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?j AllATl l ^ X K YT -Sk0//VUi 9 By Anna Katharine Green, J COPYRIGHT, 1CBO. BY R CHAPTER XV. 1 Continued. "No, for I know that providence has led you to me." The look wiiicii iiad nneu tue signurina's eyes when Hamilton Degraw spoke to her of God reappeared in them at these words of her generoushearted friend. But she did not let it become visible as she had before, but turned her face away toward the wide stretch of beautifully undulating country -which lay before them. "Perhaps that is true," she assented, "but there was not so much trust as fear in her tones. "I am sure," she went on in haste, cs if anxious to cover up any momentary disappointment which might have been occasioned by her manner, "that if you knew my position you would think I 1 - 3 ? /-!* ? J T t?Af r>nlr xritli uecuea u ineuu. ? ...... out an adviser, but I am threatened toy a danger?" "I know, I know." "You know?" "Yes. You will pardon me, sig' norina, but " "Don't call me 'Signorina'; call me 'Jenny.' That is my true name, and I should like to hear it from your lips." "You shall. I know, then, Jenny, that you have reason for dread. That because of this very name, you feel that you have reason to fear. But you will be safe here. No one shall know that you possess this name, which just now seems to be the har: hinger of persecution and peril, decides " "But I would rather not conceal the fact that it is mine. There is a cow?r> dninn cn Tl-hifh is not IlSTee able to me. Perhaps, because I am the victim of another cowardice which I cannot supQj-ess. Since I have failed as a singer, the word 'signorina' galls me almost beyond endurance. I hate its very sound, and long to hear my?elf called again by my childhood's came. Do you think there is any harm in yielding to this preference? "Would you mind introducing me to your friends as Miss Rogers?" "Not at all; why should I mind It if you do not? But It seems like giving . up your old hope entirely, and I, for one, still think you will reap the honors to which your voice entitles you. I have a scheme " "Oh, do not talk of schemes, dear Miss Aspinwaii. .Let us rest wmiuui ihought of the morrow in this para " v dise of sunshine and verdure. I have never seen anything so delightful as this place before. It is an experience for me to be here; let me enjoy it and forget, if I can, that the world holds any other riches, treasures or rewards. The little bird sings sweetly; if I were free as he and had the earth. and heaven for my home, I could, sing too. I wish I were a bird, how my throat would swell! I can almost fancy in this solitude that I am. Do you think any one would hear if I " "Oh, oh, do sing. Just an aria, Jenny. Hark, the little fellow is urging you on. Surely you can rival his notes." The signorina smiled. An exquisite An fin/1 chn VUlUr Uii/ae uui vu mi v.v looked so lovely that the noble "woman at her side "was filled with admiration. Then without further words, and as if impelled by an inward enthusiasm she 'could no longer resist, she opened her 3ips and song issued forth, so pure, so sweet and so entrancing, that the little Ibird who had previously filled' the silence with his voice stopped in amaze und bent his head to one side as if in inquiry as to the source of such delightful melody. The spot occupied by the summer feouse in the large and amply cultivated grounds was somewhat removed from the dwelling. Perched on a slight jlinoll k commanded a view of much of *hf? countrv around, and for this rea rson was a favorite 6pot of resort for jMiss Aspiawall, who had an eye for all xhat was beautiful and a heart for this especial scene beyond all. But it had one drawback. But a few feet away ran the fence which marked off her property from that of her next neighbor, and as that neighbor tcok boarders she never felt herself quite safe in this place from intruding eyes. Thus It was that, when the signorina began to sing Miss Aspinwaii let ;ber glances travel in the direction of this fence and the winding walks beyond, but seeing no one gave her full attention to the song which was being 'caroled for her and the birds. It was melodious as heart could wish or taste n-v fxac-t, and she was drinking in the u X mellow notes with delight when suddenly, without warning, the soaring notes trembled and fell, and glancing in haste at her companion she beheld :ber sitting petrified with amazement, gazing into the neighboring garden. 'Following her look she "was herself surprised to perceive a man standing before them, returning gaze for gaze, and that with an intensity which proved he had not been unmoved by the song he had overheard. She -thought, at first glance, that she did not know this man, but in another moment she recognizcd him for the artist who had interrupted her in her work of strewing flowers' over the signorini on that memorable afternoon of her supposed death. Instantly she showed as much feeling as the woman at her side had done. A beautiful flush rose on her cheek and she stole a side glance at the slar- m tied singer, as if to see whether her own nrrmtinn wn<5 nhspvro/1 T* -n-ic ' Cot. for after the first movement of surprise the latter had turned away and was looking toward the house as if she longed to take refuge in flight. . "You know him?" whispered Miss Aspiuwaii. "Oh. yes: oh. yes. But I must not sec him. Why has he come here? It is fatality: I must go." Miss Aspiuwaii did not seek to detain her. "I will go with you," she said, and < , . * .. # ' > / ?.,r ?, >:*v / rER P jLIONS. Jl, I Author of "The Forsaken 1 I Inn," Etc. OBCRT BOHNCH's SONS. jy they left the summer house together, not turning their heads, though ?ie temptation to do so was equally strong for both. "I saw him when I loft the flowers at your house." observed Miss Aspin wall, as they hastened over the lawn. "He came in before I left. Is he an old friend of yours? Pardon me if I appear too curious." "He was not a friend; he never cam<* till that day and then he came on business. He is an artist." "I know that; I recognized his face; j lie is well known in the city. His pictures, such as I have seen, arc exquisite." Miss Aspinwnll wns smiling. Her prait and manner were redolent with joy. The signorina, on the contrary, seemed to have weights on her feet. She stumbled once or twice, and her restless eyes had a sort of terror in them. -Suddenly she asked: "You know his