The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, January 24, 1906, Image 6
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<J EDWARDS.
CHAPTER XII. 14
H
. Continued.
You may imagine the mental condition
of-the vicar?a man so many years
past bis youth; incredulous to a morbid
degree respecting bis own powers of
pleasing, and possessing a perfectly
accurate knowledge as to the very airy
i.. and uteubstantial foundation npon
which his best bopes were, in reality,
based!
"I don't think the flowers are looking
ill, Jane. I think it is yourself that is
chnuged-. You don't care for your
flowers now as you did a year ago."
"I don't care for my flowers!" Her
Tiands,ceased from their employment in
an instant, and shp turned full around
to the vicar. "Why, Mr. Follettt, I
think they are all 1 do care for now.
What have 1 left to care for but my
own poor, small, selhs/i pleasures, and,
and?"
Was that sudden hesitation propitious?
The vicar deluded himself inte
thinking so.
"And what else, jane? wnat eise uu
you care for, except your own poor,
small, selfish pleasures?"
"A memory, sir," looking straight
into bis eyes. "Not much, you will say,
-to live upon, but still all 1 have got,
you know, all I have got!"
And then she turned away and began
abruptly to walk up and down with
quick, short steps, along the garden
path. A habit that had rather grown
upon her since Miss Lynch's death, as
many such mechanical means for the
suppression of thought do grow upon
persons in whose minds ghosts walk at
times, and who live much alone.
Mr. Follett watched her af> she took
two or three of these short turns in
silence; then he met her midway in the
path.
"Jane, child, I don't like to see you
walk like that. That walk is the feverish
action of one whose mind is ill at
ease. I would not have your mind so,
Jane, if I could help it."
The expression of his face quite meltja/i
hop She hf?M nut both her hands
to him.
"Oh, sir. how good you are to me!?
. what should I do without you? Wlien
?when some thoughts come to me, yon
? "know, I begin to walk like this, without
[ 'thinking what I do; but I will try never
4o walk again, as you don't like it. The
trick came upon me a night or two
-after auntie died, and I can scarcely
Ijelp it now. I would not do that or
anything else in the world to give you
a moment's pain."
The pressure of her hands was warm;
real honest regard shone from her eyes;
and from one ordinarily so cold any expression
of feeling ought to have made
an aspirant lover rapturous. But the
vicar felt chilled as though n harsh
'December wind had suddenly swept
upon him, standing there among the
tfnmmer roses. It is one thing to write
of the influence of kindly hands and
eyes, and another to feel it. Mr. Fol
Jett was sensible that no -woman ever
caught the hands and looked into the
.eyes of the man she loved as .lane was
doing now. She was grateful, dutiful,
affectionate to him, as to a father?no
more.
? He hid his embarrassment, and disengaged
himself from her cruelly kind
ftands by stoopingdown and picking up
one of her gardening gloves. As he
presented it, he remarked, quite in his
?8ual collected tone?indeed, it struck
on Jane's heart be spoke a little formally?that
he always recommended
persons who lived much alone to break
themselves early from all the habits
that loneliness engenders. He had bad
^ a great deal of experience himself that
iway, and he knew how a'pt all recluses
were to fall into habits and thoughts
Mnlike those of other people, unless
they early forced themselves to associ
xe wiui me woriu huoui lut-ui.
"Ivfeel that,, too." said Miss Grand?
"I feel that it will not take a great
many more years to make me as eccentric
and nnlike any one else, as old
Miss Brown. And do yon know, Mr.
Follett, I sometimes wonder if it isn't
a duty I owe to myself to give up this
lonely life and try?a terrible effort it
would be?to'bring myself to live witb
others.1'
If ever a man bad an opening made
for him, here surely was one. Without
waiting to think, the vicar broke forth
into speech ? hurried, disconnected
epeech very unlilvo any that Jane had
ever heard from his lips.
i "Jane, that is what I have often
Wished to say to you. You are too
young to have done witb life. It is
monstrous that you should waste your
best years over one lost hope. You do
i>we it to yourself to try to be happier
jnd live in the world, and?and, Jane,
A single womaji cannot mix in the
world?in marriage you might forget
the past?and be happy!"
' It was the vaguest declaration of paskU\r)
nrnhnhlr rnnrlc hnt frnm 1lwi
H fearful agitation of the vicar's heart,
|| he, beyond all doubt, meant it for one.
|g For Jaue, she simply looked at him
& ighast.
?g "Marriage!" she exclaimed?"mar?
riage? Great Heaven! Mr. Foilett,
m Jon't misunderstand rnc so! I meant to
Hr' live in a family, a family containing
S other staid persons of my own years,
il and you speak as if I wished to change
|| my state. So much do the best of men
?3 know of women!" she added monrnfully.
"So much do you, after all these
years, know of me! Why. sir, 1 have
' never had a thought of sui.li things. 1
have never sought to be seen even, 01
meet any living man sin^e the day?
the day when Gifford loft me; and now
that lam young no longer, you speak to
9K me of finding happiness in loving some
y 1 one but him! You meant well, Mr. FolBS
lett, you meant well?but you don't
I k?ow me, even after all these years!"
