GOLDEN CANTICLE OF SPRING

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1928, Page 8

GOLDEN CANTICLE OF SPRING

V*-\ (By THE REV. T. H. ECCERSALL.) Nature is waking up, spring is mani-' testing her feminine gender by adorning herself in robes of lvondrous beauty. Thus arrayed, and accompanied by the heavenly orchestral music of the birds, she goes abroad to cheer and gladden the hearts of all. The daffodil is hero in all its beauty, and as the blows dozens of them bow their graceful heads as though to welcome spring with the ringing of their golden bells. The primrose is here with her sweet face sadened with the thought that she has been so coldly used by the iron grip of winter, yet with a pensiveness that is all her own. j The violet is here with her lovely " eyes, ever (faithful, ever wise. As you look into the profound, depths of her being, a fragrance comes stealing over the soul, leaving one and all the better for her company, and giving the heart an inspiration for .the higher luings of life. She certainly seems to say. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.” The snowdrop is here. Her innocence appeals to all to keep the mind and heart unsullied, for out of it proceed the issues of life. “In spite of envir- ! onment of mud and dirt I can keep clean, and so can you.” Oil, those flowers J How sweet they are! What messages of hope and love and joy they bring! What,comfort to the heart! What fragrance. to life! And as we listen we hear them singing the gospel of gladness.’ “Be glad.in the Lordj and rejoice.” And accompanied with the clash of. the golden bells of the daffodils comes back the refrain, “And again I” say rejoice.” Let us gather up the sunbeams. Let us be like the plants and flowers, absorbing into themselves all the subtle and mysterious forces of Nature that make life, health and beauty. It is a sad mistake to put off the higher duties of the soul until old age. Old age brings the harvest df the sowing done in youth. ,

There is a very striking passage in the remarkable book entitled “Dead Souls,” by the Russian, Nikolai Golgol. When describing.an old man and his wav of life, the writer makes use of the following words: “ The fiery youth of to-day would start back in horror if he were shown a portrait of himself in his old age. So take with,you on yoyr road as you leave behind you the soft years of youth and emerge into manhood, •which renders one hard and surly—take with you all your human impulses; don’t leave them on the way. You;.can. never find them again later on if they are once relinquished. Stern and terrible old age, as it advances, will give you nothing, will return you nothing back.” "

Shall we not take the author’s ad-_.y| vice? His lesson is ■written in every M land and down all the pages of histtn^, “ Whatsoever a man soweth that £-«ul he also.reap.” Then! let-us- c\

Live in the sunshihe, don’t live' ( in ; the .... glOOm,. , ’ 'n i«

Carry, some gladness the world .to illume; ~ ... . .-a -a ; Live in -the brightness, and take this v- to.heart,.. , *.■ The world - will be better if you’ll Ro ; your pgrt. m* Again I say rejoice.: .. . „ i ;** Oh, bells, that sing above the rain and ... ’ . eoldj'• • < -b . V; . : Oh„ bells, .that sing ajar the gates of ' gold, . ( .v \ ■ s We will rejoice. ; '