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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1913)
I Colonel TODrillNTER of Missouri By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS Copyright. 1911. by the Bobbs-Mm Company CHAPTER X. The Shame of Lottie-May Doggett and One Other. rOLOXEL TODHUNTER. and Mrs. Todhuuter were two of tbe great throng that attended the grand reception and ball given by the Sons of Confederate Veterans at the Nineveh hotel. The hotel dining room, festooned In bunting for the occasion, was doing duty as a ballroom, the NImeveh brass band was stationed upon a temporary platform at one end, and the members of the Xlneveh Light infantry, all Sons of Veterans, were there in full uniform. naif an hour after the ball began Tom Strickland came to the colonel with a troubled face. "Colonel," he said, "that little Lottie May Doggett is booked for a mighty unpleasant experience la a few min utes if somebody don't give her a friendly warning." "What's the matter with Lottie-May now, Tom?" "Well, sir. it's pretty serious. There's an ugly story about her that's got to the ears of the ladies tonight, some thing scandalous, in which the name of the man doesn't seem to be known, and I've just had a tip that she's going to be asked to leave the ballroom. It'll shame her beyoud redemption, sir." "Do you know the story?" "Only as it's being whispered around, colonel, about some man being seen to leave her house at hours of the ulght or early morning that can't mean but one thing, folks are claiming. I'm afraid Lottie-May's in a bad tlx the way things look." "You ain't mixed up in this trouble are you, Tom?" Tom Strickland flushed. "If I was, colonel." he replied. "I reckon I'd be man enough to try and get Lottie-May out of it myself without bothering any body else. No, sir, I ain't mixed up in it But. good Lord, colonel, 1 went to school with Lottie-May when she wasn't knee high to a duck, and I swear I'd hate to see her publicly dis graced. And you know and I know It would hurt old Rafe Doggett so. It would break his heart, sir." Colonel Todhuuter made no reply. "1 thought, maybe, if you could get tbe chance, colonel," resumed Tom anx iously, "that you might tell her and so make It possible for her to slip away before tbe Indies can do what they're threatening to do, sir. She'll take It from you. knowing that her grandfa ther was in your old regiment and that you're telling her for her own good, where she might flare up and kick over the traces tt anybody else hinted at such a thing. Don't you think you could work it, colonel?" "If I do, Tom," replied Colonel Tod hunter, "it'll be for old Rafe Doggetfa sake. He's too good a man to be brought face to face with shame in his old age. Yes. I'll try to do It. Tom. But I'd like to wring the neck of tbe young rascal that's got old Rafe's granddaughter in such a mess, sub." In accordance with this promise Colo nel Todhuuter found opportunity to speak with Lottie-May Doggett. Very frankly he told her of tbe danger in which she stood. The girl, vitally beau tiful, apparently as conscienceless as some wild thing of the woods, flashed her hot resentment of his words. "I .ain't thankin' you for what you've just said, Colonel Todhunter," she criod. "It strikes me you're in mighty small business to come to me with this story." "I reckon I am, Lottie-May," agreed Colonel Todhunter in all honesty. "But I wanted to save you and your old grandfather from shame, and that's why I done it." The girl's bosom was heaving with passionate auger. "I'd just like to know who it was that got you to come and speak to me about it!" she exclaimed. "Who was it. Colonel Tod hunter? Was it one of them ladles what thinks I ain't good enough now to associate with their daughters? I've got the right to ask you this, and I do ask it. Who sent you here. Colonel Todhunter?" "It wasn't none of the ladies. Lottie May," Colonel Todhunter made answer without tbe slightest hesitation. "It was Tom Strickland. He heard what was goln' on. and he felt sorry for you, the little girl he wont to school with when ho was a boy. And it wa'n't meddlin' on his pnrt, either. It was plumb good heartedness." The girl shivered as If she had boon struck. "Tom Strickland!" she re pented, almost as if speaking to her self. "Tom Strlckland-of all men! He's makln' love to Miss Mary Tod hunter, your own daughter. And he knows that I'd lay down and die for him any day be give tho word. And It's Mrs. Todhunter that's been told of all this talk about me, and that's goln to shame me here beforo all Nineveh! Ob, but It's a line game you all are playin' to get me where I can't do no M ,. 