Be Kind To Thy Father



BE kind to thy father, 

For when thou wert young,

Who loved thee so fondly as he?

He caught the first accents that fell from thy

 tongue,

And joined in thy innocent glee.

Be kind to thy father; for now he is old,

His locks intermingle with gray;

His footsteps are feeble, once fearless and bold;

Thy father is passing away.

Be kind to thy mother; for lo, on her brow

Many traces of sorrow be seen;

0, well mayest thou cherish and comfort her 

now,

For loving and kind hath she been.

Remember thy mother; for thee she will pray,

As long as God giveth her breath,

With accents of kindness, then cheer her lone

 way,

E'en to the lone valley of death.

___________Q -  



LOVE UNTO DEATH.

IN the year 1804 seven young Scotch soldiers, who were stationed in Edinburgh, got leave of absence, on the day before Christmas, to go to a distant part of the country to visit their relatives.Two of them were brothers, of the name of Forsythe. As their time was short, and they had 130 miles to walk, they determined to shorten the way by crossing over the Grampian hills, instead of going by the common route.

On their first day's journey they arrived at a village where they had some acquaintances, who pressed them to remain all night, as the snow had begun to fall. But they were so anxious to see their relatives, that they determined to proceed, intending to sleep at a village twenty miles further on. The road lay through a very wild and lonely part of the country; but they were young and vigorous, and feared no danger. But they had not gone far, when they were overtaken by one of those dreadful snow storms which are common in the mountains of Scotland. Now night drew on, the snow fell fast and thick, and the wind blew with great violence. They could just see one another, but their voices could not be heard, for the roaring of the wind. They soon became bewildered, and wandered out of the path, but continued to struggle on for some time. At length one of them sank into a hollow, and was buried under the snow. Soon after, the younger Forsythe, who was ahead of the rest, dropped down quite exhausted: when the rest came up to him, they passed on without attempting to help him. expecting soon to be in the same situation themselves. When the elder Forsythe came up to him, not being able to see his features, he stooped down and felt him. and was convinced it was his own brother. He then took him up on his back, and went on. One after another of his companions fell and perished but no fatigue nor regard for his own safety could make him part with his precious burden. With a generous self-devotion, he persevered until his strength failed, and then sank under his burden and expired.

The motion and warmth of his brother's body had so much revived the younger Forsythe. that when his brother fell, he was able to proceed until he reached his home. The body of one of the party was not found until two years after. It appeared that he must have been wandering about the mountains nearly thirty-six hours before he perished. The rest were soon found, and all buried in one grave. What must have been the feelings of the young man when standing by the open grave of his brother, and reflecting that he owed his life to this dear brother's dedication I hope my young readers already perceive my reason for presenting to them this sad story. Does it not strongly remind us of One who, above all others, Well deserves the name of Friend;

Whose is love beyond a brother's, Costly, free, and knows no end! We are all by nature lost, and perishing on the mountains of sin and ignorance. 

We are insensible to our condition, and unable to save ourselves. But behold, the Son of God becomes man, that he may perform more than a brother's part to his unworthy and rebellious creatures. He takes us in his arms, and bears us in his bosom, and suffers the storm of Divine wrath to discharge all its fury on himself, while we are sheltered. He falls, he groans, he gives up the ghost! But, glory to God! the sinner is saved!

Dear children, will you not give your hearts to this loving, dying Saviour, to whom you owe all you enjoy and all you hope for? He is the good Shepherd, who carries the lambs of his flock in his bosom. He says, "suffer the little children to come unto me." Put yourselves under his guidance, listen to his voice, walk in his footsteps; and he will at last take you to the quiet waters and green pastures of heaven, where sin, and sorrow and sickness shall be no more known forever.


 Youth's Friend.