" in mm i®
By JOHN R. MUSICK,
Author of "My«tortou» Mr. Howard," “Th!
Dark Stranger.-’ “Charlie Allentlala’a
Double." Etc.
Copyright, 1W, by Robbbt noBBtm'a Boat.
All right! marred.
CHAPTER III.—(Continued.)
• "We’ve got one on ’em wounded, an’
let's make most out o’ him we kin
afore we let him go. Let's not go an'
act like a hull passel o’ fools as don’t
know- what we’re a-doin’ nohow. Save
him an’ we’ll git Crack leash's dust
back an’ we’ll hang all four together;
you all know that’s much better'n
bangin' one at a time.”
The life of the captive was spared
for the time being, and the miners
proceeded at once to organize them
selves into a vigilance committee, pre
paratory to stopping crime at the very
beginning in their new settlement.
Lying on a low couch In one of the
shanties was the hero of this stroy,
known on the Klondike as Crack Lash
Paul. His wounds were severe, and
he was in a feverish condition. One
of the miners who had some knowl
edge of medicine and surgery had ex
tracted the ball and dressed the
wounds. The name of the doctor will
perhaps never be known. In the Klon
dike he was only called "Sawbones.”
|^/ The patient’s face was flushed and
his eyes closed. His quick breathing
and nervous movements indicated that
he suffered mentally as well as physic
ally.
"Be quiet.” whispered "Sawbones”
in the ear of his patient. “Here, take
this.” He raised the head of the
wounded youth and gave him a spoon
ful of nerve-quieting medicine. He
drank it off, and then lay back on his
bed and slept. The doctor arose from
the low stool at the side of the couch
and went out.
He quickly turned his gaze toward
every projecting branch within range
of his vision. A look of disappointment
came over his face as hi3 eyes search
ed in vain for some object.
“What have you done with him?”
he asked of a miner who was going
by.
“Nothin’,” was the answer.
“What, hain’t you hung him yet?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Glum Ralston said not.”
“What's the matter with Glum?
Has he got bats in his belfry?” roared
the infuriated doctor.
“Hold on, Sawbones; don't get off
your trolley until somethin’s on the
track. I tell ye Glum’s all right.” He
then proceeded to explain matters to
the irate doctor, assuring him that he
would yet have the satisfaction of see
ing the robber lifted high enough to
get a bird’s-eye view of the new Jeru
salem, but explained that in order to
get the others they must keep the
powers of speech in the one they had.
“Well, with that explanation I cave
r In,” growled Sawbones. “But I don’t
r want any feelin’ o’ sentimentality
roaming around this camp. We don't
come of a forgifin’ stock, we don't.”
The patient slept for several hours,
and when he awoke as evening began
to draw near he was much Improved.
But he recovered slowly, and so did
the prisoner. The latter’s wound, how
ever, was more severe than Paul’s,
and for a time his case seemed doubt
ful. The doctor Impressed with the
hope that some information would be
obtained from the wounded man, used
his skill to the utmost to bring about
a speedy recovery.
When Paul was able to walk about
he insisted on going to his shanty to
investigate it, though he was so weak
he had to sit down on a sluice box to
rest before he approached the door.
When he had rested sufficiently he
arose and. unlocking the door, entered
the shanty. He searched the room
carefully for some clue that might
have been dropped by one of the at
tacking party after they entered the
room, but for a long time found
none.
At last he discovered in a narrow
crack between the logs and chinking
what seemed to oe a bit of paper
wadded up and thrust into the hole.
He went to it, pulled it out, and it
proved to be an envelope stained with
blood.
The envelope was stuck in the crack
near the corner where the wounded
outlaw had fallen and Paul at once
surmised he put it there. He took
the paper out of the envelope and
gazed at the handwriting in amaze
ment. It ran as follows:
“San Francisco, Sept. 1, 1895.
“Inclosed find transportation and
money sufficient to pay your way to
Juneau. Whatever you do, remember
that Paul Miller is not to return to
Fresno. Do him no harm if you can
accomplish your ends without vio
lence, but at all hazards keep him
two years longer in the Klondike.
