A FATHER'S
GRIEF
DavIcI Muurns for I Ilk Son Abtnlom.
STORY DY THE "HIGHWAY
AND BYWAY" PREACHER
ICojoiIuMI, IW7, liy tlm Atlllioi, W. H, IMmhi.)
Hcrlpturo Authorlly: 2 Samuel, 18:
SERMONETTE.
"Is tho young man Absalom
safe?" Many a father to-day is
asking this question. The mis
take is that the query comes
too late. The safety of the
young man Is not a matter of
concern until the young man
nan progressed In the down
ward pathway of sin to the point
where turning back Is Improb
able and almost Impossible.
David's anxiety was the great-
r'er because of the Inner con-
sc!ousnc6s of his own responsi
bility for the waywardness
and wickedness of his son. As
he asks the question: "Is tho
.young man Absalom safe?"
there comes crowding In upon
him the memory of many lost
opportunities in the past for
making oure that the young
man vas safe.
Parents should begin to ask
this question: . "Is the young
man safo?" not' after ' he has
gone out into the way of temp
tation and sin, but years before
while he is yet in the cradle.
There the praying and the plan
ning should be done which will
safeguard the growing life.
Tho question should be asked
ao the boy goes out to mingle
with his companions and the
parents wisely pick the inti
mate associates. The question
should be asked again and
again, and should be as often
answered by the parent taking
the time and trouble to know
where the boy is and what he
ia doing.
"And the king was much
moved, and went up. to the
chamber over the gate, and
wept." -What poignant and
hopeless grief is that which
arises from a consciousness of
guilty responsibility for the
tragedy which has fallen. That
il a pitiable sight the aged
king utterly crushed and Incon
solable because his son had gone
out intoeternal darkness. He had
hbped he might be spared, cling
ing, no doubt, to the thought
that he might yet turn to the
God he (David) loved. And when
I th' 4Plltk Ulna U M mm . I I
i,"" v" uwmc in upon nis
heart that it was now too late,
too late, he was utterly over
whelmed. It Is hard to lose the loved
ones even when we know they
are safe with God, even when
the dying hour Is made bright
wlh the consciousness of God's
presence, but what grief is that
, which sees no ray of light,
which knows that the Godless
life has sunk Into the Godless
grave. And then how doubly
hard to realize that because of
the sins of one's life and be-
icause of the failure to speak the
iworo, tnat lost soul is charge
'able to him.
i THE STORY.
MQ URELY they will remember my
O charge to deal gontly with tho
young man!"
f.,Thus spoke King David half aloud
t6 himself as ho sat In tho gate of the
city waiting for tidings from tho army
which had gono forth that morning
to battle with the urmy of Absalom.
SIGN OF APPROACHING AGE.
Needed Support of Bedstead Is the
One Infallible SJgn.
They wero arguing ahoittrhe signs
of approaching old age.
"Well, I'll tell you one thing," said
one. "When a girl ceases to take a
lively Interest In you nnd doesn't mind
your seeing her vlth her hair slightly
untidy and listens to your conversa
tion Indulgently, whore formorly she
manifested Interest and sympathy
then you may know you aro growing
old."
"No," said another; "that Isn't an In
fallible sign, because somo young wo
men show Interest and sympathy to
everybody. It's when your bones
creak slightly on arising from a chair
nnd you no longer swing on a moving
car with full confidence and you walk
up a flight of stairs a step at a time,
whore formorly you ran up two at a
time then you aro growing old."
"Not so," chimed in a third, "for
young people with rheumatic diseases
sometimes exhibit these signs. When
tho wnrly eye-opener ami the nightcap
his son. Over and over again hu had
ropcatod the worriH as ho had kept hla
long vigil, and the plaintive yearning
in the volco and the haggard, enro
worn look upon the face Indicated tho
depth of feelings which surged within.
