, model and fix in early babyhood the foundations for useful future years, what lasting good might not be accomplished, what characters BABYHOOD. 21 moulded and builded in the seclusion of the nursery. Standing over the little sleeping innocent and realizing for them, in my thought, the possibilities and the probabilities of their future lives, some- times I think I would never change those chubby, cherub faces, had I the right to say: But keep them pure and good, just as they are, wishing that the sunny days of their protected lives might always be theirs. The thought of them now is so sweet and peace- ful. They are with you all the time. It is a little sad when we think of it, how soon this little baby life will merge into the near future and connect itself with the next advancing step. It seems to me this loving time of childhood, fos- tered in the dear home life by so much truthfulness, so much sincerity, so much purity, and so much har- mony, would be to us, who stand contemplating the scene, a glimpse of heaven's beauty, where light- hearted, joyous, happy spring life created a king- dom of light and truth,forever beautiful in its fresh- ness. For what are these child-angels created and sent to these parents who love them so dearly? If we look deep into our hearts, we find the answer. They are the little bright lights all along our path- way. Our ways would be dark and shaded were it not for the love in their little hearts. Each little lamp has its own name. Purity in this little bud of promise is so clear and white. It 22 life's pekfected steps. has never been subject to change, no defective dull- ness has ever marred for a moment its natural clear- ness. The love of truth shines out with a beautiful sky- blue lustre, which leans forward and blends itself into the silvery light of all pure thoughts. Then the heart's best love giving forth its bright red, roseate hue, warming by its mellow light, entwining itself in and about the heart-strings, making for- tresses so strong that even the little rill, we call death, only carries our hearts right along, not separating, only binding closer in unison, these lovely heart- throbs between two lives. As these children's journey of life advances let us hope that all going out thus into their worldly experience, go holding high above their bright eyes, and soft curly heads, these three lamps of safety, purity, truth and love. And as their swift feet flit past us on life's jour- ney, may this invisible chain, so strong in its entirety, be the welded strength of these three in one, to hold and to keep them in the good way. This fond mother-love, which has guided and still continues to labor so untiringly, is something almost worshipful in its purity and unselfishness. Tt is something of which human experience is in- capable of really and thoroughly understanding and appreciating, and the child-love, coming in response, in its early changing development, paints to our imagination such a picture of contentment and babyhood'. 23 sweet rest, that we feel, if we were the matronly- head, we should take our wee boys and girls up ten- derly, O, so tenderly in our strong arms, and thus fold them close and long, almost wishing we might fly to realms unknown, never once looking back until they were safe in the everlasting arms. But how could w r e build our steps if we were de- prived of the clear, firm young minds which we start- ed out with ? We must still go on with these little boys and girls, holding each by the hand, lest they soon become weary trying to keep pace with our long strides. Are they not beginning to lisp the dear names of those about them, to walk a little and try to run about? Such a little time we have had them and how fast they grow from this sweet babyhood into early childhood. We look around, baby has gone, and as the days and weeks roll by, how surprised we are to find instead of the helplessness of infancy, a vigorous young boy or girl romping and playing from morn id or till nio-ht w r itli all the abandon of a little, frolicsome kitten. Under no especial restraint, they enjoy the kin- dergarten life, and from early morn until the little birds tuck their heads under their wings, they go from one thing to another until their tired little bodies and brains find sweet rest in childhood's dream- land. We sit and watch the happy smiles, as they speak to us of angel visitors, on their sunny countenances, 24 life's perfected steps. and gaze with so much pride on those soft, smooth, dimpled little faces and hands without a defacing line. We cannot resist the quiet appeal made to us from these silent little folks, resting so peacefully, coming as it does to us at this still time of the day, touch- ing, soothing and resting us by its very silence, saying to us: " He who sows well must reap well." We feel like consecrating ourselves anew, hoping and asking that our every day living may be all that has been marked out for us in these seven steps of a life just ready to start out in purity, truth and love. Dear little babies. The future of our grand re- public with all its various changes, the development of the true principles of good and true lives, the avoidance of the mistakes which have been made, all along the way of those who have entered in, lived and passed over, before you, the opportunity to achieve the grandest possibilities through truth and right, are snugly tucked away in those little cribs, and in the innocence of your little lives, the great possibilities are slumbering as quietly and sweetly as those tired little bodies. May this babyhood be kept pure and holy into every succeeding step as your life unfolds itself, and may your banner stand forth with a firm and lasting thought, saying to you, to all who know and love you: The perfectness of any life must be the good lived in that life. CHAPTEE II. NURSERY LIFE. Soft and strong, and loud and light, Heard from morning's rosiest height, When the soul of all delight Fills a child's clear laughter. — Sicinburn. O mother, nurse, and dear ones, Who have the tender care Of children in your keeping, Be watchful unto prayer. Teach them to early trust in The unseen hand of love; Teach them that watching o'er each, Are angels from above. Teach them that God is with them, His mission here is love, And when this life is ended, They'll dwell with Him above. Teach them in early childhood Love, truth, and chastity; Give them the words of Jesus, Who said : " Come unto Me." (26) NURSERY LIFE. 27 We are just ascending the second step of this un- folding life, which is still in the early bud, remind- ing us of the early sunrise on a lovely spring morn- ing, just peering above the hills yonder. Indefinite because only the faint rays are visible, as this little loving child must always creep before it can begin to learn to walk. Another round of the ladder must be mounted, opening up a new phase of this always developing existence, which must be met and lived. Effort suc- ceeds effort, and judiciously the careful trainer ar- ranges all the minor details for this new advance- ment, which is so varied in every form and change. The same duties must be performed over and over again. There is not a very marked change at this period of this little one's growing life, only a gradual de- velopment of body and thought. So slight that the time passed in the cradle seems almost a part of this new extension, now merging into the time passed in the nursery with those who must make or mar, to a large extent, every thought of the pliable little one's mind. Might not this be almost classed right along with babyhood and nursery life, being only advance- ment of baby life or growing out of babyhood? Here the days are just as long, just as full of busy care, mother, nurse and children find the hours al- most too short for all the many calls upon their time and patience. How the little life is expanding and growing, increasing in strength and understand- ing, as every fibre, of the body and mind, gathers 28 life's perfected steps. from the surroundings the reality which is absorbed so surely by the susceptible nature of the little child. This little mind and inner soul life is grasping and taking in an abundance of things needful or hurt- ful to this delicately organized piece of humanity. The sensitive ear is actively alive to every harsh tone or loving word, and much depends on these every-day occurrences. The careful mother spends all her spare time in the very necessary work found here. After caring for the physical needs, she will not think her work even begun. There is a constant weeding to be done, else the little minds do not thrive. They are like the early spring buds, the weeds must be kept out to allow strength and room for future flowers. And again, the useless branches on the slender sapling, must be removed that the future tree may flourish more vigorously. The weeding and pruning process is slow and tire- some, and much time and untiring patience is very ne- cessary at this particular development in the little child's nature, that nothing will crop out in the coming years to mar or deface the exquisite workmanship or hinder the outward progress or upward growth. The first efforts of the loving mother are to instill into her little son's or daughter's mind a lesson of obedience and trust which these little ones learn here in the every-day home life with herself and nurse. These are not easily accomplished, and pa- tience and perseverance must have " their perfect ISUKSEBY LIFE. 29 work/' It is a great care for mother to always know when to say yes or no to the busy little brains who are always requiring something new to amuse themselves. But if obedience is required here at this time, how easy for both mother and child, be- cause it's a lesson of loving authority taught and learned. Wise little mother, do thy duty tenderly, prayer- fully, lovingly, and the future of your loved ones will be a bright and shining light in the days await- ing you. In teaching this, another lesson comes right in here and seems to be twin sister with this (wanting to have its own ivay). Selfishness and disobedience go hand in hand. The one seems but the shadow of the other, and so our next work is a lesson of uprooting from the very beginning the growth of selfishness, which is ever too rapid in its growth. Building up, through a devoted love, a willing- ness to put away from its little thought these inhar- monious feelings, so sure to develop and grow if not watched and guarded very carefully. In early spring you cannot tell the weeds from the iiowers as they first break through the soil. Just so these little disobedient, selfish thoughts, in very young children, are so subtle in their natures, unless guarded well and watched untiringly, before we realize it, these little weeds, so small at first, hardly perceptible to us, seem to gather the strength and life from the deep rich soil, and by stealth, as 30 life's perfected steps. it were, purloin from these better qualities that which should have perfected the necessary growth and advancement of this bright and promising child. Has this good mother who so kindly prepares food, clothing, shelter, a restful home and everything needful for her children's comfort and happiness an easy task? Her every kind or thoughtless look or word is here recorded and reflected upon those nearest and dearest. Would that a sweet benedic- tion might rest upon each and every mother, who is every hour of her life, untiring in her unselfish de- votion to the little ones iu the homes all about us. The blessing would not stop with the faithful parent, but develop and grow, showing us in the future generations the power of good, wise, and pure thought upon the little children. It has been said, and wisely too: " Give me a child until six years of age, and I will be responsi- ble for what follows." If allowed the free control of the training of a young mind, is not, the meaning plain? Could words plainer be uttered by human tongue? Does it not mean constant watching, con- stant care, constant asking for guidance to know the right, and knowing, dare do it ? Never forget- ting for one moment the great responsibility laid upon the older and wiser mind. The every hour process of moulding, shaping, helping, guiding into a little broader and more ex- panded life, that the minds of these at some future NURSERY LIFE. 31 time shall look back at the dear days with mother, father, and older brothers and sisters, at the times in this early seed time, when a loving home made heaven here. These wee toddlers will be the men and women then, and we must keep that thought ever before us, as a helper to strengthen our pa- tience, which sometimes weakens, as we tire of the daily routine of the noisy little folks constantly with us. Will the blessing from these little minds re-echo back to us in treading the down hill path of life ? Shall we hear the benediction wafted back to us, with a far-away sweetness, such words as these: " I owe all I am to the loving, watchful, untiring care be- stowed upon me in early childhood by my good parents. To them is due my success in all I have undertaken. I was not driven over all the rough and rugged cliffs which beset my inexperienced childish foot-steps. I was lovingly and tenderly led all the way. My every step was so guarded and guided, that my little span of childhood was like* sweet dreamland, with soft, bright sunlight, making a happy summerland, from which in future years I may sit and ponder and fashion, in my fancy, sweet pictures of rest and peace." This perfectness of training teaches, that harsh words accomplish only temporary results, that dis- turbed equilibriums are the direct result of discord, and while much is lost to the growing child of good, 32 life's pekfected steps. a great inharraony of thought creeps into his nature and stays. So the less disturbance we have in the nursery, the less we shall be obliged to endure and overcome in the coming years. Who can describe a feeling of discontent? Can you put on paper, and convey its meaning, what is felt by the bitterest hate or the truest love ? Then remember this: The growing child never reasons. The unfolding minds of young children feel more than their words express. Their lives are what they can see, feel, and "know. The expression of their feelings comes to them in an outburst of tears, anger or blissful, merry laughter. " O the laugh (the laugh) of a child. So wild (so wild) and so free, Is the merriest (merriest) sound In the world to me." The child's world, at this age, is bounded by the four walls of home and the amusements and com- forts which his happy, careless life enjoys. He has never gone beyond the portal where the highest and only authority he knows is kind words, wise and loving counsel. The time has not come for him to go forth into the great whirlpool of active life, which would only astonish and bewilder him. He is only playing soldier on the outskirts. He is not within hearing distance of a recruiting officer, much less the battle of life, and as yet is innocently unconscious and wholly oblivious of any coming res- NURSERY LIFE. 33 ponsibilities, which are only just over there awaiting him. Mothers of our beautiful little ones, what are you thinking? What are you doing? Does this little loving pen-picture, as you peruse it, awaken an in- terest in any other little lives save those to whom your tender hearts respond with such pure mater- nal affection? A little incident comes to my mind of a sweet little life, made doubly so by a dear friend of mine whose home was lonely without the happy child-life. She loDged, O so much, for some little loving life to come to brighten her own. One day she visited a la/iy who had a number of little ones, and they were, besides being destitute of the necessaries of life, shadowed by a wrong deed which had been com- mitted by one in their home. My friend felt very keenly all the distress here pictured. One of the little ones came up to her and said: " May I go home with you?" She felt here was her mission. Her heart went out to the child, and she took her home, lovingly cared for her, educated her, and by so doing commenced a good deed which keeps pace with her life into the future years. What a vast work would be accomplished if one little child could be clothed, warmed and fed and led into higher con- ditions by each one of the vast throng of people who have no children. Like this friend I mention, the good to herself was vastly more than to the child, for in helping the 34 life's pekfected steps. growth of this little thought which was transplanted to her home, she broadened every avenue of her own undeveloped resources, and thus, by doing one good deed, she realized it was "more blessed to give than to receive." There are many charities, and much, very much, good is being done all through our land, but they are insufficient to do the work for which they are planned and intended. Individual home missiona- ries could do a great amount of just such good deeds if they would stop and think about it, and add to their own lives so much lasting good. And this recalls to mind the work conceived by that old, distinguished artist, who thought out the idea of painting two pictures, from real life entirely opposite in expression of thought and portraiture. He looked first for the most innocent, beautiful, attractive, perfectly developed, healthful little child, and became oblivious to all else in the progress of his art. He toiled early and late, that true perfect- ness might be his reward for all this arduous labor. He became lost to himself, realizing, by his superior knowledge, all this beauty that he so longed to put upon canvass, was now before him, and within reach of his aspiring hopes. At last, when he had painted that lovely child and felt that this vision of perfect innocence, love and tenderness, had met his ideal fancy, and he had received all the just praise his success merited, his unsatisfied ambition