“L. T.”
He read the mysterious paper again.
He turned It over and looked on the
back. Who was “L. T.” and why
should he wish to keep him in Alaska?
There seemed to be something slight
ly familiar about the chirography, but
he was not certain. Having a clue to
the mystery, he sat down to study the
puzzle.
The more he read the note the more
he was puzzled and the farther he
seemed to get from the solution.
“There has been a carefully laid
plot to ruin me," he said to himself, as
he sat upon the stool try ing to study
the missive. “Who Is ‘L. T.,’ and
why should he wish me to remain In
the Klondike?”
He left the shanty, carefully lock
Inf the door after him, and was mak
ing his way to the cabin at which he
hail stayed since the attack, when he
met Glum Ralston.
“Hello, Crack l.ash, gottln' under
way agin?’’
“1 am ablo to be out, Glum,” he
answered.
“Glad on it, boy—glad on it."
The ex-sailor was about to pass on
when the young man said:
“I want to talk some with you,
Glum. There was a deep-laid plot to
rob and murder me. I have an enemy
or enemies—I know not how many—
who have designs on my happiness,
i Ralston was not a man to be moved
by emotion or jump at a conclusion.
He sat a long time listening to the
unquestionable evidence of the youth.
When he had finished there was no
longer a doubt that here was a con
spiracy to injury Crack Lash, and per
haps take his life. A new light was
breaking in on him and he became
more interested in the youth than he
had been.
“M-welj, Crack Lash, I think we'd
better run ’em down. Wonder how
many we kin git to go with us."
“I want no one but you, Glum,” said
the youth. "You and I are enough, for
I can trust you, which is more than I
care to do with all. I believe that if
I can capture those men they will not
only tell me where to find my lost
treasure, but also inform me who this
enemy ‘L. T.’ is.”
“Then by the trident o’ Neptune
we'll go an’ never stop until we find
them.”
After consulting the matter, they
decided to keep their departure a se
cret from their companions, and de
cided to start before they were awake
next morning. During the night a
snowstorm raged. Next morning long
before the miners were astir our two
friends were attired in furs, with se\
eral dogs, provisions, blankets and
rifles, and set oft on snow-shoes in
search of the three men who had
robbed and so nearly killed Paul sev
eral weeks before.
Glum Ralston had received reliable
information that the men he wished to
find were in a valley up the Yukon,
and they acted on that information.
They found the snow still falling,
though it was not very cold. For sev
eral miles they trudged along on the
snowshoes in silence. At last Glum
said:
-Stop!"
-Why?" asked Paul.
“We’ll rest.”
"I am not tired."
“Ye don't think ye are, mate, but
you’ll have all the wind out o’ yer sails
afore ye know it. Set down."
There was a log lying near, and both
sat upon it.
“I am sufficiently rested, so let’s go
on,” said the youth, after a short rest,
starting to his feet.
“Don’t be too certain ye know ye
kin stand it, lad. I tell ye it's a longer
voyage ’n you think, an’ there’s rough
sailin’ between this an’ the Chilkoot.”
They reached Dawson City next day
at noon. As Paul was still weak, he
secured a room in the hotel and went
to bed to rest. Being overcome by
weariness and the journey, he was
soon buried in profound slumber.
He was awakened by some one shak
ing him by the shoulder and whisper
ing:
“Tumble up. Crack I,ash."
“What is it. Glum?” he asked, start
ing up and rubbing his eyes.
“They’re here.”
“Who?”
“The rascals that robbed ye. I saw
th’ face o’ one o’ them fellers we’d
seen a-hangin’ around our diggin’s be
fore you were robbed, an’ I'd bet my
wolf-ekin cap th’ others ain't fur ofT."
Paul Miller hastily donned his
clothes. The pale youth drew on his
fur boots and buckled his revolvers
about his waist. He realized how
dangerous an encounter would be and
he knew he might be a corpse In
twenty minutes. He breathed a silent
prayer for Laura, mother, and lastly
himself, and whispered:
“I’m ready."
