Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SYNOPSIS. The Watermelon and James, two tramps, bantering each other regarding their personal appearance, decide to clean up, acquire new clothes and let their companion, Mike, be the Judge as to who is the better looking. "Water melon discovers a young man bathing in a lake and steals his clothes. While sitting in an automobile he discovered standing empty by the roadside. General Crossman and his daughter, Henrietta, drive up in a car. Assuming that his car Is disabled, the general proffers assist ance. Watermelon hands him a card hearing the name William Hargrave Batchelor. The general recognizes the name as that of a young man who broke the cotton corner In Wall street a few days before. He invites him to dine with them. Watermelon Is Introduced to Bart lett, a big Wall street operator, and his daughter, Billy, with whom he proceeds to fall In love. Bartlett, who has been stung by Batchelor's operations, plans to keep the supposed broker with him for a week while he works a coup in the market He wires instructions to his broker. While chatting with Billy, the telegraph boy tips off Bartlett's message to Watermelon. Watermelon decides to join Bartlett and the general in a week's auto trip. Watermelon slips away and tells his hobo companions of his adven ture and asks them to find Batchelor and give him the tramp clothes. The party starts out with Bartlett's and Crossman's cars. Late at night they come to a ue ?erted house, break in and spend the night there. In the morning Watermelon discovers that the police are coming. The party attempts to escape, but Is stopped by the officers who are hunting for Batchelor's car. Watermelon, by a clever ruse, gets them out of trouble. As Bart lett had planned the party becomes lost .. They are arrested and haled before a country justice for speeding. Crossman. Bartlett and. the Watermelon are robbed of their money and Jewelry in the night. Alphonse, the general's chauffeur, and Bartlett's car are missing. The party proceeds in the general's car, gets lost again and runs out of gasoline. Water melon and Billy go to a farm house for ^ood. Bartlett proposes to Henrietta and 1s accepted. Billy starts back with the food while Watermelon goes to ask the farmer to tow the auto In. Hurrying to catch up with her, Watermelon finds Billy stuck In the railroad tracks with a train rushing down upon her. He saves her life and confesses his love. Water melon decides to sneak away in the night and take to the road again. A fire in the night destroys the farmer's barn and the general's car, and Watermelon de cides he cannot leave them yet Water melon confesses all to Billy and tells her "he cannot marry h?r. Billy tells her fath er that she wants to marry Watermelon, T>ut does not seveal his identity. Bartlett *ets a message from his broker that "Batchelor has been In town all the time. "Watermelon confesses all. tells him of his love for Billy and that his rijrht name Is Jeroboam Martin. Bartlett tells Water melon that If he will come to their sum mer home In Ausrust as a drunken tramp and Billy then wants him she can have him. Watermelon shows up, dressed as a tramp. CHAPTER XXIV.?Continued. Maine is a prohibition state, but the Watermelon had been there before ?nd knew just where and how to ob tain what he was looking for. WJth the bottle in his pocket, he 'sought the beach and made his way up it to some secluded place where he could drink In peace and out of the heat of the sun. ^s the day advanced, the sun crept around me neaaiauu unui h streamed unchecked upon the Watermelon, sprawled, drunk and warm and dirty In the lee of the rocks. The combined heat of the sun and the poison he had In him, called by courtesy whisky, :grew unbearable, and he rose in drunken majesty to find some cooler place. The Bun would soon have thrown long shadows oa the beach, but the Watermelon could not wait tor that. He must get cool at once, and in the waves splashing, gurgling, laughing, breaking at his very feet, lie found a suggestion. Where could one get cool if not in the sea Itself? A steam yacht far away like a streak of white, was seen creeping slowly landward, but the Watermelon did not trouble about such a thing. He began to undress, solemnly, stubbornly, with the one thought to get cool. # * Tbp va(>hf Mnrv filnhpoofoT woo a gay little bark, all ivory white and ?hining brass work. A brightly striped awning covered the deck, there were large, comfortable chairs, with many colored pillows and ribbons and -chintz, and daintily arranged tables to assuage one's thirst and offer cooling bodily comfort on a hot day. The Mary Gloucester was named after a poem of