that read something like this: "In the name of God, Amen. I, being of
sound mind, bequeath to my children all my prayers for their
salvation; I bequeath to them all the results of a lifetime's toil; I
bequeath to them the Christian religion which has been so much comfort
to me, and I hope may be solace for them; I bequeath to them a hope of
reunion when the partings of life are over; share and share alike may
they have in eternal riches. I bequeath to them the wish that they may
avoid my errors and copy anything that may have been worthy. In the
name of the God who made me, and the Christ who redeemed me, and the
Holy Ghost who sanctifies me, I make this my last will and testament.
Witness, all ye hosts of heaven. Witness, time, witness, eternity.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in this our dying hour. Father and
Mother."
You did not get that will proved at the surrogate's office; but I take
it out to-day and I read it to you; I take it out of the alcoves of
your heart; I shake the dust off it, I ask you will you accept that
inheritance, or will you break the will? O ye of Christian ancestry,
you have a responsibility vast beyond all measurement! God will not
let you off with just being as good as ordinary people when you had
such extraordinary advantage. Ought not a flower planted in a
hot-house be more thrifty than a flower planted outside in the storm?
Ought not a factory turned by the Housatonic do more work than a
factory turned by a thin and shallow mountain stream? Ought not you of
great early opportunity be better than those who had a cradle
unblessed?