NAOMI'S SACRED
TRUST
A STORY OF THE PERIOD Or THE JUDGES
IN ISRAEL
By the "Highway and Byway" Preacher
(Copyright, 11W7. Iy tho Author, W. B. KtLon.)
Scripture Authority Ruth 4:13-17.
oooooooooooooooooooooo oooo
SERMONETTE.
The Messianic, Line This
beautiful story of Ruth traces
for us the genealogy of David,
who established the kingly line
from which sprang the Christ,
the promised Messiah of the
Jews. Note the large part which
faith plays here. Faith which
stirred In the heart of Naomi In
the far country of Moab and
drew her back to her God and
her people. Faith bringing to
Ruth's heart a vision of a 'better
life, and giving her the courage
to forsake all that she might
find a place with God and God's
people. Faith making them both
faithful and patient during those
early days of bitter trial and
poverty after their return to
Bethlehem. Faith leading each
step of the way through the
darkness of their loneliness and
grief. Faith reaching out so
hopefully, so delicately, and yet
so boldly and laying hold of the
right to the claim of kinship.
Faith Inspiring to modest and
gracious acceptance of the ex
alted position to which the alli
ance with Boaz lifted them.
Faith finding its ultimate and
joyful triumph in a son and
heir whose coming was to add
Its link to the Messianic line
around which the thought of
every devout Hebrew parent
centered.
And let us contemplate how
this pathway of faith led step
by step In so wonderful and
beautiful a way up to the com
ing of the Christ, who came not
only as the perfect exemplifica
tion of the purity and holiness
of God, but as the perfect ex
ponent and expression of that
faith which was to win the ulti
mate and glorious triumph over
sin and death and the grave.
All that this world has ever had
from God has come along the
pathway of faith, yea in the
very beginning it was the faith
of the son of God, the second
person of ths Trinity, which
brought the universe into being
and created the earth and all
that is therein. This pathway
of faith can be traced through
the Bible from Genesis to Reve
lation. It has been the slender
thread on which has hung the
fate of the human race, and it
is still the only medium of ac
cess to God and the one element
which, If absent from the human
life, makes all other virtues and
attainments of none avail.
"This is the victory that over
cometh the world, even our
faith." It was faith which could
lift a Moabltlsh woman from
the midst of an alien and heath
en race to become the great
grandmother of David, the an
cestor of the Christ. Think of
the Divine honor which thus
came to Ruth because of faith,
and then consider how much of
God's blessing may be yours
through faith in the Son of God.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
THE STORY.
tiftOD hath been good to us, indeed,"
J responded Boaz, to the happy
words of gratitudo which Ruth, his
wife, had just spoken.
"Yes." continued Ruth, "Ho hath
given me thee" looking up with lov'
ing glance Into tho face that bent over
THEY'RE MOSTLY LIKE THIS.
Beautiful Faith of Woman In the Man
She Loved.
"People think that because I am a
woman," said Mrs. Hetty Green, "I
can bo imposed on; but usually they
find out their mistake."
Sho was talk'ng about a lawyer
wherein sho had disputed her lawyer's
hill, and this topic naturally led hor
to tho topic of women's trustfulness.
"Thero's a case in point," said Mrs.
Green, smiling grimly, "about a young
and pretty school teacher. Sho once
asked her class for an original defini
tion of the word 'wife.'
'"A wifo is a rib,' said ono little
girl.
" 'Wives aro guiding starB,' said an
other. " 'A com'tfter,' said a third.
"'An inspiration,' said a fourth.
"Altogether tho definitions were
rather prosy and commonplnco, but
finally a child of 11, Bmiling archly,
said:
'"A wife is a person for a man
her "and nov Ho hath given mo a
son and thee, too," sho added, eag
erly. A sound camo from tho other sldo
of tho rooni, where tho aged Naomi
was busy nbout tho household cares,
which sounded much like a sob, a .1
cnuscd Ruth to look in that direction.
"And thoo, too, mother," sho added,
hastily, while n shadow passed over
her face, and was gono again as the
baby cooed and reached up Its littlo
hand and touched her chock. Sho
burled her faco in tho littlo ono's
clothing, as she pressed him to her
breast, nnd when sho lifted her faco
again sho Bald, appeallngly, to her
husband: .
"And I want our son to bo named
after thee, my husband. Cannot It bo
so?"
Again tho half-suppressed sob sound
ed from the other side of tho room,
followed this tlmo by a choking voice,
which said:
"is not Naomi to bo consulted In tho
naming of tho child?"
"Why, mother dear, I had not
thought to shut you out, I had not
thought that you cared," and ngaln tho
troubled shadow crossed her face.