name, then?" "Certainiy; it is one that New York is proud of. Hamilton Degraw. Surely, you have heard of it?" "Yes." They were now at the foot of the steps leading up to the huge portico of the great pillared mansion. As the signorina uttered this assent she looked back. Miss Aspinwall followed her example. No one was visible on lawn 9r -walk. . "He must be stopping at the next house," remarked the heiress. "Curious that we should meet him here and that he should see us together." "Curious enough:" echoed the signorinn. But when she gained the room which had been placed at her disposal and had carefully shut the door and closed the windows her composure instantly left her, and she fell in what looked like a sudden eollnpsc before a chair, and burying her face in its cushions gave a long, low cry, the language of which it would have been hard to interpret. Then she started again to her feet, and opening her trunk took from it a telegram blank, upon which she wrote one line. \ But before she had signed it she paused again, and stood so long with it fluttering in her hand that she might have been taken for an exquisite statue of irresolution. Finally she tore up the contemplated telegram, saying as she did so, in the sweetest of musing tones: "I will not meddle with fate. Let It bring me what it will. Its gifts may be better than any I have lost, than any I have sought for." And the troubled brow grew smooth and the childlike look came back to her face, and of all the joyous creatures that fluttered beneath the sun. that day she was the brightest tjhe sweetest and the most deligbtSQme. CHAPTER XVI. 'A BTARTLING INTRODUCTION. f Miss Aspinwall's hospitality was of the notable order. An orphan, without immediate relations, she had cultivated friendship to its last extent, and was, consequently, never at a loss to fill her house with congenial and delightful companions. This summer she had for chaperon an elderly widow, well known in New York circles, around whom she had gathered a dozen or more young people of both sexes, so that the house was us merry as youth and gayety could make it. She herself was the balance wheel to all this mirth and joyousness. Though cheerful by nature she had suffered too many griefs, and felt too keenly, the responsibilities of wealth to be ever overjoyous. Yet there "was m her smile so much sympathy with joy that the lightest hearted felt their pleasure grow greater when, they drew near Hilary Aspinwall. Though alive to mirth she had for sorrow a still greater sympathy. If amongst tbe laughing tribe that scattered itself over her lawns, or gathered in merry groups about her halls and piazzas there was one from whose lips the laughter rang false, or in whose eyes a shadow lay. deeply hidden, she was sure to catch the broken tone or mark the secret tear, and though she would make no'betrayal of her discernment at the time, when night came she would steal into the presence of the young girl whose grief she had surprised, nnd, taking the seem ingly happy one into her arms so win her confidence by delicate questions or silent caresses that the brimming heart would overflow, and the secret trouble be told almost without its sufferer's own volition. Ah! she" was a noble woman, Hilary Aspinwall, as many a crushed heart which she has comforted can testify, and if in the face which Hamilton Degraw calls "A Poet's Dream" there are some Idealizing touches not to be found in the original, no brush or no fancy ,could idealize the soul which has informed that face, for it is itself ideal. For such a one happiness should be the natural right. Nothing tiiat the earth contains is too ?ocd for her, nor any love too rich. Is she to have her reward, then? Are the best treasures of earth to be given to her who is always heaping treasures in the laps of others? She has wealth, she has nonor. sne has friends. she has bpaltii. Will she have love? Lot us look at the circle which surrounds her on this exquisite June eve, and see if we can answer.this question. She is sitting on the large piazza, amid a group that leel the iufliunce of the starry heavens above thorn, though they do not look that way. hut rather into the faces of those with whom they are conversing. The talk is of? what? Who can say? Who would care to repeat? But the looks are for her; that is, the looks of at least three men who stand there: one against the large pillar that shields the moonlignt from her eyes, one behind her chair, and one on the outskirts of the group, who, if he dees not advance, has an other reason for his modesty than thai , of indrfferenee. And to any one loon- * ing at her no-n- such interest wonk' seem only natural. Though the othei f women grouped around her are mon nr lcc<5 fnir. attractive or vivacious, ii) none does the pure Ugbt of woinanli ncss shine with such a radiance as it? her, TrJiilc in her beauty there burns a obaste fire "which is not always to he scon there. "What has called it forth/ The influence Is not fully apparent. ] yet it is felt bv tliese men who study t her this night with their souls in their J eyes. t Are her thoughts with them? The s man by the pillar has the.air of a satisfied lover, but, then, the depths of his j nnven hnvo never been Knnndod. and 'i --- > some say that neither have the deptHs of his conceit. The others <1o not seem as happy, though one of them stands so near to her that he ran hear the short sigh that now and then parts her lips. Do they miss something from her look or glance that they have been aceustonu-d to see there? It may be, for now there is a change In her. She has heard a step on the graveled walk beneath, and. mistress as .she is of herself, she cannot quite suppress the flutter of expectation which that sound provokes. She moves and others moves with her, so that there is quite a stir on the piazza as two figures emerge from the sha- ] dows b.?neath and pause, one in manly 1 grace and the other in feminine beauty for a mutual smile or glance, before { mounting the broad flights of steps. > Two! and she has. perhaps, anticipated < but one! ' The man is Mr. Pegraw and the , woman Signorina Yaldi, or. as she is 1 dow called. iMiss Rogers, we nas ue come a frequent guest at the house ^ and she a recognized inmate, hut never \ before have they been observed to- ? gether. The sight calls up strange ' looks on the faces of their youthful , companion, and more than one furtive 1 glance is cast at their silent hostess.. ' But her self-possession Is great, and , there is no lack in the cordiality with 1 which she welcomes the appearance ] of these two. But when.'the first flurry over they all settle down to renewed < conveisatlon in the now brilliantly lighted parlor, those who love her best ' feel that something has gone out of , her manner that made it the sweetest i and most encouraging in the world, ' and one at least of the three men who ^ adore her intercepts more than one of i her glancps that steal, despite the < prid#? of the heiress and woman, ?o ; the huge window scat where sits the , artist beside the singer, so happy and 1 proud that he forgets to hide either 1 his satisfaction or his delight. < As for the signorina she was in that ? soft mood of unexpected happiness < which makes a woman beautiful, ] whatever her features. She to whom 1 nature had given the perfection of 1 mnva f>nntlvflt- ^ K'ruirc mui.ii ,iuc >-.