They went down to the room below,
where they found a wild crowd carous
ing, but no sign of the man who was
suspected of being an accomplice in
the robbery.
“Wait at the door, Crack Lash,”
Glum whispered.
The ex-sailor left him and hurried
away. He was gone but a few min
utes when he hurried to his side, say
ing:
•‘They’re gone.”
“Where?”
“Up the ukon; we'll find 'em in the
valley."
“Let’s go at once,” said Paul. They
set out for the upper valley. An
Esr4ulmeaux was engaged to take
thim several miles on his dog sleds,
and from there they traveled on foot,
sleeping on the snow securely wrap
ped in their blankets.
On the morning of the third day
they came upon the trail of these men
and followed it until nightfall. Next
morning they were early on their trail
again, and after four hours’ hard
travel Glum Ralston said:
“There they are, Crack Lash!”
He pointed down a narrow valley
which diverged from the main valley,
and three spects could be seen upon a
slight elevation.
Glum Ralston was an experienced
scout, and began at once to put in
play his woodcraft. They crept for
ward to some trees and advanced rap
idly, keeping themselves screened
from the observation of the men they
were trying to overhaul.
Night fell again without coming up
with them, but a glimmer far up the
mountain-side told them they had
camped there. The pursuers slept
and rested a few hours and then again
started on the trail.
At last they came in sight of the
three men not over two hundred
paces away. Raising their rifles, they
shouted to them to halt. The fugitives
cast quick glances behind, and then,
with defiant yells, fled.
Two darted around one side of a
huge, projecting cliff that formed the
extreme spur of the mountain, and one
went the other way. Two rifle shots
rang out on the mountain, and two
bullets whizzed through the air.
“Ye winged yer man. Crack Lash,”
cried Glum. ‘‘Follow him and I’ll give
chase to the others.”
Paul needed no second command,
but darted after the man at whom he
had fired. The fugitive threw away
his gun and fled for life, and for an
hour Paul was in doubt whether ho
was gafniug or him or not. At the end
of that time, to his great chagrin, he
saw him dash into a thick forest of
pines and firs.
When next he saw him he was
creeping along a ledge five hundred
feet above him. With no other thought
than the capture of the fugitive and
recovery of his treasure, Paul threw
oft his snowshoes and clambered up
the steep precipice with great labor
and no littie danger. Up he went,
heedless of everything but the solu
tion of the mystery which threatened
his life and happiness of himself and
Laura. He reached the fork and be
gan to climb the great dead limb of a
tree which touched the coveted ledge
At that moment he heard a crackling
at the root of the tree and became
conscious of a descending motion in
the limbs to which he clung.
He knew he was falling, and that
with the vast mass he must descend
into the valley beneath. He left him
self rushing downward through the
air; he closed his eyes; there came a
horrid crash on his ears, and he knew
no more.
When Paul regained consciousness
he was lying on a pile of skins and
furs In a cavern.
A man clothed wholly in bear and
seal skins stood over him, gazing at
him with a pair of strange gray eyes
His hair was long, falling to his shoul
ders, and his beard, which was almost
white, came to his waist. He had a
half-savage and half-civilized appear
Paul gazed into the strange, wild
face and asked:
“Who are you?”
The stranger, without taking his
eyes cff him, asked:
“Who are you?”
“I am a miner from the Klondike
who was robbed. I was in pursuit of
the robbers when the accident befell
me. You found me?”
“Yes.”
Paul at first supposed that some of
his limbs were broken or dislocated,
and dared not move, but after a few
moments he discovered that he had
suffered no greater injury than a se
vere shock. He had fallen into a deep
snowdrift, which had broken the fall
and no doubt saved his life.
"Won’t you tell me who you are?"
asked Paul after a few minutes' gazing
into the face of the mysterious
stranger. The man turned away for a
moment as if he wished to avoid the
answer and then slowly turning back
answered:
“I am a hermit; will that suffice?”
“Do you live here?" Paul asked.
"Yes.”
“How long have you lived in this
mountain?”