"Will not tho Lord, who hath given
us tho son, also in His own good timo
give us a namo for him?" asked Boaz,
tastily, anxious that no suspicion of
disharmony should exist between the
two women who had been so close to
each other in love nnd sympathy, and
who had rejoiced together over the
coming of tho babe and had planned
so earnestly for his future.
"Yes, we can wait," both women re
sponded in the same breath, and there
the matter rested for tho timo bolng,
but in tho heart of each tho troubled
thoughts which had been there since
the coming of the babe remained.
Neither knew just how tho feeling
arose, for there was no spoken word,
but each became conscious of a jeal
ous solicitudo over tho child; each
was utterly consumed with lovo And
ambition for the child, and each felt
a personal prldo and triumph in him.
And as tho days had passed, Ruth had
lavished her lovo and attentions upon
the child, had talked of her plans for
the child, and, without realizing It. had
scarcely given Naomi chance for a
share In It all. How the old woman's
heart yearned for a sense of owner
ship and proprietorship In tho child.
How her eves feasted themselves unon
"tho face and form of the babe, and
followed with a great hunger In her
eyes every move that the, little ono
made. The mother became conscious
of this and the thought had flashed
through her heart: "Sho wants my
baby for her own." And then had
come tho climax, as Indicated in tho
opening conversation of our story.
From that moment, whon tho whole
situation was revealed to the heart of
Ruth, there began a great struggle in
hor heart. It was her baby. Yes, her
heart welled with gratitude and lovo
as she remembered how It was through
the loving, helpful Influence of Naomi
that she had come to know the true
God nnd had found entrance to a now
life that now had opened up to her
seemingly in all its rich fullness and
blessing, and yet, as sho hugged her
baby close, sho would say over and
over to herself: "Ho is mine."
And Naomi, as sho hovered about
mother and child, and sought in tender
solicitude to minister to them, by
quick intuition became conscious of
tho state of Ruth's heart and it came
as a great and cruel stab at her own
heart. This babe that had como like
an answer from heaven that the name
of hor dead husband might not bo cut
off in Israel, and forever shut her
family from hope of being in the fa
vored line of the promised one who
should be a leader like Moses; this
babe whom she felt belonged to her In
a peculiar way; this babe whom sho
felt Instinctively was destined to bo-
come great in Israel was sho not to
have special charge of him? Was she
not to have the direction of his mind
and llfo as she alone, a devout mother
In Israel, was able to give it? How
sho wanted to pour the wealth of her
devotion to God into that littlo life as
to find fault with when things go
wrong.'
"'Good!' cried tho pretty teacher,
laughing. 'Good! That is tho best
definition of all. Tho best, tho truest.
"But that afternoon on the way
home from school, tho littlo girl whose
definition had so pleased, tripped de
murely up to tho teacher and said:
" 'Are you not going to marry that
tall, handsome young man I see you
with nearly every night?'
" 'Yes,' said tho teacher.
"'Well, then, if my definition of a
wife was true '
" 'Ah, dear, with us nothing will
over go wrong. He says so himself. "
Cause for Indignation.
The littlo fellow Arvld is tho son of
our coachman and Is so unwelcome a
caller around Jennie's kitchen that tho
other day tho girl slammed tho door in
his face. A few minutes afterwards
the tiny Swede was heard telling the
incident to a neighbor, indignantly ex
claiming: "Why, she shut the door
right in my looksl" Chicago Tribune.
it unfolded, that It might provoa llfo
pleasing unto God.
Thus in tho hearts of theso two' wo
men tho strugglo went on.
But with Ruth tho conflict was es
pecially florco, for tho natural Inclina
tions of tho mothor heart woro plttod
against the higher and better self. Sho
was conscious of Naomi's peculiar
claim upon tho child and of her special
fitness to have tho, 'enro and training
of him. But how could sho yield tho
plnco Bho wanted to occupy to hor
son, ovqn though It was to ono whom
sho know could fill it bottor? So sho
asked herself over and over again, and
was still asking, tho question on tho
day appointed when tho neighbors and
friends had been summoned to tho
presentation of the child beforo tho
priest Ell. In fact, after all tho guests
md arrived, .tho question wns still un
answered. Tho baby was still In hor
nrniB, whoro, with feverish solicitudo,
sho had kept him, as though fearful
that to put him down was to lose him.
All through tho ceremonies she held
lim, and now has como tho tlmo
when ho shall bo named. It 1b her
right to namc him, and sho can call
him Boaz, as sho had expressed her
wish to do. Sllenco has fallen upon
all tlio glad, expectant company. All
eyes turn to Ruth and wait for hor to
speak.
