登陆注册
19633600000148

第148章 CHAPTER LIII (2)

The usual Sunday School exercises were hurried through, and then the minister, got up and bored the house with a speech built on the customary Sunday School plan; then the Superintendent put in his oar; then the town dignitaries had their say. They all made complimentary reference to "their friend the, Senator," and told what a great and illustrious man he was and what he had done for his country and for religion and temperance, and exhorted the little boys to be good and diligent and try to become like him some day. The speakers won the deathless hatred of the house by these delays, but at last there was an end and hope revived; inspiration was about to find utterance.

Senator Dilworthy rose and beamed upon the assemblage for a full minute in silence. Then he smiled with an access of sweetness upon the children and began:

"My little friends--for I hope that all these bright-faced little people are my friends and will let me be their friend--my little friends, I have traveled much, I have been in many cities and many States, everywhere in our great and noble country, and by the blessing of Providence I have been permitted to see many gatherings like this--but I am proud, I am truly proud to say that I never have looked upon so much intelligence, so much grace, such sweetness of disposition as I see in the charming young countenances I see before me at this moment. I have been asking myself as I sat here, Where am I? Am I in some far-off monarchy, looking upon little princes and princesses? No. Am I in some populous centre of my own country, where the choicest children of the land have been selected and brought together as at a fair for a prize? No. Am I in some strange foreign clime where the children are marvels that we know not of? No. Then where am I? Yes--where am I? I am in a simple, remote, unpretending settlement of my own dear State, and these are the children of the noble and virtuous men who have made me what I am!

My soul is lost in wonder at the thought! And I humbly thank Him to whom we are but as worms of the dust, that he has been pleased to call me to serve such men! Earth has no higher, no grander position for me. Let kings and emperors keep their tinsel crowns, I want them not; my heart is here!

"Again I thought, Is this a theatre ? No. Is it a concert or a gilded opera? No. Is it some other vain, brilliant, beautiful temple of soul-staining amusement and hilarity? No. Then what is it? What did my consciousness reply? I ask you, my little friends, What did my consciousness reply? It replied, It is the temple of the Lord! Ah, think of that, now. I could hardly beep the tears back, I was so grateful. Oh, how beautiful it is to see these ranks of sunny little faces assembled here to learn the way of life; to learn to be good; to learn to be useful; to learn to be pious; to learn to be great and glorious men and women; to learn to be props and pillars of the State and shining lights in the councils and the households of the nation; to be bearers of the banner and soldiers of the cross in the rude campaigns of life, and raptured souls in the happy fields of Paradise hereafter.

"Children, honor your parents and be grateful to them for providing for you the precious privileges of a Sunday School.

同类推荐
  • 四部正讹

    四部正讹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 郁迦罗越问菩萨行经

    郁迦罗越问菩萨行经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 胡文敬集

    胡文敬集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 藏海诗话

    藏海诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说无上处经

    佛说无上处经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 叶已落,君何求

    叶已落,君何求

    她,叶冰瑶,是战败国的公主,在国家面临毁灭之时,被人推出来作为求和的礼物;他,葳斯基,是拥有至高无上权利的帅气皇帝,深受全国少女喜爱,却偏偏对她一见倾心。第一次见到她,他坐在马背上看着她的眼睛,无波无澜,无欲无求。他心中的湖面,微微波动。第二次在宫里见到她:“叶冰瑶,朕告诉你,既然做了朕的皇后,就别妄想逃离朕的世界。”她笑了笑,转身离去。第三次见到她,是在墙上,她正在做着逃离运动,被他一吓,惊慌而落,他运气,抱住了她,在她的眼里,美若谪仙。他不等她解释,便甩了一个巴掌:“不知道这样是很危险的吗?”她愣住...
  • 春秋左传

    春秋左传

    《中华国学经典读本:春秋左传(套装共2册)》介绍了春秋时期是中国历史上的大变革时期。在这一时期,周王室的势力逐渐衰弱。大权旁落,而诸侯国之间互相征伐,战争频繁。小的诸侯国纷纷被吞并,强大的诸侯国在局部地区实现了统一。实力最强的诸侯国先后称霸,出现了齐桓公、晋文公、楚庄王、臭王阖闾、越王勾践等霸主。而在文化方面,儒家思想应运而生,对当时以及之后的社会产生了深远的影响。
  • 红白喜事