IL wan David the father, and not
David the king, who strained his eyes
out over the plain, and longed for
tidings of the wayward son. Not
since he had left Jerusalem, driven
forth by the strong conspiracy of Ah-
saioni, had lie ceased to yearn for tho
young man or plan for his safety if
the rebellion should bo successfully
crushed.
For this reason when tho army
which had rallied to tho support of
King David was marching forth ho
charged the captains of tho three dlvl-
sions, saying: "Deal gently for my
sake with the young man, even with
Absalom." And tho men standing
near heard and told others so that It
was known to all the army what
David had said. And now as he sat
there In tho gate and the hours
dragged slowly by, David wondered If
his admonition would be heeded. Ills
heart was troubled because of tho
weight of personal guilt which he fell.
was responsible In largo measure for
tho present trouble.
"Ah," ho sighed, "how I wish I could
go back 20, 30 years. It Is my sin
which has brought this upon me.
Had I done my duty my son would not
to-day be seeking my life and tho
kingdom."
Vain regret Is a poor comforter, and
so it was that David found only har
assment for his soul In living over
again his life In memory. Ills mis
lakes nnd sins rose up before him.
He recalled the beautiful boy Absalom,
his fair countenance nnd noble bear
ing, and ho remembered tho pride with
which ho had watched his physical
and mental development. He had not
boon conscious then that the lnlluence
of tho mother Maacah, who was a
daughter of the king of Goshur, was
strong enough to turn the heart of tho
youth away from tho true God, but
now it was all plain to him how the
taking of wives' from among the
princesses of tho heathen nations
about had led to all manner of evils,
jioL only In his own family, but In the
nation as well. Absalom had not tho
fear of the Lord before him, and he
knew now that ho had failed to help
his son by precept nnd examplo to
know and serve tho true God.
"Surely," ho exclaimed again, "they
will remember my chargo to deal
gently with the young man. Gladly
would I glvd my life for him. Oh, that
he were restored to mo that I might
help him intd tho right way. Gladly
will . I forgive1 ftim ull if he will but
turn and servo the God of Abraham,
and Isaac, and Jacob."
Ills musings- were suddenly cut short
by tho cry of the wutchman upon tho
tower far abovp his head.
"A runner, my lord the king!" ho
shouted.
"Cometh ho alono?" anxiously In
quired the king, "for If bo, there he
tidings In his mouth."
"Yea, ho runnoth alone," was the
roply, and then aftor a moment pause
ho added, excitedly: "Behold, I see
another man running, and ho Is also
alone."
"If that be so, ho also brlngeth tid
ings," ejaculated the king, and rlBlng
lrom his seat he paced back and forth
in nervous expectancy.
"Mo thlnketh," shouted down the
watchman again, "that the running of
tho foremost is Uko tho running of
Ahimaaz tho son of Zadok."
"God be praised," cried David, "ho
Is a good man, and brlngeth good tid
ings.
And without wnlting to hear more
ho hurried through tho gate and al
most ran In tho direction of the man
who by this time was In plain view.
Tho sight of the king caused tho run
uur io reuoume nis otiorts, and as
ho drew within hailing distance, he
shouted:
"All Is well!"
And then as ho came near to tho
King no fell upon his faco to tho
become a necessity Instead of a lux
ury, when tho workings of your llvor
come to bo of more lmportanco than
tho affairs of your heart then you are
growing old."
"You aro all wrong," announced a
fourth. "When in pulling on your
trousers in the early morning you are
compelled to gain tho support of tho
bedstead when you slip In tho other
log then then you nvo growing
old!"
Prices of Stocks Fall.
Slnco InBt December there has been
an avorage fall of prices or stocks
equal to over $10 a share in tho case
of railroad sliaros and of $27 in tho
caso of industrial shares. Applying
this to tho entire capitalization of
stocks and bondB of tho railroad anil
Industrial corporations of tho country,
nnd tho apparent depreciation In
prlcos amounts to about flvo billions
of dollars. Wall Street Journal.
The World and You.
