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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 27, 1892)
ii ainniu , SHI WP1!' zr XI r,T us Rather tho sweetestornow- 'wirBfciA Tl1" vln,c, frft' imWJif! cram nnil bine. Tho fairest ami statlleHtllllcs, And roscsof lovctlcst hue! Let us twlno them In wreaths and In Rarlands, In cross nnd In anchor nml crown! And on tho low rmvch of our comrades Wo lay them In rovcrenco down. TJioro Time, with tho tenderest lingers lias bidden tho soft grasses wave, And tho wild flowers blossom In hcautjr Above every slutnlerer's Kravo. "Tho robin slni;s there his gay carols All voice of naturo aro hoard, -And dally their munis uurlscth .From breeze and from beo and from bird. 'Sho cares not If moss or If marbln Or naught mark tho tlaco of their rest On each fall tho tear of tho raindrops, Bho kecneth each safo-in her breast. Her dajslo unfold tholr whlto jiotaW Alike o'er tho high und tho low: In verdure sho hides tin tn In summer, In winter sho Rives them her snow, " Wo come, with our carlatiils In sprtnctlmo To deck tho low mounds whero they He, Yet nuturo, our mother, is klndorr for never she pastes them by,l Wo como with our bands and our muslo Hut once, and pcrchaneo with a tear, "Uut tho songs nml tho slRhlnK of nuturo Never ceaso through tho circling ycarl 'Our garlands will fade and will wither, Hern blossom anew with tho spring; Our songs must dlo out Into silence, Her anthems moro Joyously ring I With thoso whoso low mounds wo'ro ndornlnj In n dreamless sleep must wo share, And the tender arms of our mother Enfold us with llko loving caro, Sound, music! with saddest of dlrgesl Ring, bugles! with softest of notes! And comrades, whllo gently their sighing In Hwcotest of hnrmony floats Come forth. with,your hands full of flowers, WtttLgtrland, with cross, and with crown, And Wlh low graves Of our brothers. Oh, lay them In roverenco down! Mary N. ltoblnson, In Good Housekeeping. tfESTEfy EiyteRlAV Y w i Hte. JfJjjyfy l&m!MtZ?l UK'S (i protty good Kortof a funner, con slderln' she's a woman, " said Squire Mark Icy, turning to li Ih compan A". -mi mmm ion. 'JsW took up that claim thrco iA ft'W took years ago, an' sho's dono well." "Looks kind o' loncsomo like," said tho storekeeper, an they left tho little clulm-shack, or cabin, behind them. fillK BUDDKN1.V WA.VKU IT "Needs n man around; that's what's tho matter. I reckon she's boon dls- .ap'lntcd somo tlmo er nothcr In war times, I guess, fer there she goes now. I was" jest nT-tollln' yeh how 'twas." Leaving tho rudo stable behind tho elalufsluck was a rickety, old-fashioned surroy, drawn by an ancient steed of unkempt uppenrunco. Tho woman driviug was ungular aud unat tractive, but there was something about tho outfit that brought u suspicion of tenderness to tho htorukeeper's eyes u tattered flag tossing its folds in tho prairie breezes as it floated behind tho wagon. He had followed tho old stars and stripes over too many fields not to have his lienrt, warmed, by the unox FccWd'rilght. "She doe itreg'lor," went on Mark ley. "Ev!ry Tlcckeratlon day sho gits cuVUiV'nag.iin' puttin' in her wagin goes over ter th' littlo prairie cemet'ry on deckerates th' graves. Tlior' ain't many lor see to yit, ycr know," ho added, "fer th' settleintnt ain't very old un1 only hair a dozen hez died inclttd--in th' boss thief that was 'took sudden with hemp disease. Tor-day's Decker jBtlon dny." Hester Lang drove 'serenely on, un oil6clous of tho nttcntioj sho hud attracted. Thero was a Surdity pence fulness on her face and she turned often in hor sont to guzo lovingly on tho faded tusign behind hor. It was tho only bit of gn;-' color in ul) tho wide Kunsas tuudscupc. Tho uniform green of Uie -"' '- ... vKffl!?'- wn'i iyiziim Wejss. 