-x ^ ing. From the crown of her lovely i head, drooping with the weight of tin- \ told hopes, to the tip of her dainty j foot, she was the incarnation of joy ^ shadowed only by the wonder which ? such joy often brings. Though she 1 did not speak, much less sing, her j whole figure breathed forth music, and one person present heard it, aud heard < it as plainly as if she had walked at 1 her side a half hour before and list- , ened, as spirits listen, to the vows 1 which the ardent artist had w.hispered ] into the beloved one's half averted ] ears. Love, pure and perfect, had ; breathed across this virgin soul,, and a < deeper love than hers had noted it and \ taken a lesson therefrom?the lesson \ of pain and patience, generous sym- i patliy and womanly sacrifice. The more disinterested persons in j the room had collected about the i ~ ? ~ c nnmhAI* Tt*O C ( piano, wiiere ouc v* iucji uuiuuti ..??? playing thrilling airs from Gounod. As the melody filled the air more than one tongue was loosed of the secret that burdened it. "Do you observe the couple over there?" one of Miss Aspiuwall's lovers ?not the most generous?whispered in her car. "Boy Cupid has been bi'sy with one or both of their hearts since We saw them last. I think I can discover the tip of his wings fluttering in and about between them now. What do you think?" Some questions are very hard to answer; this was meant to be one of them. But Miss Aspinwall had the courage of despair and did not shrink from uttering a smiling response. To be continued. Golri-Diifttecl Sydney. Gold is to be found in most things, as we know now?even In sea water? Avnntiimontu roppntlv ulii auiuv: Mfcu ??..?? in Sydney under the auspices of the < local Royal Society yielded curious < results in this connection. Dust col- | lected from the roof of the Sydney ] Observatory was found to contain co- ., bait, nickel and gold, while at the uni- < versity buildings?a couple of miles 1 further away from the sea?gold was j also discovered in the dust. The Ob- j scrvatory is within a stone's throw of Sydney harbor, with the wharves all J around it, and probably the nickel and cobalt are to be traced to the ship- 1 ments of rough ore brought over from ' New Caledonia from time to time. But ] the gold Is everywhere, and it was < shown to be present in dust collected j promiscuously at such unlikely places , as Moruya, Menindle and other towns ] far removed from the "yellow. belt." I Possibly, through the agency of some ] future invention, this common dust 1 may be made to pay for the working, 1 and this would be a helpful new asset ! for Australia, for there is plenty of it. I ?London Chronicle. < < An Ompn. I Apropos the recent Trouble with Irish j members In the House of Commons, i the London Dally News says: " Tad- J dy,' oddly enough, was the name of* , the first member of the House of Coin- i ?mons who, in 1604, was silenced under j a standing order made in the saino < year 'to prevent the idle waste of i time.' 'If any man,' the order laid down, '.speak impertinently or beside ] the question in hand, it standetb with 3 the order of the House for Mr. Speak j cr to interrupt him. and to know the 1 pleasure of the House whether tlie.v will further hear him.' Sir William i Paddy was entering on a long speech { when the Speaker 'moderated' him." ( i Tired of Ti:eincelve?. 1 It is incorrect to say tliat one is tired 1 of life. People expressing themselves ' that way mean they are tired of them- ] selves.?New York Ne-ws. 3 V SERMON FOR SUNDAY l DISCCURSE ENTITLED "AN Oi-D QjESTlON FOR THE NEW ACE." rhe Kpv. C. R. McNally Tallts Instructively on a Subject of Vital Importance to l*R All?The Highest Tjrjio of Lire 18 That Spent For Other*. "Brooklyn. N. Y.?Tn the Sixlh Avenue Sapti?t Church Sunday wornine. the pasor, the IJev. Charles K. Mc-Nallv preached in "An Oid Question for the New Age.'' iis text was from John x:24: "li Thou be he Christ, tell us plainly." Mr. McNally aid: The men who asked thi.a question were lead in earnest. They :asked it because he answer was of vital import to them. Hiat word "Christ" was laden with a nu ?f uciiiu ui ujt aiiuiu ivi mere ?jcn isii iju^aioners. Onr word Christ is the offspring if the Grepk "Christos," which in its turn nherits all the meaninr that the Hebrew i'mbodied in his word "Messiah." Around his word for hundreds of years all Jewish ife, political and religious, had centered, rhe Psalmists had made it the dominant lote in manv of their sweetest songs. Jts nulti-colored shadings had formed the yam nnd woof of prophetic visions. The nother as she lulled her little one to s:Pep sang of a Messianic hope. The little lad is he came to his father's knee asking for i tale had his imagination fired Ky the story of what would he when Messiah hould fome. More than ihe name of Cromwell or Weslcv to Kngland. and >f "Washington or Edwards to Amerca. was> the name of Messiah to a .lew, ?or it was at onee the battle cry oF his poitieal liberties and the keynote of his reagion. The .Tews as they thought of the Messiah may be divided into two classes, those *rVksve.A /v\?/>onf ir?r? WQO T\fDf{r> m 1 n 9 n f !tr f*pl rious and spiritual. and tho?e whose thought was predominantly political. I say predominantly because the two views trere commonly blended. The more spiritual honed for the deliverance of tlie nations from the bondage of sin. and the reigious .