yearned the more to find and NURSERY LIFE. 35 execute the very opposite, and he felt, before he did another stroke of work, he would follow up his plan, would find this other side, so different from his per- fected ideal, and thus placing the two in close prox- imity, the reality of each would express itself to all interested in works of art. The poor man grew weary searching after this distorted and ugly fancy which he so often saw in his dreams or meditative moods. Years passed on, and he sometimes felt he would give up the search and never try to paint this from real life. But one day, in passing along the street, he no- ticed something moving by the wayside. He, being attracted, stopped and gazed at what hardly seemed to him could be a human being. The picture he had so long wished to find lay there before him. Everything but innocence and beauty was portrayed in every line of the face. The direst poverty, the most abject misery, brought about by vice and crime, all were indelibly written on this miserable life, which was only a wreck of manhood and harmony. He was so covered up by wrong thoughts and a misspent life, that, as the artist worked and gazed into those dim, dull eyes, upon the poor, pitiable wreck of the good, which might have continued in his life, that he did not recognize in this poor, weak, wasted humanity the very child he had painted so many years ago, which then was so perfect in its 30 life's perfected steps. loveliness. The little twig, so perfect in the early- life, was now the blighted and useless tree. I know this story is old, but the truth is the same always. The lesson it teaches helps me to show the jpower there is in right thought, the power there is in a silent good sent out to brighten and help up to higher conditions, to help raise to a better life those who cannot stand alone. Such a lesson teaches the power of good thought more effectually than much that is spoken. The two pictures speak a volume to us as we gaze from the innocence and purity of one to the covered- up past of the other, and tell us so truly the starting of this life was all right. The germs of good were there. But the journey was all wrong, was dwarfed, blighted and ruined. How about the guiding and moulding process in such a representation? Mothers, I ask you again, what are you thinking? We have seen the plastic substance in all its fresh- ness, and were not the seeming possibilities all that could be desired? Certainly the formation was not in fault. An underlying current came, which worked itself in so quietly and softly, " like a thief in the night," covered up and changed this God- given image so completely that recognition was im- possible. Fathers and mothers, does it seem to you when your little boy or girl, whom you so tenderly fold in your strong arms, whose little life is so much to your NURSERY LIFE. 37 warm and never-tiring hearts, does it seem that they or any other bright, almost perfect, child-life could ever stray so far from the halls of home teaching, from home life ? When you dropped in a word of counsel of the love of truth, into the little one's thought, did you ask wisdom from on high to help build firm and last- ing a love of truth and right? When you placed a nurse in your home did you see and know that this foster-mother was good and true? Did you make it your special duty to inquire into the merits of her moral character, and know she was mentally your nursery children's equal, as well as your equal physically ? Did you think that the absorbing natures of your bright growing children would take in all the thought given out daily, whether it pertained to a morning bath, a carefully prepared breakfast, a romp in the play-room, a brisk walk in the park, an afternoon drive or the quiet early sup- per and the putting away at night so carefully each little tired body in his or her comfortably prepared resting place? Did you think of all this and make it a thoughtful study ? Whenever restraint was needed were you kind and considerate ? or was it the blow first and the counsel afterward? Somewhere, somehow, things go all wrong and the blame does rest somewhere. Is there not a great responsibility resting upon someone? Shall we shoulder this duty and live the to-days more carefully, feeling that the 38 life's perfected steps. nourishment of the physical upbuilding is only secondary, that the mental growth and inner thought life, if wisely and judiciously handled, lovingly guarded, properly strengthened, will escape all the disfigurement, all the inharmony, all the scars of a battle of defeat, and by its strength, love and wisdom, be learning right in the nursery, right here with this wise leading, how to gird on the ar- mor of iruih and obedience so as to pass unscathed through the hard trials, the many temptations and struggles, which always come but do not always conquer. These little absorbing minds grasp right and know right from wrong very readily. Watch them at any little game. You hear: "It isn't fair!" What does a 6-year-old child know of fairness? He knows he has been unfairly treated, but he could not give you a moral lesson on justice. He simply feels and de- cides in his little thinking mind that it — whatever it may be — is unjust. Did you ever tell a child somethiDg and forget or neglect to do as you agreed? Well, — if you did be sure of one thing. If you forgot or neglected it the child did not. These small receptacles so full of undeveloped thought tell us in such a variety of ways how the germs of good and truth lie so quietly and patient- ly waiting the direction they receive in the leading that comes to them step by step. The very smallness of any one of their capabili- NURSERY LIFE. 39 ties is vast in its developed resources. Can we fathom the height or depth of one perfectly expand- ed trait of character subjected to all the successive changes that must disclose to our observation the reality contained in the hidden life with which the older, more experienced, mind is dealing? It's like the little seed; covered, we do not perceive the change which is constantly going on. But it's none the less true. A great good has come into the lives of our little folks in the many kindergartens which are springing up all about us. As yet they are not too numerous, nor will they become so. Even parents are so sur- prised and pleased at the knowledge these wee tod- dlers acquire in so short a time, and how happy they are in this new avenue of learning. Combining the changes of the little play-school so lovingly, with so much freedom of thought and body, that noth- ing is irksome; it's all happiness. So beautifully do they lead these smaller minds that it's like play time in the nursery, only something is learned. Some good is accomplished, and the half -day at the kindergarden is very bright and cheery to these frolicsome boys and girls not yet out of bib and pinafore. How they enjoy the music and the play- time! And how eagerly they enter into the quiet of the next exercise, whether it be work or study. Beautiful child life, would that you might go right on extending this happy life as free from care as 40 life's perfected steps. when your little world spoke to you of naught else than this the lovely Springtime. This bringing out all we can in a child, even though very young, helps build and make strong foundations for future usefulnes. Thoughtless words from older people are under- mining in their influence over these opening buds of promise. "Father and mother said so." That's a child's law, and if we realize how strong that law is, at this tender, growing age, what a world of hap- piness might be in this great, broad universe, warm- ing with beautiful child-life, which now seems only to tire and worry us. Some one advanced a quaint idea: "What are men and women? Boys and girls grown a little taller," with a few more years of busy thinking, of weary plodding, days of anxiety, days of active life. We, like the little boy or girl, live, learn, distrust and enjoy all we can take in. So to you I will leave the problem at this second step of unfolding life. To whom does the responsibility belong? Who is to blame for the many half lived lives, these wasted and worn excuses for life all along this jour- ney which must be lived? It is easily solved. Do not be afraid to attempt its solution. You will find the correct answer in the intuitive God-given thought, which is your teacher every hour of the day. We leave our little folks preparing for the next advancement. They have gained many things good NURSERY LIFE. 41 for themselves in the few years just past, and an experience which will help them as they reach the next round in the ladder, and as they grasp hold and pull themselves up one step higher, we feel thankful that our boys and girls have in the starting had wise counsel, good judgment and loving, tender care. SCHOOL. CHAPTER III. SCHOOL. "What better, what greater service can we of to- day render the Republic than to instruct and train the young."— Cicero. Bright little maiden, Happy little boy, Is there ought to sadden Your heartfelt joy? No — all is gladi We are off to school; Brimming o'er with happiness, Our little hearts are full. We are little children, Trudging down the street; Books and slates and pencils, Don't you think we're neat? Cheery little darlings, Your life's just begun; For you the world is smiling, For us our life's most done. We banish all our sorrows, Watching your blithesome glee; And hope that all to-morrows May only smile on thee. (43) 44 life's peefected steps. Now the great world begins to unfold itself, and the little, playful, light-hearted children, fresh from the many homes, come thronging before us with all the careless abandon of happy, winsome childhood. It seems as though the many nurseries had sud- denly been emptied of all the life and frolic they contained, and that their contents were fairly poured in upon us. How they open their great, wondering eyes and gaze, as only a child can, into each other's faces, up at the walls and ceilings, and finally at her who sits in authority over them. What think you they think with those busy little brains? Vastly more than ive, or they, could tell, I fancy. Impressions are lasting. Are they ever more so than in early childhood? These little minds are soft and pliable to a tone or look. Take care you do not mar while trying to fashion these susceptible buds of promise. Who cannot remember how vividly some little thing became fixed in the memory at a very early age? Who cannot remember the first day at school? How everything, from the teacher down to the smallest on the front seat, seemed so august and formidable, and everything was so far away and un- approachable. How these little folks, laying aside dolls and rocking-horses, putting on a clean pinafore, with book and slate tucked away so carefully in a bag (the first school treasures), felt the weight of a SCHOOL. 4:5 great responsibility resting upon their young shoul- ders. When they found themselves really there, wait- ing, how they fairly trembled as with an ague fit, until a nervous dread, sometimes, or rather more frequently, ended in tears. Well, the happy, blissful, child-life of the nursery and kindergarten is passed, and boyhood and girl- hood are fairly begun. As we look from one to the other, our query is : What are you thinking of, my little six-year-old? Of the long, tedious lesson which will weary your little brain? Of the long, dreary hours of this first half-day from your home life ? Of the tiresome waiting for school to close, when you will hear the welcome tones of the bell ringing out loud and clear, saying to you: Dinner-time, little one. Or does your frightened glance toward the one who sits at the desk, and seems to be so stern, ex- press how much you stand in awe of this one who is your teacher, and does all this strangeness which has come into your life fill your little mind so full that you can think of aught else? Ah, no. Can you not guess what these little boys and girls think of most at this first great trial which has come to them? This is the first going forth to battle. This is the first attempt at controlling and conquering self. They are thinking most of the fond mother, who prepared them so carefully for this school-life, and 46 life's perfected steps. gave them the good-bye kiss, wondering within her- self how these little ones could endure this first breaking away from the freedom of nursery life, from the loving, tender heart of her who was ever ready to soothe, comfort and cheer them in every trivial sorrow. O, how the little child prizes the mother-love at this particular time. No one else seems like this dear, considerate soul, who has never been from them before. Would we might always keep the thought of the true mother stored deep in the heart's best treasure-house. It has by its sacred, sweet influence, saved many a downcast, discouraged, maturer life from ruining himself. Hark! the bell rings! The first half- day of this wonderful school-life is over. The little feet cannot get over the ground fast enough. All is bustle and confusion. Going home! Its a little thing, an every-day occurrence, but its the greatest and most desired opportunity for these little ones who have just entered school. How at the first moment of dismissal away they bound and run pell-mell into mother's arms, and there recount, in minutest detail, every word and thought that has come to them in this new unfold- ment, which revealed something new at every turn. Think you this careful, interested mother passed a quiet, uneventful morning? I fancy those cheery SCHOOL. 47 voices and the patter of those little feet was like the sweetest music to those eager, listening ears. How could these young, active minds expand and grow, how could they develop, unless they could bring all their anxieties home to a real home inter- est, where dwells this true and loving mother. AVhere else do our weary and heart-broken young folks find such sweet solace as when safely cuddled in mother's dear arms? The mother at this time is the child's encyclope- dia. Seeking for refuge, for comfort, for peace, they always run for mother. She can sympathize and explain away all the petty annoyances of the little lives, and if she sometimes chides and reproves them, they forget the little uprising they may have felt, and it's all right, because mother said so. Little boy or girl, it is not safe for you to get too far away from this loved mother. If the babyhood, nursery life and this early school life need her so much, will not the days of the great future looming up before you need her still more ? O fathers and mothers, "give to him that asketh" love, trust, wisdom and a few grains of understand- ing from out your ever abundant store of useful knowledge, and from the weak and timid ones "turn thou not away." There is more than food and clothing in the life of a young, growing child. Clothe this receptive thought with a loving, trustful, helpful influence more lasting, more necessary than silver and gold. 48 Withhold not that confidence which is so beauti- ful in parents and children in the home life. Their joys, sorrows, pleasures, anticipations are all your own. They are yours, because this network of affec- tion makes all that comes into these young minds a blessing to your life. " Go away! I cannot bother with you! I am too busy!" Such words as these are used in some homes daily. They have such a harsh, unfeeling tone, that they often cover up the real confidence of children, and they shut themselves away from you and are silent. Do not push away from yourselves this oppor- tunity for doing them good. Do not allow your- selves to get too far away from the thoughts, in these young minds, just beginning to bud and grow. By-and-by you may wish to know what he or she thinks, and if now confidence is withheld, it will be harder to gain in the future. If the indolence or careless indifference is per- sisted in, the two natures never assimilate, and we wonder how it is that this child and parent are so un- like each other. You may try to excuse yourselves from this re- sponsibility by thinking these little ones are not capable of reasoning and understanding. Does not understanding come by leading and observation? Is there anything those bright eyes do not see and draw their own conclusions from ? Lead on toward the good by encouraging all the SCHOOL. 49 way. "Patience," if we persevere in it, "will con- quer all things." Give a little extra 'time from out your busy thought to help feed them. You will never miss tbe time. It is yours to give, give it freely. And what of the teacher ? She who has entrusted to her care sixty or more such busy bodies and brains? Who sits for years and sends out upon each and every one of them a thought substance which settles upon and works itself into the lives of these impressionable thought receptacles. May our good Father guide us in word and deed while engaged in this work of training very young minds. " Boys flying kites haul in their long-tailed birds. You can't do that when you are flying words." What a sermon in two lines, not only among the little children, but we older heads might learn a useful lesson from this thought of careful speech. Sitting at the desk, looking down the rows where sit these sixty boys and girls, they remind me of a bed of flowers, with their bright, healthful, rosy faces looking up at the teacher, as these flowers seem to look up to the bright sky above them. The glad sunlight, like the pleasant teacher, helps to build up bright ideas, just as the beautiful flowers unfold their leaves in the warm sunlight. Children always make me think of a pansy bed, whether in groups at play or in the busy school- room. Children seem so near to each other. If 50 they are a little crowded no matter. They seem to rather enjoy it. You know a pansy-bed must be full to be beauti- ful. All these little flower faces upturned to the sun, and no two alike. Just as a room full of chil- dren appear no two alike. All have the same teach- er. The flowers have the same sun, the same dewa and rain, the same balmy air is wafted over all alike,, and all seem to grow. Yet no two develop the same shape, colors ov strength. How strange these growths of life are to us, in whatever form they appear. Is it not much in appearance like the noisy school-room of happy boys and girls? We, the sowers, drop in the seeds for the pansy- bed in early springtime, and soon we see them nod- ding their little heads, and sending forth their sweet fragrance wherever the summer breezes carry it. Their life work is beauty, sweet scent, and the hap- piness diffused into the lives of those who love flowers. In these bright boys and girls sitting in straight rows, down the aisles, we see a wider and broad- er field for our seed-planting. Here we put in the germs of the love of study, confidence in the teacher, and each other, a desire to please, to ex- cel, if possible, a willingness to improve all the time in careful preparation of every lesson as- signed them, steadily and surely developing one step after another up the ladder of learning. SCHOOL. 