'ii. ' . j0ffmtHf--fa' " -30 agjjj; 2jAt plnln strolchcd away i6Mltrcfunt?ofetf curve of tno Horizon without another gleam to relievo its uniformity. Tho mcadowlarks, balancing them helves on long weed stalks forgotten by tho winds of winter, Raw it,- nnd with' gleeful trills soared away. A big-eyed rabbit be.sldo the path gazed Bt It )a wonder, nnd then, us tho banocrfraWk' sudden, quick toss, scampered fjif' a' grass clump. ) i1 v A "Folks probably think I'm foolish or crazy," mused Hester, talking totho horse, for wnnt of better company. "Jlut 1 don't caro. Titer' uln't nobody hero ez will toko hold an' remember th' ,bo,vs thct fell, an' so I'll do It. 1 uln't forgot It In twenty years, aV I don't In tend tcr begin now. It's all right, any way, for Whoal What's thatV" cilia had left the high prairie and wns driving through a narrow ravine, tho sides of which reached upward on cither hand. A rattling of wheels caught her car. Nearer ami nenrer camo the sound and then over the crest of n littlo knoll in ndvanco came two horses' heads, nnd be hind, creaking and swaying us tho nnl mals dashed madly down tho declivity, a whlto canvas-covered "prnlrlo schoon er," thnt familiar ship of tho plains so often freighted heavily with hope or disappointment. Frightened, yet with her wits about her, Hester reined her horso to one sldo nnd gathering her skirts leaped to tho ground. A white faco showing In side the approaching wagon determined her to stop tho runaway ut any cost. Snatching tho Hag by Its stalT from her buggy, sho suddenly waved it with all her strength directly in tho path of tho horses, now so nearly upon her. With a bound they leaped backward and then aside, bewildered by thrt strange sight. Then u crash! and then tho heavy wagon was lying on its nldo among tho dead sunflower stnlks nnd tumble weeds, whllo tho furious horses, broken loose from their fastenings, hnd loft tho rnvlno and were tearing away ncroKS tho level prairie. "Wha have I dono?" moaned Hester, her nervous strength vanishing us she aw tho chaos ut her feet. A groan from tho heap of wheels, boards and canvas at tho foot of tho littlo bluff aroused her. t f Going to the heap of debris sho tore away tho cloth from tho top of tho wagon. A tnun's form lay beneath it, pinned down by a heavy cross-board which had been a part of tho wagon box. A brass button on his coat told that he was not a stranger to tho flngj sho had waved, and with stouter heart she set to work to drag him from his position. At lust sho succeeded and had laid tho now fuinting form on a patch -of gnes dimpled with violets that lurked In tho recesses of tho rnvlno. She turned tho form over and wiped tho dirt aud blood from the clcan-shnvcn face. With a cry sho started back and sank for a moment helpless beside her charge. Then with an effort sho pulled her strength together and went on with her task. Reverently sho wrapped the stars and stripes around tho stranger; nnd some how managed to lift him into tho old surrey. Thon with ono arm steadying tho unconscious runn sho turned tho , horso homeward. Stretched out on tho scrupulously clean bed in tho plain yet comfortable1 cabin ho was not bud looking. A frank, boyish expression was on tho still face, and yet gray hairs told of a man's years. Sickness had evidently mudo WITH AM. II Ell STIIKXOTIT. ravages in tho face's fullness and tho thin hands wcro almost ghastly in their tenuousness. . Having seen that the stranger was lying quietly, Hester closed tho door behind her and taking her buggy set off at tho old horse's best pace across tho prairie after tho individual who combined tho professions of ugrleulturo anil medicine for a livelihood. "Is that you, Miss Hester?" usked tho jolly doctor as sho rodo up to his cabin after a three miles' journey. "Not sick, I hope," ho added beforo site could answer. "No. but" then sho stopped, tho delicacy of tho situation dawned upon her scnsltlvo mind and tho fuintcst sus picion of a blush freshened the wind tunned cheek. "You see It wns this way," she began, resolutely. "I took a man from a runaway an' he's over to th' house, unconscious. You must