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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1877)
CllOICB OK PltOKKSSION. "I wish you a Happy Year, anil a rAJn one" Willi careful hands wo laid it away in Memory's casket. Ofttimcs, as the pass ing days of 1874 left weariness and unrest at our hearts, would we turn to survey this treasure. Its radiance serving ever a possihle prophecy of work unfinished ami the sudden requisition "Give an account o' thy stewardship." Thus would we take on vigor, and achcivc many a victory which else had been defeat. lS7o dawned in the full glory of a new birth. I watched the ingress of visitors and at last he came. " Prof. this treasure your message. Upon it has poised many n success which otherwise had nol been counted worthy the struggle. It has fulfilled its mission. I live and have won. Receive it again at my hands, and may it prove to you a surer talisman in its two-fold ministry." May loosened winter's icy fetters. June roses bloomed. Our Christian poet had already made our new state a land of po. esy and song by his "Nebraska Legends" and softer 'Midland Poems." But having adopted Punshon's labor song, "No rest except between the achievement of to-day and the higher venture of to morrow's dawn," his fertile pen might not rest, even amid the exhaustive labors of a Proles, sorship. Many contributions to current periodicals indicated to his friends growth rather than surcease of literrry strength. Whilst, as he expressed to the writer, his specific work for the year was to compile materials for a new volume, such as in his riper culture he chose to leave to poster ity. Summer deepened into autumn. A mellow October sunset a quiet Sabbath evening. The Prof., child in hand, strolled out. Was it to borrow soul radiance from the dying rays? Did he read thereon the pre. diction of his own near sunsot? His friends perceived a radiance but did nol dicam the night drew on. Atf5 a.. M. he aroused his companion with an expression of pain his last utter ancc. At 10 A. M. lie had passed "The rock waste and the river." In the ripe ncss of mental and spiritual culture lie erected the Grand Conservatory of God, into which comes nor blight nor waste. The unfinished work which tills every hand when the paralysis of deatii sie7.es it doth it go on, with the resources of Eternity to furnish the materials? We would not lift the veil. The revelation may be nearer to us than we think. Read the lesson we may. Casual words. They drop from ourli s into hearts, as the leaden plummet, or the sorcerer's elixir. The dead weight of sor row sinks deeper or the canker-worm dies and from its ashes springs a new faith. The soul's stagnant waters give forth rank vegetation and the serpent's venom, or, by the new alchemy, make new affinities, and the white lily blossoms. Uc wary then, oh trifier! Sensitive plants may wither at thy touch, never to put forth fresh leaves. Re strong, sad reaper, looking ir. vain for full ears. There are harvests which ripen when Alpine snows have melted. Ye of the trembling lips, if the Master hath touched thee, put forth the message. It shall not fail of its mission though the announcement await Throne Day. Speak quickly, thou of slow utterance. The waiting spirit passeth thee. Dumb lips palsied hands death's signet an.d thy love token may bo too late. Mrs. Axoik F. Nkwmax. Q1I0TOE OF PliOFESSWN. Before the ship sets sail on the rough and boisterous sea, in order to insure her a successful voyage, she must undergo an examination, be scrutinized by the work men, her rigging must be overhauled, her weakest parts made secure. She is then tried on the smooth and placid waters, where she glides with seeming perfection. All is now ready and the captain sets sail with high hopes of a successful voyage becauso he has tried his ship and knows