H~. It is, doubtless, a good thing Tor a
juan to escape beinr rejected: and Mr.
\ OK, 1
% FOR HER J
FATHER'S
IT \ SIN. i
)F VS |
HONOR; \ |
> j
Follett's intense disappointment was,
doubt not. tempered by thankfulnes
that Jane had never for a moment sus
pected him of speaking for bimsell
But her very blindness showed him tb
more strongly in what light she -viewe<
him, even if her own indignant word
had not so plainly set it forth.
"I have nev*r sought to he seen b;
or to meet living man since the da;
that Gifford left me!"
He, the Vicar of Cbesterford. classed
palpably with Huntley, the marriei
("lillott nf thp mill, o
UUllUl, VI -?A- . .
any other aged man of the parish wli
happened to wear a coat instead of
sown! He felt horribly, intensely bit
ter towards her. He thought he bate<
her. He thought her faithfulness t
Gifford the obstinate, stiff-necked fane,
of a fool. He thought her declnratio:
of it to himself indelicate, vain, heart
less: and, under the influence of thes
genial feelings, he broke out into th
following speech:
"I beg your pardon for what I hav
said, Jane?I beg your pardon for bf
lieving your heart to have the slightes
need of support or affection. As yo^
justly say, you have never seen or bee:
seen by any one worthy to receive you
love since Mr. Mohun left. Fortunate
ly, as you are so averse to the though
of marrying, you are now again to hav
a neighbor from whom you will kno\
you have nothing but a friend s regain
to fear. Mr. Gifford Mohun if? comin;
l)ack, Jane! I am hero at this momen
for the express purpose of telling yot
Gifford Mohun is coming back to re
cruit, if possible, some of his shatterei
fortunes by living quietly at Yattor
I hope you will pardon my uninten
tional offense, now that I have give]
you this exceeding good news of th
prodigal's return."
As he spoke a strange light cam
across Miss Grand's face. She forgo
Mr. Follett, forgot that he had wound
ed her pride, that he was speakin;
bitterly to her or speaking at all. Gil
ford was returning, the dream of he
life?Gifford, broken and weary, return
ing to her?was to come true. Ho
eyes filled and sank to the ground; he
lips trembled: a faint color rose up ii
her cheeks. For a few moments th
- % ... ,1 rWAr
years or neavy puiu syeuieu micu nvi
her, and she was a girl again, listenini
at tbe little wicket for Mohun's step ii
the twilight: a few moments, then sh
remembered Mr. Follett. and that i
she was going to shed any more foolisl
tears of joy it would be discreetef t
escape and shed them alone than t
weep here with him for an audience.
As she raised her eyes, however, fal
tering out something about the suil
denness of the news and the way ii
which it had overmastered her sh
found that she was already alonf
There are probably few men generou
enough to appreciate the charm o
blushes called forth by thoughts of ai
old lover immediately after the rejec
tion of themselves; and the Viear o
Chesterfield did not, with all his vir
tues, possess the superhuman qualitie
requisite for such self-abnegation. H
nati turned- aoruptiy away hi me uris
faint color that rose into poor Jane'
delighted, downcast face, and at thi
moment (bitter at his own folly in hav
ing spoken of love at all, bitter at Mis
Grand for her unwilling refusal of hi
suit, and trebly bitter against bimsel
for his own last ungenerous speech t
her) was making his way back to tb
vicarage ficrce and fast beneath tb
sultry morning sun.
CHAPTER XIII.
InstiDCt said to Jane that Moliuri
broken and disappointed, would fin<
her out at once; aud instinct was right
At 7 o'clock in tne evening ox rue nex
day Gifford walked coolly into the littl
parlor where she was sitting, breath
lessly happy, and expecting him.
"Jane?let us be friends again."
This was all his explanation of th
past or promise for the future; but th
sound of his voice, of his footstep, wa
enough to unlock the whole long frozei
love of Miss Grand's heart. She mad
no show of coldness, no concealment o
what she felt at receiving liim bac-1
to lier again.
"Gifford?ah. Gifford.' I have waite<
so long lor you!"
And then she took his hands and ie(
him to the place where they had use<
to sit beside the window, and looke<
into his face, and 1 regret to say?eriei
over him, as mothers sometimes il
over very prodigal sons who are givei
back to then>; and Mohun's pardon fo
tlif cruelty of seven years was sealed.
It roust have been a somewha
strange feeling for biro, a feelinj
strange from its freshness and ye
liaunting sense of perfect familiarity
to be sitting here in tbis same little
low raftered parlor?the same pictor
before iiim on tbe wall, the same cbinj
bowl upon tLe shelf, the same volup
tuous sweetness from the overbangin;
tea roses without?all just as it hr.<
been seven years ago, when he used ti
sit here with his arm arouiul Jane hou
after hour of those delicious sum me
evenings of his youth. All as it l:a<
been, except Jane Grand bersell"; am
she?how fearfully changed.1
During the tirst hour th.'it they wer
together Mohr.n could scarcely brini
himself r.way lvomoiH- idea?the ?-1.:iuk
011 Jane's face. Ho had expected to se
hei koincwhat altered, of course, bu
lor fi woman to have so utterly fadei
at eigbt-and twenty. only his own ag(
gave him a shock that was positive!;
painful. l!e had known many womei
ns fresh fit oight-nnd-twenty as a
rigliteen. or if not actually as fresh, a
charming in all the subtler graces o
matured and experienced beauty; am
June looked all but middle-aged.