Then came a longer silence than
usual, when the hermit of the cave
answered:
“What difference can that make to
you? I found you in a perishing con
dition and brought you here and
saved your life. Is that not enough
without telling all the secrets of my
life?” He turned slowly about and
went to a small fire that smoldered on
the stones some distance away, and
began to toast some slices of moose
steak. Paul closed his eyes and tried
to reason that he could be in no imme
diate danger. If the man had intend
ed to kill him, he would no doubt have
done so while he was unconscious. He
also reasoned he might have some
design in saving his life.
(To be continued.)
HE LOVED HIS HORSES.
Owner Wept When Compelled to Part
With Them.
An Incident which illustrates the
strong attachment that forms between
a man and a good team occurred at a
public sale four miles south of town
Wednesday. It was noticed that the
owner immediately withdrew from the
crowd upon the bringing forth of a
fine span of blacks, but returned later
when called upon to describe the
team. Among other things, their age,
etc., he stated that he had raised
them from colthood; that they were
true, kind and faithful. Here he could
say no more, and crossing his arms
on the one nearest him, he sobbed like
a child. The intelligent animal, evi
dently realizing that something was
wrong, turned his head and gently
pushed his nose against his old mas
ter’s face. Such scenes are not wit
nessed every day in this hard old
world, and a glance at the crowd oi
farmers disclosed scores of moist eyes
and the autioneer’s voice grew husky
as he proceeded with the sale of the
old friends. No man need be ashamed
of such weakness, if such it may be
termed. It is one of the finest quali
ties attributable to mankind.—Jeiler
son Bee.
Sowing Wild Oats.
‘‘Senee them city boarders got tc
cornin’ here our Johnny has been goin'
to the bad,” said Mrs. Hayseeds to
Mrs. Clovertopp.
“You don’t say!”
“Yes, indeed! He’s got to stayin'
out late at night. Why, last Sat’day
night he went off down town and
never came home until half after 9.
I’ve got a mind to ask the preacher
to talk to him on the error o' his
way.”
REVISION MUST COME
TARIFF REFORM DEMANDED BY
WESTERN REPUBLICANS.
Plank of the Iowa Platform Has
Found Ready' Acceptance—Recip
rocity, Such as McKinley Favored.
Is Now the Demand.
That the mass of the people of t>'
western states irrespective of party
are in favor or tarilT revision may be
considered as beyond controversy.
The republicans of Iowa have express
ed themselves with no uncertain
sound, and what they have said finds
ready acceptance in all the neighbor
ing states.
There Is no Intention and no desire
to do anything radical with the pres
ent tariff schedules. The protective
feature of the law is not to be Inter
fered with or antagonized, but high
duties that have ceased to be protec
tive merely and have become onerous
anil oppressive oti the taxpayers
should be removed.
So, too, in regard to the duties
that foster trusts and are for their
sole benefit, these must be reduced
or abolished so that competition may
be admitted, no matter from what
country it may come.
Senator Culiom. of Illinois, who
keeps very closely in touch with the
people and lias a clear perception of
public sentiment, recognizes these
facts, and declares that tariff revision
must soon lie taken up by congress,
the sooner the better.
Western republicans would impress
their eastern brethren with the earn
estness of their opinions on this sub
ject, and urge on behalf of the west
ern people a moderate revision In the
Dingley traiff law.
Such a revision in the near future
by the friends of protection will keep
the tariff question out of politics for
years to come, and establish the pro
tective policy as a finality.
Reciprocity such as President Mc
Kinley favored must also be made a
distinct government policy so that our
trade abroad may be w idened and ex
tended. If we are to gain access to
foreign markets we must make some
concession to our home markets. We
can not have both entirely to our
selves.
These are the principles and opin
ions that are finding extensive lodg
ment in the western mind, and it will
be well if the leaders of the repub
lican party both east and west give
thoughtful heed to them.
A denial of tariff revision by the
next congress will seriously imperil
the presidential election of 1904. As
has been pointed out before, the peo
ple have a rude way of rebuking their
unfaithful servanls, and a faithless
congress may again lead to a repeti
tion of the election of 1892.