51 Who says these seeds will not grow? Is there a more fertile place to lodge a good thought than in a very young mind? Or a more dangerous place to drop thoughtless words, unkind thoughts, wrong ideas, than into the mind of this little un- trained child? A breath is all that is needed to carry the thistle seed. A single seed is all that is neces- sary to produce the ugly weed. Then fathers, mothers, teachers and guardians of the growing youth, beginning with the most tender years. What are you thinking, I ask again. Let us face this responsibility, and, look- ing at it squarely, see just how it reads to us. Moulding the young minds through a love of truth and right. Developing into shape and beauty the good down deep in their hearts. Teaching that to be truly great one must be truly good. Teaching early the necessity of implicit obedi- ence, of loving trust, of true respect for those who are older and wiser than they are. Of a love of law and true liberty, and especially a sense of their duty to those who are in authority, at the same time to avoid all appearances of evil, to shun all that creates discord and confusion. Show- ing them how, by a true, harmonious influence, to build every step of early childhood, as near as we, with our own undeveloped natures, are capable of doing. Look at the results. Are we not at this very 52 time letting some light and truth into our own hearts and lives, gaining the good for ourselves 'while giving out the true and noble ideas to them? If we have judiciously used this great privilege, we have taken one more stride toward Life's Perfected Steps. These lives which come under our own indi- vidual observation, are but a small picture of the great, round whole called life. These beginners in the drama are only the little leaven, which will, by its different processes, change and change, un- til, when completion is reached, and the work is finished, a clean cut, square loaf, is, in our midst, ready for use. Nourishing it will be found, because it has been cleansed, modeled and shaped for its mission here. Strengthening in its influence, because the material selected for the formation has been of the best. Now comes the satisfaction of the workman, as well as that which is completed, telling us by the true reflection, that " whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well." Thus expanding, this young boy and girl toil on with more ambition up this ladder of learning, gaining at each advancing step something to hold and to keep for future use. This close application to books makes a better and stronger foundation for this life they must meet and live just appearing away over there behind the sunset hills. SCHOOL. 53 Others have traveled these very same paths before. Their feet, too, were weary sometimes, but they trav- eled on and on, their young and hopeful natures tried to reason, tried to bear and endure, and by so do- ing they learned a hard lesson of patience and per- severance. From these lessons which they learn and over- come, who says it will not build up and strengthen character? Are not those who have lived this same experience just a little in advance, and is not their thought saying to these little folks: " Come right along, you fresh young toilers, we have gained a part of the victory and welcome you most heartily. Come right on and pick up any little threads we may have dropped by the way, and thus, by observing our* blunders, escape a few of the tan- gles we have been obliged to unravel over here." The boy or girl who masters thoroughly the fun- damental principles will the more easily grasp, un- derstand and retain higher mathematics. It's the early starting that must be sure and right. We are very carefully led all the way if we stop long enough to look over the field of life. The learn- ing thoroughly each day makes every branch of this work easier and better to-morrow. If we do every duty, "those which lie nearest to us," carefully, how soon the doing is over, and we wonder we ever thought any of our tasks were hard or tiresome. And so on through the seminaries, the high schools, and different colleges open alike to these 54 life's pekfected steps. ambitious boys and girls, every step taken by them gains one more solid, stable part of the building so lately begun. As each part is but the support of the succeeding part, no links must be lost or broken, else this structure we are building might be shaky, un- stable and dangerous, and all time and money spent upon it wasted. The giving way in these weak places sometimes destroys the builder and those who toil with him. Notice, how, by a wrong thought, or a neglected duty, not only those who are the makers and plan- ners, but all associated with them, are more or less disturbed and injured. Our lives are a part of the great universe, whether lived in the present, past or future looming up in the dim distance. From the beginning they were, to the end do they endure, and who dares say life is not, and can be wiped out. Do thoughts die ? Wither away ? Come to naught ? The teachings of Christ to-day are lived more and taught in a broader, wider, better way of understand- ing than two thousand years ago, when a few chosen were told the " old, old story " of how to lire a true life. Because this silent thought element is our educa- tor, and it speaks to our inner life and tells us all what we are now, and all that we must be. This is wholly a God-given existence. Our life is directly from the Father. We must accept this as the truth of our lives. Then comes this thought, SCHOOL. 55 our growing boys and girls will soon be our young men and women. They now fill our halls with learning, and will very soon, in the coming years, be our Miltons, our Shakespeares, our Carys, our Hemens, our Wesleys, our Scotts, our Wadsworths, our Longfellows, our Washingtons, and Lincolns. Some of them will re- ceive this ? intuition, and be all that our good Father intended. Boys and girls, you are not in school to copy, but to receive truth, and be educated. Any more than your brain and muscle is a copy of your great-grand- father's. To be sure you may be like him in many ways, but you are yourself and live your own life just as he lived his. You think your own thoughts just as he thought his. From every avenue of life we can look for re- flections of these forefathers, of these loved memory teachers we have been naming, and thousands more who belong to the great throng who have blessed mankind by their true lives and beautiful, living thoughts. They have lived to show to us how to attain to the truest wisdom of womanhood, man- hood and love of human kind. Lovingly we fold our hands, and with bowed heads, hushed hearts, listen with bated breath to these beautiful thought teachers, who still live for and with us. Memory carries us back over the paths which 56 life's perfected steps. their untiring feet have trod, and we linger, and wait, almost expecting to see them, their dear thoughts are becoming so real to us as we delve deep into these stores of wisdom they have left be- hind them. Longingly we remain listening for some one of to-day to step out, taking a bold stand and say, Mine shall be a true life. I will live to-day, not waiting for the morrow, lest by the waiting lose some good and get some sorrow. To the growing maiden in the home or school life, I can give you no truer conception of true womanly qualities, staunch and forcible, than those of our- dear friends, Mrs. Stowe and Mrs. Hayes. Thank God, our noble Republic has these two grand women to point to with a pardonable pride, as they stood forth alone, as it were, and dared to do the right thing at the right time. They, intui- tively, seeing the way, the truth and the life, went forward, faltering not. The one striking a telling blow at the shackles of physical slavery, the other going still farther, stand- ing at the head of the nation, firm and determined, giving the sharpest thrust at the greatest evil our land knows. Uncle Tom's Cabin reached the inner soul, home life, and stirred the hearts of the people to future action. That book did more to wipe out slavery than all the lectures and sermons ever preached on SCHOOL. 57 the subject. She struck the key-note, because she reached the thoughts of the people. The absence of wine at the White House for four years taught this country a practical, lasting tem- perance lesson. These two noble women who lived their theories, and, by living them, taught others, left a beautiful memory behind them. Think you that this memory of these real living examples of truth and right. will ever leave the hearts of pure, good men and women, who owe to them such a realization of liberty? No; and to such true women should monuments be erected as lasting as those of Washington and Lin- coln. Are not these two most daring deeds remembered, and these two women, like our leaders, deserving the name of saviors of homes and people for the ages to come? So when you so quietly sit in your room study- ing, or are trying to conquer some knotty, intricate problem, know this, that this very toil, this very patience, this very perseverance, is making for you the most steadfast underpinning for a true life. When the ornamental work of your crude building, which is now in process of erection, is completed, you can stand back and look over your handiwork and feel that you, like these examples above quoted* have not lived in vain. Good-bye, my young friends, I shall meet you just a little later when your life will have taken 58 life's pekfected steps. upon itself a little more responsibility, a little more of the practical and real in life. Your third step in life has been successfully- passed. Now you mount the coming, which is the division. You are standing looking up at its pin- nacle. It will be hard to reach the very limit of the summit. You must keep the feet braced and firm. Have you been working and waiting all along for the consummation of all your hopes and fears? Well, if you have been faithful, good and true all the way, this new phase of life which opens before you will be easy, happy and true. " You need fear no evil for I am with you, My rod and My staff they comfort and guide you." Remember this promise from the Master. It will comfort you in the closing period of your ever changeful life, and will help you to look back and review all the lights and shades which have been following you in Perfected Steps. YOUTH. CHAPTEE IV. IOUTH. " In the lexicon of youth, -which fate reserves for a bright manhood, there is no such word as— fail." O, happy smiling youth, Thou'rt changeful like the May; The brightness of thy truth Strews flowers along the way. Sweet buds of promise come, They bloom on every side; Of every hue and form, Singing of sweet Springtime. O, cherish all the love Their presence kindly brings. Among these perfumed flowers The bird more sweetly sings. Another leaf is turned. Our steps are ever forward. There is no going back to erase or even change a single line. Ever the watchword is forward! and the march is onward! 'The irregular crooked paths are behind us just as they have been trodden. Will the experience we (61) 62 life's perfected steps. have gained walking with, and guiding the helpless steps of infancy, so benefit us that we shall take hold with new energies, new aspirations, new hopes for the growing youth, and feel in the innermost recess- es of our very souls, that with us rests much of the success of the future manhood and womanhood of the lives now fairly begun. It does rest with us and with them, whether the lines of travel shall be more distinct, more safe, and contain more truth and understanding of what life means. The days of wondering are over. The re- ality of living impresses these young minds with a sense of duty to themselves and others. We now enter upon that stage of young, active life, where the young mind grasps and retains most easily the true and lasting principles of life. We feel the embryo state has so soon passed and given place to the better organized individuality of the growing boy and girl. He or she begins to depend on self more, and less on fathers, mothers, teachers and guardians. This gradually rounded up change comes slowly but surely. It's the boy and girl we have to deal with now. How we delight to watch this gradual develop- ment opening up such a variety of change in mind and body. We wait patiently, watch eagerly this rapid un- foldment. It's the same little twig that away back we bent so easily, but now it is not so pliable in our hands. It has grown larger and stronger in so many YOUTH. 63 ways and developed more of the will power than has yet shown itself. How is it? Is the work becoming harder as we advance, or easier for them and for us? That de- pends. If the garden of this young boy or girl's mind has been carefully tended and lovingly guarded previously, we shall find it vastly easier. If at every step the pruning, weeding, fertilizing has been faithfully done, we shall find rich, mellow soil for our next seed planting. Were the unkind words met with just, careful consideration and checked before irritation made them ugly to reflect upon? Were the oaths the young boy gave vent to over his game of ball or marbles met with gentle reproof or manner, which left upon his thought a feeling of shame and a wish that the words had been left unsaid ? Were the tem- pests of temper, which so often came up in the home life, in the school life, and in fact did come up so frequently in the days gone by, met with a wise, cool judgment, saying, " Be careful, my child." " Nothing is gained by harshness. You are losing something from your life by these sudden outbursts. Stop and think a moment. Your good little hearts are full of a warm, generous love, if you will only stop! and think!" These are the weeds of discord and inharmony which have been revealing themselves to us, to be sure, but if rightly met and handled a great good here may be won. For self, that little foxy intriguer, 64 life's perfected steps. is ever on the alert to nip at the very root of the vig- orous, clinging vine, but with wise, untiring coun- sel self must be set one side and made to know that this sad trait of character (alike in us all) is not the winner this time. Some of the unnecessary impediments are being carefully removed, overcome, wiped out, and the good soil is beginning to fertilize, and the better traits of love and truth are taking firm root, the root- lets are commencing to grow downward, so that these young twigs may stand firm, not fearing the first strong wind will be their ruin. Now we stand back, a little at one side, observing. These growing young minds and bodies suggest to us such great possibilities. What a pleasure we ex- perience from the knowledge we have of their good- ness and true worth. Every unfolded thought re- veals a new trait, a new heart throb of his or her volatile nature. Sunshine and storm succeed each other, and the clouds reveal the light shining through e'er the cloud bursts cease. O, happy child life as Whittier so beautifully expresses it: "Ah, that thou could'st know thy joy, Ere it passes, barefoot boy." No one lives so truly the "Now" as these same light-hearted, happy boys and girls, and no one cares so little for the to-morrows as these young thought tabernacles scattered all over our broad land. They live, as fast and as much as they can, believ- ing in their very innocence of the responsibilities of YOUTH. 