1 P i i urn I Jrm i ff'? "U ''V harm tTToih 'StrlcEland oT'Eo'your daughter Mary, his sweetheart!" She stood rigid, her hands clinched. Then swiftly she spoke again. "They shan't ruin me this way!" she cried. "Neither Tom Strickland nor Miss Mary Todhunter nor Mrs. Todhunter, nor you, neither! I'll bring you all to law. I'll make Tom Strickland come in for his share of my trouble. Since him and his sweetheart nud his sweet heart's mother have set the ball a roll in', he's got to face the music along with me!" "What do you mean?" exclaimed Colonel Todhunter. All color had gone out of the girl's face as she spoke. "I'll show you what I mean!" she half whispered, her fingers fluttering at her throat. "I'll show you! I ain't a good girl no more. Colonel Todhuu ter. I ain't fitten to breathe the same air with your daughter Mary. Tom Strickland and the rest of 'em's mighty anxious to get me out of the way. I'm a-goln', too. But not till I've said my little say to Mrs. Todhunter. sir. Not till then not even if judgment day and hell itself come to me the next min ute!" "Stop that. Lottie-May!" cried Colo nel Todhunter sternly. "You can't talk that way without reason and you ain't got no reason to say what you've Just said about Tom Strickland!" Tor a reply the girl laughed In his face and the next Instant she bad darted past him. Her head high, her eyes flashing, her little hands clinched at her side, her frame all a-qulvcr with excitement. Lottie-May sped ominously to where Mrs. Todhunter stood with a group of other Nineveh ladies. Mary Todhunter standing close behind her mother. "Mrs. Todhunter." said the outcast girl, her eyes defiantly holding those of the person whom she addressed. "I understand that you want me to leave this party because you think I ain't fitten to be here that I'm a bad wom an. Ain't that so, ma'am?" Mrs. Todhunter was at first shocked into shrinking from the girl. Then she looked at her pityingly. "Lottie-May." she replied, with a frank dignity, "I'm sorry you've made such a scene. It Is true that we think you should not be here. But I was go ing to tell you this privately, to spare you ns much as posslble"- "Xo, you wa'n't!" Interrupted the girl passionately. "You was n-goln' to put all the shame on me you could! But I'll say my say before you do it. Mrs. Todhunter. And I ain't denyln' anything, either, nor 1 aiu't a-beggin' any of you for mercy. You're goln' to make me pay for my "sin. ain't you me. the sinful daughter of a sinful mother? But why don't you make the man pay at tho same time, Mrs. Tod hunter? That's what I'm asking you. Why don't you make the man pav. too?" A dead silence followed these words. "Maybe you don't know who the man Is?" Inquired the girl. "Maybe you can't name him? Maybe that's the reason you ain't doln' nor saylu' nothln' against him?" There was no reply. "Then Til tell you who he Is!" cried the girl. And at this her voice broke and her fingers again went fluttering to her throat. "I'll tell you bis name! It's Tom Strickland, tho man that wants to marry your daughter. Miss Mary Todhunter. ma'am It's Tom Strickland, that'll who it Is!" A piteous llttlo cry came from Mary lodhunfer. Lottie-May Doggett heard It and laughed "Now you've got It good and plenty both of you more'n you bargained for!" she cried tauntingly. Already she had moved toward the nearest door. Iler reckless eyes were fall of scorn ful defiance. "Make the man pay, too!" she flung bnck at the group of which now a mother and her downward swaying daughter were the central figures. "Make Tom Strickland pay along with me!" The next moment she was gone. Colonel Todhunter saw Tom Strick land spring to Mary's side, catch her In his arms, and, thus holding her, face tbe group of women who had fallen ack from him. The next moment Mrs. lodlwnter had passed her own arms arauiid tbe girl, letting ber sink into a chair that had been brought The mother's face was stern in condemnation. "For shame!" she said to Tom. "You i are not tit to touch tier. For shame, ! sir!" j Tom Strickland's face grew white. Ills eyes, that bad met those of Mary In mute entreaty, held Mrs. Todhunt er's lndignautly. For an Instant be seemed about to speak. But the elder lady bent above her daughter, obvious ly ignoring him. Tbe widening group of women looked at him with accusing eyes. Lottie-May Doggett's dreadful charge seemed still ringing lu the air. Apparently bewildered, Tom Strick land turned away, his helpless glance resting for a breath of time on Mary's face. Tbe shock and shame of what the girl had Just heard were shown in the look that met his. Then she avert ed her gaze and Tom Strickland left her side, the women whispering behind him. lie came direct to Colonel Tod hunter. "I must see you, colonel," he mutter ed brokenly. "You beard everything. didn't you?" The colonel nodded, studying the speaker closely as they moved away. "What Is it, Tom?" he asked. "What can I do for you ?" Tom Strickland laughed bitterly. "Nothing." he replied. "But I must tell you the only thing I can do for myself. I've got to see Stamford Tucker and choke the truth mjt of him!" "What do you mean?" "I mean that he's got to tell the truth and face this scandal in my place. lie is