CULLOM ON THE TARIFF
Illinois Senator Sees Necessity for
Revision
The Senior Senator of Illinois is
not a radical tariff reformer, but he
is a good observer and student of
public sentiment. He has favored the
ratification of the reciprocity treaties,
and he realizes that tariff revision Is
a real, not a sham, issue. Ho is more
reasonable and progressive in dealing
with this question than reformer-man
ager Babcock, who forgets as chair
man what he has so forcefully and in
telligently said as tariff reformer.
Illinois sympathizes with Cuba and
supports her request for a material
reduction of duty. But it does not
stop there. As Senator Culiom says,
“the people of Illinois are also think
ing a great deal about tarilT revision."
The Senator adds:
“There is no demand among our peo
ple for anything revolutionary in tariff
matters, and I know they are willing
to trust the Democrats tc do the work
which they feel should be done. What
we want to do now is to inquire care
fully into the whole subject of Dingley
schedules and determine just what
rates should be cut and to what ex
tent. I don’t know how soon we shall
have to take up this tremendous task
in Congress, but I do know that we
shaH have to do it before a great
while.”
Meanwhile the Republican party
must recognize the need and the duty
of dealing with the question. Shallow
talk of “letting well enough alone”
will not do. And the conventions
should speak more plainly than Iowa
did the other day. Those professed
tariff reformers who are satisfied with
the Iowa planks are not at all hard
to please. Any militant high-protec
tionist Bourbon will admit that
schedules are not sacred or eternal,
and that, as an abstract proposition,
revision is desirable from time to
time. From Iowa we had a right
to expect something more specific and
definite—a declaration, for example,
that the time for revision has come,
and that certain schedules are no
longer necessary either for protection
nr for revenue. Iowa has not said as
much as so conservative a statesman
as Senator Cullom is perfectly willing
lo say—that there is work to do here
and now on the tariff system, and
that uiere is danger in delay and ex
ressive timidity.
The Iowa tarifT plar.k is disappoint
ing, though half a loaf is better than
none at all. There is, however, con
solation in the remarks of our senior
Senator.—Chicago Record-Herald.
CHANGES IN THE TARIFF.
Declaration of Iowa Republican Con
vention Commended.
The Republicans of Iowa reaffirm in
this year’s platform certain state
ments made in the platform of 1901.
They Bay again:
“We favor such changes in the tariff
from time to time as become advisable
through the progress of our industries
and their changing relations to the
commerce of the world. We indorse
the policy of reciprocity as the natural
complement of protection, and urge Its
development as necessary to the reali
zation of our highest commercial pos
sibilities.”
The Republicans who express them
selves after this fashion do not look
upon the Dingley tariff law as a per
fect, unalterable piece of legislation.
If has no sanctity for them. They are
willing to lower duties when the prog
ress of industry makes high duties un
necessary for protection. They are
reaily to lower duties through reci
procity treaties whenever commercial
advantages can be gained thereby.
This is the policy of McKinley. It Is
a broad, liberal, intelligent policy
which should guide the course of the
Republican party in congress.
iiit' iv' jniuiivttiio aifMi v vino
year as they did last year: "We favor
any modification of the tariff sched
ules that may be required to prevent
their affording shelter to monopoly.”
There was opposition to this clause in
the committee on resolutions. It was
asserted that the clause would be a
plea of guilty to the Democratic
charge that the tariff is the parent of
trusts. Happily, the argument had no
effect. The Republican party of Iowa
has not been put In the false position
it would have occupied if it had de
clared indirectly that the tariff sched
ules cannot afford shelter to monop
oly.
It is a notorious fact that some of
the tariff schedules do afford shelter
to monopoly. That is. they permit
certain trusts or combines to exact
from domestic consumers unreason- j
ably high prices for their products—
prices higher than could be exacted if ,
the tsrifT afforded no more protection!
than is necessary to enable the Ameri
can producers to compete on even
terms with their foreign rivals.