65 life which await them, the words of some one who said: "Who wisely lives to-day Has naught to fear to-morrow." Would that older and wiser heads might drop out of their busy lives much of that fret and worry which accomplishes so little, only wasting strength and vitality, and learn from these trusting boys and girls this lesson, — to accept and live the "Now" for all it is really worth to them, for the great good which would surely be theirs by living to-day in the best possible manner. So through our observation ive have learned wis- dom. What a harvest gleaned from the growing boys and girls of the school-rooms, of those, too, who have harder paths to tread, and much to contend against, who must toil early and late, and must give up to the sterner realities and necessities of life. School is not for these weary plodders-on. Edu- cation means to them hard work and long hours. Ob- servation and experience in these lives takes the place of instructor, and every day opens and unfolds a new page of life to this boy or girl which he or she is surprised at meeting. To these busy toilers we can send unlimited assist- ance by our strongest, kindest thought. To be sure we are not with them, we seldom see them. No? Wei], what can we do for them? Perhaps we have forgotten to tell you of the great thought element which travels so widely up and down our 66 life's perfected steps. busy thoroughfares, and all over this great wide world. Resting on all it meets, stopping ever and anon, but never returning. Always finding a lodgment and staying with this little mind or that little mind, helping or hin- dering so silently the life they are trying so hard to live. We have quite a mission here, all of us. We must think toward such as these, with oar heart's purest, sweetest influence, such words as these. You are doing the best you can under your present circum- stances. You are gaining wisdom and understand- ing a little by every daily effort. You are by this lit- tle grain of wisdom helping wipe out a littlo ignor- ance somewhere. You are grasping after truth such as was taught by the Master, and by so doing you are helping to wipe out a few grains of falsehood somewhere. You, by this early battle of life, acquire a greater degree of courage, aud so, by this feeble effort, help to obliterate some of the fear which assails human- ity, and a little more of true harmony creeps into your heart, and no room for hatred and discord ap- pears to be left. Send this thought from your soul's truest, deepest and most intelligent fullness. Your life's work is only begun. Persevere. Go among people of re- finement for employment. Seek only good compan- ions. Form no wrong or vicious habits. Live each hour for good. Be faithful and true to those to whom YOUTH. 67 you should give your best energies. Read good books. Spend your evenings in improving your mind, and thus develop a better physical frame. Above all, be temperate in all things. This thought helps build the character of our fu- ture men and women, and as it builds, blesses the world. Does such a thought-wave pervade our land ? Who are our thought teachers ? Our real teachers are those to whom our thoughts respond. Those to whom we can feel have our best interests at heart. This silent influence we feel, but do not quite understand. On the other hand, there is a bustling confusion abroad in the land which explains how our every thought and motive, not only affects the bustlers and the confusers, but all who meet the rushing current. On, on it sweeps, carrying with it that restless, hur- rying element, which outlives itself before life is half accomplished. Ever send forth the thought of peace and rest to the tired brains and hearts of the toilers whose burdens are carried early and late. By using our best inner nature in this way we help build up, and teach some weary, over-burdened life by our kindest, sincerest silence. Spoken words often convey two meanings, and thus lose much of the good thoughts intended, by the double handling they receive. I wish I could make the growing youth realize that their capabilities are unlimited, that they may attain to the very pinnacle of fame and true worth 68 life's pebfeoted steps. if they so desire. That everything is before them. That there are no possibilities they may not reach, grasp and keep. That there is no going back, no standing still. That all is for them in the boundless future, more than they can possibly use. Who would not live a wiser and a better life, if allowed to go back to the commencement of this life and begin over again at the earliest recollection. Who would not avoid all the pitfalls they stumbled into in those far-away days of boyhood and girlhood. How foolish those doings enacted, in that time so long ago, look to us now, when we look back through our experienced eyes, and feel sorely depressed at seeing the mistakes, and misspent hours, that lie buried in the past. But this is not a looking-back time. We are journeying forward, and though the little song wafts itself over and above us, and comes riDgirig in our very ears, with the sweet pathos of the singer, and the sadder, sweeter thought of the writer, as in the distance it repeats itself so softly to our listening hearts: "Backward, turn backward, O, time in your flight, Make me a child again, just for to-night." Think you — do serious heart-ache called forth from the thought such a piteous wail of sadness. There is no life like the happy childhood, no care, no weary thoughts, that drive sleep from those bright eyes, or paints a wrinkle on the perfect YOUTH. 69 brow of the cheery boys and girls who have only taken a third step in this drama called life. To these young hopeful natures all is bright, sun- ny happiness. There are no clouds in this clear, bracing springtime, and if there are, what of it? It's only an April day. The changeful youth, like these early days, produces a variety of light and shade, and before the tears, like the rain, are fairly seen, the merry laughter, so like the pure light, shining from a clear sky, bursts upon our ear, and we feel satisfied, because we know that nothing can really check, for any length of time, the real hap- piness of our growing boys and girls. To be sure some have many trials and they seem to them very hard to overcome. In great variety these are met, and in as many ways are they put away and controlled. To this class of growing youth school life is tiresome. They cannot see why the long days must be spent in hard study over dull, dreary lessons. They have a feeling that parents and teachers re- strain them too closely, and require very much more than is just from their over-burdened brains. They do not understand, with their rapidly developing minds, grasping and taking in every idea as it is pre- sented to them, that they too, are building and leav- ing their thoughts for others who will follow later. They live in their world, and are all unconscious that they have a thought influence for some one else. 70 life's perfected steps. Boys and girls, you who are in the schools, behind the counters, in the workshops, on the broad, beauti- ful farms, out on the boundless ocean, wherever you are, you are yourself. Great opportunities are about you on every side. The boy who sweeps the store to-day, is the suc- cessful merchant of to-morrow. Why? Because he has come on by earnest, faithful effort and hard work, step by step. His face has ever been turned toward the great future that he saw before him in the dim distance away over yonder. He has taken no backward steps. He could not afford one. Had he stopped doing, or wavered in his purpose, he would never have been where he is. Truly, he who hesitates loses much of the good which might come into life and be lived and enjoyed. The faithful plow-boy who toiled from early dawn till late at eventide, is now the owner of broad acres, surrounded by all the comforts of a delightful, well- conducted home. Why ? Because he was a faithful and trusted boy, who could learn many lessons from the great world of nature about him, and combining his duty and his best thought, plodded on, getting more truth, harmony and love into his very soul, at the same time he was building bone and muscle. Does not a strong, vigorous mind need the same kind of physical frame? Have not some of our staunchest men and women of to-day been bom, bred and educated in just such' schools as we have been describing? YOUTH. 71 The great, wide ocean carries out from our busy New York many waifs who knew no other home for years than the broad vessel with its tall masts and spreading sails, waving so gracefully in the morning breeze. Do not some of them after a few years come back into this same busy^whirlpool of active life the own- ers of their cargoes and vessels? Why? Because they were faithful to the work entrusted to them, and did the little things as carefully as those which seemed of so much greater importance. We must never forget the little drops of water and grains of sand, small in themselves, but when massed in one grand whole, what an overwhelming force it makes? So it is with any little deed of kind- ness. Never withhold a little deed of love, though it may seem very trivial to you. The doing may be so much to him or her who may chance to receive and keep in his or her memory the little grains of good. The careful mechanic, working early and late at his bench, may, over his very toil, conceive, plan and almost perfect some great invention which may some day reveal to the tiring multitude such a sav- ing of time and labor. Why? Because this simple workman has executed from out his busy thought all he was capable of, and thrown broadcast upon a receptive, thinking people his one grain of sand to help make up the grand whole. 72 life's perfected steps. And to the faithful student, he or she who does the best work possible, each day storing up a vast amount of useful knowledge, to be used by them when needed, to be imparted to others as necessity requires, to perhaps be condensed, sifted and placed in better and easier form for those who tread these paths of learning later on. Will not your wise heads help to save time, strength and labor, for those who would have plod- ded on weary and foot-sore, and perchance have given up and fallen by the wayside, disheartened and discouraged, had it not been for your clearer, wiser and better judgment, in placing your ideas and good thoughts of each subject you have han- dled, before them, with your superior judgment and intelligence ? So, we leave the student at his desk, the mechanic at his bench, shaping and trying to bring to a bet- ter degree of perfection this part of his life's work. This digging after something, ploughing and har- rowing constantly every day, carefully preparing every minor detail, must fit these toilers for the very place God intended for them. Before they are aware, the opportunities are here. The broad doors are thrown wide open, the world, with all its possibilities, is before them, and we ob- serve here and there a little green place where a few blades of grass are just visible. Just as the true workers begin to feel the strength of their growing minds opening and expanding to the great unfolding YOUTH. 73 of Light and Truth, as every new thought teaches them more and more the reality there is in this knowledge of a true life. This time has been one of true education, and was as necessary for success as were the feeble, tottering steps of early childhood, that the body might grow and perfect itself. Some good has been gained at every advancing period of the steps we have climbed. We mount another round of the ladder, and, peer- ing over, come face to face with our young friends, who have just wakened from school-life and sudden- ly become the young man and young woman. We see at a glance that the boy and girl, light- hearted and free, are no more. We feel sad to be obliged to say good-bye to these happy pleasure- seekers. But we know we cannot lose sight of the germs of good which so richly abound in their true natures. We feel right here like saying to them: " God bless and keep you always as pure and good to yourselves, to the world, and as true to 'He who careth for even the sparrows,' as the reflection of your happy faces tells us that you are." Many, in fact, most all wish to live right, think right and do right, but society confuses their under- standing of life and its requirements, and after such is written failure. This something, which lies like ■ a blight over so many young lives, is one of the evils to be carefully weighed, considered and pondered over, down deep in thinking minds and hearts. In the first place, too much is expected on both 74 life's perfected steps. sides. Each is equally fearful of the great, unknown future. Neither feels brave enough to go on and face all the many changes that must meet them at every new step in their young lives. But my young friends, this is your life, you are here. The more love, courage, and truth you can call to your aid, the greater success in life for you. Be brave, be good, be true. By doing right, and living right, your lives must know no failure. In this early summertime of happy trusting youth, when thoughts, aspirations, and the full enjoyment of strong bodies and active minds, are growing under these sweet influences, are not the true natures of each, as they see and know each other from day to day, and week to week, better benefited by this social communion of heart and soul? How like a beautiful morning, when the dew lies bright and clear upon the buds and flowers, waiting for the warm mellow light of the sun to come so gently and softly, just kissing away from every leaf and petal, the little shining drops, leaving it so fra- grant and sweet. It seems to me, early love in its freshness and purity is parallel with the rose, the dew, and the sun. Every motion of that graceful form is perfection to him who waits and watches with a fond lover's care. How the memory of every rippling laugh, is lived over and over again when naught else fills the soul but the purest affection for this heart's chosen. Even the touch of the hand is remembered and YOUTH. 75 cherished as too precious to be spoken in words. Any- trivial remembrance, like a faded flower, a few lines, hurriedly written, have a boundless meaning to him. This sweet security that no one knows but himself of these heart-treasures. What a restful quiet con- trols the soul in these heart musings? Would not the beauty of these loving thoughts lose their great- est charm were any one to read this secret happi- ness? Notice the spell which seems to so silently im- press us as we meet and associate with these young friends. In so many ways we note this gradual de- velopment. He speaks in softer tones to mother and sister. He even thinks of many little kindnesses and does them. Why ? Because the deeper, truer manly nature of his inner soul-life has just emerged from its hiding-place and asserted itself. If these influences continue, rightfully brought out, accepted, and carefully contemplated, the dis- cord of his life is changed to perfect accord with life. Harmonious chords have been touched, and the vibration is perfect tune. This leading helps either so interested to culti- vate courage, love, wisdom and true understanding of everything connected with any two lives thus brought together. One such heart, stirred to 1 its very depths by an earnest, responsive chord, knows the truest happiness our lives receive. Pure love seeks only true and lasting love in re- turn. Pure thoughts respond only to purity. The 76 life's peefected steps. sweetest harmony re-echoes only the perfectness of harmony. The bravest courage begets alike the entire absence of fear. Having no thought of evil in these lives creates for them the greatest good. All these manly and womanly qualities, lived daily by him or her who seeks his own, finds ready and willing response, and the trusting, mutual approval of both is understood and appreciated. How to her, who first realizes this being needful to the happiness of some other life, uplifts the soul and beautifies life's pathway. She sees only per- fectness in human form. She hears only the echo of that dear voice which speaks to her inner soul- life with the deepest tenderness, filling the heart's longings, and to her its tone is sweetest music. How these dear heart-responses permeate to the most hidden recesses of her trusting, loving nature, leaving only a restful happiness. Can we bear to see her go on worshiping at this shrine and not lift a warning voice, saying: "Do not worship, this is only humanity." But we must admire the truth, the devotion, the unselfishness which responds to every impulse, every pure and holy influence, every true and loving thought, which says to us, by the very silence of these loving, hopeful lives: "I trust and am not afraid." Were the homes of our American Republic founded on these pure, trusting principles of right, what need 10DTH. 77 would there be for divorce courts, prisons, asylums, and retreats for all kinds of suffering humanity. Were the hearts of all true men and women im- bued with this holy, undying affection, firm as the everlasting hills, "a house builded on a rock," which no amount of selfish, ungenerous motive could un- dermine, there would be fewer homeless wanderers, fewer homeless children and fewer homeless homes. More of the true would be wafted over, and lived through our land, and would penetrate itself into the by-ways of error and misery, until the glad cry of freedom from evil influences, would re-echo from shore to shore and pole to pole. We thank our good Father that there is such an element afloat in our loved country. That there are many good and true men and women, possessing rare germs of pure character, which are deeply rooted in hearts and homes. That there are many such young people just entering the great whirlpool of life, who prize true worth more than titles and estates. Now we, in our musing, find still another phase in the young lives we are following. They accept and carry their own responsibilities. This boy and girl life has led them along almost uncon- sciously, toward this line and up to this new and untried phase of life. The first thought of reality awakes in the minds and hearts of the boy and girl, left behind, a very indefinite idea. While they think they 78 life's perfected steps. know, and do understand, we know they do not, and all too soon they realize that this is not babyhood, nursery-life, school-life or even early youth. Our picture presents itself to us now as this young man or maiden begins to understand this new awakening, as Love's young dream first dawns upon their inner thought, and the transformation to them is generally accompanied by intense plea- sure, or a nervous dread of they know not what. Why? Because the reality of beginning a home- life has come. And this God within speaking so silently says: "Awake! and face your destiny with your truest, purest thought and purpose." The young blooming maiden sees only a happy future before her, so carefully guarded by loving friends. The young, vigorous man, full of lofty aspirations, nothing but a successful and grand career, made doubly so by the affectionate, kindly esteem of those by whom his life is surrounded. It is one of the beautiful lessons of life to watch these shy, half-opening flowers, showing so plainly the love and trust of either before the roughness and rebuffs, which are sure to beset them, has touched them with the rude finger of disloyalty to themselves. Why do we use that harsh word disloyalty? Be- cause they are so susceptible to every thought which is liable to reach or touch them. These receptive natures just unfolding receive YOUTH. 