THE GREEN BORDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7353, 13 June 1885, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GREEN BORDER.

One of oar contemporaries laments that not only in the country are the commons being appropriated by the "land-grabbers," but the green margin of the highway, which has been a joy from time immemorial, is also being enclosed by the selfish proprietors of adjoining property. It is a subject for lamentation. The flowery paths seem all the richer for the contiguous trodden turnpike ; the footsore wanderer finds the cool sod most grateful; the flower-bells .waving in the wind, the flower-cups sparkling witn the dew, charm the pilgrim from one milestone to the next; the driven flocks love to nibble the sweet grass, or drink, may be, the murmuring brook hard by. No part of the landscape is more beautiful than this border, no orohard, field, or meadow bears richer harvests. It is a grief to see covetousness teat lug away the velvet fringe whose beauty, delights or whose softness soothes the wayfarers from one generation to another. Such attempts at appropriation ought everywhere to be resisted, ■ Are we not, however, in modern life in various ways milking narrower some of the bright borders of life's stern pathway. The attempt to secularise the Sabbath is one lamentable attempt in this direction. The sacred day runs by the side of the hard path so many traverse with wet faces and bleeding feet, with a heavenly beauty all its own, and delightful it is indeed to turn aside and refresh ourselves with its rest and brightness. But this strip of celestial landscape is being threatened. No error could be more bitter. One day no politics, no commerce, no toil, but a radiant, serene path quite on the verge of Heaven. We ought to allow no folly, no selfishness, to rob us of this thing of beauty and life. The home, again, is a lily-spangled path by the cruel road of public life, and modern society rather tends ' to narrow this enchanted strip. There are many temptations to abridge that fireside life in which our ancestors proved the happiest part of life. The increasing love of sensational pleasure lessens the hours men spend with their families; absorbed by b sintss, too, they sacrifice the preoious bits of leisure. Englishmen need to watch against encroachments here. Any limitation of domestic life, with its sweet rest and sunny communion, is a misfortune. Again, we need to watch lest oar worldly lifa should out off another green border by diminishing our opportunities for religious worship and fellowship daring the week* days. It is delightful to step from the hot, thronged, weary high road, burned by the sun, choked by the dust, into by-paths which smell of spices and lend a cooling shade. Our forefathers greatly enjoyed the week evening*worship, and we can afford to lose the refreshment; even less than they could. We should gain nothing by macadamising the Sabbatic paradisal path; by forsaking the homely walk of domestic life garnished with pleasant flowers for the garish hoi' day crowd; by spending the whole six da}sin worldly occupation when we might mm aside and enjoy a few restful moments it the King's gardens. Let ub watch that the secular does not invade the spiritual, public life narrow private life, business care lessen religious privilege.—-Christian Journal.

NOT ABLE. "We be not able."—Nam. xiii. 31. "He Is able." -Heb. vii. 25. " Not I. but Christ."-Gal. 11. 20. No-; abl* !—to fight the battle, Ready to lie down and die, With nevur another struggle, Only a sob and a sigh. Not able !-to lift the banner, With colour* drooping and torn, With hands that an scarred by conf'Act, And fee. that feel weary and worn Not able 1— hopeless echo, Kinging from hi'l and shore, Lost in our earth-mist and oarkness — Soldiers of Jesus no more ! He la able the mighty Master, He comes to His weary one. When, the lesion of weakness mastered. strengtu is for ever gone. He is able I—the nerveless hand'grasp, Tightens, nor trembles again, Abu the faintinc heart throbs '( uickly, With a poise tbat is almost vain. He is able 1-then forth to life's conflict, Strong in His joy-giving strength, Fears cannot dim oar bright armour, Victory crowneth at length. Eva. L. Tkavebs.