<Mit)rcmaey of the Jewish nation through thp ministry of the Messiah, whi.'e the less religions looted for the ooliticnl pre-eminence of the .Tews nnder the leadership of the Messianic King. However Jivergent the views, in two things all were isrreed?the coming of the Messiah meant Jewish nre-eminence. and he in his coming would be the especially anointed of God, having the powers, the words and the jnirit of God. he.was to be the instrument if God. the voice of God's will to and for the nation. Earlier in the history of the nation the conception was more sniritual. but bv the time of the coming of Je?us of fCa?areth their hope had lost its higher ?nd more spiritual character. One morning toward the close of His fprthly ministry, when the chilling blasts )f winter had driven Him from the open :ourts of the temnle to a sheltered spot, r u. t? t a HTMllS, (XIC Ii??nr Ittl J aiiicu icuvfti ??uu claimant of Messianic honors. miqrht have been seen pacing up and down the naved nclosure known as Solomon's T'orcli. It ivas the feast of dedication and the fathers of the nation were gathered in .Terusa> 'em. There was m-'cli agitation and convict among them. The fam" and claim of Tesus of Nazareth was known to all. Nfany of these very men had followed in the crowds to see and hear Him. The more spiritual had felt a strange stirring ?f the soul in response to the call of this jtrau<re teacher to a purer and more exaltnl life. Jjnt su^Jy thev reasoned this could not he the Christ?He was so different From what they had expected the Christ to be. The less religious were even more puzzled. The life of .Tesus from the creature comfort side was nothing to be onm'ed. Thev could find nothing to explain the aim of this Teacher with His ?ubverjive teaching. Of one thing thev were nire. He was a dangerous man. for while by implication and even openly He claimed to be the Christ, He in no wav corresponded to their idea, of what the Christ should be. S"rely He was rot the Messiah of Sod! tTnon what could such a man as this basa sneh a claim! While .Tesus paced thoughtfully up and 3own within the porch He was quicklv surrounded by an eager, pressing crowd. some intense wun yearmntr ior HSFuranc; md satisfaction of soul, others dark with the clouds of stricken eonsrienee and the maliciousness of disappointed hatred. Notwithstanding their varied feelings, all alike were anxious to ply Him with questions;' Eagerly thev pressed unon Him the vital/ question "How long wilt Thou hoM ns inwspense?" literal'v, "How long wilt Thon lift up our souls?" excite us. hold us between hope and fear? "If Thou really art the Christ, then tell us plainly." Such is the inevitable nuestion which must be *sked bv every sonl when brought face to Face with the claim of Jesus to be the Hhrist of God. Was He the a^oirted of Rod? "Was He "the Kind's Son" who should be called "Wonderful, counselor, the miehty God. the eva^astinr Father, the nripce of peace?" Wns He indeed the Christ, or was He an imposter or a weaklinr. illusioned by the fervor of H>s Dwn enthusiasms? These question? as old ss Christianity are vital to our day and hour. Tf He is not. the Christ we *nav be flone with Him and go our wav. If He is in very truth "the anointed." "the sent of God." we are bound to listen t* His voice is the voice of God, to learn His precepts arm upe.v. To our inestion "Art Thou the Christ?" Test's T*-?kes answer; note His words: "I told you. but ye believe not." The Immediate atmeal of .Tesi'? was to His verbal attestation ot His Messiahship. Already He hgd told them that (?od was His Father, that the Father had 6ent TT'm into the world in His nam*, to establish His kincrdom among men, but they would not believe. Of what use was it to tel! Lhem that whieh thev had a-ready beard ind had refused to believe? Nor was it altogether stmnge that His verbal attestation of His M^ssiahshin was not readily accepted. for His assertion to be one with [Jod was a most startling one. Men give credence slowly to th? claims of others; they must see reasons or they will not believe. Should a man come to our National [Jovernment claiming to be the Ambfissaior of England the first thine that would be reouired of liir.i would be that he should furnish credentials. Failing to furnish them he would b? laughed at for, a fool. Ie6us saw that He must found His claim an something more ' onvincing than Hi? verbal attestation. He reeoznized the necessity for t>root and furnishes that proof in His words "the works that I do in M-? i?? ?r xio " miners iifinr. .mov ,.A This nnpeal of .Teens to His works ns ?iroof that He was the Christ requires that we For a moment examine them. Strenuous efforts have been rra^c during this, the new nee, to read cut of the works of Jes'is all tliis sunernatural and dirine. He is unintelligible, we are fold, nriess accounted for on human grounds alone. Consider, then, that when viewed in the light of human action. His works were beautiful and powerful beyond comnare, iud in themselves point, to a higher divine life. The advanced thinkers of our day have, within comparatively few years, reached the Conclusion that the highest type of life is that which they eall altruistic. i. e., a life snent for others. The highest personal life is realized only as that life, forgetting self, rises nbove self jnd exhanses itself for others. The ethical world rejoices in this newly found truth. [Jo back 1900 years and there you will fine One whose days were soent in doing others jood. Follow Jesus through His ministry tnd you will soon discover that you are following the footsteps of the world's one unselfish man and its greatest philanthropist. Every act is designed to help anjther. You seek for the least trace of -- - " >. i selfishness in vain. r>very woik ucuia mv seal of humanity's best. Indeed, so far ire they above the world's best that they bring in their wake 6weet thoughts of Sod. See Him as He wrtrks. A little while ago He fed the hungering thousands. It was but yesterday He touched new life nto the maniac boy and smoothed the jeep furrows from a father's brow. This norn He drove the fever from the sick one n Peter's home, and mavhap. ere the day s done He will whisner the hone of a pure xnd holy life to the harlot at. the well. We have not too much thought of the ivorks of Jesus as the acts of one fellow nan toward others. When viewed accordng to this standard they are seen to be :he highest realization of man's highest deal. Christ was wise when He raid, "Bi>lold My works," for according to the