The conflict rages fierce within hor
brenst. Will she speak, or will Bho
give her baby up? What shall sho
do? Sho must do something. They
are all waiting. Shall she let tho solf-
lsh claims of hor own l?art dictato;
or shall sho ylold to tho dear Naomi?
Sho rises to hor feet, tho precious
baby still in hor arms. Sho advances
across tho floor, the baby still hugged
close to her bosom. Sho turns, when
in tho center, and moves swiftly to-
wards Naomi. Sho reaches tho old
woman's sldo. Sho stoops and, open
ing her arms, sho places tho precious
baby In tho arms of tho mother-in-
law, whllo a great and glorious light
Illuminates her 'faco.
A glad note of approval sweeps over
tho company, and tho women said unto
Jaoml:
'Blessed bo the Lord, which hath
not left thee this day without a kins
man that his namo may bo famous in
Israel. And he shall bo unto theo n
restorer of thy life, and a nourlshor of
thine old ago; for thy daughter-in-law,
which loveth thee, which Is bettor to
thee than seven sons, hath born him."
And thoy called his name Obed, and
Naomi took tho child and laid It in
her bosom, and she becamo nurso un
to it.
Consecrated by Royalty.
Tho emperor's groat bell In tho Ca
thedral of Cologne was consecrated
with great pomp. Twenty-two cannons
taken from tho French were assigned
by the Emperor William for Its manu
facture. It was cast by Andreas
Hamm Frankenthal, and more than
5,000 pounds was paid for the casting.
It bears an inscription, recording
that "William tho most august em
peror of the Germans and king of tho
Pruesians, mindful of tho heavenly
help granted to him whereby he con
ducted tho late French war to a pros
perous issue, and restored tho German
empire, caused cannon taken from tho
French to bo devoted to founding a
bell to bo hung in the wonderful ca
thedral, then approaching comple
tion." A likeness of St. Potor, tho
name patron of the church, Is on tho
side, beneath which is a quatrain in
tho stylo of tho medieval conceltB,
praying that, as devout hearts rise
heavenward at hearing tho Bound of
tho bell, so may tho doorkeeper of
Heaven open wide the gates of tho ce-
lestial mansion. On the opposite side
is inscribed a sextet In German. Sum
day Magazine.
Fish Welcome Comina of Storm.
Tho weather has a noticeable effect
on fish of all kinds. Fishermen will
tell you that trout become electrified
with enercy before a storm. As if in
Joyful anticipation of a feast, sharks
disnort nlavfullv about shins befoio a
i hurricane rises.
i
Ducks Prey on Swallows.
This curious story of ducks and
swallows is related by a correspond
ent: As he was passing a farmyard
ho saw tho ducks catching and eating
swallows. Ono duck was swimming
in the pond and caught a swallow
skimming above tho water. With con
siderable struggling and holding tho
swallow under wuter the duck ate
tho bird. Another duck that was on
soft mud also caught a swallow and
eventually ato it, but only aftor a
longor struggle, aB It could not hold
tho swallow under water.
An Ambassador's Butler.
Tho practice of tipping is not entire
ly bad; the recipients at least derivo
some benefit. A former butler of Mr.
Choato, American ambassador to Eng.
land beforo Mr. Reld, has built a largo
hotel on tho coast on tho tips ho re
ceived from visitors to tho American
embassy, whoso servants mako more
monoy than those attached to other
embassies, chiefly because of tho num
ber of wealthy Americans who vlBlt
tho ambassador and scatter tips with
traditional generosity.
THE NEW INSURANCE AGENT.
He Comes in With the New LewPaul
Morton on Hie Opportunity.
The new Insurance law of tho Stato
of Now York has opened up a promis
ing field for both men and women
with brains and energy In tho sal.o of
lifo insurance. Tho law now provldoa
standard forms of policies, each of
which practically bears tho hall mark
of the Stato of Now York, and this now
order 'of things has established tho
sale of llfo insurance on a correct
basis.
Tho prohibition against rebating and
extravagant allowances to agents has
driven out of the business the old
type of insurance agent, who in many
cases virtually bought business, wltH
large rebates, instead of selling It.
His placo ia being taken by profes
sors, lawyers, school teachers of both
sexes, and others, who And that being
a life insurance ngent under tho new
system offers greater reward than
tholr previous vocations. Tho law has
reduced commissions but all of the
commission now goes to the agent.
Llfo insurance is something thab
ovoryono needs and undor the pres
ent system its sale is being conducted
with becoming dignity and propriety.
Paul Morton, president of tho Equita
ble Life Assurance Society, has taken
the lead In building up an agency or
ganization that is In keeping with tho
demands of public sentiment, and the
standard he has set for his company.