79 and absorb very easily all that might distort or beau- tify, and thus the thoughts and deeds of others, wafts itself so lightly and O, so silently, over this loving, trustful pair, leaving a breath of discontent, a rude thought, revealing an untrue sentiment expressed in an indifference of manner, a coldness of tone, very small in itself, but it has touched and marred the beautiful trusting love, so that the perfect bud in its early unfolding, which should have been the full- blown flower, is blighted, and never reaches ma- turity. Are not "the saddest words of tongue or pen" just simply these: "it might have been:" But let us drop the sadness right out of this very beautiful thought picture and paint it with the pur- est and fairest colors. How we wish these young minds, just stepping out on this broader platform, into the mysterious future, would just stop and think a moment. Stay their frivolous career, and look at some good, true life. How much of error might be avoided, and what vast resources of good might be realized. The real harmony of one's life is the truth lived in that life, embracing the understanding and wisdom that crowds out all ignorance and fear, shaping it, rounding it up, and finally perfecting the real thought for the higher and better life, which is lived only in a nearness with "Our Father." How these first thoughts of true love to these young, susceptible hearts softens, while it strengthens 80 life's perfected steps. every other phase of the undeveloped imagination. "Would you, fair reader, leave this holiest, truest, purest of all the attributes from God unrealized? Does not this inner out-pouring mature and develop all that is noble and best from out their soul's in- most depths ? Is not this soul blending to soul the real destiny ? Should not all true men and women seek this rest- ful, harmonious trust in each other which makes a veritable "Heaven on earth?" Would it were possible for the growing youth of the land to-day, to know, to realize for themselves, that this great and pure love is from God, and coming from God, is the reality of life. "Love one another. This great command I give unto you," said our Master. The question comes and must be met and an- swered at this very time. How choose from the great throng of humanity the one who shall guard, love and cherish through sunshine and storm, through adversity and prosperity, without that vein of ignorance and selfishness always asserting itself and predominating. • These two characteristics have been the means of desolating so many, many homes. How is it pos- sible to separate the chaff from the bright, shining grains of wheat? Young man, young woman, this is your question, and you must take the responsibility of living truly the correct answer. You have been gleaning all the YOUTH. 81 way truth and the true interpretation of it. Your teaching all along this path has all leaned toward the good you have tried to live and the error you have tried to shun. Toward the harmony you have been trying to weave among all the thoughts you have gathered, and the discord you have tried to avoid. Toward the wisdom and understanding, which you have hoarded with such jealous care, that you might not fall into ignorance, vice or crime. Toward the faith, hope and charity you have so unconsciously absorbed in trying to overcome self. Toward the love you have felt for all human kind, because so much happiness and trust has been your experience. And now when your life's happiness is at stake, when you would choose wisely and well, you should know you are to look for true worth. " Seek and ye shall find." Would you be happy, restful and contented in the future time to come? Virtues such as gentleness, kindness, courage, benevolence, goodness, simplicity, honesty of pur- pose, modesty, a true and loving heart in either one will make sure foundations for a peaceful, happy home. We almost hold our breath, for just now we are entering into that mysterious unfolding man- hood and womanhood. New hopes, new developments are constantly changing before our eyes in a bewildering panorama of thought, in its ever varying, changeful expression. 82 life's pekfected steps. We see the lovely maiden fresh from her child- hood's home, where, nurtured in the most healthful atmosphere, she seems a perfect type of true woman- hood. As we gaze upon her, realizing her truthful, cling- ing nature, does she not remind us of a beautiful, bright June morning? The very atmosphere of which savors of true, unalloyed happiness. The very songsters warble the sweeter and mer- rier for her very presence. The leaves and blossoms about her breathe of a nearness to heaven above. Nothing, it seems, could detract from these Ely- sian surroundings. O, how soon might all be chaos and confusion, but that our good Father controls and averts any clouds or storms, and leaves to her the sweet bliss of peace and joy. Is this pen picture a reflection of the young woman of to-day ? Is the true ring of the metal portrayed in her who almost forgets her real self in her selfish desire for wealth, position, admiration and vain hopes? We recall the good old days of our grandmothers, when hearts were trustful and strong, and lovers brave and true. Think you, dear reader, that the fair cheek, and perfectly rounded form, blending with the truth and love, one hundred years ago, and the painted butterflies of our fashion plates, could meet and understand, or in any way assimilate, were they to meet in a drawing-room to-day? We feel sad when we even look at this reflection, YOUTH. 83 whether it be man or maiden, because we know he or she is missing so much of the real happi- ness of life, and are dropping threads all along the way which may never be untangled. Now comes the most particular advising, which our young friends are so sure they do not need. At this time this inner thought must make no mistake when consulted. Try to know the real worth. Be willing to give all for all. Use no deception, have perfect trust, perfect love, live into a more perfect understanding of the truth contained in life. We mount the fourth step and take one backward glance. Wo decide we have chosen wisely. We are now at the zenith of true happiness. As we quietly sit at our window and send after this lov- ing two, our truest wishes for their lasting good, we tarry for a little time, that we, too, in retrospec- tive meditation, may freshen our own memories, and live over in thought with them "the old, old story" ever new, and in the dim distance, through the soft- ness of the summer twilight, comes to our ears, touching and tugging at our heart strings the sweet refrain: — "Though the heart be weary, Sad the day and long, 1 Still to us at twilight, Comes love's sweet song." And now this deep affection helps them on to- ward all the realities which are just outside, waiting for these hopeful ones. They are fitted by their 84 life's perfected steps. earlier experiences for these life changes, and just now are living in an atmosphere of serene content. We will not disturb their day dream, but leave them to bask in the sunshine of this new light which shuts away from their vision all traces of darkness. MAKKIAGE. CHAPTEK V. MARRIAGE. 11 Home, home, sweet, sweet home, Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home." The marriage bells are ringing, They speak of future joy; Their echoes sweetly singing, All trace of fear destroy. They speak of days of loving In a future home so bright; Telling of joy and gladness, "Where all is peace and light. To us they say, God's listening To hear the solemn words, And softly adds His blessing In beautiful accord. As the grand organ peals forth the familiar wed- ding march, and the words, "What God hath joined together let no man put asunder," falls so solemnly on the ear, we almost tremble at the magnitude of this new responsibility which the lives we have been following a score of years have taken upon them- selves. (87j 88 life's perfected steps. But we conquer ourselves; there is nothing to fear for these, who have chosen so wisely. E very- condition to the observer speaks and says: "This loving pair are entering the inner door of a true life." It is not lived in a few weeks and months of constancy to each other. It is not lived wholly in the spring-time of that happiness which has come into the souls of each and made them both purer and better, so that all else is as naught to them, and their reality is just their love for each other. This undeveloped, undefined germ of the soul's truest and best thought, has just awakened and knows that life is only beautiful, because of its truth and purity. This era, if rightly lived, delights the observer and teaches a most necessary lesson. Everything is purely expectancy ; they have not reached realization yet. The beauty of this time in life is the desire to please and do for each other. The putting away of selfishness on the part of either, the constant seek- ing to do kindly favors. This living for the good of one, who is ever in the heart's truest thought. Does not this harmonious training purify the mind, elevate the soul's desires and help onward to a life of truth and right ? Do we not see how at every advancing step, each must help the other? Each must be at his post of duty, encouraging, cheering in every little way the onward progress of a MARRIAGE. 89 restful home life. This meeting each other half way is the real point to be carefully and consider- ately studied. What is giving up now and then, when true love is the mentor? Does not the gain come into each life alike? Is it not another phase of this conquered selfishness, which has all the way along been a formidable foe ? In every victory from the cradle up to the time we are now living, have we not strengthened our trust in, and our understanding of life? These nurtured attributes of good and wisdom will make such enduring timber for our castle-walls, of perfect character, that we shall not be obliged to go back to our Pilgrim fathers, to find examples of hearts staunch and true. To find men and women whose lives, whose homes, whose children, will be planted all through the land, like the cooling waters of the oases in the heated, barren deserts. Sending out from the fullness of the good lives they are liv- ing, a wave of light, and true American freedom more lasting, more beneficial, more helpful in its in- fluence than all the standing armies in the world. Such loving fountains of truth, imbued with the holy principles of a trusting life, lived every day, in the home, in the bustle and turmoil of business, or domestic care, will bring to the coming generations a temperate, chaste, and law-abiding race, who will have no need of a "Party Reform." Can we not see clearly the way this must come? It can come in no other way than in the culture 90 life's perfected steps. which is taught in the homes of good men and women. In no other way can the ignorance, espec- ially among the foreign masses, ever be met and conquered. Hewing out this deformed branch of intemperance, and this bent and twisted stub of a branch of stiffness and ignorance, we can come to an understanding of how, by and by, life will be bet- ter and fairer than we see it at the present time. Such a revolution will help to overcome all the silliness and underlying selfishness in our midst, and we shall see the dross separate itself from the pure gold, the chaff blown to the four winds of Heaven, leaving only the bright, shining kernels of souDd, pure grain. Thus living for something — and being something more than summer butterflies of fashion and amuse- ment, our land would be cleansed, purified, and sus- tained by such a spirit of good and truth, that fifty years hence harmony and love would cover discord so completely that recognition of it were not pos- sible. Where are the robust, energetic fathers and mothers of the coming ages? Some are in the cra- dles. They are scattered all over our fair land. The unborn millions must feel a little of this cur- rent of good, true thought, and receive a little of its purity and innocence. Character begins its foundations when life begins. There seems to be three pictures in life, from which we draw conclusions. We will call them prob- MARRIAGE. 91 lems, for they are intricate in character and forma- tion, and each must be handled carefully to get at the correct solution. The very poor, the comfort- able classes, and those who live in affluence. In all of these we find much to commend, and much that we wish might be changed. By calling your atten- tion to the inharmony of existing conditions, many of my readers will readily see and understand that in order to correct an evil, it, the seeming evil, must be wholly obliterated or wiped out. I would take in comparison the two extremes, those who cannot rise because of their poverty, and those who have so much more than they can possi- bly use, and who are too indolent and selfish to use their God-given wealth to correct this poorer element forever following after them asking their charity. Not really, always, wanting the good things of life, that belong to the wealthier classes, but asking a way to a knowledge of doing for themselves, which they seem wholly ignorant of. Go back into the weary lives with me and you will be able to trace along every backward step a mis- leading somewhere, and the results of past neglect are right with us in the present. They are for the wiser and more intelligent minds to solve and cor- rect, that the future will be freer from all that hin- ders perfectness here. The means are at hand ; why not use them ? When you wish to elevate a weaker brother, just teach him in a judicious, kindly manner how to help himself. 92 life's perfected steps. Honest industry conquers all kinds of weaknesses and helps build up good men and women. Per- haps it is easier to put your hand in your pocket and give outright what you feel like giving. But it is not the best charity. That makes beggars. It never elevates, but hinders the growth. 'Anything which comes by hard, earnest effort, is always appreciated. Then to you, who feel yourselves ready to live and enjoy life. Have you not a mission? Of him who has much is not much required? Take into consideration the helping of one up a rugged path, and he in turn is actuated by this same good thought sent out by you, and does his little to an- other, and another, so the links are all connected, and at last the backward glance is taken, showing a con- tinuous chain of good deeds, the simple "doing unto others as you would that others should do unto you." Are not the very poor often very generous? It's like the widow's mite. They do all they can. Often we see one weak, frail woman toiling early and late for her little ones, by her own exertions keeping them all together, sending them to school, fitting them for some place in the near future by her un- selfish devotion and loving care, which will benefit alike themselves and the world. Just now I feel like asking the question: "Why do most of the eminent men and women, those whose names are written all along the pages of history, deserve the name self-made? Is it not because they delved deep and dug out for themselves the rich stores of MARRIAGE. 93 knowledge which was theirs by the seeking and ap- propriating ? If by saying one word to assist the growing men and women I can help to wipe out one little grain of poverty somewhere, I am paid for many weeks of labor. Or if in my pen-pictures I touch ever so little the grains of natural selfishness, of the love of gain, in human nature, so that the hearts of those who think so little may be reached, and by that reaching do a small part of their duty, the mission of these steps in life is fairly begun. The children of the very poor have often more tenderness and loving care than those whose bounty affords them the privilege of entering all the social follies. Some mothers are from home so much that the manager of the nursery is the mother really. It is so easy to gain or lose that holiest affection of the little child by just letting it alone. These lovely duties in the dear home-life, between parents and children, are never realized fully. How dreadful ! No time for them. They must see every new shade and pattern of the latest fashion. No time to interweave the mind and heart's best thought, blending sweet mother and child-love in beautiful unison. Are not the hearts of these little children in these elegant mansions as hungry, and as empty, as those mentioned away back in the nursery where want and ignorance are so plainly portrayed? It is not money, but the love of money that takes out of humanity its greatest good. This home does 94 not know it is being robbed every hour of the day and night by its employes. Eobbed of something vastly more than riches and precious jewels. Fond hopes, lovely character, carefully builded and mould- ed, hearts purest, tenderest love, and a sweet, serene contentment of priceless value. Who realizes that pampering the pride, and kneel- ing at fashion's shrine has dwarfed and spoiled this home circle, that a great good has gone out of these lives never to return ? And that while these heads of the household have been foolishly frittering away their time, something which should have bound and held them in true bonds of love, has gone — is lost. These priceless jewels are no longer theirs. A little of Heaven has been missed without an effort on the part of the owners at keeping it. Who is responsi- ble? Where will it all end? Dear reader, do you know of any such losers who wander through life after this plan ? Does it mat- ter that stocks rise and fall? That great fortunes are lost and gained every day? What of your darling's love going out, peeking for its own every hour and finding it not? What of the strange ways that are so insidiously creep- ing into the susceptible natures which belong to your children ? Can you who neglect your true duties answer the question? Face the coming years, the coming lives, moulded, changed and lived, and because they are not as you planned and wished, ask yourselves — Who MARRIAGE. 