findngs of the best thought of all the ages no | vork?j are more beautiful or nigher Gou. The mere force, beauty and holiness of fTis acts prove His kinship with the divine. But this was not enough to satisfy a Jew. The Christ tbey were looking tor was to demonstrate 2iis divine power by the I might and conquest of arms. They had it I ail cut and dried just what the Christ j . should be and do. He was suddenly to ap- ' Hear out of the heavens or out ot some sequestered way ot' life, attended by great wonders. With the sword He was quickly to overrun the world and set up in .lent- i salem a power that would rule all nation*. | i ? i- I L| .U.t ka I Any love or puiiamnruji.v u>?t w*. worked in would be all rieht, but before all else Messiah must be the messenger of (Jod's wrath against the nations, visiting them with defeat and disaster, that the ] Jew might rule supreme. i Thus it was that to the questioners of j His day -Tesus proved to be a stumbling block. Did they find in Him a in05c than 1 human power? Yes, they conceded that 1 they did. As they saw ilim restore the f emaciated body of the leper, or infuse new j ' life into the palsied form or open the eyes 1 of the blind, or raise the dead from the j grave, they were bound to recognize a more < than human power. The gross and mali- j cious said this power is ot the devil, hut 1 the more intelligent said, as they saw the i unselfishness, the love and tendernes? of 1 His acts. "We have never seen it done oq 1 this wise before!" "No man could do 1 these works except God'be with him!" j "Surely this must be the Christ!" The , answer of Jesus to the questioners of Hie 1 Hav civpn in the terms of love, an answer < which they would not or could not under- : stand, is that which satisfies the heart and ] reason of the inquirer of to-day. J L is as though Jesus said. "You ask if I am really the Christ?of God and in Him you look ] for divine power. Jx>ok at My works, are they not of the highest type?" Aye. more. 1 they are fraught with the power of God i and prove, not only that I am the Christ, but that the nature of God is better than the thought of man has made him. He is a God of tenderness, of love." Jilessed an- , swer, for it teaches that character is su- ] preme, and that the highest life is one of j simple ministry to the needs of others. To the inquirer of to-day the answer of < Jesus should be convincing. Since it is ours to look from the mountain peak of ] many centuries we may, however, see ?tiU other proofs and find still other answers , to the all important question. "Was Je?us ' the Christ?" History gives a twofold an- i swer, first as seen in the preparation of the world for the coming of tie Messiah and then in the development of the world's thought since the days of Jesus. Paul declares that "when the fulness of time was come. God sent forth His Fon" into the world. By the fulness of time he must have meant the period tnat v. to olanse, according to the wisdom of God, before His Son, the Christ, should come. Now, if Jesus was the Christ, we may expect to find the circumstances of the time in which He lived peculiarly- fitted for His coming. What were these circumstances? The vast Roman emuire afforded a broad and accessible field for, the spread of a new religion. The sceptre of Roman power ruled the world. Radiating from Rome as a centre were splendid military roads which extended to the remotest boundaries of the empire. Because of these and the opening of ocean routes travel was easy as compared with preceding centuries. People traveled more. Thus facilitir-s for disseminating a new truth were better than ever before in the world's history. Again, the Greek language was at that time widely known. Its wonderful elasticity made it the best possible medium for conveying to men the facts of a new religion. It was the official language of Government and was spoken by the higher social classes as well as bv many of the unlettered and uncultured. Thus in the Greek the world had the nearest approach to a universal language that it had had since ? ' Ti -? TKn the clays 01 trie iuwer 01 uiuci. ? transmission of the gospel was no very difficult, thing so far as language was concerned. But the most notable preparation was that of the Jewish neople. They hi>d long striven with their desire to worship idola. At last their vision was clarified in this regard, and the way was open for a further revelation. Moreover, the discerning among them, from reading the annals of their fathers, had come to long for the promised Messiah until that longing was kindled to a fervent heat. All these thines peculiarly fitted the time in which Jesus lived for the reception and spread of great religious truths. Is or is history since that time less re?i-?vi? Ho n (loath of shnme: none i ijuaj isaujc. ij.% uiwu ? . __ | could according to the common notion be more ignominious or disgraceful. His friends apparently were few. That He would soon be forgotten would seem nat* ;ural. But it was not so. His followers multiplied with marvelous rapidity. Persecutions began and thousand* of them were burned, roasted, speared and given over to wild beasts. Notwithstanding all this, within 300 years one-twentieth part of the empire were professed Christians, the Emperor himself among the number. From that time until the present Christianity and civilization have gone hand in hand. Manv of the great upheavals of the world's life is the story of Christianity asserting herself against the powers that would stay her triumphant march. It was so in the time of Charlemagne, of Luther, of Cromwell and 6f Plymouth Rock. The lines of history converge toward Jesus Christ. In 'all thimrs truly He has preeminence. Surely, this must be the Christ." From the historic point of view was He | not more than man? His works and the j voice of history declare Jesus to be the I God-man. If there still be a lingering doubt in the j mind of any that Jesus is the Christ, "the I VJniT'o Sinn." 1st him studv the human heart ' and its deepest needs and his douhts will fly. Sin like a sombre cloud easts a darkened shadow across every life. Man has ever found himself gripped in the relentless grasp of an evil nature. None is exempt. All alike are tarred with the one black stick. If a man tells you he ha? not a sinful nature pet a little "closer and vou will detect the odor of the tar so familiar to yourself. Congratulate ourselves as we may