Ho says: "We want new agents, both
men and women, but none except en
ergetic, nblo and .truthful people need
apply. For such there is a splendid
opportunity."
Mr. Morton's policy of Injecting new
and vigorous blood into the agency
force of the Society is meeting with
success in all parts of the country.
Her Answer.
"Now, children," said the kindergar
ten teacher, "I have explained to you
how many trees give us food, in the
way of fruit, and in other ways. You
remember that I said man taps the
maple trees to get maple sirup.
Where does the tapioca come from,
then?" "I guess," said Olive, after
a pause, "that you tap the oaks, don't
you?" Judge.
Starch, like everything else, is be
ing constantly improved, the patent
Starches' put on the market 25 years
ago are very different and inferior to
those of the present day. In tho lat
est discovery Defiance Starch all in
jurious chemicalB are omitted, while
tho addition of another ingredient, in
vented by us, gives to the Starch a
strength and smoothness never ap
proached by other brands.
A Counter Irritant.
"Have you made arrangements tn
prevent fraud in tho olection?" "No,"
answored Senator Sorghum; "I
couldn't quite manage that. But I've
done tho next best thing to dofcat the
opposition's iniquity. I'vo mado ar
raneemonts that'll mako their fraud so
insignificant by comparison that It
won't bo noticed."
No Time for Extras.
Tiny Sistor (rushing Into big sis
ter's room) Please hurry, Lulu; Mr.
White is downstairs. Lulu (very
grandly, while sho dabs her face with
the powder puff Very well, dear; I'll
be down. Tiny Sister (nervously)--Oh,
please don't wait to shave! -Woman's
Home Companion.
Dishes for your table!
In every 25c family package of ,
Quaker Oats
you will find a piece of finest American
china, either . cup and saucer plale or
bowl, etc.
The oatmeal in the package is the finest
in the world and it costs no more than
inferior brands.
CHICAGO
If you want a delightful surprise buy a package of
Quaktr Wheat Brrfes,new and delirious.
SAHARA GROWING DRYER.
French Observer Says the Oeeee Are
Shrinking and Will Disappear.
C. F. Gautler, a French explorer, is ,
authority for the statement that the)
Sahara is continuously bocomlng drier
to such an extent that the oases are)
perceptibly drying up and will disap
pear altogether in a relatively short
time. Ho quotes historic records and
physical signs to show that springe
wore at one timo more plentiful than
now, and that tho extont of the
patches where vegetation flourishes
were much greater evon 60 to 100
years ago.
As the climate of the region has un
dergone no change in perhaps thou
sands of years, he believes that the
disappearance of the water must be
duo to purely mechanical causes. He
considers that It is due to the con
tinual advance of tho great sand
masses to tho north, thus forming an
impenetrable barrier against the ita
torshod of tho Atlas mountains. N. Y.
Bun.
Laundry work at home would be
much more satisfactory if tho right
Starch woro usod. In order to get tho
desired stiffness, It is usually neces
sary to uso so muoh Btarch that the
beauty and fineness of tho fabric Is
hidden behind a pasto of varying
thickness, which not only destroys the
appcaranco, but also affects tho wear
ing quality of tho goods. This trou
bio can bo entirely overcome by using
Defiance Starch, as it can bo applied
much moro thinly because of its groat
or strength than other makes.
An Artist.
"Tho man who painted that spurious
picture was an artist, at all events,"
said the connoisseur. "I don't know
about him," answered Mr. Cumrox,
ruefully, "but the dealer who sold It to
me was."
ALLEN'S
FOOT EASE
For Hot, Tired, Achlnft,
Swollen Feet.
ALLEN'S
rOOT-EASE
eiMVll NAI
INTO YOUR
to
Allen's Foot-Ease, a powder. It cures
painful, smarting, nervous foot and in
growing nails, and instantly takes tho
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proutOHt comfort discovery of tho nge.
MnkcB tight or now shoos cosy. A certain
euro for sweating, callous nml hot, tired,
aching foot. 80,000 toHtimonials. Try it
to-day. Bold by all Druggists and Shoo
stores, 25c. Don't accept a BittntUute. Trial
paokago FREE. Address,
0aVt LoRoy.N.Y.,
n uim7.TrT u.s.a.
vrcuuinc unn buuto ignaiure.
PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR USINISS
B
WHITMORE
USINESS
COLLEGE
Book-kMpInf , Shorthand, andBoiiMM
Uouraat. IWioi poauion., uia wai
pUaaant work for roans
ton ana wnmra
uiri aoiay Bian now.
llatca.
riU A. R. WMtmara. Mi.. tacanH
Wo PartUalara Catalog. " "wt"
O&ts (Jmpaivy
if