95 is at fault? Where is the end bringing you? Which way must you turn? Who must this responsibility finally rest upon? Where shall we look to help wipe out the ignorance and discord of such warped conditions? Right in these beau- tiful palaces where the gilded misery receives the name of home. Others parallel with these already mentioned, in all save thought, while they have wealth in great abundance, by their true life, by their nobleness of soul, diffuse through the hearts of all who live with } and love them, the true good of life. Their thoughts are so beautifully wafted over all, that this good from their lives, both in word and deed, is imbibed in all its fresh purity by outside men and women who need their assistance as well as the members of the dear home circle. So, in many ways the two extremes are not so widely apart in thought and purpose. She who leaves the little ones to go to her daily toil, or she who wishes to be rid of responsibility. But the happy medium is where more true com- fort is realized. It is so nice to not be so very poor or so very ignorant, and this class, as a rule, are in- telligent and industrious. While they have many comforts and pleasures, they are not overburdened with too much care either way, and thus lose much of the weariness of poverty, and the care and worry which comes of having too much of this world's goods. 96 life's perfected steps. The every-day duties come right along. They bring with them a feeling of earnest endeavor to do and to be. No one in this busy throng feels that there is naught for him to be active about. This very industry acts like an incentive on his ever busy brain and willing hand, and the ambitions which ac- tuate his every motive are very commendable. How the goodness of the Father here presents it- self in the development of those who follow and en- joy useful employment. How it helps them to live happily from day to day, working for and loving each other. This happy couple find a foretaste of Heaven in the now they are living. Every day, as it is met and lived, gives them new strength for future duties. At the same time, does it not mould and shape itself into the hearts of their little ones' growth of character, which, when needed in the coming years, will come out from the dross, "Tried as by fire." There should be few mistakes in a real home life. The home circle must be the central point from which all else revolves. The magnet of truth and love should be so strong, that the drawing toward this true center would lead us right on in this line of perfected thought. Helping always to an outward and upward growth of mind, body and soul. Learning to bear and forbear, to overcome all habits of selfishness, to renew and consecrate them- selves anew each day. So to be the better able MARRIAGE. 97 to see clearly the line of duty, and seeing it, be willing to live it in reality. With these commendable traits of character, which we have touched very lightly upon, in a husband and wife,the utmost harmony must prevail. Think you such a home would lack the merry prattle of winsome, happy children? Could we make of it its opposite, gilded misery, husband at the club, wife trying to enjoy life by covering the dis- satisfaction of existence in frivolous society? Ah no, such a state of affairs could not enter and abide in this home, supported by true, Divine protection. Why? Because ( marriage was first ordained of God; because this great love from God, in its right and purity, is diffused through the hearts of all his children, and is the same old, refreshing story, ever new, to those plodding down the long vista of time. There is a growing tendency at this time in the minds and thoughts of our American people, which thrusts itself upon our thought and observation at every turn, else we would not allude to it. Perhaps it is a little vein of our selfish nature, somewhere, which we, in our gay and blissful ramble, have failed to uproot. Certainly it is truth, and as we are try- ing to speak truth it must be said. Does the love of society, of frivolity, perchance a growing desire to keep young, to be free to enjoy life more, is it these selfish pleasures that are warp- ing, dwarfing, starving the true thought embodied in the home relations? 98 life's perfected steps. We will classify. In entering many homes we find two or three children, sometimes one, often none. Doubtless there are many reasons and ex- cuses, and in great variety could this dearth of love in the home be explained away. But it would not alter the desolation, or the lack of the reality, that is all about us on every hand. vThis suggestion builds for us two pictures, of en- tirely opposite life and meaning. They are homely every-day affairs, but none the less true. First. We will enter the neat, comfortable, re- fined, perhaps elegant home. The merry prattle of the growing child is never heard. There are no finger marks on the panes of glass in the windows, nor bright little curly-head, watching for papa, in mamma's lap at the window. No little worn out, stub-toed shoe lying carelessly before the blazing grate. No laughing romps in the nursery before the good-nights are said. No chubby arms to cling about your neck, or sweet baby kisses to make the heart glad, light and happy, after the weariness of the 'day's toil is over. But instead, a little pug-dog lies curled up on the rug, and it receives all the love and tenderness, which belongs to this home. How will it be years hence when age comes to these desolated hearts? Are they missing any- thing from out the fullness of life? Where are the homes, and homes which should find their foundations here and grow from this home? Are MARRIAGE. 99 they living and completing their duties of life? Is life's work just at the beginning, just at the threshold even begun? Why — no — . The lot of these sojourners is just staying, not living. By-and-by, a little in advance of the Now, the realization will come, and the sad words will be, " Too late." Ye cannot enter into the trust and joy beyond, with your tasks half completed, without giving an account of what you have done with your wasted energies here. My young friends, stepping forward into the whirlpool of a new, inexperienced life, does this illustration please your fancy? Will it satisfy the longings in future time to come? It seems easy to live and endure existence, if our slothful natures tell us all this is work, hard labor, without a daily recompense. But the sad part is the leaving God's work undone which should have been faithfully performed. The keeping of the " Laic of Life" which tells us by its very truth the height of Life's Perfected Steps is reached, that our life is almost half run. Look over your shoulders at the happy yestei- days, and let their bright brilliancy cast a shining, God-given light over the to-morrows, blessing, pre- serving, and keeping you clean, pure and true to the next unfolding. While we have this thought with us, we will leave this little span of our life, and draw on our imaginations for a better and truer life picture. J 00 life's pekfected steps. Eight opposite this home we have been describ- ing, with the desolation therein portrayed, we open the door and step inside, finding that which we have been leading up to all the way from the child's cra- dle and nursery-life. The genial life therein con- tained helps us to name this a real home. The young mother shows by the sweet serenity of her quiet grace and neat appearance, that she has found a restful peace of mind and quiet right in this little home- nook, where love's beautiful light per- vades and dwells. The contentment which rests so calmly on the placid brow speaks plainer than words. We feel we cannot make a mistake, for all the in-dwelling of sweet home-life permeates our thought, resting and soothing us. Our stay is prolonged and we wish it might be longer. Were there more such beginnings, more such hap- piness in the newly-builded homes, could Tve esti- mate the vast good which might be achieved and lived all over the world? The home is the past reflection we remember so fondly. In every stage that dear restiog-place keeps such a warm spot in our hearts. Even the sight of the home where in early life we learned to lisp those sweet words, father and mother, has a sacreclness we scarcely understand. The days at home are never forgotten; thoughts play around in memory's halls, and cheer or sadden as each loved picture presents itself to the mind's eye. Shall we, in living this new and more responsible MARRIAGE. 101 life, carry cheerfully all the little, every-day occur- rences, living each the best we can, carefully, truly and successfully, never feeling that they are burdens, only lessons for us to learn, appreciate and use? Young married people, do you give this beautiful bright image to others, as you wander on in this dreamland of happiness? Most certainly; and your bright lights are the guide for others to follow after, and shape their lives from. You are, by such right and truth, overcom- ing much that is wrong and impure in this life. You are gaining for yourselves health, harmony, rest and peace of mind, a quiet contentment, a lasting happi- ness, which you have the right to carry with you to the end of time. May the light from our good Father, and the truth which we learn from oar Master's teaching, be with and keep you good and true, helping you in every step, guiding your every thought, showing you how, when, and where, to so live a true life, and build a true home, that this step you are now ascending, will be a lasting blessing to you and yours. Remember this is the prime of life, the next un- folding carries you over, and, lifting the veil, we come face to face with the first step which is more rapid in its descent. DECLINING YEARS. CHAPTEE VI. KIPENING YEARS. ' Like as the waves make toward the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end." Bright days of golden harvest, Along my pathway roll; I've gathered joy, sweet peace, and rest, With which to feast my soul. And thus the ripening day, Fruited with love and truth, Divinely says: " God's way Guided thy steps from youth." The early spring and flowers Showed life had just begun; The summer's sun and flowers, The half was nearly done. The autumn says: " 'Tis well, You have not long to stay; Soon winter's hoary frost "Will bear your soul away." The happy and unhappy events have touched us again and again, sometimes lightly and sometimes heavily, as we have stepped, O, so carefully, all the way we have journeyed. That which seemed bright, (103) 104 life's perfected steps. and that which seemed so shaded, reflecting so clearly all the brightness and darkness too. There were always little cloud-rifts with the brightest sun- shine, always some little ripple to disturb the placid water, many discordant elements to be overcome, and lived down and put away, as we lay off discarded gar- ments. And while these two elements contested against each other, how hard it all seemed, and our wonder was always to be followed by the query, why it had been thus and so in our lives ? Now, in reviewing it all, how easy the doing would be, if lived again. How, after the weary plodding, it seems, as we silently contemplate our past life, the arrangement was perfect; it was only the plodders who became disheartened and faltered by the way. As we review it all we can see the wisdom and love which planned all things for our good from the beginning. How at every point the perfected step awaited us, and was ours just by accepting and doing. How all along the way we met a variety of change, and so wisely were our steps directed that we missed much of that which is termed turmoil and confusion, and received into our very natures in its stead true harmony. How, as one thing after another followed closely, our every effort reminded us of the great school of nature. All along we heeded the leading, and as we struggled to overcome, every little doing on our RIPENING YEAES. 105 part made us strong to endure, and the reward was the first fruits of realization of understanding of the great truth of life which came into our lives, and the light which penetrated the inner recesses of our natures. Just as the early blades of grass in the vast mea- dows seem to try to come out into the bright light of a perfect day. The sun is to the grass what the Truth is to our lives, and the sun diffuses to those weak little blades of grass strength, and perfection of growth, as does this beautiful thought element weave itself into and blend so carefully into the inner life of all of God's children. Going back in thought to the first blades of grass, flowers, buds, and trees in Nature, this ever-chang- ing growth says to us. "This is emblmatic of your every step in life." Just as they slowly came forth, grew and matured, so you came out in the morn of life, and stopping, we peer in at the hour-glass which has been with you from the beginning. It tells you how every moment used by you allowed these sands of time to drop, one after another, into the well-spent yesterdays. You can see for yourself how the inward growth worked itself along toward the full-grown develop- ment of all your many wanderings. The ripening grains and fruits of the early fall time tell us maturity in Nature is here. Does not the many land-marks you have passed tell you, too, of a successful series of well-spent years? of a rest- 106 life's perfected steps. ful contentment, which is the consummation of the good there is in a true life if lived well? What shall we do with all these beautiful memories which meet us at every turn? Does it not soothe the spirit, help to smooth out the wrinkles, and put away the thought that evil abounds so surely in our fair land? Truly every blossom does not become fair fruit. In Nature it speaks and tells us so. In the life of humanity the same. But carefully nur- tured from the very beginning, perfection might have been possible. Were you ever out in a meadow ? Were you ever one of a party of berry-pickers? Did you ever look deep down in the tall, waving grass, and, as you separated the nodding tendrils, find, nurtured and shielded so carefully from the rude winds, the largest, most luscious, round, red strawberries? almost all rounded up, and waiting in their fullness to be gathered and appropriated to good use ? How gentle these long grasses seemed in their constant care- taking. It's like the home life where one is seeking perfectness, and thus having sought, has improved every opportunity of living truly the whole journey of a good life. How kindly nature teaches us this simple com- parison of life, not cramped and dwarfed, but beau- tifully rounded up and perfected, and while we contemplate the one, we intuitively accept the wise and well-directed Drvine Counsel as the one truth for us to draw from. We feel we are being watched, RIPENING YEARS. 107 helped, loved and cared for, and that this leading has been with us all the way. We, too, like the happy birds in the beautiful groves, singing so harmoniously their sweetest notes, send forth our praises to "Him who ever cares for us in holy thought and purpose." We, too, in our ripening years, like the flowers, open up to the Giver of all these perfected privi- leges, and say with the psalmist: "Just and wise are all thy ways." And now as we pass the summit of the long road of our journey, we realize how we have, by just liv- ing one day after another, been gradually ascending to the climax of all our hopes. We are here. Have we not been climbing all the way? To be sure our steps have been many and weary, we have stumbled, regained our feet, and now that the limit of our as- cendancy has been reached and successfully passed, we rest ourselves a moment before going down the de- scending steps of these our declining years. The buoy- ancy of youth no longer keeps pace with our feeble, less active steps. The ambitions, at two score, are not as strong, and the vivid imagination plays not with every thought as in that earlier time. Our faith has been thoroughly tested. These thoughts and ideas weave no air castles for us save in a backward glance. Our hopes are changed, we have realized now two -thirds of our life- time, and though we shall ever hope to the closing day, oar realization as we have covered it at every step, does not speak 108 life's pekfected steps. to us and show that it was all so easy. And charity, thou loveliest of virtues, how thou hast, at every turning point, kept thy beacon before our every weak- ness, showing how, when and where we most needed to be permeated through and through by this influ- ence which makes all mankind better. Faith, Hope and Charity, these three sisters guided us, helped us to overcome and live our little span of life, from the earliest infancy, through nur- sery life, early maidenhood, young manhood, into the newly builded home, through the busy days which followed, smoothing out so many of its cares, joys, and sorrows, until we come into the ripening years. The spring-time and summer-time are past, early autumn reminds us "That the melancholy days have come, The saddest of all the year;*' that this is fall-time, a gathering-in time. And is it not a happy time too, if well lived? If we have been looking forward to this restful period, we have woven into our busy lives and around our hearts-strings a labrynth of much lasting good. Now in gazing down the long vista of time, and recounting each stage as memory stirs to our very depths, what a vastness it presents to this our middle age, now that we are strong, well, and feel happy and energetic to grasp and go on to- ward the finishing of this life's work. Here we must loiter a moment before leaving the zenith, the highest consummation of all the RIPENING YEARS. 