upon our goodness, it is still a fact that we are hv nature sinful. But while this is true, it is also true that man feels stirring within him a higher and holier nature. He feels within a purpose to be other and better than he is. Before him he sees the ideal of a holy character, a nature wholly free from sin. and that nature he feels to be,-akin to God. Now look at Jesus in the light of these facts. His days are one long sequence of holy thoughts and perfect deeds. In Him you look for sinfulness in vain. In Him there is no fault, not the shadow of a thought that mnn can brand as sinful. This at once differentiates Him from all others. In Him man finds his ideal expressed. Let the heart once come in touch with Jesus and it needs no other answer to its questions. In Him it is satisfied. What it would have. Jesus already has. In touch with Him the soul must keep if it would have its needs supn'ied. and its higher life realized. Sure!v He who alone realizes life's ideal and satisfies the need? and aspirations of the heart must be the Christ. Oh. soul, have vou the assurance this morning from need supplied, ideals ! sanctified and heart satisfied, that Jesus j is the Christ? Believe Ilim for His word j has been riven. If not f?r this believe '? T-T:- '-/"-fa cal-e If still VOU I JllITI iUI nil" noin ? ? doubt. consult the testimony of history ; and the human heart, and your soul, re- i j sprn'dinp to His divine touch, will surely | cry out. "Yes. .Tesus.'I Ldow Thou art the : 1 Chrisit of God!" "What We Caa Do. On every hand one hears specific remedies for existing defects. There is nothing singular about this. At a dinner in one of our large cities Professor Walter A. Wyckoff, author of "Tlie Workers." had spoken impressively to an exceptionally line audience of men on some of the lacks of the church in reaching the laboring man. Then a piominent business man rose, and inquired courteously: "Will Profes?or Wyckoff tell us what remedy there is for these evils?" Instantly the answer flashed out.: "That's a natural question. But there ! is no remedy. There are a hundred rem- | edics. and their work will not he swift; I but every one of us can do something per* I sonally to make an individual workingman | feel that we are brothers with him." Christian Faith. Christian faith is a grand cathedral with divinely pictured windows. Standing with- j out, you see no glory, nor can poss.biy imagine any; standing within, every ray of light reveals a harmony of unspeakable splendors.?Nathaniel Hawthorne. A Great Comforter. j Your affliction is very great; but there y is a corresponding greatness in your Com- 1 forter.?George Bowen. CHE SUNDAY SCHOOL 1 I NTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS * FOR NOVEMBER 15. subject: Davld'a Trust in God, F?alm 2> j ?uoiaen Ttxi, ria> Xii, x ? uowuij Verses, 1-6?Commentary on the Day'i I Lesion. I. The Shepherd and His sheep (vs. 14). I L "My Shepherd." Christ is the great r snepherd and His followers are the sheep, f \a a shepherd, 1. Christ leads the sheep. | 5. Supplies every lack. 3. Guards and ieeps them. 4. Supports them in times of Rouble. Jehovah is often spoken of as the shepherd of Israel, and Israel as His flock. Die title of shepherd is also applied to rulers, and in particular to David. Christ ipplies the title to Himself (Jo,hn 10: 1; , lompare Heb. 13: 20; 1 Pet. 2: 25). To ap- j j preciate the force of the image it is neoes- j 1 5ary to understand the difference between 1 the modern shepherd and the Oriental 1 ?hepherd of olden times. In that land 1 there :s a strong attachment between the j shepherd land his flock. Equally tender ?e- ' ' latrions exist between the good Shepherd ' and His flock. On the other hand there is | j in unfathomable affection, and on the | 1 other a calm, unlimited commence, onaii not want." The language is partly of ex- j perience in the present and partly of con- ; fidence for the future. So of Israel, looking back on the wandering in the wilder- j ness they had lacked nothing (Deut. 2: 7). md looking forward to'the promised land 1 the promise was that they would lack I nothing (Deut. 8: 9). With Jehovah for my shepherd and guardian; whose hand rests on all the sources of supply, I can 1 lack no temporal or spiritual good. When ' John Fletcher was asked by/George III. if he would accept preferment -in the church ! is an acknow.edgement for an able, and timely naper he had written on American affairs, ne returned the respectful but char- 1 acteristic reoly, "Sire, I want nothing but 1 more cTace." 2. "To lie down." The divine Shepherd (rives rest to the weary. The wicked are filled with unrest (Tsa. 57 : 20, 21), but Christ promises soul rest to those who W; fMatf 11. OfLMH "firppn 1/UiilC V\J Xlilll \ ilXUbV. A. A . wv;. pasture*." Pastures of budding or tender prrass. The original word denotes the tender shoots (Deut. 32: 2), as distinguished from the ripe grass, which is expressed bv another word. Hence, this grass afforded delicious and luxuriant pasture. From this we see that soul satisfaction ia promised the one who follows the divine guide (Isa. 58: 11). "He leadeth me." The Oriental shepherd never drives his flock as ?ve do, but goes before them. Jesus never asks us to go where He does not go, or to do or to sbffer anything He has not done or suffered; Be i3 the perfect example; His jrouur before means ever better things. ''Still water?.'' Literally, waters of rest; not gently flowing streams, but streams where rest and refreshment may be found (Isa. 32: 18). But others think it has reference to the quietness of the waters. In either case the figure is most beautiful and suggests the quiet and peacefulness with which the soul is filled when it enters into communion with God. 3. "Rcstorcth my soul." He bringeth back mv soul.'as a sheep that had strayed (Matt. 18: 12: 13; 1 Pet. 2: 25). The word for "restore'b" means "to return." "bring bafk," or. figuratively, "convert." Of all animals the sheep is least able to defend itself, either by resistance or flight; is most civen to wander away, and has the lea^t sairacitv in finding its way back to the fold. "Paths of righteousness." Right paths are j opposed to intricate and unsafe ways, and to ways of disobedience and perversity (Psa. 125: 5). "For His name's sake." To display the glory of His grace, and not on account of any merit in me. 4. "Shadow of death." Being so near to death that its shadow falls