Perhaps .Mr. Mohun forgo, what Jan
Grand's life had been during the ins
seven years,the amount of sufferinj
she bad zone through as comDare<
! with that of the well wearing <-harmj
ing beings with whom he mentally
1 placed her at such disadvantage. For
' a woman to look young long two things
t are necessary?ti'-st. an infantine migj
nonne of cast or features: .secondly, a
, great capacity for feeling nothing
* acutely. And Jane possessed neither
t of these. Her fragile, oval face was
3 one sure, even in a far happier life
J than hers had been, to lose its youth
^ early. The fin" complexion of her
younger days had alone saved her from
* looking too frail and delicate oven
5 when she was quite a young girl, ?md
^ this she had wholly and forever Jost
A within a very few days of the ending
* of her engagement to Mohun. She was
pale, more than pale, bloodless-looking
j now. The blue veins were painfully
distinct upon her thin temples: a faint
* violet shade around her eyes gave tbc-rn
s an unearthly look of size and luster;
her lips, so scarlet when Gifford kissed
them last, were colorless and wan. The
p seven years which had brought Mohun
d to tiie best stage of a man's life, to the
s fullness of mature youth, had brought
Miss Grand almost to the confines of
J' age.
5' "I am greatly changed, Gifford." she
said to him om-e Muring the evening. I
I- novor fhniwrht to tind me a.s old j
d and faded as I am?"
r You arc June Grand still." said Gif0
ford. The daylight was quite gone
a now. and in the tremulous on-coming
t* of night he saw only llie drooping lines
[1 of figure, the soft-curved throat. the
0 delicate hands, which took him bnck
J" so strongly to his boyish passion. "Jane
n Grand?more to me, however changed,
J* than any other woman in the world."
e She did not ask herself by what
* process his indifference to others had
been attained. All that her heart
e greedily drank was the thought that
' she was dear to him. was something
t to him still. The love story had reu
opened at much the same page as of
n old. Sitting together here in the twlr
light. Mobun was simply sensible of
comfort to himself, of peace, of quiet,
t almost of freshness in this little silent
e room, with the odorous country air
v playing on his fa.ee, and a woman
il (however gone off.) who still adored him
" at his side.
t Jane felt only that the dream of her
' girlhood was clothed witli flesh and
Mood once more. Slie was with Gifd
fonl: Heaveu had not remained for'
ever deaf to her entreaties.
i- Yes. changed though they were in
n some things, the story bad reopened at
o tbc same page as of old?one loving,
the other submitting to be loved. It
e was a page beyond which Miss. Grand
t was fated never to read as long as Mr.
I- Giffcrd Moliurt continued to be the hero
p of her romance.
The time went or upon swift wings
r that summer evening: and when at
i- length the lamp came in. Gifford began
r to think he had too hastily pr.ssed judgr
ment on Jane's pood looks. J,ainpli?bt,
n of course, suits all completions, that
c are not young and faultless, best; and
o then poor .lane's face had become rfally
g flushed with something like its old soft
a color during the intense happiness of
e the last hour and a half.
f As she poured out tea and brought it
li to Mohun. just as she used to do when
o she was a girl, he was struck with the
o perfect grace?which was, in truth, her
nnp innlionable chavm?with the soft
I- fall of her plain black dress, her noise-.
I- less step, her timid, pleading voice?
ii more timid, by far. than any of the
e much younger London voices he was
>. accustomed to. How would it be for
s him to return to his old. pure, uncalcuf
lating first love? give up the life he
n had got so little of satisfaction and so
>- much of ruin out of, and betake bimf
self to the creature comforts of calm
- country domesticity, with this pale,
s gentle, adoring woman for his slave?
e The question really seemed capable j
t of being answered affirmatively; and,
s after a good deal of preamble, Gifford
s at last let Miss Grand know that it
. was not utterly impossible for him to
s entertain it.
s "On revient toujours!"?she was sitf
ting beside him in the old place by the
o window again when Gifford began with
e th? stereotyped quotation for all f>uch
e cases?"on revient toujours! Jane, the
years seem as nothing since you and I
saw each other last. I have come back
suddenly upon my youth at its best.
Can't the old bopps come to life again,
i. too??the dear old hopes we shared I
[1 together. Jane, before that horrible day
that divided us?"
t Miss Grand clasped her hands, and
e turned away from him nervously. She
i- always reiterated to herself that Gifford
Mohun's character was a high and
generous aud noble one; but n wisdom
e stronger than her reason warned her
e back now from taking him at his word
s In any matter at all pertaining to ditsn
interestedness or self-sacrifice.
o (To be continued.)
f
Myiterions Jones.