Kipling's, and her owner was explaining this fact, en sconced gracefully, if solidly, in a many-cushioned chair, her feet a bit awkwardly on the rest before her, a fan in one hand and a small, fat, white, woolly dog on her lap. his fore feet on the railing, his mouth open and his tiny red tongue flapping moist ly from between his teeth. ??TxrK**-~ * iTuurn uu juu xove tne more," asked Bertie Van Baalen, "Kipling or this angel child?" and Bertie sought to pull one fluffy white ear near his hand. But the little dog snarled an grily and snapped sharply at the hastily withdrawn fingers. "Ah, the duckems, naughty man shan't tease him," crooned the lady, slapping at Bertie with the fan, while WAYS OF FRENCH BEGGARS! Select Their Favorite Prison, Then . Commit an Offense to Insure Win L ter Accommodations. Beggars and professional vagabonds jo have passed thirty years do not fach year when th9 winds of Oc blow to seleci their winter quar then that e*ch of them com I'ome offense, veil knowing that get a penalty of six months' InWnt. The delinquent so that ie will not be at the mouth of April, in the of spring. He ^er quarters wisely, for and )ad prisons, of its valued and [odatioas, occupies ]>ng prisons. This was such as to knayery on the tagabonds. (they were se in or Shelter, iber of 7 c * ar GoaAssrsA/fAUL ca the little dog turned again to the sea. "Yes, indeed, Mrs. Armitage," said Henry Bliven solemnly. "Tell us truthfully, whom do you love the bet ter, Kipling or the blessed duckems?" "Think," warned Bertie, "before you answer. Kipling, a great poet, author of sentiments that will stir mankind for all ages, sentiments that will ennoble, strengthen?" "If I threw my blessed pet over, would you go after him, Bertie?" de manded the widow, to whose mind a question of grave Import had just pre sented itself. "Henry, would you? You know how I love my dainty little kitty kit, would you save him from cruel death for me? For my sake?" "No harm," said Henry with feel ing, "shall befall the angel child while I live to protect it?her?him." "For your sake," said Bertie, "I would die." There was a splash, a gurgle and a horrified scream from the widow, as wim a Buaaen lurcc or me Doai, tne little dog lost his balance and fell overboard. "Oh, ray precious, my lamb," cried the widow. "Bertie, save him for me." "Yes, yes," declared Bertie, hanging over the rail and watching the strug gling dog in the water below. "Yes, yes, certainly." "Henry," pleaded the wi^ow. "If you love me?" "Trust me," said Henry soothingly, hiding a gleam of satisfaction in his mild blue eyes. "I will have the boat stopped." The widow's daughter and chaperon appeared in the companionway, flushed and sleepy. "Mamma, what is the matter?" "Caroline, my precious lanib," and the widow motioned dramatically sear J ttrr wa.ru. xienry, you saia? "I will," said Henry. "I will have the boat stopped." "I will do that," cried the widow. "You jump overboard and save him." Caroline yawned and raised her soft white hands to her tumbled hair. "Do save him, Bertie, I'm not equal to the task of comforting mamma, just now." Bertie looked at his immaculate yachting clothes and hesitated. "Ah, you do not love me," cried the widow. "Oh, my baby, my own." "I love you so," said Bertie solemn ly, "I refuse to leave you in your grief even for a moment" A long white arm shot oveir the crest of a tumbled wave and was fol lowed by a man's head and long, thin body. The man swam well and quick ly and was making straight for the now swimming dog. "A rescue, a rescue," cried Henry, aDd added 6oftly to himself, "Oh, poppycock!" CHAPTER XXV. As He Said He Would." The widow leaned far over the side. "Oh," said she, "the man 1b naked." "As truth," agreed Bertie. "You migir- retire, you know." "I won't look," promised the widow, turn In v hpr hflr.lr ftTifl nppHn c Aror hov shoulder. "But 1b he near my lamb now? Will he, can he save him?" "Unfortunately, yes, mamma," said Caroline. Bertie and Henry leaned over* the rail and watched the rescue, the long, easy strokes of the swimmer and the amusement on his face as a wave car ried the struggling dog within reach and he grabbed the little woolly back. "Saved!" cried Bertie, and turned jubl m ume to grao mrs. Armitage, who was also turning to see over the rail, by her fat shoulders and whirl her around again. "Safe, dear lady, but look the other way. Our hero is clothed In the seafoam and his own nobility, nothing else." Henry was already disappearing down the companionway, the yacht was stopping and the crew standing by on the lower deck to lend assist ance to rescued and rescuer. The evening was warm and sultry. W^at little breeze there had been dur ing the day had gone