como an' fix him." In n moment tho two wcro jogging along over tho plain. As they ap proached tho "shack" Hektor grow vis ibly nervous, but her companion madq no comment, and as tluvv found tho stranger still oblivious to tho world and Itshuppcnlngs, they soon had other mat ters to think of. "Do you think ho will that it is Bori ous?" anxiously ''asked tho woman, look ing into tho physlcinu's face. "No, I guess not, though ho had a mighty close shave," was tho reply, "lie's like- lyloiSttfbrtsYifie now, nn' tlien it wjll dependon how po stands it. If bo's wantlcrln' when ho gets con scious, there's danger, 'tt not, there's hope" ' "I'll send the pnrson down durln' the evening," ho called, ns ho started out L'for home, "an' mobbo I'll bo hero my- RClf." Hester went quietly to work at her 'evening task4, taking now und then nn anxious look toward tho bed. Tho old horso was feed nnd tho stable door closed against the damp spring nlr. "I didn't deckerato th' graves after all, did I?" exclnlmcd tho owner of tho claim, talking to herself, "an' th' flow ers Is all in th' wngln. I'll tnko 'cm in fer Mm tor look nt It'll bo jest as well." A tender expression cntno into her faco at the words. Loaded with tho wild blossoms the wind-flowers, violets antl early red roses which she had gathered during tho past week sho reentered the cabin nnd placed tho rudo bouquets beside tho soldier's couch. Something in the fragrnnco of tho blossoms, or In tho approach of Hester, reached tho drowsy senses of tho sleep er, aud as she lenued over tho bed his eyes suddenly opened nnd tholr bluo depths looked steadfastly into tho brown ones of tho hostess. "Hesterl" Tho words sprang Instinct ively from tho palo lips. ".Unit" sho replied, with n dry, hard sob that seemed to como from her in most heart, "I'vo looked for you so long," whis pered tho man, "I thought I'd never find you." 'And I thought you'd never como." "You know me when I did meet you?" "Yes, Jim, I'd know you always. Hut tnel I'm so changed. How could you know mo?" 'Yes, you'ro changed and so nra I, hut tho&o eyes could belong to no ono else." Then flowed on tho stream of talk as sho sat beside him with ono of his whlto bunds clnspod in both her wrinkled brown ones. Ho told of conflnomont lu southern prisons; of long delays before ho could work hit way home; of finding hurgonoto thai west: of a search thnt Uwas unsuccessful and a heart-sickness awn resulted in a start lor Home; of tho runaway whllo on route. Sho told of troubles In her family; of being thrown on tho world ulonc; of mourning him as lost; and her life on tho plains. It had grown qulto dark, but they took no heed of time. Suddenly footsteps were heard out side and a hearty knock shook tho cabin door. "It's tho minister," whispered Hester Bervously, "he's come to see you. Wo won't need him now shall 1 tell him tcr go homo?" Jim clung to her wrist. "Yes, wo do need him," ho plended, "you know what for. Have him stay and we'll settle it for suro," Sho hesitated a moment and then throwing open the door invited tho minister and Ids compnu'.on, tho doctor, to enter. "It didn't tnko moro'n ten minutes for th' preacher ter catch onto th' flno pints in th' case an' splice th' two wnn ilerers as 'tight cz th' law could hold 'cm," said tho doctor tho next day nt tho settlement store. "Th' feller's pit tin' along olcgupt an' they're ez happy ez kittens Sho' didn't do her usual thing by th' dead soldlors, but sho made n live ono mighty comfortablo un' that'll do fer one Memorial day." C. M. 1 larger, in Detroit Free I'rcss. THE LAZZARONI. A Clitu That Tolls Not, Neither Docs It Hplu. A century ago there were thirty thou sand "lazzaronl" in Naples. Neither disease nor want has diminished their number. Their children dlo at a fear ful rate, but there aro many hospitals for the survivors, and neither board nor lodging costs them much, when, at a mature ago, tluy aro turned loose into tho world to become "lnzznroni" in their turn, like their unknown fathers and mothers. What is tt "lnzzarono?" it may bo askfe'd. According to Colletta ho is a being who lives how ho can without working. If ho puts hand to honest labor ho is no longer n "luzza rone." It may bo doubted whether tho "lazzurono" will over become extinct. Tho "rosunltntlon" scheme will not oust him nor mnko him change bin hob Its. Ho is moro than half what his cli mate makes him. A Neapolitan has said that lovo Is tho only occupation of tho unoccupied. If this be renlly so, imagine the condition of Nuplest As far as observation goes, tho "lnzzaronl," ns a class, beem to con sider tho elTort of extraneous courtship somewhat too strong for them. They will throw sparks in plenty into the in Uammablo hearts of their fair acquaint ance, but It will bo, rather from tho sheer love of deviltry begotten of Idle ness than becuuso thoy aro In tho tolls of a consuming affection. "Friendship! nothing more'.'" whispers n handsomo brown giant into the car of ti maid ao brown as himself, whom for hair nn hour ho has been plying with what seem to bo insidious advancos, und whoso dark eyes have begun to gleam with passion. ,jf tho girl bo a good girl, sho answers : " Certaluly, nothing moro," and tho chaff continues. Other wise, n frown und a pout of tho. full lips toll the mun that he may, if ho dare run tho risk, go a step further. Truth to say, woman is tho prime oause of very many o( the deaths by tho knifo. Although human nature is in few cities more human und less divine than in Naples, tho verdict which acquits tho man who avenges with tho dugger the wrong dono to his wife or sister, or gives him but u trilling sentence, Is held to bo very just National llevlew. James A. Spurgeonwho Is to carry on thmiistorUil dutieafof tho London tabernuulV is nyaungoirbrothcr of the lute famous preacher and has for somo time been assistant pastor of tho great church. He also has a church ut Croy den, but for inany years past most of ids tlmeha7Jjeen-devoted to superlu tending tiio ugeuelesat work lu cornice tlon with tlic tabernacle CASTING OUT DBVIL8.- Dr. Talmaeo DIscoursos on tho Duty of Christians. They Hhonlit Siel Out Uolilly For Christ The Dumb Devils of Apathy nnd In difference Should He Cast Out l'rcnont Worlt Needed. In n recent sermon nt Brooklyn Rev. T. Do Witt Tnlmago Illustrated In po tent and convincing language tho duty incumbent upon Christians of embrac ing every opportunity that offers in this llfo to do good nnd to advance tho cntiso of tho kingdom of Christ by a bold acknowledgement of their prin ciples beforo men. Tho text selected was Mark Ix. 25: "Thou dumb nnd deaf spirit, I ehnrgo thro como out of him." Tho preacher said: Hero was a causo of great domestic angulfth. Tho son of tho household was possessed pf an evil spirit which, among other things, paralyzed his tonguo nnd made him spcechluss. When tho influ ence was on tho patient ho could not say a word art I julation wns Impossible. Tho spirit thai captured this member of tho household was a dumb spirit so called by Christ a Bplrlt abroad to-day and as lively nnd potent as In New Testament times. Yet In all tho realms of sermonology I cannot find n discourse concerning this dumb devil which Christ charged upon in my text, saying: "Como out of him." Thcro has been much destructive superstition nbroad in tho world con cerning possession by evil spirits. Under tho form of Insllof In witchcraft, this delusion swept tho continents. Per sons wero supposed ,to bu possessed with some evil spirit, which made them ttblo to destroy others. In tho sixteenth lentury, in Geneva, l.BOO persons wero burned to death as witches. Under ono judge, In Lorraine, DUO persons wcro burned to death as witches. In ono neighborhood of Franco 1,000 persons were burned. In two centuries 200,000 persons wero slain ns witches. So mighty was tho delusion that it in cluded among Its victims some of the greatest