Who is the Man with the Cigari
, His Name is Jones.
Is he a Good Man?
, Yes; but he has one Cad Fault.
, What is the Fault?
, I-Ie Beefs about the Beauty of the
7 Town He Came From. He says it is a
^ Little Town, but the People are Honest
ar.d do not try to Skin You. When
they Take You by the Hand they
Shake it Heartily and you Know they
j Mean it.
Tc P.r.fl: there to Live?
f? A"v > " j
Oh. no! He may Go Back 011 .1
Short Visit, but you could not Keep
Him There "with a Galling Gun.
J Why does be Talk One Way aud Act
^ Another?
You may Search Ue, Child.?Detroit
rr -Tribune.
1 Law vb. CaKtom.
n One of Ambassador C'lioate's !cga!
r stories related to a Texas judge before
r whom a prisoner was brought, charged
1 with horse stealing. Tbe judge proinpt'
ly sentenced the prisoner to be hanged,
but hl.? lawyer interrupted: "You can't
f bang this prisoner according to law.
t-' your honor." he said. "Maybe you're
right." said the judge: "well, I'll disc
charge him. and 1 guess it's up to the
t boys to hang him according to the reg1
ular custom."
.. Not Fully Cultured.
[i "Yes," said little Arthur, "since pa
t struck it rich, and ma and the girls
s have got into society, Ave have a
j Frenchman to do our cookin'. so we eat
1 i:i French, and sing in Italian, and
think mostly in German; hut onee in a
P while, wliei) things don't go right and
t pa gets mad. we still have the good old
g English right ell' the bat."?Chicago
j Journal.
IIFSKIP'
WorB^m^m <
Six miles is the length of a petitiOD
promoted by the British National Canine
Defense League in support of the
bill for the prohibition of the vivisection
of dogs.
The clever cigar rollers of Seville
have rivals in the insect world. By tbe
aid of its tiny feet the wevil rolls vino
leaves into a cylindrical shape ana
hides itself inside.
The Swiss town of Zurich has taken
a step toward #1he municipalization of
medicine, and puts a poll tax on all the
population over sixteen years old sufficient
to make an income of $100,000
to pay the doctors.
Marken, in tbe Zuyder Zee, is one
of the most curious islands in tlu?
world. Horses and trees are unknown.
The island produces one crop?hay?
and of this the women manage the
growing and harvesting.
Among the curios preserved in the
Bank of England is a banknote that
passed through the Chicago fire. The
paper was consumed, but the ash held
together and the printing is quite legible.
It is kept carefully under glass.
The bank paid the note.
After keeping a noay in a Hermetically
sealed -coffin for'ten years, in the
hope relatives of the deceased would
fulfil their promises and pay for the
burial, a firm of Leadville undertakers^
has given up in despair and buried the
body.
DEFIES TIME
A Liquid, Newly Discovered, That is a
True Preservative.
The Hungarian chemist Brunn says
he has discovered a liquid chemical
compound -which renders certain kinds
of matter proof against the effects of
time. He asserts that it doubles the
density of nearly every, kind of stone
and renders it waterproof. It. imparts
to all metals qualities which defy oxygen
and rust. It is also a germicide of
hitherto unequaled powers.
The professor says that while traveling
in Greece some twenty-five years
ago he noticed that the mortar in
stones of ruins which were known to
be over 2000 years old -was, as hard,
fresh and tenacious as if it had been
made only a year. He secured a piece
of the mortar and has been working
on it ever since until now, when, he
says, he has discovered the secret.
The compound is a yellow liquid,
whir-h thA nrofessor has christened
zorene. He describes tht> following
experiments: A piece of ordinary aud
easily breakable slag after immersion
in zorene defied tbe full blow of a hammer.
There was the same effect on ordinary
bricks and a block of red jareali
wood. All three were then (after immersion
in zorene) immersed in water
for a long time. When taken out and
weighed with delicate scales the presence
of a single particle of added
moisture could not be detected. Two
pieces of steel submitted to an ammonia
test equal to five years' exposure
to the air emerged from the batu
as they entered it An ordinary table
knife which had lain open five months
did not show the slightest stain.
T? ^ 4Vnf VirfY TTTir:
JTIUltfBISUI XJJ UJUIi UU3CUO Ilia L uc Hill
be able to make roads dust, germ and
waterproof, thus giving commercial
value to hundreds of millions of tons
of slag which Is now useless in the
mining and smelting districts. His
discovery-will, at the very least, he
Bays, double the life of metals exposed
to the air, such as bridges, railroads,
vessels and tanks.?Brooklyn Eagle.
Fooling a Great Doctor.
Sir Morel Mackenzie once received a
wire from Antwerp asking him hia
charges for a certain operation. He
replied ?500 ($2500), and was told to
come at once. When he stepped upon
the dock he was met by three men in
mourning, who informed him sadly
that the patient had died that morning.