down with the sun, while the ocean heaved and moaned in long, green swells and ran softly whispering up the beach and splashed against the rocks with hard ly a flake of foam. The sun, sinking behind the hills, cast long orange and pink streaks across the waves, and turned the small white clouds over head a dainty, rosy mass of drifting color. Bartlett and Billy strolled down the winding street of the little seaside town, out on the pier and stood idly waiting for the evening mailboat to Fresnes, was gorged with prisoners for whom the tardy rays of the September sun proved a cruel irony. If the mag istrates show clemency and condemn these derelictB to only six months of prison the disaster of these poor dev ils will be complete, for they will, with out pity, be thrown into the street in the open month of January.?le Ori de Paris. Big Sculpture. The most remarkable proposal ever made about Mount Athos was that of the architect Dinocrates. His plan was to cut It into the shape of a gi gantic statue of Alexander the Great, holding in the right hand a. city, in the left a tank that was to receive all the waters of the region. Alexander was much taken with the scheme. But it was eventually rejected on the ground that the neighboring country was not fertile enough to feed the in habitants of the projected city. An other of Dinocrates' plans was a tem ple to the wife of King Ptolemy of Egypt, with a roof of loadstones that would keep an iron statue of her float ing in ths air. ? arrive. Henrietta and the general were coming on the evening boat td spend the autumn in a small cottage which the general was pleased to call his "shooting-box." But Bartlett's pleasure at seeing Henrietta once more was mingled with worry and un easiness over Billy and the Water melon. He smoked thoughtfully and watched Billy warily, tenderly. She leaned against a pile and gazed over the vast unrest of the ocean to the distant horizon, with dreaming, un fathomable eyes. Bartlett knew of whom she was thinking, whom wait ing for more and more eagerly every day now as August drew to a close and still he did not come. But this evening he had come, he was in the same neighborhood, drunk and prob ably hungry. When they met, as they must and that shortly, would he make a scene, become loud-mouthed, foul, abusive? It would be hard on Billy, and Bartlett wished vainly that he could spare her. But it was best that she should know, should understand fully and with a sudden quick cut it would be over with, the June madness when one is young and pretty and care-free. Billy would read her folly in the bleared eyes of a shiftless fool. Poor little Billy and her-puppy love! A most unfortunate affair, the whole mistaken, unnappy business! "There comeB the Mary Glouces ter," said Billy,' breaking Into his thoughts. "The Mary Gloucester," chuckled Bartlett "That woman hasn't the sense of her ugly little poodle dog." "I know," said Billy, "that Is why I have always been so afraid of her." "Why afraid of her?" "For a mother," explained Billy un fortunately, but characteristically say ing the wrong thing. Bartlett flushed. "You just admit ted that she was a fool. Do you think I would marry that kind of a woman?" "Men always do," said Billy. "A fool's bad enough, but a fool and money are simply Irresistible." "You know too much for your age," said Bartlett coldly. "I don't exactly know It," blundered Billy. "I just see It." "Billy, have you ever a >en me?" "Yes, father. That nig it In the pa vilion at the Alnsleys?" "That will do, Billy.'" Billy was hurt "I don't mean to be nasty, father; but you asked me?" "There comes the mailboat," inter rupted Bartlett firmly. Billy looked at It and sighed. It ~ ~ U.t A .. .4 J T a.aU/nam Wcta iuu litbL ui August tuiu dciuuuam Jfartin had not come. Had he forgot ten her in two short months? Bartlett laid his hand tenderly on her shoulder. "Forget him, girlie. He's not worthy of you." "He said he would come," whispered Billy. "If he doesn't, dear, you have me. We have stood together through everything for eighteen years and will stand, still, eh, Billy?" Billy bent her head and rubbed her cheek against the hand on her shoul der with a half laugh and a half sob. With the first sight of the Bmoke on the horizon, heralding the approach Stood Laughing Down at Her. of the principal event of the day, the arrival of the evening mall, a crowd had begun to gather, the usual mot ley crowd of a summer resort on the coast The sight of the Mary Glou cester, steaming gracefully into port, was greeted with a gay flutter of handkerchiefs and Btraw hats, and BilW. and Bartlett, standing where the yjSfflt would dock, were soon the cen ter of the laughing, merry