over him, for he is not far from the substance that has come up with the shadow. The "valley of the shadow of death" seems to have been suggested by those deep mountain gorges through which David, was sometimes obliged to lead his flocks, though at thd hazard of death from the wild beasts. When the walks of duty lie in the midst of dangers which fall around like shadows, then, says the psalmist, I will fear no eviL Such confidence has he in his Shepherd. "Fear no evil." The soul fears not to enter the sunless gulfs of sorrow when assured of the supporting presence and gro tecting care of the good Shepherd. The darkness of death is but a shadow, after all. The trusting soul enters the gloomy gorge only to emerge into the brighter day of immortality. The Christian knows that tke hand which guides us into the d&rk, valley will guide up through it and up out of it. '"Rod and?staff." The emblems of the office of the(shepherd and his protection of the sheep. The rod and staff seem to be two name.} for one instrument, which was used to drive away wild animals, to direct the sheep, and for the purpose of a staff on which to lean. The shepherd walked before his flock, ready to protect them from assault, and ?they followed gladly and fearlessly wherever he led. II. The Host and His guest (vs. 5, G). 5. "'Preparest a table." The figure is changed. Jehovah is now described as the host who bountifully entertains the psalmist at His table, and provides him a lodging in His own house, as Oriental monarchs entertained those to whom they wished to show special favor. Although the image is changed, yet we have substantially the j 6a;me ideas as those given in the earlier portion of the psalm. "Mine enemies." Je- ! liovah had prepared this banquet for David ; nsa murk of special honor and favor, and ' this in the presence of his enemies, who | looked on, but were not invited to partake, l'his was David's answer to those who in liis affliction had said. "There is no help .'or him in God;" "Godhath forsaken him.' I "Anointest." The. reference is to the an-1 ointings which were the regular accom- I paniment of an Oriental banquet, not to the kingly anointing for which a different I tvord is used. Anointing with oil was an | emblem of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I "Cup runneth over.'' The overflowing cup | suggest? a fulness of blessing. Jehovah is a bountiful provider and is able to abund* ?ntly satisfy. ' I 6. "Surely." "Only." R. V., margin. I "Nothing but goodness and mercy shall [ pursue me. What a contrast to the lot of i the wicked man, pursued by the angel oi i judgment (Psa. 35: G), hunted by calamity (140: 11). "Goodness and mercy."' Goodness and mercy are the staple viands j of the feast, and give a flavor and virtue to all the rest. Man needs goodness to supply all his wa?ts and mercy to cancel all nis sin3. "Will dwell." These words are to be understood figuratively. The psalmist expected to dwell in God's immediate presence forever. "Forever." Here is a suggestion of the closest intimacy with God and the ceaseless enjoyment of His favor. , Nebraska's Loss on llnnii By reason of the slumn in the price of hogs Nebraska farmers stand to lose from three to five millions. Thev figure their losses already at $3,000,000. and if prices continue to recede two millions more can Uo. frv flirt Ti-rr?nrr ?ino to reliable arid conservative figures there are 3,000.000 of marketable hops in the State. Farmers have been fattening their pwine on thirty-cent eorn, and the decline mc-ans that some of the hogs mus* be sold it an actual loss. Farmers are indignant, ind charge the packers with causing the slump. Cermany Lead* in ?teel. In Germany the iron and steel works are running on full time, production restrained onlv by the limit of capacity and that capacity is bsing multiplied over the lencth end breadth of tha* country. And it finds a sale for the products cf its iron md steel works. The fact is that Germany is leading in the iron and steel trade sf the world, and is doing so desoite the fact that her own consumption of iron and jfeel products in far below her own production. America's Largest Crare. Th" Kastern Steel Company. Pott'vil'e, 1 I f n#-?? mi'l fl>o ra.. i;as indicium m h.- ??; ? ^ Iar~c:>t ladle cranc of any plant in the United States. It weiehs 200 tons, and has a maximum lift of ICO tons. Its auxiliary lias a capacity of twenty-five ton?. Grew 110 Pumpkins on Three Tine*. Thomas W. Prettyman, of Milford, is the champion pumpkin grower in that part if Delaware this season. .From three vines le has gathered 110 pumpkins, which iveighed from twenty-five to fifty-live sounds each. . BE BELIGIOUS LIFEJ iEADING FOR THE SUIET HOUR WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF. 'otm: 'fiivj'j Will?Why and How W? Should Bear WItneM For ChriKt?When 4^ Silence Is Golden and When It It In> peratlvo to Speak. To do God's will?that's all Hiat need concern us; not to carp or ask rhc meaning of it, but to ply our ta8k Whatever may befall: Accepting good or ill as He shall fiend, $?% And.wait until the end. ? ?E. T. Housli. -m Witnesses For Christ. The apostles baa oeen put, m prison i? . vm keep them from testifying for Christ. .Al ways the enemy gets ready a prison and seeks to lav hands on Christ's witnesses . ?nd bind them in prison. The prison i? not always built of stone or iron, nor .jSjj jnarded by soldiers. Oftenest nowadays " $|| we find that its walls are formed merely J$m af nicely fitted rules of etiquette, forms ''/jm md ceremonies, and held toeetuer by cu?torn, mere firm than any mortar ever a mixed, though sometimes the building is but made of a laugh, or a little trembling ^Bj fear of what people will say or think. ~<JH| These all form just as effectual walls a* tI my ever built of solid masonry. Shut within so close a prison, what &fe we to / -' ?2 do? How witness for our Redeemer? How jain a freedom to do so? N The world is the keeper of this priwn. ft says: "You are not to speak of religiou# ' things. We want no solemn thoughta-.to - a dampen our gayety. It is not good form to bring your individual beliefs before" othfre. It makes them feel uncomfortable. . ijgH Neither must you for conscience s$ke re- .:!vh fuse to go anywhere or do anything that others wish, because by so doing you are u easting a silent rebuke at them." Witnessing in done by acts m well as W words. Sometimes a mere passive smile . ;.?;? for form's sake at an irreverent jest wit- w ' nesses against our Saviour as truly as if we had originated it. And words cannot undo an act that places us with those who do HSHta not love Christ. 