The world owes every man a living.
Evory man owes tho world a good
life.
ground, exclaiming, as soon as ho
could catch his breath:
"Mlessed be the Lord thy God, which
hath delivered tip the men that lifted
up their hand against my lord the
king."
The king leaned over eagerly, and
hastily, almost rudojy forcing tho man
to his feet, demanded, hoarsely:
"Is the young man Absalom safe?"
A blank look of confusion oven
spread the countenance of Ahlmaay,
but ho managed to stammer:
"When Joab sent the king's scrv
ant (Indicating the second runner,
who was now drawing near), and me,
thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but
I knew not what it was."
Impatiently the king thrust him
aside and, hnstoned toward tho sec
ond runner, who as he drew near,
shouted:
"Tidings, my lord the king; for tho
Lord hath avenged theo this day of all
them that rose up against theo."
The king lifted Ills hand with an Im
patient gesture, demanding with In
sistent voice:
"Is tho young man Absalom safe!
Toll me! Is the young man Absalom
saro!"
Ah, what tenseness In that volco!
How the body of tho king fairly
shook with tho anxiety which surged
within.
And Cushl answered, letting his
volco fall almost to a whisper, as ho
realized the mood of tho king:
"The enemies of my lord the king,
ami all that rise up against theo to
do thee hurt, bo as that young man is."
Tho king's face blanched, tho light
died out. of the eyes, his limbs shook
so that ho could scarce stand, and
then with a cry of anguish he turned
and retraced his stops to tho city's
.gate, wringing his hands as he went
tottering along, and crying In an
agony of despair:
"Oh, my son Absalom, my son Ab
salom! Would God I had died for thee,
O Absalom, my son, my son!"
Slavs Make Farms Pay.
Tho Slavs are colonizing Connecti
cut valley. Old Hadloy Is said to ho
ull of them occupying the old colonial
esldences up and down .the elm-shad-
od streets of that beautiful New Eng-
and town In tenements, four or live
families to a house, and even taking
boarders. Industry is their watch
word, and thoy are taking up tho
farms that tho New England stock Is
ibandoning. They bring a lower stand
ard of living. This is to be regretted
but, it is snid, that they aro making
the New England farms pay, and as
they get. rich they spend more nnd llvo
better. Lewlston Journal.
Dogs Useful in War.
Another held of usefulness has been
found for the dog In war. Ho 1bn al
ready employed as a scout. He Is now
to serve In the ambulance corps. Two
French army surgeons have taken up
tho question with eagerness, pointing
out the limitations of human agency
in collecting the wounded. of
whom, after every engagement, large
numbers go to swell the dismal list of
the "missing." It Is contended that
dogs of keen, scent could, with proper
training, render aid.
The Lesson of the Flowers.
One of the first flowers to bloom in
the spring Is the hepatica or liver
wort. Tho chill of tho winter was In
the air, and the snows wero hardly
gone, when 1 saw some beginning to
grow amid the dried leaves my stick
had poked away. The sturdy hope ol
tho plant moved .and helped mo. Never
give up; keep alive and alert even
amid tho dreariest scenes and times.
Chance will open somehow If you are
getting ready for it by the faithful
dally duty.
Wealth West and Eest.
The states west of tho Mississippi
possess a combined wealth of moro
than $23,000,000,000, and tho states
cast, of that river $80,000,000,000.
The Best Guide.
The folkB who make the worst mis
takes aro those who follow tho head
Instead of the heart.
Trees Not Oslerized.
Brazilian cocoanut palms live from
000 to 700 years, and the Arabs as
sert that the dato palm frequently
reaches the ago of 2lj to .300 yoars.