intellects of all time, such as Chief Justice Matthew Hale nnd Sir Ed ward Coko nnd such renowned minis ters of religion as Cotton Mather, ono of whoso books, Kenjamln Franklin said shaped hn life and Richard Ilaxtor, and Archbishop Cranmer, nnd Martin Luther; and, among writers nnd philo sophers, Lord llacon. That belief which has become tho laughing stock of all sensible people, counted its dis ciples nmong tho wisest and best peo ple of Swetlcti, Germany, England, Franco. Spain itnd New England. Hut, while we reject witchcraft, any man who believes tho Iliblo must believe that there uro diabolical agencies abroad In tho world. Whllo there nro ministering spirits to bless thcro arc infernal spirits to hinder, to poison and to destroy. Christ was speaking to n spiritual existence, when, standing be foro tho nflllcted ono of tho text, ho said: "Thou dumb und deaf spirit come out of him." Against this dumb devil of tho text I put you on your guard. Do not think this agent of evil has put his blight on those who, by omission of the vocal or gans, have had tho golden gates of speech bolted nnd barred. Among thoso who havo never spokon n word uro tho most gracious and lovely and talented souls that wero over incar nated. Tito chaplains for tho asylums for tho dumb can tell you enchanting stories of those who never called tho name of father or mother or child, nnd many of tho most devoted and prayer ful souls will nover in tjtls world speak tho name of God or Christ Many n deaf mute havo I seen with tho angel of intelligence seated at tho window of tho eye, who never camo forth from tho door of tho mouth. What u miracle M loveliness and knowledge was Laura iJridgmnn, of New Hampshire, not only without faculty of speech but without hearing nnd without sight, nil these faculties removed by sickness when two years of age, yet becoming a wonder at needlework, at tho piano, at tho sowing machine, nnd nn Intelligent student of the Script urcs.nnd confounding philoso phers, who camo from ull parts of tho world to study the phunomonon. Thanks to Christianity for what It has done for tho amelioration of tho condition of tho deaf and dumb. Hack In tho ages they wero put to death us having no right, with such paucity of equipment, to live, and for centuries thoy wero classed among tho Idiotic nnd unsafe. Hut wo nro not this morning speaking of congenital mutes. Wo menu thoso who nro born with all tho faculties of vocalization, und yet havo been struck by tho evil ono men tioned In tho text tho dumb devil to whom Christ called when ho snitV. "Thou dumb and deaf bplrlt, I chargo thee como out of him." There has been npotheoslzntlon of silence. Somu ono has said silence is golden nnd sometimes the greatest tri umph Is to keep your month shut. Hut sometimes sllenco is a crime and the direct result of tho baleful inlluenco of tho dumb devil of our text. Thcro Is hardly a man or woman in this houso to-day who has not been present on somo occasion when the Christian re ligion beenmo a target for raillery. Somo one got tho laugh on tho Hlblo nnd caricatured tho profes sion of fdlglon as hypocrisy, or mudo u pun out of something that Christ said. Tho laugh started and you joined In, nnd not one word of protest did you utter. What kept yon silent? ModeBty? No. Incapacity to answer? No. Lack of opportunity? No. It was a blow on both your lips by tho wing of tho dumb devil. If some ono should malign your fnther, ot mother, or wife, or husband, or child, you would flush up quick, und cither with an indignant word, or doubled fist, mnko rwpous&i And yet hero is our Christian, vcligioa which has dono so much for you uud so much for the world that It vlll take all oternltv to celebrate It, n,nU yot, wlton it wca attacked, you did not bo much aa aay: "I differ! I object L am sorry to hoar vou say thut There is another sldo to this." You Christian peoplaj ought Jn Bitch times as these (rtonsj nnnod, not with earthly weapons, but