As some trusts make an illegitimate
use of the protection they enjoy, why
should the Republicans of Iowa and of
the United States hesitate to say so? ,
Why should not they promise to de
prive the trusts of a shelter they are
abusing? The language used in tho
Iowa platform is not a confession that
the tariff i-5 the parent of trusts. There
are trusts in free trade England. The
language is a simple statement that
the party which made the tarifT will
change the tariff whenever It appears
a wrongful use is being made of any i
of the duties levied by it.—Chicago
Tribune.
TWO PICTURES.
1896.
The Next Congress.
A Democratic house next November
would go far to check the progress of
the country by largely destroying con
fidence in the future. It would Indi
cate a change where no change is de
sired. It would promise a political
revolution where revolution would be
disastrous. It would be taken as a
storm signal by the rich and poor
alike Manufacturers would have no
ground upon which to base estimates
as to future work, capitalists would
have no faith in the continued pros
perity of the country. Apprehension
would prevail where faith now con
trols and the preparation for a change
would do much to precipitate a finan
cial and an industrial reaction.
Every man, whether employer or
employe, working by the day or the
hour, working for others or for him
self, every man who believes that the
conditions now prevailing are better
conditions than those that prevailed
in 18%. should see to it that his vote
and his influence are cast against the
election of a Demooratic Congress
next November.—Louisville Post.
A Surplus Breeder.
When the Dingley tariff bill became
a law quite a number of wise news
papers demonstrated that the Cleve
land deficit would continue because it
would be impossible to get more reve
nue from the Dingley law than from
the Gorman act. Nevertheless, under
the Dingley law the tariff collections
increased from $102,000,000 to $165,
000,000.—Indianapolis Journal.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON IX. AUG. 31: NUM3ERS
21:10—THE BRAZEN SERPENT.
Golden Text—“* • * Even So Must
the Son of Man Be Lifted Up, That
Whosoever Believeth in Him Should
Not Perish, but Have Eternal Life.”
1. The Punishment of Pride.—Num
bers 15-20. The Israelites, by their lark
of faith at Kadesh Bamea, proved them
selves unworthy to enter Canaan, and
were Justly condemned to thirty-eight
years more of their wilderness training
school. God's purpose (Deut. 8:2) Was to
"humble" them and “prove" them.
Six events stand out In this long pe
riod. chiefly at the end of It.
The Revolt of Korah, chapter 16; the
Budding of Aaron's Rod; the Death of
Miriam, the sister of Moses, at Kadesh;
the Murmuring at Kadesh; the Repulse
from Edom: the Death of Aaron.
II. faith Conquers the Canaanltes —
Vs. 1-3. 1. "Arid when king Arad.”
Rather, as In K. V.. “the Canaanlte, the
king of Arad.” "Which dwelt In the
south." The Negeb or South Country
of Palestine, to reach which would re
quire a march northward from Mt, Hor,
where Aaron died. "Heard tell that Is
rael came by way of the spies.” "Athar
Im" (R. V.) may mean “spies,” or It may
be the name of some unknown locality.
"Then he fought against Israel.”
2. "And Israel vowed a vow.” . . .
If thou wilt Indeed deliver this people
into my hand.” This Is not In the bar
gaining spirit The people must con
quer before they could serve God with
their conquests. "Then I will utterly
destroy their cities." This was not vin
dictiveness, but ordinary prudence. It
Is mistaken mercy not to cut down
wards and kill poisonous snakes.
3. “And they utterly destroyed them
and their cities.” This probably occurr
ed In the later time described In Josh.
12: 14: Judg. 1: 17. "And he called the
name of the place normal).” "A devot
ed thing." "something vowed."
Lessons from Hortnah. J. The Canaan
ltes saw that they and the Israelites
could not live In the same country.
Wherever two opposing Ideals come to
gether. there Is an "irrepressible con
flict." You cannot mix oil and water.
No nation and no man can serve two
masters
2. No Canaan Is to be won without
fighting
3. God permitted the defeat, in order
to drive people closer to himself. How
often would you think of God If It were
never necessary to go to him with pe
titions?