"But," said the spokesman of the
party, "we do not intend that you shall
be out of pocket a shilling. We shall
pay your fee." And they did. "And
now," said the man, "what do you say
to visiting the city hospital and giving
* ?- IA/ID J I
a CJ1D1C I or xue ucucui m uui jwm
surgeons?"
Sir Morel said he would gladly comply.
He went to the hospital and performed
many operations, among which
were two of a similar nature to that
for which he had ijeen called over.
When he finished all thanked him profusely.
On the steamer going home he
met a friend who had a business house
in Antwerp.
"Pretty scurvy trick they played on
you, Sir Morel."
"What do you mean?" asked the surgeon.
"Told you the patient died before
you arrived, didn't, they?"
"Yes."
"Lied. Tou operated on him and a
friend with the same trouble at the
clinic. Got two operations for one
price!"?Reader.
Honeymoon Trips to Avoid.
"There are two pieces of advice I'd
like to give about honeymoons," said
the man "who has had two of 1hem.
"One of them is, never go on a long
sea voyage with your new wife. The
? ?? (nt0 ,j innf, nntnmobile
Oluei in, 1ICWI uinc u ivu.,
trip with her. I've tried both, and
both have been miserable failures. I
would not be guilty of such an unchivalrous
comment had both of my
wives not agreed with me in both instances.
"Just think of having knocked down
all the barriers of conventionality
vrkich practically shielded you during
the courtship to find yourself for eight
or ten days in such close companionship
with your better half as is offered I
011 an automobile honeymoon! It's awful
to think of it.
"When 1 was ou my last honeymoon,
which was the automobile one, we
were only three days on the road when
1 was reminded of the man who turned
to his V/ife during their honeymoon
and said: 'Don't you wish some friend
would come along?' 'Oh, yes, dear,'
she sighed,-'or an enemy even."'?
Philadelphia Record.
- ,
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 28.
Snbject: The Baptism of Jesus, Hark. t.
1-11?Golden 'text, I Sam, tI1? 3?
Memory Verses, 10, 11?Topic: Christ's
Preparation For His Life Work.
I. Preparing the way (vs. 1-3). 1.
"The beginning." Matthew begins
with a genealogy of onr Lord and Luke
with the history of His infancy, but
Mark commences in the midst of gospel
events. He seems anxious to come
at once to Christ's public life and ministry.
"Gospel." The gospel of Jesus
ghriet denotes Ihe "glad tidings" or
"good news," concerning JesuR Christ.
"Jesus." Jesus means "Saviour."
This name shows His human nature.
"Christ." This name means "anointed,"
and is the Greek equivalent of the
Hebrew "Messiah." "Son of God."
This shows His divine' nature. , Sec
John 1: 1-3, 14. He was very God, the
second person .in the Trinity. 2. "Is
written." See Mai. 3:1; Isa. 40:3. "1
send." This "I" in the prophet is spo
ken by Jehovah. But this Jehovah is
the Messiah. So that we have here a
true Jehovah-Je$us. "My messenger."
John the Baptist., Christ's? herald.
3. "The voice." Attention is called
to the message rather than to the messenger.
John was- weak and insignificant,
but he was delivering God's message,
andw'ijs words produced a mighty
effect. -Crying." Heralding, proclaiming.
"Wilderness." John preached
in the wild, thinly inhabited region lying
west of the Jordan and the Dead
Sea as far north as Enon, two-thirds
of the way to the Sea of Galilee, and
on both sides of the lower Jordan.
"Prepare ? paths straight." This is
figurative language. The words illustrate
the straightening force of the
gospel. There must be a thorough
preparation before God, our King, will
come to us. The self-life must be
"brought low;" the crooked life must
be "straightened;" the obstructions of
unbelief and carnal desires- must be removed.
JI. John baptizing (vs. 4, 5). 4.
"Freacn." tieraia; a woru suggfeuxi^
the proclamation of a king. John was
a great reformer. "Baptism of repentance."
John "was a repentance preacher.
This -was a baptism required and
representing an inward spiritual
change; the pledge of remission of sins
to those who were truly penitent "Foi
the remission." The remission was to
be received of Christ, the repentance
was preparatory to Christ's coming and
work, and John's baptism was a sign
of true repentance.
5. "All the land." A figure representing
the sweeping influence of
John's preaching. "Confessing." Confession
of sin is one of the elements in
true repentance. Repentance includes
(1) conviction, (2) contrition, (3) confession,
(4) reformation, and leads to
conversion.
III. John's testimony (vs. G-8).
"Camels liair." In appearance Jonn
resembled Elijah, tbe prophet. He
was clothed In the coarse, rough cloth
called sackcloth in the Scriptures. It
was cheap, but admirable for keeping
out the'heat, cold and rain.- "girdle."
The Orientals delight in costly, ornamental
girdles, but poor people must
content themselves with a strip of hide.
"Locu?ts." The law of Moses gave
permission to cat locusts (Lev. 11:21).
The common locust is about three
inches long and closely resembles our
grasshopper. Locusts are abundant
nnd cheap and are still used as food
by the poorer classes. "Wild honey."