with tho sword of the, Spirit, ""You ought to hnvok four or flvo questions with which you could confound any man who attacks Christianity. . O friend.'), better load up with a few interrogation points. You cannot nf ford to bo Bllent when God nnd the Hlblo nnd tho things of eternity are as sailed. Your silence gives consent to tho bombardment of your father's house. You allow n slur to bo cast on your mother's dying pillow. In behalf of Christ, who for you went through tho agonies of assassination (on the rocky bluff back of Jcrunalcin, you dared not faco a sickly joke. Hotter load up with a few questions so that next time you will bo ready. S.iy to tho scoffer, "My dear sir, will you toll mo what makes tho difference between tho con dition of woman in China nnd tho United States? What do yon think of tho sermon on tho mount? How do you llko tho golden rulo laid down In the Scriptures? Aro you In favor of tho ten commandments? In your largo and oxtcnslvo reading havo you come across n lovelier character than Jesus Christ? Will you please to name tho trlumplrant death-beds of infidels and ntholsts? 1 How do j'ou account for tho fact that among tho out nnd out believers in Christlnnlty were Such persons ns Ben jamin Franklin, John lluskln, Thomas Carlyle, Harblngton Macttulay, William 1'enn, Walter Scott, Charles Kinsley, Horaco Hushnell, James A. Garfield, Robert E. Lee, Stonuwall Jackson, Admiral Foote, Admiral Farragut, Ulysses S. Grant, John Milton, William Shakespeare, Chief Justice Marshall, John Adams, Daniel Webster, George Washington? How do you account for their fondness for tho Christian re ligion? Among tho innumbcrnblo col leges nnd universities of tho eurthi will you nnme inu three, started by Infidels nnd supported by inlldcls? Down In j'our heart uro you really happy In tho position j'ou occupy antagonistic to tho Christian religion? When do you have tho most rapturous views of tho next, world?" Go nt him with a few such questions and ho will get so red in the faco as to suggest apoplexy, and ho will look at his watch aud say ho has an en gagement nnd must go. Hut then there are occasions when this particular spirit that Christ exor cised when ho suld: "I chargo theo to como out of him," takes people by the wholesale. In tho most responsive re ligious nudtoneo havo you noticed how mnny people never sing nt all? Thoy havo a book and thev have a voice and they know how to read. They know many tunes, and yet are silent while tho grent raptures of music pas by. Among thoso who sing not one out of a hundred sings loud enough to hear his own voice. They hum it They give a sort of religious grunt. They make tho lips go but It is inaudible. With n volco strong enough to stop n street car one block away, ull they can afford in the praise of God is about half a whisper. During the cotton famine in Lanca shire, England, when the suffering wns something terrific, ns the first wagon load of cotton rolled in, tho starving peoplo unhooked the horses nnd drew tho load themselves, singing, until nil Lancashire joined in with triumphant voices, their cheeks sopping with tears: "Praise God from whom ull blessings flow." When Com. Perry, with his war ship, tho Mississippi, lay off tho coast of Japan, ho bombarded tho shores with "Old Hundred" played by tho marine band. Glorious "Old Hundred," com posed by William Franc, of Germnny. In a war prison, at ten o'clock at night, tho poor fellows far from home and wouuded nnd sick and dying, ono pris oner started the "Old Hundred Doxol- ogy" und then n score of voices joined, then nil the prisoners on all the floors took up the acclaim until the building, from foundation to topstono, fairly quaked with the melodious nscrlptton. A llrltish man of war, living oil a for eign coast, heard a volco sing ing that doxology nnd Immedi ately guessed, anil guessd aright, that there was nn Englishman In cap tivity to the Mohnmmcdans; and in tho small boats tho