109 good we have lived, and this restful light and truth, which has come into our lives that we have been waitiug and praying for. We feel so thankful for all this success which has met us so ofteu, for all the sunny bright places which have so cheered our every effort; for the Divine guidance which never lost sight of us; for the privilege of having been thus allowed to live, love, conquer and endure. And in this peaceful, restful, thankfulness, we cease to remember any of the impediments which were met and overcome. With just a shade of sadness we glance over in our mind's eye, all these bright steps we have climbed. What a restful quiet steals over us con- templating the reality of the true thought we have lived in every avenue of life we have passed, and it, the thought, sends to our inmost soul the desire to gird on our armor anew, for the descending of the other which we have been calling the down-hill side of life. Expressed in its fullness means gather- ing of the good of well-spent years. How well our maturer years tell us this is the op- posite side of the mountain, that this is not the springing step used in climbing, that in going down we must make sure and keep a strong hold and steady step, a mistake in our leading now would be disastrous and past reconsidering. Care- fully we plod along and as we walk we ponder over all we have learned. How we delight to freshen our- selves in the retrospective vision of memory's halls. 110 life's perfected steps. The babyhood is lived again as in the olden time, in the little ones who belong to those other homes, which now we love so fondly, reminding us of that far-away, happy time, when we were young, brave and strong, and we sometimes long, O, so yearn- ingly, for the freshness of the early spring-time which has passed us again and again as we mounted so eagerly every step along our busy way. How well ive know: — "The mill will never grind again With the water that is past." Like the grand Mississippi, beginning at the lake away up in the mountain regions, so many miles from its great source, our far-away life has come on and on, grasping all the adjacent tributaries as does this " Father of Waters," we find ourselves nearing the larger, broader expanse which will soon make us a little drop in this vastness called the grand whole. Standing at the brink, realization tells us that we have only anticipated here-before, and by this actual knowing now, how the great God-given idea unfolds to us the thought of living truly to-day the best we are capable of, believing the Now is all we have, and all we can possibly appropriate to our own use. Looking into the future, how short the few years seem before we, too, shall have passed on and on to that vast eternity, where "we shall know as we are known." Where all is light and the dark- RIPENING YEARS. Ill ness is a myth. Where truth, love and harmony are never discounted. We feel that we have been overtaken by many tempests, but by the truth of the life taught us from the cradle up to this time we have weathered many a blast, and through the guiding we have received we have landed our little bark safely in the harbor of rest and peace. With true faith for an anchor, the rough billows may toss, but they do not harm. What does it matter that we have some scars and do seem faded and weather-beaten, and the furrows in our once rounded faces tell us that Time has laid his weighty finger upon us, not lightly, but heavily, and that the " silver threads among the gold" do predominate to a large degree in the gradually-thin- ning locks. Does the good soldier who has won many victories, who has come out from the contest, tired, wounded, and famished, falter when the call comes: Forward, march! and if to arms, he wavers not at these calls of duty. Are we not soldiers in this battle of life? Must we not move on with a steadfast step till the victory is won and the steps in life are done ? Such a summing up of a life-work, from our earliest recollections is a record for generations to accept and imitate, and as our steps grow feebler, our thought, the inner soul life, should gain strength and renewed vigor. 112 life's perfected steps, We do feel a sense of rest coining to us now that the leaves of our past have been unfolded to our- selves and those dear and near to us. Every one in the turning revealed to us another of spotless white- ness without a perceptible blemish. And each one is now covered with a record of the fullness con- tained therein. How beautiful is the thought, that they in this recording, can say of us: "Those years have been busy and well spent. The doing was not always perfect, but the earnest striving after the true way, showed the perfect effort." In scanning over these memory .leaves, how we love to live again in the sweet communing thought ; the happy bygone time when we tripped merrily off to school, with never a trace of care and sorrow; we wander in thought over the many, many hours spent with those we loved so tenderly and dearly, and though it's only a memory, we love the dear re- membrance still. Like the scent of the roses, the shattered vase still holds the scent, when the change obliterates the picture. That is why we love to ponder as we keep our hands busy. In the far-away time we live again, we love again. In thought we mingle our tears again over the many sad, heart-rending scenes our weak steps felt obliged to cover, and with the sadness which softens our hearts, we still treasure all those heart memories, because they have, while they hurt our souls so deeply, helped us up the rugged height, RIPENING YEARS. 113 and kept us pure through affliction. These helped to whiten the locks and deepen the furrows in our once smooth faces. But these are only the outward signs. Through the light, love and truth which came into our very souls, how much we gained and overcame. How we hoped and waited. How our faith was strengthened at all these places of trial. So now, through our experienced eyes, as we glance backward, we feel our mission is to help oth- ers just following after us. All the way we have been guided. Our little canoes of thought, freighted with all kinds of different wares, we have been try- ing to steer up and down the great ocean of life. We would fain tell our young mariners of the many quicksands and shoals upon which their weak crafts might be foundered, and their freighted vessels of unrevealed thought perish for lack of proper guid- auce. Of the rugged, overhanging cliffs above the smooth, deceptive waves, where lurk the jagged rocks which so surely dash their frail barks to pieces, tossing them so mercilessly to and fro on the roaring billows, we would say to these untrained sailors out on the tempestuous sea of life: Look for the never failing light-house of faith, towering high up, far above the roar and the tumult below. See the bright star, and, keeping your eye fixed on this safety light, which is yours by accepting and fol- lowing, sail on safely to the harbor of truth and right. 114 life's perfected steps. This middle life brings to us much that instructs and uplifts. For have we not had a rigid disciplin- arian in the experiences we have met at every step? This teacher has wisely dealt with us at every turn, and the longer we live, the more thankful we feel for this great privilege of living. But we have still to face reality, and here our musings must cease for a while, as we proceed on our journey through the autumn. We have not as many of our old-time friends as in the early spring time. The fresh buds and blossoms have come and gone, and as we wander beneath the sturdy old trees of the forest, how the falling leaves remind us of time and change. Sometimes we seem almost alone, and this feeling would overpower us, were it not for the fond mem- ories which ever and anon come to us in our day- dreams or so silently and quietly at the restful even- tide. Watching the fitful blaze of the glowing em- bers in the grate, we fashion in our vivid imagina- tion the times in the happy past when the old house resounded with the three or four generations, who in those halcyon days thronged the rooms to over- flowing. From the grand-parents down to the crowing baby all was perfect happiness. The love which has been handed down to those succeeding, gave out a cheery welcome, and thus sitting and pondering on the beautiful thought pictures of the by-gone days, these memories flit ever and anon through the busy RIPENING YEARS. 115 brain, forming within this inner life a fountain of perpetual youth. Every true home contains such blessed memories. Those who have loved and lived truly have enjoyed the poetry of life, from the romance of this experience, and a settled, contented home-rest makes the continuance of it placid and serene. The pleasant home evenings surrounded by loved friends, the caring and doing for the children's children. No hurrying at this decline of years. The step, if not feebler, has not the spring and firmness of the buoyancy of youth. There is a settled calm resting upon this going down the oppo- site side and we walk slowly and with care. Were it not for these little folks who are constantly with us our hearts might take on the same attitude. But having been freshened and watered daily by good and truth, we seem to enjoy these little folks more than we did our own in the far-away time, be- cause we have more time to devote to them, and less care to carry. Keally, it is a beautiful picture to see the wee tod- dlers trudging along with these two who are nearing their three-score, and they, in watching their merry glee, almost forget their pilgrimage is nearly done. How they, too, enjoy all the prattle of these little lives, and build bright air-castles for them, in their coming future, hoping and praying always that all will be well with them. Knowing how soon they will be ready to take their places and tread these 116 very paths, taking iheir backward glance. O, life, what a panorama thou art! How shall we ever be able to grasp ana under- stand God's mysterious ways? We have come along this leading, and how much are we able to give our friends of this mystery of life we have lived? What did we know before we had passed the present, how vague and undeveloped our future seemed to us, as every new condition of our life opened up to us. And the past was never lived as we wish it might have been. We left undone so many, many things, and did so many unwise and foolish things. This meditative mood is common to us all at times, and we all would improve could we once more go back to the beginning and pick up all the little threads and weave them into our life-chain. Still we wander on, loving, living, hoping. Every day lived is just one day nearer home, and still we linger — not caring when we see the leaves growing yellow and sere, on every shrub and tree, so like our worn bodies. The change comes so gradual to us we scarcely perceive it, but a passing glance in the mirror surprises us by telling us, too truly, by its reflection, saying to us the leaves are falling, the beautiful, fresh, green grass is withered and dry, the harvest is here, and the gathering in time of your ripening years is at hand. Your roomy barns are full of plenty. You have been the early, busy, patient toilers. You have done the little duties which came nearest to you, faithfully and well. RIPENING YEARS. 117 Now, enjoy for a season this abundant fruitage of rest from labor, of the dear memories which con- stantly fill your thought, of the kind charities you have spread broad-cast, of the loving deeds which you never wearied of doing, of the kind and gentle words which live for all time in the thought of those for whom they were intended, of the good which has, through your effort, been blended into so many lives, and helped them up to higher conditions of life. May you quietly sit in your old arm-chair, or wander among the shrubs and flowers, always filled with that gentle peace of mind, and a blessed hope in a continuation of all that is good in slowly descending to the final summing up of a well-spent and useful life. And sitting thus, may the quiet rest of true con- tentment, which is a well-spring of joy, show to you that, had the beginning of your life been different, had you started out without the wise and loving home training, without the light of God's great truth placed ever before you, not in theory, but in practice, musing thus, after many years, we are able to see the answer to our question. Who is responsible for the training of the young minds ? We can look back and see how our every thought, in fact, how every thought, of the great multitude of humanity, helped build the life we have tried to follow. Fathers, mothers, ministers of the Gospel, teachers and guardians of the youth every- 118 life's perfected steps. where, to you will some time be asked these ques- tions: What influence did you exert over that young, expanding mind, given into your sole charge ? What is the reason your son is a gambler, a drunk- ard, a thief, and a liar? Why is it that your children, or those you have in charge, scoff at all religious training? Why is it that young men and women wake up suddenly and realize, after they have given their best heart's de- votion to some good, working, religious church, that sincerity is lacking in those they have formerly looked upon as almost perfect in reverence, in prin- ciple and in deed? Why is it that the word hypocrite seems so much worse than a commoner one, which is called sinner? The mystery is being solved daily, and young minds are doing themselves a great injury by solv- ing too hastily the question. Example is better than precept, and a wise counsel, like a good exam- ple, impresses young, growing minds all the time. This great thought element, sweeping past us con- stantly, carries with it a mighty force, and if con- trolled by God's wise truth the end is good. So if these questions, Who is responsible ? What are you thinking toward each other, toward the world? are answered at all, they must be answered in the earliest, purest age of the young life. A farmer never looks for seeds to plant in the gathering-in time, but in early spring, when all is ready for the seed-planting. RIPENING YEARS. 119 Going back to the worthy ones who at this three- score find such rest and contentment in turning the leaves of the past, we find good, true examples of men and women who have lived every day for right, for truth, for good. I once heard a very dear friend say this: "More should be expected of me than of those who have not been reared as I have been. I never heard a cross word uttered by my father or mother to each other. If any differences of opinion came up, they were never before any of the children. "My father was a good man. He lived quietly his reverence for God and all that was good every day. His religious services were never hurried but always restful and quiet. I an sure my father was a good man here, and is truly happy in the rest be- yond. " Could such a parent have had one of his family grow up not realizing truth, right, good? Could such a parent have had one S07i embrace the doc- trines of an infidel, and under such training, would the child wish to be unlike his father ? "Example is better than precept." My father, or my mother, is a quotation which should embrace in its meaning all the true nobleness which belongs to good true men and women. Then these restful home comings, such as we have been noting in the declining years, will be more fre- quent, more of the good will spread itself abroad in the land and less of its opposite will be lived and felt by the multitudes who come and go. 120 life's perfected steps. The wrong thoughts will be wiped out for want of nourishment. The jails and all like institutions will be less crowded, and though it will be slow, we shall live to see that more can be accomplished by- right thought than by the greatest force. We have read in history, and not long since, in this century, how one man's judicious, quiet words quelled riots and created peace where all was discord and confusion. Why not try just such a thought wave with anar- chism, politics, the temperance movement, any great issues of the day? If the thinkers, I do not mean the schemers, for they work for themselves and not humanity. If the thinking masses were' to combine good true thought, it would fall upon the wrong- does like an avalanche, and the evil would flee as it always does before truth and right. All this reformation begins in the cradle and each day accomplishes a little lasting good. All these good thoughts growing everywhere, combining in their true thought, building up as they mature and adding more and more to the strength of the grow- ing minds, has its influence. Capital punishment and war were never adopted : by the Quakers. Their motto has always been peace, and has not their example been good for humanity? Their quiet, serene faces speak to us and answer as 1 no words could do, saying that discord and inhar- mony has touched them very lightly. That the strife of the world which has caused the deep fur- RIPENING YEARS. 