Wnllnnjs oak near Paisley, Scotland, Is
known to be over 700 years old, and
thore are eight ollvo trees on tho
Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem
which aro known to have boon flour
lshlng In lO'.t'j. Tho yews at Foun
tains Abboy, Yorkshire, England,
were old trees when In 1132 the ab
boy was built, and a redwood In Marl
posa Grove, California, Is a manifold
centenarian. Baobab trees of Africa
have been computed to be over 5,000
years old, and tho deciduous cypress
at Chapultopoo Is considered to bo
of a still groaterago. Humboldt said
that tho Dracaena Draco at Orotava
on Tonorlffo, was one of .ho oldest In
habitants of tho oarth.
Made Record Climb.
Dr., l.ongstal'fo, who Is mountaineer
ing in the Himalayas with two guides
ami n Gurkha ofllccr, has reached
tho summit of Trisul, 23.106 feet. This
Is thG record for tho Himalayas.
FOR DANTE'S TOMB
LAMP 13 TO BE KEPT CONSTANT- r
LY BURNING.
Monument to Be Marked in Like Man
ner, Florence Vlelng with Raven
na In Move to Honor the
Famous Poet.
All lovers of Dante the world over
will bo Interested In the plan of tho
Italian Danto society to honor the
memory of tho Illustrious poet. The
Idea Is twofold and has beon enthusi
astically received by tho municipali
ties of Florence, whero Dante was
born In 12G5, and of Ravenna, whero
he died 1321. The scheme Is to have
the people of Ravenna contribute to
ward a lamp which shall be hung over
tho poet's monument in tho Santa
Croco In Florence and for the Floren
tines to contribute to a lamp which
shall be hung abovo tho poet's tomb
In Ravenna. Doth lamps will bo kept
burning always, as a symbol of tho
great poet's undying fame and Influ
ence. The lamps are to be made In
Venice In the Byzantine-Venetian
fashion, the bottom of each shaped
in the form of a "conca," from which
Dante got his idea of tho geography
of hell, They arc to be made of
brass and tho glussoa of tho Ravenna
lamp will lie In the old ducal colors,
while those of tha Florentine will be
according to the ancient colors of
Florence. Again, tho former will
bear the arms of Dante's last host
and patron, Guido Novello da Polenta,
while the latter will have on it the
arms of Dante's own family of the
AHghlerl.
What makes tho Idea of the mutual
contribution of tho two cities particu
larly appropriate is that Dante, while
on his "nilsslon to Rome in 1302, was
fined 8,000 lire and condemned to ban
ishment from Florence for two years.
On the 10th of the following March
he was again sentenced, this time to
bo burned, if taken. Ho never saw the
city of his birth again, except, pos
sibly, from the heights of Flesole.
From that time on he became a wan
derer, until, in 1320, he sought asy
lum with Guido Ndvello da Polenta In
Ravenna. In the following year . he
was sent by his patron on a mission to
Venice, and, on his return, dlscour-
SAVED BY
NAVAL POSTMAN COWS GREEK
WITH PENCIL CASE.
Looked Like a Revolver and Checked
Murderous Assault Desperate
Adventure in the Harbor
of Patras.
The British protected cruiser, to
which I act as postman, was anchored
one dark" winter evening about a mile
from the crude breakwater of Patras.
Immediately upon the arrival of the
man-o'-war, I had been sent ashore to
secure our overdue mails, dispatch teh
egrams, and ascertain the postal regu
lations of the port.
Loaded with bags of correspondence
for the bluejackets aboard, I returned
to tho beach late In the evening and
shouted at the top of my voice:
Varka! Varka!" (Boat! Boat!)
A battered skiff, rowed by two
coarse-featured Greeks, quickly drew
up to tho pebbly beach, and I stopped
Into the little craft, where, seated In
the stern sheets, I was rapidly drawn
nway from the town of Patras with Its
myriad sparkling lights.
Neither the boat nor tho men were
at all to my liking; but, thero being
no other boats within hall, I could not
be particular.
The crulBer swung on her cable
about a mllo from the rudely con
structed breakwater, and, as a heavy
sea was running at tho time, It was no
light task which the men had under
taken. The two Greeks who seemed
but shadows In the blackness of tho
night carried on a whispered conver
sation as they laboriously propelled
tho leaky boat; and, dnrk as was tho
night, I could not fall to note, the om
inous glances which they occasionally
cast In my direction.