sailors rowed to shore und burst into ti guard-house and sot tho captive free. I don't know what tune the trumpets of resurrection Bhall play, but It may bo the doxology which is now sounding across Christendom. How much moro hearty wo would bo In our songs, nnd how easy wo could drive back tho dumb devil from all our worshiping assemblages, if wo could re alize that nearly all our hymns havo ti stirring history. That glorious hymn, "Stnnd Up for Jesus," was suggested by tho last words of Dudley Tycng, who was dying from having his right arm torn off by a threshing machine.. That hymn, "What n Friend Wo Have in Jesus," heard through a telephone con verted nn obdurate soul. "Wo Shall Gather at tho River?" was n hymn first snug at our lirooklyn Prospoct park, nt tho children's May unnlverslty, nnd then Btarted to encircle tho world. "Whero is My Wondering Hoy To-night?" is a song that has wived hundreds or dissipated young men. Tom, tho drummer boy in tho army, was found crying, and an ofllco asked him what was tho matter! "01" ho bald, "I had n dream last night My sister died ten years ago, and my moth er nover was herself again, and she died soon after. Last night 1 dreamed I was killed in battle, und thut mother nnd Bister camo down to meet me." After the next battle was over, someone, crossing tho field, heard a voice that ho recognized as the voleo of Tom, tho drummer boy, singing "Jesus, lover of my soul." Hut ut tho end of tho first verso tho voice became very feoble, and at tho end 'of tho second verso it stopped, and they went up and found Tom, tho drummer boy, leaning against a stump, und dead. , That hymn "O for a thousand tongues to sing," was s-iggostcd to Charles Wesley by Peter Itohler, who nftor his conversion sai., "I hud bettor keep silent aoout It." "No," said Wesley, "If yon hud ten thousand tongues you had better use them for Christ." And then thr.t angel of hyinnology ponued tho word: O tor a thousand tonauca to sing My dear Hodeemor praise. Tho glories or my God unit King, . Tuo triumphs ot bit gttca tnrJciU3,kth,arao Jhat catm.1 oar fear That bids our sorrows ccasei "Us music la tho sinner's cam, VTIi llfo add health nnd peace. Do not, however? letis lose onrselre in generalities. Not onu" of un but ha had our lives sometimes touched by tho evil spirit of tho text this awful dumb devil. Wo had just one opportunity of saying n Christian word that might have led n trian or woman into n Chris tian life. Tho opportunity was fairly put lwforo us. Tho word of invitation or consolation or warning camo to tho insldu gnto of the mouth, but thcro it halted. Some hindering power locked tho jaws together so that they did noti btfen. Tho tongtto lay flat and still in tho Iwttom of tho mouth as though, struck with paralysis. Wo wero mute. Though God hud given us the physlo loglcal apparatus for speech, nnd our lungs wero filled with air which, by tho command of our will, could havo mado tho Inryugoal mosaics moro und the vocal organs vibrate, we " wero wickedly and fatally silent. For nil tlmo and eternity we missed our chance Or it wns n prayer mooting, and the servico was thrown opqu for prayer nnd remarks und there was a dead halt cyerythjng silent us u graveyard at midnight. Slndecd it was a graveyard and midnight An embarrassing pause took place that put a wet blanket on all tho mveUng.' Men, bold enough on business exchnngo or in worldly circles, shut their eyes as though they wero praying In silence, but they wero not praying nt ull. They wero busy hoping somebody olso would do hi duty. Tho women flushed under tho awful pauso and mado their fans moro rapidly flutter. Some brother, with no eold, coughed, by that sound trying to fill up tho tlmo, nnd tho meeting wa slain. Hut what killed If.' tho dumb devil. Hut do not let tho world deride tho church becattso of nil this, for tho dumb dovll Is just as conspicuous in the world. Tho two grent political parties will soon assemble to