    红白喜事

    其实我不想写简介呢,但是它必须要20个字才可以,有20个字了吗,应该有了吧
  • 邪魅三公主的复仇恋爱

    邪魅三公主的复仇恋爱

    冰冷如她,活泼如她,可爱如她。冰冷,活泼,可爱,都只是她们伪装的面具,她们拥有一样的童年,一样的命运,一样的使命-----复仇。十八年前,她们被无情抛弃,被一家人收养。八年后,她们又遭劫难,成了孤儿。可是幸运之神又降临了她们,她们被英国女皇收养,成了英国皇室公主。十年,她们创建了世界第一大公司和世界第一大帮派;十年,她们成为了黑道上令人闻风丧胆的至尊,拥有了让人羡慕的地位;十年,她们也受尽折磨。一切,只为了复仇!十年后,她们回到中国,开始了她们的复仇游戏。他,是学院里有名的冰山王子;他,是学院里有名的温柔王子;他,是学院里有名的花心大少。她们在游戏中遇到了他们,并爱上了他们
  • 以领袖的心态经商

    以领袖的心态经商

    成功管理学是把成功学与管理学结合起来,把人的成功看成系统工程来运筹与管理、把成功学作为一门科学来建构的新学科。成功管理学把传统行为科学由纯描述性的实证科学提升为实证性与规范性相统一的现代科学,从而为现代管理学、领导学与企业家理论奠定了现代行为科学基础。它既是成功学与管理学的综合学科,也是成功学与管理学的边缘学科。成功管理模式是成功的系统工程学。在成功管理模式中,人的整体素质是成功的本质、规律、要害、关键。成功管理模式是把所有成功的必要条件按逻辑和历史关系组成一个完整的系统,使成功成为一个系统工程,而成功本来是一个系统工程。只有成功哲学指导下的成功路线图,才能真正走向成功。
  • 骨质疏松症营养康复食谱

    骨质疏松症营养康复食谱

    本书首先总体介绍国人的饮食营养知识,然后介绍骨质疏松疾病基础和营养康复知识,以数十道配餐,提供科学实用的营养康复指导。其中关键配餐均列出原材料、制作方法及食用方式,并精选出12道配餐附有实物彩色照片。
  • 奢爱为婚

    奢爱为婚

    我是一个安分守己的全职太太,可我的老公却留心花丛,并许我正室永保的承诺。小三一次次的陷害我,甚至于不止一次的要我性命。复仇之际,我用一个男人的心将这对狗男女踩到脚底下。却发现真相其实另有原因,而这次出轨的背后隐藏着一个秘密。经历背叛之后我早已身心疲惫,却不想已然心怀戒备的我会再次走入爱情陷阱。情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • MAGGIE A GIRL OF THE STREETS

    MAGGIE A GIRL OF THE STREETS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 冥界阴神

    冥界阴神

    颜烈的副职是个验尸官,在帮助上司查沉尸案时动用了天生的阴阳眼后,从此开始了一段不同寻常的路。怨魂?水鬼?僵尸?谁能与阴神争锋!当美女驱魔师来找茬,校花来求助时,颜烈很是义正言辞:我只是个验尸官。当然,我还是,阴神!其实就是鬼差,不过我更喜欢人们叫我阴神。
  • 傲慢与偏见(青少版)

    傲慢与偏见(青少版)

    围绕着英国小乡镇上一户家境不算富裕的绅士家的日常生活铺开的。班纳特先生有五位如花似玉的女儿,班纳特太太整日梦想着为五个女儿找到英俊富有的金龟婿。而此时正好有一位年轻的富家子弟宾利先生准备入住他们所在的乡村。当宾利先生和他的朋友达西先生一同出现在众人面前时,班纳特太太信心满怀,认定她美丽温柔的大女儿简一定能成为宾利先生别墅的女主人,而宾利先生和简也的确一见钟情。宾利先生的朋友达西先生是个俊朗而傲慢的年轻人,他的地位和财富令所有人望尘莫及,但他的冷漠和孤傲也令所有人厌恶。伊丽莎白是一位活泼机敏、举止优雅、气质不俗的姑娘,身份低微却聪慧可爱的她深深打动了达西的心,当他决定屈尊向...