tbe one that's responsible, not I. God only knows what possessed Lottie May Doggett to lay her disgrace at my door!" Colonel Todhunter drew a quick sigh of relief. "If that's the truth, Tom. you're all right, and I must say I'm glad to hear It, because the case looks mighty ugly for you otherwise. I'll have to speak plnlnly, Tom, as Mary's father. If you've got the proofs that'll call Stam Tucker to time produce 'em right now." The younger man looked tbe speaker In the face, n white hot anger in his eyes Then suddenly doubt and some thing of dismay took the place of rage. At last he laughed mockingly, as if ut himself. "1 haven't got a shred of proof." he said, "unless my own conviction, from what Lottie-May herself has told me. can giveea hold on Stam Tucker that'll make blm toe the murk. I've got tbe girl's word that Stam Tucker made love to ber and that she met him in secret." "And Lottie-May has Just publicly accused you." commented Colonel Tod hunter, a curious expression in his eyes as they rested upou Tom Strickland's pale face. "That's mighty poor evi dence. Tom. The girl bas made It worthless in advance. Nobody on earth would believe you." Tom Strickland lifted one clinched band and smote it savagely Into the open palm of the other "Nobody but Ntnrn Tucker!" berried "Ile'll know it's the truth and he'll know that Lottie May tolrl me because he was tryiiitt to mukr iiih Ins rival Anil lie'" got to itui !'!-. IIimI it's I be truth-hy (Sod. I'M kill Mm if he l"ti t " "Stop right IIihii Colonel Toiliii.iiii'i inn kin the it-.".:i T 'I i-l r !- i IIU ' on - i; i l,itil-"fl f. that's p'Mp lili- kii -il man lu your fix. sntr "root or tii. Ii'oi i land, "l'lti mil cimiu lay at my door when (III- ii li-l know Ml .Mil In on Sirl.-K ih Mi'tiu i lu- irut'ty "nll'dll't man. mid know, decides, uslt nothini: lu'tliv n f-v Colonel Todliunter's fa. e rUht. then."' he spoke, me what 1 wauled to l- v-4. Mnrv Thai's n!i "And II lelh. know. Now. Sim, I'm goln' to nk you If you cau l contrive some pluu that'll take Stum Tucker uway from Nineveh and seep him away for a few days ut least. If we can do that, Sim, we may be able to prevent the trouble altogether." Sim Birdsong looked tit the speaker with something of helpless bewilder ment In his honest eyes. Then, sin) denly. his face brightened. "I-crackey. I've got It!" be exclaim ed. "Some of tbe boys was arrangin this very night for a tishln" frolic down on Black Bottoms lake, and they plan ned to start before sunrise day after tomorrow. I'll make 'em count Stam Tucker In on the deal, and I'll go out to tho Tuckers' and give him their In vitation myself tomorrow and see that bo consents to go. Then, colonel, all we've "got "lodo1s Just "keep him and Tom apart for one day and night and we've turned the trick I" "Bully for you, Sim!" approved the colonel. "It begins to look like we can see this thing through to a sensible finish, and thnt's a blamed sight more than It looked like to me a few minutes ago, I can tell you!" I'o m Continued.) Rid Your Children of Worms. You can change fretful, ill tempered children into healthy, happy youngsters, by ridding them of worms. Tossing, rolling, grinding teeth, crying out while asleep, accompanied with intense thirst, pains in the stomach and bowels, feverishness and bad breath, are symptoms that in dicate worms. Kickapoo Worm Killer, a pleasant candy lozenge, expels tho worms, regulates tho bowels, restores your children to health and happiness. Mrs. J. A. Ilrisbin, of Klgin, 111., sals: "I have used Kickapoo W'onn Killer for years, and entirely rid my children of worms. I would not. he without it." Guaranteed. All druggists, or by mail. Price 25c. Kickapoo Indian Medicine Co., Philadelphia and St. Louis. "WOE" TO YOU RICH" "BLESSED YE POOR" Hi9 Philosophy of These, the Master's Words, Is Shown by Pastor Russell. Are the Woet and the Blessings Pres ent or Future? God Is Very Rich. Many of God'e Servants In the Paat Were Rich Why Classify at All? Why Contrast Rich and Poor? What Blessings Have the Poor? Riches of Wealth, Riehes of Honor, Riches of Education, Do These AH Bring Woes? Poverty of Education and Earthly Goods and Earthly Fame, Do These All Insure Blessings? Axueville. X. C. July 20. A large slimmer Conven tion of tbe Inter national Itini.i Sri' dents Associ ation Is being held here, with students of nil ages attending, and giving every evidence of growth in grace and knowledge of the Scriptures. T h e program calls for four discourses daily for eight days. Amongst the speakers are some noted Bible students. Pastor Russell was one of the speakers of to day. We report his address, from the text, "Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. And He lifted up His eyes on His dis ciples, and suld. Blessed he ye poor: for yours Is the Kingdom of God." Luke 0:21, 20. Think not. my dear brethren, said the Pastor, that my address Is Intended to stir up class animosity. The tribula