Honey Btored by bees In hollow trees
or in the clefts of the rocks. John's
habits were in keeping with his wilderness
life. 7. "There cometh." The
preaching of John was rrepariug the
minds of the people for the coming of
tbe Messiah, and they began to ask
themselves whetherhe were the Christ.
But John was not slow to undeceive
them regarding himself. "Mightier."
John clearly outlined the work of the
coming Messiah. His baptism will effect
what mice is powerless to do.
"Latchet." The latchet, a word now
obsolete, was the thong or lace with
which the shoes or sandals were fastened.
"Shoes." Or sandals. "Not
worthy." John snows ins greatness ny
his self-abasement.
8. "With water?Holy Ghost." John
had administered the outward rite, but
could not renew their hearts.
IV. Jesus baptized (vs. 9-11). 9.
"In those days." While John was
preaching and baptizing. "Jesus
came." Jesus was about thirty years
old. This was the age when priests
entered upon their ministry (Num. 4:
3), and when the rabbis began 1o teach.
"From Nazareth." Where He had
lived in seclusion all these years. , So
far as we know this was His first public
act since He was twelve years of
age. "Was baptized." Any confession
of sin was of course out of the question.
There was only a profession on
the part of Jesue that as an Israelite
He became subject to the law, and
that He was connected with humanity
by the ties of blood, of suffering and
of love. "Of John." At first John hesitated
about baptizing Jesus (Matt. 3:
14, 15). 10. "He saw." unrisr saw
it, and John saw it (John 1:33, 34), and
it is probable that nil who were present
saw It; for this was intended to be
His public inauguration. "The heavens
opened." Luke says that Jesus
prayed as soon as He was baptized
(Luke 3:21). Here is the first recorded
prayer of Christ and its answer. "Like
a dove." A symbol this of perfect
gentleness, purity, fulness of life, and
of the power of communicating it.
11. "Voice from heaven." At two
other times during our Lord's earthly
ministry was a voice heard from heaven:
At the transfiguration (Mark 9:7).
nnd in the courts of the temple during
passion week (John 12:28). The Father
indorsed Christ's earthly mission. "My
beloved Son." Jesus Christ is the Son
?f (inrl from p.teVnitv
ppank* OctocreiiArtiiu "Boy."
Friends and neighbors for miles
nround assembled at the residence of
Mrs. Betsy Freeimn, of Red Bank. Pa.,
to celebrate the 111th anniversary of
her birth, and. to prove to her guests
that she is still strong and hearty, the
hostess in a spirit of fun called her
youngest son, William, to her side.
She informed "Willie'' that he had
been a naughty boy, and forthwith proceeded
to lay him across her knee and
administer a sound spanking. "Willie"
is eurhty-two years old. Mrs. Freeman
does not look her age by fifty years.
Kig ICsrcs.
An egg within an egg was brought
to Smith Centre. Mo., the other day by
C. L. Buswell, a farmer. The outside
egg measured eight inches in circumference
the long way and seven inches
tiie other way. Inside of this was another
perfect egg, siiell and all, being
separated from the big egg by about a
half-inch of the white of the egg. It
was laid by an ordinary hen, a mixture
of Plymouth Kock and Leghorn.
Importing Potatoes.
Irish, Scotch and German potatoes
are coming to Philadelphia, Pa. ,
t
jlpesJ
IMMORTALITY.
Into the form my soul hath wrought unthinking,
XJnto the fife my life hath bought unknowing,
Unto the path my feet hath sought unceasing,
J shall be born again.
Unto another battlefield, twice armored, '
To fight anew with sword and shield un- ,
daunted,
To win the victory, nor yield faint-hearted,
I shall be born again.
To ?ee once more the pure ideal shining,
Leading with fire anu cloud the leal soul
onward, *
To give a truer service, real, i unfailing,
I shall be born again.
As to the bough bereft a trust prophetic
Speaks of the hidden bud, so must the
spirit,
By sorrow taught, know from the dust of
matter
It shall arise again.
Again 0 gracious though the eoul uplifting,
Ab far the ages vast unroll triumphant
To seek the ever-forward goal un tiring,
We shall be born again.
?Alice Gordon.
Three Ways of An?werlng Fnjtr.
Henry Druromond gave us a beautiful
illustration of the methods where
by prayer is answered:
A large, splendidly equipped steamship
sailed from Liverpool for New
York. Among the passengers were a
little boy and girl, who were playing
about the deck when the boy lost his
ball overboard. He immediately ran
to the captain and shouted: "Stop the
ship; my ball is overboard!"
The captain smiled pleasantly, but
said, "Oh, no, my boy! I cannot stop
ne ship, with all these people, just to
get a rubber ball."
The-boy went away grumbling, and
confided to' the little girl that the captain'didn't
stop tbe ship because he
couldn't. He believed the ship was
wound up some way in Liverpool, and
she just had to run, day and night, until
she ran down.
A day or two afterward the children
were placing on deck again, when the
little girl dropped her doll down into
the engine room and she supposed it,
too, had gone overboard She said,
"I will run and ask the captain to stop
the ?ihip and get my dolly."
"It's no use," said the boy; "he cannot
do anything. I've tried him."