crowd, ready and eager to welcome home the stout widow, her unfortunate chaperon and the two "supplements," as a vil lage wag called the fat Henry and the slim Bertie. As the yacht drew near, the widow's corpulent form was seen by the rail, on one side a tall youth, and on the other, two, side by side and apparent ly in no very good humor. "'Three, by George," cried Blatts, a prosperous brewer from Milwaukee. "She left here with two and returns with three. Where did she get him, Bartlett?" But Bartlett did not answer, did not hear. The gang-plank had been low ered and he was watching in numb fascination, the tall youth walking be side the widow, her ridiculous dog in ARE HANDSOMEST IN WORLD Royal Irish Constabulary Bear Off the Palm From All Police of the Earth. According to those most entitled to speak on the comparative pulchri tude of the police, the Royal Irish Constabulary bear off the palm from all policemen in all other parts of the world. Dean Hole is quoted in _ i on /-?/-%?->fVmHncr 110 L/UI1UUII bUi uaiV/io ao wuti <uv>v<uo the following tribute to the fascina tions of the noble Irish force: "Our London police are well favored in appearance, but if the Royal Irish Constabulary were to take their place for a week there wouldn't be a single female servant to be warranted heart whole in the metropolis." London goes to the rural districts for its policemen largely, and tho re sult is often as amusing, not to say exasperating, as that which arises in New York from the employment of foreign car conductors, sublimely ig norant of city streets and neighbor hoods. The Chronicle writer tells of on encounter with an inexperienced his arms. It was Jeroboam Martin ia an immaculate white suit of Bertie's. His hat was off and his hair, after the swim, gleamed soft and yellow. For the sake of the widow upon whose boat he round himself, he had shaved as well as he could with Henry'B razor, and while his cheeks were smooth enough, he still wore a small yellow mustache and goatee. Both were brushed until they shone like his hair and they lent a fascinating and distinctly foreign air to his long, th^T clever face. In his arms was the lit tle dog with its enormous bow of sky blue ribbon. Bartlett wenderpd if he were going mad and seeing things that were not so. At two, or thereabouts, he had seen Martin, dirty, shabby, tired and had given him money on which to get drunk. At seven, a yacht, which hW not been in Westhaven for over n week, carefully deposits the youth, clean, fresh, well-dressed at his very side. Was he mad? Billy, too, had seen, but did not won der. She knew he was a tramp, for he had said he was, but she never thought of him or pictured him other than well-dressed, well-cared for, gently blase and a bit languid. She looked at him now over the heads of the intervening crowd and her heart did not question how he came there, only rushed out to him with the gla/? ness in her eyes, the joyous smild oti her parted lips. He had said he wouM come, and there he was. Further sWs did not question. Their eyes mJ: over the heads of the people, eager questioning in his, joyful answer In hers. Hastily he dropped the pup wltb the sky-blue bow upon the wharf, among the plebeian feet there apsen* bled, and reaching Billy's side thixuigh the crowd, grabbed both small handy, and stood laughing down at her. "Billy," he whispered, "Oh, yoi* Billy." There was, there must be some ex planation, Bartlett tol^d himself des perately. It could not be that this was not Martin? Bartlett had not Blept with the youth for nearly a week without being pretty familiar with the long lank form, the thiiv careless face. And it was equally ln> possible that the forlorn piece of ha monltr wVin liari otnn/l that nffprnrvin In the drawing-room and Inquired for Billy was not Martin. They were one and the same and once more he and Billy had met on equal footing. To ask the boy again to get drunk was a& absurdity. # "I suppose I can give him a Job where he won't have much more to do than draw his pay," thought Bartlett, hopelessly, dazedly. The Watermelon dropped Billy's hands and turned to her father i? well-bred greeting, but their eyes met and in the Watermelon's ^vas grim de fiance. He had seen Billy again and nothing could part them now. All his humility and repentance had gone. ana in tneir piace was niB oia-ume arrogance and sublime self-assurance. Fate in the form of a little white dog had brought him and Billy together again, with the Watermelon, still clean, still well-dressed, and to all out ward appearances the same as the other gay youths of Billy's acquaint ance. With head up, Jaw shut, he scorned to lower himself for anyone. He would prove himself worthy, not