tions and disappointments of life come, not through heeding the Divine Mes sage, but through neglecting it. Al though not rich myself. I can sympa thize with the rich in their position, as well as with the poor in theirs. (!od, Himself very rich, is able to sympa thize with both the poor and the rich; so is the Savior, who, being rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich in the truest sense of that word. Some of God's faithful servants in the past were very rich Abraham, for Instance. Nevertheless, the Lord fore warned us that not many rich, great, learned, or mighty would receive the highest blessing promised during this Age. On the contrary, recipients of the greatest favor will be chiefly the poor of this world, rich in faith. These will be heirs of the Kingdom. The Master evidently Intended to in clude riches of every kind learning, influence, honor of men, etc., as well us tlnanclal wealth. This view broad ens the text to signify that all who now possess greiit privileges and bless ings above the average of mankind will, by these blessings, be more or less hindered from obtaining the best things of God's favor, and more or less subject to woes. We are not to take the views of the darker days, and to suppose that the Master meant that the rich at death would be thrown Into everlasting tor ture. The woes of the Bible, on the contrary, apply to tbe present life. The rich, the influential, the learned, the great, addressed by the Master In the words of our text, were living in the close of the Jewish Age. but re alized it not. And we might have no occasion whatever to apply our text to day, but might consider it ns already fulfilled In the past, except for the fart that the Jewish nation and its expe riences at that time typilled the Gos pel Church and the experiences of Christendom in our day. Wrath to the Uttermost Upon the Jews. St. Paul, referring to the same woes which Jesus predicted, hut living near the close of the Jewish Ago, when the woes were being poured out, declared, Wrath has come upon this people to the uttermost that all things written In the Law and the Prophets concern ing them should 1m? fulfilled. (I Thes salonlans 2:1(1.) If all the woes pur posed of God upon tho Israelites in the conclusion of their Age were fulfilled, as St. Taul declares, then none of those woes belong to the future. That' woes and tribulations are asso ciated with the present life, for both the rich and tho poor Is undebntable. All acknowledge these woes. But the most terrible forebodings are associated with Imaginary woes of the future life -quite contrary to the Scripture teach thgs. If we must speak of tribula tions In the present life. In order to bo faithful to our commission, we are glad to be able to set aside nnd nullify the nightmare of the Dark Ages re specting eternal torment for any. The Jews, whom Jesus addressed, lie declared "knew not the time of their visitation." They realized not that they were living In the end of their Age, nnd that a great settlement of matters was pbout to take place. Similarly, we are now living In the end of this Gospel Age-another great set tlement day In the Mvlne arrange- ! ment. The Intellectually, politically, socially nnd financially rich at that time, addressed by our Lord, were very , self sntlsfled. very prosperous, and ! looked for the Messianic Kingdom lu an opposite direction from that which 1 Jesus taught. So today, the intellee tual and the rich In various ways are satisfied as never before, nnd merely (PA5IO'gUSSiLD wishing 'that nothing might disturb their wonderful progress for the future, and these are looking for their bless ings and prosperity lu a direction the reverse of that indicated by the Word of God. Jesus prophetically foreknew and foretold the crisis of the Jewish nation. His Message gathered out of that na tion the "Israelites indeed, m whom was no guile." Then the in Jon was given over to itself. The Divine Hand which had guided It safely iii the past let go the rudder; and human passion accomplished the wreck In the anarchy which overthrew the nation In A. D. 70. Similarly, we may understand that now has come the Harvest of this Gospel Ace: that now God Is gathering His Elect; and that ns soon as this work shall have been accomplished, the Almighty's Hand which has held In rheck the powers of human passion un til now, will release its hold. Then mankind, left to themselves. will wreck their present civilization. As the rich of Jesus' day suffered most keenly in their time of trouble, so the rich will suffer most keenly in the time of trouble now near. Thank God. how ever, that these woes, both upon the Jews and upon Christendom today, are not woes of eternal torment! Compensations In Nature. Who has not been struck with Na ture's compensations? The rich, the learned, the favored, have trials and difficulties, perplexities, cares, doubts and fears, which the poor, the unlearn ed, know