build platforms for tho .pres idential canciiuaics lo stand on. A com mittee ot cauh'party will bo appointed to make the platform. After proper de liberation thoicommitteo will come In with arlnglng report: "Whereas," und "Whereas," antl "Whereas." Pronun clnmentocs nil shaped with the Idea of getting tho most votes. All expression in regard to tho great moral evils of tho country Ignored. No expression about tho liquor traffic, for that would I030 the rum vote. No expression In regard to tho universal at tempt nt tho demolition of tho Lord's day. No recognition In tho his tory of this nation for thnt would loso tho voto of ntholsts. Hut "Whereas," nnd "Whereas," nnd "Whereas." Nino cheers will Ihj given for the platform. The dumb dovll of tho text will put ono wing over tho republican platform nnd tho other wing over the democratic plat form. There is nothing involved in tho next election except oillces. Tho great conventions will bo opened with prayer by their chaplains. If they nvoi platitudes and tell tho honest truth their pruyers they will say: "O, Lor' wo want to do postmasters una con suls and foreign ministers and United States district attorneys. For that wo uro here, and for that wo will strive till tho election next November. Give us ofllcc, or we dlo. Forever and ever, amen." Tho world, to say tho least, is no better than tho church on this subject of silenco nt tho wronp; time. In other words, is it not time for Christianity to become pronounced and uggrcsslve tts never before? Take sldca for God and sobriety nnd righteousness. "If the Lord bo God, follow Dim; i Raal, then follow him." Havo you op portunity of rebuking a sin? Rebuko It Have you a chance to cheer n dis heartened soul? Cheer it Havo you a useful word to speak? Speak It. 11a out and out, up and down for righteousness. If your ship Is ufloat on tho Pacific ocean of Gotl's mercy, bang out your colors from mast-head. Show your passport If you havo one. Do not smuggle your soul into the hnrbor of Henven. Speak out for Godl Thla morning close up tho chapter of lost opportunities, und pitch it into the Eust river, and open a new chapter. Deforo you get to tho door on your way out this morning shake hands with somo one, and nsk him to join you on tho road to Heaven. Do not drive up to Heaven in n two-wheeled "sulky" with room only for ono, and that yourself, but get tho biggest gospel wugon you can find, and pile It full of friends und neighbors, und shout till' they hear you all up and down tho skies: "Como with us and wo will do j you good, for tho Lord hath promised good concerning Israel." Tho oppoituulty for gixd which you inuy conslder insignificant may bo tremend ous for results, us when on tho sea Capt Haldane swore nt the bhip's crew with an oath that wished them nil in perdition and a. Scotch sailor touched his cap und said: "Captain, God 1 tears prayer and wo would bo badly off if your wish wero answered." Capt Haldano was convicted by tho snUor'a remark nnd converted and became tho means of the s:lvatlon of his brother Robert, who had been an Infidel, and then Robert became n minister of tho gospel, and under his ministry tho godless Felix Kelt beenmo the world renowned missionary of tho cross, nnd tho worldly Merle D'Aublgno became tho author of "Tho History of tho Ro formntion," and will bo the glory of tho church for all ages. Perhaps yon may do us much as the Scotch sailor who just tipped his cap, and used ono broken sentence by which the earth nnd tho heavens nro still resounding with po tent influences. Do something for God and do it right away, or yon, will nover do it at all. A litranre OrderT Gentleman I wish to got a palt ot boots. Clork Hoots? Uontletnun Yes; boots. Clerk OhI Hunting-boots, I presv.tar Gentleman No; boots. Clerk Fisherman's boots? Gentleman No. Clerk Lumbermen's boots? Gentleman No! I want gontlemen' BB'i boowl Clork An, Ieoo! You fieau shoe Puck. i r .. t n m nv i V Ik,- lvlV)i.