1 H To those who thus submit to imprisonment the angel of the Lord opens not the , ^ doors of the prison. But speak from the i-feja prison room and the walls fall! Yon are Jfl free henceforth to say what you wilL You ? <?i? xi u j.i ~i i : . w nave uro&en turuugii toe jjrisuu ujr uuim, -^"1 what it has been out about you to forbid. By the very fact that you are free are yon commanded bv the angel who opens the / '??$ prison door, ' Go, stand, and speak to the "??? people!" ; And Christ's witnesses will be arraigned ~ to-day just as of old. They will be called . fanatics and sneered'-at, perbaim,. but ifll honor to those servants of the Most Hiah who have the courage to make reply> "We ought to obey God rather that* men." *3 The great reason for our witnenring for. Christ is that we owe Him all. He gave . Himself for us; shall we deny so great; ^ij> love? Would, the loving child refuse to : feBH witness by every word and act that ita jm father is great and true? Yet we do often witness against Him. And great is the rejoicing among the enemy when a witness "Jl can be won over from the very household of God. Oh. the shame of it when members of Christ's blood-bought church sit ' A' SSM with silent lips when Jesutr is on trial. VjM And concerning the way of witnessing. ; There are some to whom the idea of bearing pergonal witness in private talk is re- t.* ,'m pugnant. There are others who are so in- 'as sistent in testifying for Christ that theyx forget the "wisdom of serpents" and the jMI "hannlessness of doves" enjoined upon ma Christ's followers, and testify for Him a* ! did the severe old Christian butcher; Who ' asked one of his patrons in a solemn voice as he cut the meat with the great clearer, ' iH "Madam, are you prepared to die?" ' jQNj It is perhans such injudicious instances that have held many good and brave pco- ' 9a# pie from witnessing for Jesus in this per- |H sonal way. And yet thefe are many who owe their salvation, under God, to some jfl quiet, pleading word from a friend whose H life is consistent with his sneech. While silence is often golden, there are wl>o? 4-r\ onnat io an imnPRlHvp dlltV^ when merely to keep silence is cowardice. The question of speaking in ^rayer meet- a ing must give the Christian Endeavorer much thourht aa to bow to do it to the very best advantage. It is rare that error. ^ is made here in the direction of speech. There is usually a surplus of "golden silence." Some one has said that our grayer meetings are often like Siberian rivers? "frozen at the mouth." .' 4| There has been much talk about the way people take part in their own meetings. but it seems as if we had settled down at >| the present time to accept the fact that M most of them have either become conatitutional verse repeaters or sit through the meeting w*ith scaled lips. Even many of our young leaders have fallen into the lazy .. '>-3 habit of bringing some one of the numer- J ous "helps" on the tonic and reading from it. seeming so tn feei their duty tulJv done. Now, it may be true that the writers of those helps a-e much more competent by , education tha.i many of the youn^r peoplf : 'fii who read from them, but that does not make un for the loss of the personal testimony that should come from the younc discioVa heart. Stumbling though it may be, one sentence of hfart love to Christ expressed in the meeting is worth whole columns of wise sayi""3 and telfiii?illustrations. Pod misses H's "litt!e human praise." He wo?ld ratker hear the trembling sentence, "I iore Jesus," than to have the public duty of testimony dipcharged by read'nrr another's wor^s.? Grace Livingston Hill, in the New Yorfe_^ Mail and Express. The Foot-Fath to Perce. ^ To be glad for life because it gives yan the chance to live and to work and to play and look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourse.f until you have made the best - * 1 a. 01 tnem: to despise notninj( uj v.uc num. except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice: to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts: to covet nothing that i* Tour neighbor's except bis . kindness of ^ j heart -and gentleness of manned; to think fj seldom of your enemies, often of yogr / 'J friends and every day of Christ ana to m spend as much time as you can, with body . u and with spirit. in God'6 out of. door*; B these are little guide posts on the footpafh to pcace.?Henry Van Dyke. The Anchor of the Soj|0^ The anchor which holds^s#ftire the soul of the Christian in the midst of storm*, however severe, is pictured as follows bv Br. Theodore L. Cnylcr: V/iii .<iro rerfain to be assailed wiiii troubles. No hurricane can strike a failringed ship more suddenly than storms of adveivitv may burst upon you. But if Jesus Christ is in your soul, yon cannot eu*"er wreck. "There is many a bereavement, many a trouble that may strip a man of canvas* or cordage, but never touch the solid strength of his godly character. I have seen just *' such fast-anchored Christians." Scoinp With XntelllBcnff. The more we'iook at the world with i:v teliiarent and loving eyes, the more \fcc-... > world means to us. The more we look aV each other's faces with intelligence and love, (he more human beinsrs mean to us. The more we think of the fathomless i depths am? the lofty heights cf being, and j of the Being that fil1* beicc: and 13 toe J source 0? it. the more it will mean to us.-1- A Charles U. Ames. Steps to JTeavpr. H Learn to commend thy daily act3 i.? God, so shnll the 'dry everyday duties of common life be steps to Heaven and lift fruy flH heart thither.?Edward B. Puscy. ^ United States Meter is Correct. 1 L. A. Fischer. of the Bureau of Standard Weights and Measures, at ..Washington, has compared the American meter with the international standard and has fount: it accurate. Mr. Fischer is preparing a report on European weights and measures t.v iid Secretary Cortelyou to make recommendations to Congress. Mafcinjc Money From Antnmn L?m. Large shipments of oak leaves are beiuc made daily from Norma Station, threo miles from Vineland, N. J., to the publu W baths of New York City. The leaves aro baled and sold at $3 per bale, some individuals shipping as high aa twenty-five bales per toy. ? . .. . J