But the little girl ran on to the captain
uri+h h?T* ctnrTT nnrf nntWHll
The captain came and peeked down
into the engine room, and, seeing the
dol], said, "Just wait here a minute."
And while the ship went right on, he
ran down the stairway and brought
up the little girl's doll, to her delight
and to the boy's amazement.
The next day the cry rang out, "Alan
overboard!" and immediately the bell
rang "in the engine-rOom. ''The great
ship stood still until boats were lowered
and the life rescued. Then eihe
steamed on until she reached the wharf
. in New York. As soon as she was tied
the captain went up town and bought
thi boy a better ball than the one he
had lost.
Now, each of the three prayers was
answered. The little girl received her
request without stopping the ship; the
little boy by a little waiting received
his also; and yet for sufficient reason
the ship was stopped by a part of the
machinery itself, not as an afterthought,
but something put into \he
ship when it was made.?Pacific Baptist.
"The I.lfter-Up of Mr Head."
I like that expression, "Lifter-up of
my head." I know it means to restore
x_ ? - i?A ii. i.u.' i . mu
TO nonor; dui 11 means una aisu. iuc?c
is your child, my good mother, and your
child has been bad, and you have
chastised him. You have put the poor
little bundle of wretchedness and
crossness into a corner, and there it is
standing, soiling all its face with hot
and scalding tears. Then your heart
relents; the extreme of misery tells
upon yon, for yon are its mother and
blood is thicker than water. And you
come toward the little thing, and, as
you come nearer and nearer, the
farther it creeps in the corner, and the
lower it hangs its head. And what do
you do? Instead of chastising it any
more, you come quite close, and with
one hand on the little one's shoulder,
you put the other hand below its chin,
and literally you lift up the little face
Into the light of your own and stoop
down to kiss it.
Did you ever think that that is what
God wantsvto <lo with ihe poor weary
sinner who has gone back and done
shamefully??Rev. John McNeill.
Help One Another.
"Boar ye pne another's burdens, and
so fulfil the law of Christ." Enter into
one another's life. Be helpful. Let
those who have joy minister to those
who are without it. From the cross I
seem to hear a voice which conies
straight tc us, saying: "Ye shall lore
one another as I have loved you." That
m??ans that you should enter into one
another's life, and bear one another's
burdens. Over against sorrow and suffering
the Master has put Fatherhood
and immortality. "Our light affliction, ;
which is but for a moment, worketh |
for us a far more exceeding aud eternal
weight of glory." "Blessed are they !
that mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Ring out the message wherever
hearts are breaking and ejes are
tilled with tears! All things are i*i
'! ? Pofli/M-'o hnmlf iirtf Alio is lllfpvlv I
lilt: r u mci o un*?* ? , ?,VI, t.
alone: do life is without purpose, ami
all things are moving upward.?Amory
H. Bradford.
lie WlJlinc 10 Try.
When we go forward. believi'v that
what was true once is true forever. |
willing to try whether unselfishness
floes really brace the soul, whdher love
to God does really make'the heart tender
and strong, whether prayer meets
an answering Spirit and faith finds a
door of hope, otii.v then do we hrng
into cm lif" the power which <iod
meant it should have.-Henry Wililer
Roote.
In many part? el :lie Alps giris wear
trousers wln*n coasting
Great Depth in the Potomac.
In a recent survey of the Potomac
River liie coast survey found a peculiar
pot hole in the bottom. The greatest
depth sounded was 159 feet. The hole
* ***** * J 1* If/*.
is aoout -w re?i ut-rp. it nco via *..??tbias
Point, and is famous for good
fishing. It is said to be caused by tlie
meeting of two currents.
The Highest Elevator.
TLe highest elevator in the "world
was recently installed at the Bnergenstock,
on the lake of the four cantons
in Switzerland. It bas a height of
'nearly.800 feet.
.* - ? 8 ^ v
ffiE GREAT DESTROYER.; ,
>OME STARTLING FACTS AB.OUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE; rhe
StTipendnons Fortune Wj fipena To ?
Liquor?What the Money Would Ae
eompliab if Were Pat to Really U?efoh
Purpose*?A Remarkable Article.
'According to figures frrni6hed tJl
the Government Bureau of Statistics..
there are consumed in the United
States in one year about forty million, f
barrels of beer, ninety-eig-t million
gallons of proof spirits, and thirty) million
and five hundred thousand [. \ ,
gallons of wine. These di^nkables,sold
at retail, take out of tln? pockets- !
of consumers in a single twelvemonth
the sum of $1,454,119,858. It is ?
good deal of money, and one is tempted
to consider- what it could accomplish*
if it were put to really useful purposes- s 1
instead of being practically thrown
away.1
It would ^provide 500,000 families;
or 2,500,000 peopje?more man me entire
population of the States of Net*}
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Yermont,
Maine, North Dakota and Montana?-/
with comfortable homes, clothing and
provisions for twelve. whole months.