nothing about. The clerk, the mechanic and the laborer may fin ish their toil under certain hours and be care free, while the employer often faces perplexing problems which hin der sleep and undermine health. In matters of grace the some rule to some extent, prevails. The rich have lore on which to set their hearts, more to occupy their time, more to cul tivate self-will, more opportunity for self-gratification, more riches for which to be responsible, more education bv which, under present conditions, errors are more likely to be gained than truth. The rich in Influence have more to di vert them and to cultivate their pride. The naturally noble, contrasting them selves with their Inferior neighbors, are Inclined to resent tho Idea that they are sinners, and ns much depend ent upon the Lord's grace as the hum blest and the meanest of their fellows. No Partiality With God. We are not to understand that God Is partial to the poor, the mean, the Illiterate, the Ignoble. The Scriptures assure us that God Is Impartial. All other conditions being equnl. riches, honor, nobility of character, would make the possessors more esteemed In (Sod's sight. But other conditions aro not equal. During this Age God is choosing a special class. He puts faith first, then meekness, gentleness, patience, brotherly kindness and love, In their order. Apparently the life experiences of the poor and ignoble are as favorable, or more so, than the conditions of the rich and the talented. All of their ex periences tend to develop faith, while those of the rich tend rather to de velop self-reliance, self-assurance. The experiences of the poor and Ignorant tend to develop meekness, teachable ness, whereas the experiences of tho learned tend naturally toward self-conceit. The experiences of the great in dealing with subordinates tend to be get arrogance and self-assurance; whereas if they become disciples of Christ, those qualities are serious hand icaps and interferences. Thus we see why not many rich, wise, great and noble are amongst thoso upon whom the Gospel Message tnkes serious ef fect. Not only have the poor many advantages in respect to hearing and obtaining the Gospel Message; but their being more numerous than tbe rich would be another reason why they would predominate among the Lord's elect class. Not All Poor Are Blessed. Our text, however, does not refer to poor people in general, but to n special class of poor. "Blessed be ye poor: for yours Is the Kingdom of God." Some poor, instead of being drawn to God by their poverty, cultivate a spir it of anger, malice, hatred, strife, and are thus not only embittered in spirit, but have their faces turned in the op posite direction from the one In which Coil's blessings come. Alas, how true this Is today! The class described by Jesus as "ye poor" is composed of those who are hungering after righteousness, and who have npproached the Fountain of Blessing, the Almighty, and hnve been received as children of God. The poor include all of God's people, whether or not poor as respects earthly goods, earthly honor, fame, etc. Whatever earthly blessings they may have had, they gave up, sacrificed, that they might thereby become heirs of God, Joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Of the Redeemer it is written, "He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." As the Master made a full surrender of His will and talents, and all, so also must all who, hearing the Master's voice, become His disciples, or foot step followers.-2 Cor. 8:0; Matt. 10:2-1. This does not mean that the Lord's people must of necessity throw away or give away their property and be come penniless. It does mean, how ever, that whatever property they once called their own. by the terms of their consecration became' the Lord's prop erty, and they merely Ills stewards in the administration of thnt property and the use of It In harmony with tbe Lord's will. Neither does this mean that, If they had riches of learning, they must Ig nore their knowledge, nnd speak and act Ignorant ly. It mentis, however, . that their leamlnir is no Ionizer theirs. I hut the Lord's. It Is no longer to be ! nsed for self gratification, self-honor, self praise, but to be used in tbe serv ice of their Redeemer, to show fortS His praises, no matter how unpopulai Ills cause In the sight of men no mat ter how fwlish it may cause them ta appear in the eyes of those who mto blinded to the Lord's arrangements. . This poverty and sacrifice does not nieau the giving up of noble senti ments aud high Ideals; but It means the bringing of these ideals, etc., into the Lord's service, for the su;,ort and advancement of His Message of Truth, for the blessing of mankind along the lines which His Word Indicates. This sacrifice, or surrender, does not mean that honor of men will be dlsea teeinod thereafter; for It will always be true that "u good name Is rather to be chosen than great riches." It means that worldly reputation will be held secondary to the Lord, the Truth, and service for the Lord's cause, so that whatever honor of men they may pos sess will lie turned ns wisely and as prudently as possible into the channels which will glorify the Lord and honor His Message, regardless of the fact that so using It will gradually consume It; for the world knows not the follow ers of Jesus, even as It knew Him not. and appreciates not the true honor which coineth from Above, but merely the honor which Is of men. Worldly Wisdom Vs. Heavenly Wis dom. The Scriptures distinctly point out that there are two kinds of wisdom, radically opposed to each other the earthly wisdom and tho Heavenly Wis dom. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and the Wisdom of God Is foolishness with this world. This means that there are two differ ent ways of viewing nearly everything. The world's viewpoint Ignores tho fu ture beyond the grave, lives for the present, thinks for the present, strives for the present. The Heavenly Wis dom looks chiefly beyond the grave, for that eternal condition which God declares may be attained by all obe dient to Him. Frouw this viewpoint the things of the present are tempo rary, transitory, fickle, uncertain, in comparison with the future blessings. St. Paul declares of these thnt they are not worthy to lie compared with the future glory to be revealed In the Lord's people.-Romans 8:1S. Those who follow the earthly wis dom are subject to the frailties and Imperfect Ions of the human mind with which they were born-born in sin, misshapen in iniquity. "In sin did my mother conceive me." More than this. they are to a large degree susceptible to the evil influence of Satan and tho fallen nugels, and tbe "doctrines of demons" with which these seek to en snare and mislead all who have not put themselves under Divine protec tion by lM'conilng disciples of Jesus. This Includes the grent majority of humanity, of whom the Apostle de clares that the god of this world bath blinded the minds of all those who be lieve not, lest the glorious light of God's goodness, shining In the face of Jesus Christ, should shine into their henrts.-2 Corinthians 4:4. Of these again the Scriptures de clare. "The whole world lleth in the Wicked One." Not intentionally and knowingly, but Igorantly, through de pravity and deception, they nre servants of sin. Their only hope lies In the promise of God that eventually the time will come when Messiah shall take Ills great power, exult His Church, and institute a rule of right eousness in the world, which will bind Satan and break the shackles of igno rance and superstition, and bring In a clear knowledge of (Sod and the Truth. Meantime, many in the world are considerably swayed by the spirit of Satan anger, malice, hatred, envy, strife. When circumstances are favora ble, these evil qualities are not brought Into activity; but under other circum stances, no evil work Is too vile, if It will minister to their selfish propensi ties. Thus today we see people not naturally bad. In the sense of prefer ring evil to good, but deluded and with out Divine guidance, and thus ready to do anything and everything, under stress of necessity, for the mainte nance of the present order of things. Not knowing of (Sod's Plan, and not having the Wisdom from on High, they ure not waiting for Messiah's King dom, but are bent upon attaining their own ends, In harmony with their own theories. According to the Bible testimony, these ure the ones who nre about to bring upon tbe world tbe great time of trouble, the like of which never was since there was a nation. (Daniel 12:1. In that great time of trouble the world ly rich will have fulfilled upon them our Lord's words In our text, in accord also with the words of St. James, "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you." (James 5:1.) Miseries will also come upon the poor, but will be felt especially by the rich, because of the wealth, luxury and comfort previously enjoyed by them. On the contrary, the poor in spirit those who bavo given their little all to the IiOrd, and hnve nothlug to lose fur thercan look with equanimity upon any experience which may come to them. Having nothing of their own, they an lose nothing. "Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the Kingdom of God," aud as Inheritors of thnt promise they are rich with the wealth which moth nor rust cannot corrupt, and which thieves cannot destroy or steal. The wholo matter, then, is one of wisdom. Shall we give our affairs into the hands of the Lord, nnd allow Illtu to work out our best Interests for us and to give us His very best blessing? Or shall we seek to hold control of our selves and of our own wills, and thus miss the greatest blessing that God has to give, and obtain the Inferior one? Or by wilfully choosing sin, shall we deliberately reject everlasting life, and come under the penalty of the Becoaid Death Destruction?