121 rows and gray hairs of so many all over the land^ has been to a great degree left out of their simple lives. There is a rest in even the garb of the true Quaker. Does not this show to us in these years of resting from labor, how the real part of life can be lived quietly, honestly, and truly. How every day is just a little stepping-stone, and every year another round of the ladder accomplished. Treading life's pathway from the beginning to this time, how little we have to fear? Are we not in our Master's hand? and though we have lived the best we knew, how little we seem to have accom- plished, how little it all seems compared to the great future looming up before us. Just a few years more and we shall perhaps see more to do there than we could possibly dream of in this life here. Then this preparation for another and better life to come will be our heritage there, and the " Well done," which may be ours, will come to our wait- ing ears like the sweetest music from the far-away distance, soothing our very souls by its gentle love. The same old house that stands by the mill, No more we cross the dear old sill; For the busy life which once was heard Is hushed. — How we long for a single word. The breath of the fresh-mown hay's as sweet As in days of old when our willing feet; Helped us to climb to the rafters height, From which we ieaped with all our might. 122 life's peefected steps. Our voices strong, sweet, bright and clear, Re-echoed our child-life, far and near; The happy "now" was our "all in all," The "io-morrows" to us, were September's fall. Now standing here and gazing still, At the time-worn roofs of the worn-out mill; And thinking over in silence we say, We are nearing now the close of the day. We, too, have aged like these buildings worn Joys, sorrows, sweet hopes have come and gone; The picture, to us, is both cherry and sad; And looking it over we feel sorry and glad. Because we have come to the harvest close, And have garnered peace, love and sweet repose; There's a rest comes to us in the grand review, Saying: "Old things are past, just grasp the new. Take hold with a steadfast hand, be strong, Your days of waiting will not be long; Yov have faithfully won the sweet reward, Enter thou in to the joy of thy Lord. GOING HOME. CHAPTER VH GOING HOME. Then steal away, give little warning, Choose thine own time: 3ay not "Good Night."— bnt, in some brighter clime, Bid me "Good Morning:" — Barbauld. Listening to the soft tones of the music I drifted into sweet dreamland, and thus half waking and half sleeping, I seemed to wander away so silently, so quietly. The toilsome effort of every day surround- ings seemed to have passed from me and all was harmonious, perfect peace and rest. Aimless] y I continued hit journey, for such it seemed to be. All the way were the busy toilers working early and late, but my going or coming was passed unnoticed by them, they heeded me not and I too. seemed to hare little interest in them or their occupations. I could easily remember the busy days I had left behind me. but my thought was earnestly seeking and going out after something so entirely different, that they were as naught to me. As I proceeded this way became smoother, flowers of every hue and color blossomed by the wayside. The trees covered with the most beautiful foliage, teemed with all kinds of bird life and the merry 12E 126 life's pekfected steps. chirp and twitter of their harmonies delighted my soul. But as I gazed, all these varied hues of bird and flower almost bewildered my thoughts, so far beyond anything I had ever beheld was this lovely vision of life and beauty. Lost in deep meditation I remained in a transport of delight, when a little child sud- denly attracted my attention flitting about among the flower beds. Looking up to me with such soulful speaking eyes, she said: "Are you not lonely without any little child? Come with me and I will show to you all my little friends. They will be glad to see you, for you have a name which they have given to you; thsy all know you. "We have called you 'The Child's Thought Teacher. To-day we have a feast spread for you and all your young friends and many who love your teachings are there waiting to give you welcome." And taking me by the hand we traveled on, and on, so easily, so swiftly, that space and time were as though it was not. Everything that we came to, all that we passed was even more beautiful, a sort of expanding beauty, opening up something new and wonderful at each step of this most delightful journey. As we went along we seemed to say as in the olden time we used the words, good morning: "What think you?'' And the answer was distinctly heard as though wafted through the air by the cool zephyrs: "Peace GOING HOME. 127 and Happiness. We are in the king's pathway and thus we find this rest by seeking the true. " You have labored hard to reach these beautiful, shaded paths, these cool, refreshing streams, these restful, quiet breezes perfumed by the buds and flowers. We will now feast you upon the riches in store for this true friend of the little children. Surely I thought this must be Heaven, such beau- ty, such loveliness were never the lot of humanity. As though reading my mind, the child looked up and said: "O, no. Heaven is a long way beyond this. This is only Happy Summer land, this is only our simple, every-day life. By and by when the Great Giver of all good calls us we shall go swifter and easier than we came here, to those more beautiful "mansions far beyond this restful place." We journeyed on a little farther and came to a more grand and picturesque place which seemed as though it should receive the name of happiness. But the child's thought again divined my question and said: "No, this is Contentment. You know it says, 'A contented mind is a continual feast' Em- blematic of that sentiment a feast is always spread, and daily we little ones go out and find our true heart teachers, and bring them here that they may see and know how much their true, good thought has done for us." My eye could scarcely take in all the vastness of this extensive child-life. Every variety of comfort, every variety of entertainment for the small aa 128 well as the large ones. Boats moving out from the shore over the smooth surface of the still waters, laden with light-hearted, happy children. . Older ones just coming in with their bright young faces beaming with quiet joy. I can not explain how this sweet rest affected me, how the gentle harmony seemed to pervade my inmost soul. I forgot my three-score years and ten and in the happy abandon of the -surroundings my thought was young, fresh and strong again. But I had been bidden to this feast, and how shall I be able to portray the vivid scene, which is even now in memory more plainly visible than any one ever seen before. The trees of soft green waving so silently all about us. The beautiful expanse of water dotted here and there with the gay gondolas of most beautiful tints and shades, whose cheery occupants, with their lovely, angelic faces, shed such a beauty and loveliness all about them. The different ani- mals and birds, some of them almost spotless in their whiteness, the rich dark colors of the song- sters as they flew among the branches above our heads, and the people who all seemed to know and love me, attired in loose, flowing robes, as of the ancient times. Portray to your imagination a little of the picture as it appeared to me. The feast consisted of everything that you could possibly wish for, and all that might delight the eye or taste. Everything was so easily accomplished. GOING HOME. 129 Whatever you seemed to wish to have, was always ready for you. The birds caroled their sweetest music. Instruments of the finest tune were ranged about and ever and anon some one discoursed delightful strains upon the strings. I thought, I wonder when it will be time for me to go home. For I had a vague idea that though I was there and in the restful harmony which seemed filling my soul, I was happy, still I felt that I was not of them. I was only a visitor. The child, who seemed to act as a sort of guide, immediately understanding me, said: "No, dear friend, you are not quite finished over there. This is only a visit that you may know the good you are doing the little children. When you go back you will the better understand the waiting. You will see the dear Master's hand in all this leading, and the picture you have seen of the happy Summerland for God's little ones will help you as you journey on to the close." With this parting lesson to help me to conclude the "going home" of my life's pathway. I heard the chirp of a little bird, and then a soft chipper and twitter, at last breaking into a long, cheery strain right above my head. The sun was just going down over the western hills. The same old clock in the corner chimed out, the day is done. The little bird unconsciously had wakened me from the sweetest dream I had ever realized. But I for- gave him, for he, in his innocence, was happy and 130 life's perfected steps. glad, and as I rub my eyes and adjust my spectacles I feel like turning down the light, and thus musing in the thought of all I have seen and heard, open the door of the soul, letting the fullness of the dream as it came to me weave itself into the better nature and in the solemn hour of the twilight feel these words have a newer and brighter meaning than ever before: " Just to let thy Father do What He will; Just to know that He is true, And be still." Still descending the down-hill side of our three- score years and ten we seem to have stopped doing, and are only "waiting till the shadows have a little longer grown." We are just at the shade of night when time seems to have drawn down the curtain and pinned it with the star of the perfected steps which are nearing the close. The curtains shut out from our vision the future, but the bright star, shining out like the grand cen- tral thought of truth, tells us of a well-spent life and a restful ending. Before the light of this beau- tiful memory is merged into the great, boundless eternity of a better and higher existence, we must stop and gaze with a pardonable pride on the fulfill- ment of the early promise. For is it not a beauti- ful reflection to have all the attributes of our Divine Teacher smiling back at us and beckoning us on- ward in these dear footsteps we have been watching, GOING HOME. 131 saying, " Follow truth and right if you would hear in your aged ears the benediction: 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy prepared for thee from the beginning.' " Do not forget there were two ways or paths marked out for these, who are passing so near to the silent unknown. The one was God's, the other man's. When God spake to your willing ears and said: "This line of duty is my direction, follow thou me," your willingness to be guided and led made you an obedient follower after good thoughts and purposes, and this same leading helped you smooth all the rough bogs along your mysterious path. You were simply being moved along the swift current of life toward safety and rest. When man's way became in any way the ascend- ant thought, you willingly, because of your former, accepting all the way, stopped and listened to the still small voice, which, if when conscience speaks and we heed, if not quenched or set aside, becomes the true prompter for all this life's course. Ever listening and heeding now as the sunset comes and covers all with its mild, warm richness, you do not feel you are changing at all. You are just stepping over another threshold and closing the door. You cannot return, for you have entered an- other more beautiful, harmonious continuation of this little span of life you have been so careful to live here, and as you wander into the great beyond we weave many beautiful garlands for you in our 132 life's perfected steps. thought, twining in and out peace, joy, rest and perfect happiness to your inmost soul. Imagination says in watching you we have almost reached the goal ourselves. But reality brings us back with a round turn, and we understand that we must tarry a little longer in anticipation of these steps you have so successfully climbed. With longing we gaze after your slowly retreating footsteps, and a sadness comes over us for a moment, for we know you have gone on, a little in advance. You by your lovely example have paved the way for many a weary plodder who must follow. And now that the summing up has come, we see the harvest is very plentiful. How we miss all the tender gentleness which cov- ered and hid all that made life discordant. The warm hand-clasp, which simply echoed the language of a loving heart. The beaming eye, which has said so many volumes to us in the happy days gone by, whose very silence reflected the truest language of the soul. Tne kind deeds so abundant from out your richest store. The warm, deep sympathy ever ready in times of weakness and sorrow. The con- siderate advice or warning when most needed. The true courage which seemed so much a part of your reality. The truest love, born of that faith and hope, covered, wove itself into and settled upon all you met, and became the sweet anchor to so many weary hearts. How by your generous giving to others you builded for yourselves these " temples not made GOING HOME. 133 with hands," which are your lasting monuments in the tablet of memories so beautifully wafted upon those who loved and knew you. Is it strange when we, in thinking over a life so truly lived, wait and wonder if with the fleetness of a bird we attempt to reach this haven of peace and rest, so sweet to your well-rounded, perfected lives, wonder over and over again it we, too, shall ever be successful, as you have been, and, entering into the more perfect understanding, reach rest at last. Hark! Did you hear the soft words? "Come unto me and I will give you rest." ? We have found the thought by which a true life finds guidance. Even from the little child this has been the leading. The long years past and gone were only the intro- duction to this happy close, and shall we feel that it is hard or long or tiresome? Just one thought at a time. Every moment was lived truly. Do not those soft gray locks, so silvery in their whiteness, sitting proudly over the wrinkles and heavy lines of these dear faces reflect the purest life we can portray? Does not every line tell its own little story of strength and courage, gathered from some struggle where self was vanquished and victory for the truth was won? We do not mind these lines of care, they are the signs of the victories achieved. These furrows on these placid tablets are so softened by the heart's treasures that we read at a glance the rest and peace shining forth from the dimly fading eye. 134 life's perfected steps. Now that the stream of life is finally run, we see and believe that a true life to be lived right must start fair and square from the beginning. We would not ask our readers to drop out of their lives one little grain of the life set for them to run. But standing on the far-away threshold of early baby- hood and coming along all the way, live and over- come at every step all the life which has been so wisely planned. The grand oak, springing from the little acorn, to reach perfection in the forest, must have all the storms of early spring, the warm suns of summer, the cold dreariness of the autumn and the freezing snows and blighting winds of winter, before the little sapling becomes the pride of the forest. Is not the life of the child much like that of the acorn? And the coming along all the way, much the same in life? It is all sunshine and shade. The sunshine is all the brighter after the shadow and storm. So in musing we want to say life has really no de- fects; it can be all perfectness if we understood. When the human mind can be educated to under- stand perfect love, begotten under perfect love, all fears will be wiped away. The spring-time will be the happy, light-hearted seed planting. The loves and harmonies will be the sunny skies and warm, refreshing showers. The beautiful waving grain, waving in the storms of harvest time like the battles of life won. The winter's soft white mantle of purest GOING HOME. 135 snow, an emblem of the life well spent, covering and hiding as does this carpet of purity every defect, every blemish, and so quiet in its very seeming, so pure in its mantle of perfect whiteness, that it can only say in its very silence as speaking to the inmost soul: "O, favored, one, to hold within thy breast Such peace, such loving trust, and perfect rest." To these departed loved ones, no crape, or funeral ceremonies are needed. The sight of these human be- longings would only agonize and keep the beautiful picture we have tried to place in these few pages hidden from you. Our thought and yours goes over into the home to which Life's Perfected Steps have led us on, and we feel that there, as here, well going on more and more into a grander and wider knowledge of God, of life, of truth. We are nearing the perfect day. Where we shall find "all her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace." Beyond the archway of the flowers we see the silent city. Over the archway and away beyond we hear the sweetest music, and know the weariness of waiting is over, the realization of good has come and is realized. O, Life's Perfected Steps, Taken with greatest care; A life of love and trust, Makes true perfection here. The light and truth above, Blends in these hearts of ours; Making a Heaven of love, And quickening all our powers. 136 life's perfected steps. Our Father's will is ours, We rather it were so ; Each year, each day, each hour, Fashioned our life below, And showed to us the way, That others, too, have trod; Where harmony and faith, Have led us up to God. When near perfection's height, Our steps we hasten on; Now all is clear and bright, Perfection's just begun. We've laid the body down, Our thoughts are wafted o'er. Truth — love divine— a crown Awaits us as we soar. Far, far beyond this realm Of sad and earthly things, We seem to find a helm Round which our heart-strings cling. We feel we're safe at home, No more our feet will stray; The better life has come, No darkness, all is day. The burdens all are left; We're happy, light and free. Our Life's Perfected Steps Are swallowed up in thee. ^m^^^^^^^rA V f irm^i skm,^m* HBP m m A WMmm ~wmk ■'A-, JHL -