Their threatening looks mado mo
feel quite uneasy, as J was unarmed
through my own carelessness and I
began to conjure up all kinds of ghost
ly encounters which had taken placo
In these rocky Grecian Islands.
My meditations wore cut short by
tho actions of tho men, who had sud
denly ceased rowing and wero stand
lug over me In a threatening manner,
blustorlngly demanding payment of
their faro! Helpless as I was, my
pride as a British marine forced mo to
rofuso, though my heart was thump
ing like a steam hammer.
"I'll pay when you tako mo along
side," I roplled firmly, "and not before!"
aged at h!s failure, ho soon afterward
dled from fever contracted on tho
way.
Danto was burled In the Francescan
convent opposlto tho house In which
ho dwelt. Tho street running between
is now cnlled tho Via Dante, and In a
corner of the convent wall thero
standB a little chapel with tho monu
ment and two Inscriptions, one of
which, composed by Bernardo Canac-
Dante's Tomb at Ravenna.
do, conclude with the following
couplet, In translation:
"Hero I am Inclosed, Danto, exiled from
my native country,
Whom Florence bore, the mother that
little did love lim."
In the Santn Croce In Floronco
there Is a vacant tomb below tho
monument erected by Ricci. The
Florentines have again and again re
quested the bones of the poet from
Ravenna, but Ravenna has declined
to part with them. The last request
was made In 18G4. The first was In
1337, when Taddeo Gaddt completed
his portrait of Dante In the lower fig
ures of the "Paradise" painted by
Giotto on the walls of the chapel of
the Podesta. Gaddl probably had for
his model a sketch made by his
master, Giotto, from life.
HIS NERVE
With a curse and a hiss one of the
brutes was upon me; but I was pre
pared for him, and hit out with all my
strength, luckily felling the man to the
bottom of the boat, where he lay like
a log.
But my triumph was transient! 1
glanced upward to discover the long
arm of the second Greek stretched
above me, in the bony hand of which
a long,, murderous knife reflected the
few straggling rays of the almost hid
den moon.
Just as I was giving myself up for
lost a brilliant Idea occurred to me.
In my pocket I carried a fancy pencil
case, made In imitation of a revolver.
Pulling out this toy, I presented It at
the head of my assailant with a des
perate air of bravado.
To my joy the man shrank back,
completely cowed by the seeming
weapon! Still keeping the man cov
ered, yet fearing that he might at any
moment detect the trick, I ordered him
and his now recovered ally to pull mo
to tho man-o'-war.
Never before were the lights of the
vessel so welcome to me. A few more
strokes and the brightly Illumined
gangway was reached. With what joy
did I climb aboard my floating home
and deliver the precious malls. Thank
heaven I was saved!
Glass Blackboards.
An Innovation at tho College of the
City of New York In Its new homo
on St. Nicholas Heights Is the use of
glass blackboards. What Is written
on a glass blackboard may be road
from any angle except from behind It,
as Dr. Baskorvllle, professor of chem
istry, explained to his students. When
a blackboard ceases to bo a wall slato
then what wUl It become? Evidently
a new word must be coined.
A Big Difference.
Diogenes What Is the dlfferonco
between a plain, downright burglar
and these financiers who wreck big In
stitutions? Cynlcus A great difference, my
friend. The burglar blows up good,
useful safes, and just takes tho
money. The financial wrecker mere
ly unlocks the Bafe, takes tho money
and puts the loot on tho books ns as
sots. Baltimore American.
Brief.
'Wrti'n vmii nwnv Inno nt vnim ifon
V V .J U 11 IT J w ri W .Twill tlll'll
tlon?"
NS ttS. i;ihUI UlllUllll 1 11 i
cards-" .'Mil wjuj.V Pontlnel.