III. faithlessness and Its Punishment.
-Vs. 4-6. 4. "And they Journeyed.”
after Aaron's death. "From mount
Her. By the way of the Red sea." or
Yam Soph (Sea of Weeds), both names
springing from Its abundant red coral.
"To compass the land of Edom. And the
soul of the people was much dlscourag
ed because of the way.” They were
turning their backs on Canaan and
marching directly away from If.
5. "And the people spake against
God.” They "tempted the Lord" (1 Cor.
10: 9). Speaking of God after a human
fashion, he was tempted to give them
up as hopeless. "And against Moses.”
What a compliment, thus to be coupled
with God. even In reproaches! "Where*
fore have ye brought us up out of
Egypt, to die In the wilderness?" Thus
they turned God's greatest miracle and
benefit into a complaint.
6. “And the Lord sent." It Is not
necessary to suppose that the serpents
were created for this occasion, hut the
Lord brought them to this place, or he
permitted the people In their blind ob
stinacy to run Into them, withdrawing
his protection from them. "fiery ser
pents."
Illustration. All sin Is like a serpent
In Its crafty, sinuous action, fascinating
to the eve, and like venom in Its effect.
IV. The Look of Faith —Vs. 7-9. 7.
“Tile people came to Moses." Moses
was 120 years old. and some have thought
that Joshua was already leading the
people, more especially since Moses’ fall
at Merthah; hut the people came In
stinctively to him in need. "We have
sinned.” The Israelites began to see that
the real danger was not the serpents,
but the sin that led to the serpents,
and It was to open their eyes to this
fact that the serpents were sent. “For
we have spoken against the Lord.” Con
fession. to be anything, must be defi
nite. like tills, and not general. "And
against thee.” Most sins are against
men as well ns God. It Is not enough
to ask God to forgive us, but we must
go also, as these Israelites did. to the
men against whom we have sinned.
“Pray unto the 1/ord.”
Practical. The life of Moses abounds
In examples of the value of Intercessory
prayer. Such prayer Is sadly neglected.
8. “Make thee a fiery serpent.” of
brass (v. 9), that Is, of copper or bronze,
which the word usually means. "And
set It upon a pole.” The pole was to
elevate It. so that all might see.
9. "And Moses made a serpent of
brass.” It existed up to the time of King
Ilezeklah. who wisely destroyed It. be
cause the people had begun to worship
It as an Idol (2 Kings IS; 4). “If a ser
pent had bitten any man, when he be
held the serpent of brass, he lived.”
Illustration. Christ himself gave the
Interpretation of this event In John 3:
14. 15—"As Moses lifted up the serpent
lr) the wilderness, even so must the Son
or man be lifted up: that whosoever be
Ileveth In him should not perish, but
have eternal life.”
1. The serpent was not the symbol
or likeness of Christ, but of sin and it*
penalty.
Illustration. The brazen serpent "was
hung up there on the banner-staff as a
trophy, to show that for the poison th'-re
was healing."—Alford. So Christ's cross
has become the most conspicuous and
triumphant object of the world's his
tory.
Illustration. Still the salvation comes,
as this Illustration of the brazen ser
pent makes clear, not from anything
that we can do. but from what Christ
Is and does.
Illustration. It needs only a look.
Every evangelist and missionary can
give proofs of the possibility of sudden
conversions.
And the look of faith toward Christ's
cross does actually and always heal
men of their sin.
Presented with Unique Chair.
Doncaster, England, town council has
been presented with a carved chair
made out of oak found In the bed of
the river Don half a century ago. The
chair won a medal for its maker at
the 1851 exhibition.
Chinese as Soldiers.
The Chinese are commonly sup
posed to be peace-loving and harm
less. The Zeitscbrift fur Mission
skunde, however, declares that China
is the greatest warlike nation in Asia
and that they are in warfare worse
than the Huns.
Only One in Congress.
Prank L. Coombs, who represents
the First congressional district of Cal
lfornia, is the only man in Congress
born on the Pacific coast. He was
born in the Napa valley in 1853.