To each family ii would give $350 for
provisions. $80 for clothing, 530 fori*
shoes, $20 for newspapers, maga- i
zines and boobs, $50 for church ami ?
charitable purposes, and would build
for each family a house costinr $1500,
with $350 to furnish it?thus bestow^
ing upon each one of the half million
families $2380. and leaving a balance
of $264,119,000 to erect 52,81*
churches, each costing $5000. Thfc figures
arrange themselves in tabulated
form as follows: ' ,
100,000 families, $350 each for
provisions $175,000,000
500.000 families, $80 each for
clothing 40,COO,000* 500.000
families, $30 each for
ihoes , 15,000,000500,000
families, $20 each for I
hooks, etc 10,000,000* T7""
500.000 families, $50 each for * '
OP rmn aaa
cbaritv, etc a,w?,uw
500,000 houses, IISOO each...... 750,000.000'
500,000 families, *350 each'for
furniture .? 175,000,00052,818
churches, $5000 etch.... 264,(#0,800
s ?? if-/'
Total $1,454,090,000
It is practically impossible for thehuman
mind to grasp so enormous1'a'
sum ef money, but recognition, of its
magnitude may be rendered more easy, ,
by comparing with it certain other expenditures
which are made for the
every day necessaries of life. For instance,
the people of the United States
In a year spend 1660,000,000 for meats
and $600,000,000 for breadstuffs. They)
pay out $630,000,000 for cotton and
worsted goods, for wearing apparel
and household use. Boots and shoe*
cost them $261,000,000 in the sam?
length of time. For iron and steel
they spend $580,000,000, for sugar!
and molasses $225,000,000. and for tea,i
coffee and chocolate $iey,uw,uw. iw
will be noticed 4hat no two of thee?
items, which represent the chief ex- *
penses of the nation, equal in sum thd
total expenditure for liquors, the
meats and breadstuffs together amount*
ing to only $1,260,000,000?Pearson's '
Magazine. > fi
That Suicide Comraluion. 1
According to the press dispatches*
Mayor Tom Johnson, of Cleveland/
has appointed a commission of three,
whose duty it will be to dissuade peo?
pie from committing suicide. : ,
People contemplating suicide will be
invited to appear before the Commis*
sion, which will try to argue them out
of the dubious enterprise, urging that
one live man is worth a whole graven ' *
yard of cadavers. ! '
In these times of benevolent feudal* ,
ism, almost anything is likely to hapi
pen. We may yet have an anti-drunk;
commission before which a person con^ .
templating getting drunk will be invit*
ed to appea? and listen to arguments
as to why he should go slow and not
imbibe too much. \ '
We may yet have an anti-poverty! > ,
commission. A woman who has just
been ejected with her babies from hen
tenement home, because or a urucxeu
husband, may appear before the coum f,
mission and listen to arguments against
poverty.
When licensed drink has a man bj;
tie throat and brought him to th>?
point of suicide, he is not apt to appear
before any commission to listen
to arguments as to why he should refrain.
When a man's appe'tite becomes s0 v, \
powerful as to drag him into the nearest
licensed snake hole, he is not apt
to bant up any commission to listen to
arguments as to why he should keep; - ?
> away.
Just so in the case of a stricken woman
who has been ejected from her
tenement with her babes because husband
and father drank up all the rent
She is not apt to appear before a commission
to listen to arguments against
poverty.
The people are rapidly coming to that
state of civilization where they quit
licensing breeding places of truicides. .
We abolish breeding places of mos- jA
quitos; we don't license them.
Why not apply the same principle to V
breeding places of suicides? ? JNev^
Voice. j
___ -A
roe uuiy ou'uiiuu*
A large brewing company of Colchester,
England, claims to have solved
the temperance question. The solution
is very simple, it says. It is "no drink
without food." To prove the theory,
the company is trying the experiment of
combining the ordinary publichouse
with a good eating-house. The
result of the first week's working was
that it was able to report a profit of
2G per cent, and a complete absence ad
of drunkenness. Thijs method may;
be profitable but cannot be considered .M
a success as a temperance measure.
The only solution of the saloon prob- flH
lem is no saloon.
Temperance NotegThe
way to remove the evil of degenerate
children is to quit making degenerate
parents tnrough the rum traffic.
Organize the girls and boys and then
get them ready to take a part in the
grand fight for temperance. They will
see the victory.
A lflnrvor QrHct" fill
A. UiltuiCU 1U ii j vij >44 v?v\, wthor,
"hall fellow well met" with the
circle who "can take a glass without
barm"?was recently pleading with the
judge to send him to prison because he
could not let liquor alone and was . -4
without friends or money.
"Make war on the gilded saloons. A
low dive has no attractions for the
youth of our laud. When a boy falls
be tumbles down, not up.
By legal enactment and moral force, j
we may, if we will, rid the land of tb^
deadly deluge of rum, and deserve the
blessings of the good and wise.
John Burns, the English labor lead-j
er, says: "Throughout the centuries
the drink shop has been the ante-1
chamber to the workhoase, the chapel '
of ease to the asylum, the recruiting !
station for the hospital, the rendezvous I
for the gambler, the gathering ground i
lor the jail."- .'