unworthy of Billy. Out of his repent ance had grown his manhood He was no nameless hobo of the great army of the unemployed. He wa? Jeroboam Martin, son of the laU Rev. Mr. .Iartin, in temporary finan cial embarrassment that could be soon remedied. He would work for Billy and they would be happy on his wages. He drew himself up and held out his hand. Bartlett could take it or not as he pleased.. The Water melon had sought or desired no man's favor, and Jeroboam Martin would not stoop to do so. For one second the two stared each other grimly, square jaws shi lips unsmiling, then Bartlett's haH shot forth and he clasped the Watc^ melon's. "Ah, Martin," said he, "how a*? you, boy?" And still holding him by the hand, he patted the Watermelon on hia arm, Jovially. After all he liked the boy, and right or wrong, wise or foolish, rate was against any uiner acuou, fate in the form of a half-drowsed poodle dog. The Watermelon rested his arm on Bartlett'B shoulder with boyish affec tion. "Say, Bartlett," said he in a low voice, "I got drunk, honest to rights. But it was so blamed hot, I cooled off in the ocedn before I knew what I was about and that sobered me up again. Then I saw something fall from the yacht and I thought it was a kid from the noise they were making, not Just a pup. I swam out to help and of courtse tbey hauled me on board, and now the widow is planning to marry me." Bartlett roared. "Say, boy, er?er ?maybe you need a loan until I Can see about that job for you." Once more their eyes met and this time in complete and tender accord. "You're all right," whispered the Watermelon, his face softening. "And don't you worry about Billy," he add ed, "I'll take care of her." THE END. policeman who was asked the where abouts of a famous firm in the neigh borhood, to which query the new bob by replied gayly: "BleBS ye, I know no more thar yourBelf, sir. I only came up from Dorset yesterday." Coal and the X-Ray. It is now believed that the myster/ of the formation and constitution oil coal, which has long puzzled students, will be solved by means of the X-ray. According to a French scientifio journal, there are two or three kiniii of ash in coals: First, the foreign matter carried by the wind or the rain into the forests that gave rise to th? coal. Next there is the mineral mat ter that forms part of living plants. Finally, there is generally more or less mineral matter due to the formation of new compounds by the decomposi tion of the first two kinds of ash. The examination of coal with the X rays will probably lead to a possi ble distinction between these threo forms of ash, and will thus contrib ute to throw light on the formation of veins. ' A novelization of play by the most playwright of >th GEORGES When a wealthy relatr fortune to young Jone sponds to the call of long he's the most cele metropolis of spendtl girl and bartender, ev policeman on the stre calls him by his nickr ways Br&acjway. J? T himself "broke." Mar lady of many summer not at all to his liking Girl and? But you want to read all very human and ful ' ing laughs. <S0 You'll 1 coming serial?BRO J You've heard of George M.Cohan the popular actor and successful playwright He's the author of Broadway Jones You don't want to 1" 9 II11SS ICdUlllg AU Full of fun and real heart interest. Our Next Serial. Eg sure to get the issue with the first installment. Paid for His Interruption. Rodger, the great French tenor, was a sensitive bouI, and was prone to take offense at any slight, whether inten tional or not. On one occasion he was engaged to sing at the house of a wealthy finan cier. Rodger sang his first song mag nificently; but no one paid the slight est attention to him, and the guests continued to talk their loudest. Presently the host thought the time had come for another song, and sent for Rodger. He could not be found | a most successful successful actor ie United States /L COHAN f"-[ i: ''. : .. . .v ire leaves a handsome :s he immediately re " Broadway." Before :brated spender in the v irifts. Every chorus ery taxi-cabman and jets knows him and lame. He out-broad hen suddenly he finds riage with a maiden s promises a solution ; then he meets THE the whole story?it's 1 of lots of good, roar lot regret reading our >ADWAY JONES. Broadway Jones Is a great comedy and a great story has been writ ten from the play. ?Ithaca Journal\ Don't Miss Reading It A laugh in every line Broadway TT /Ok?7* JUMCO The greatest of play novels ever written Our next serial, watch for it Next day there came a note from him, accompanied by 1,500 francs. The note ran something like this: "I have the honor to return the twelve hundred francs which I re ceived for singing at your function: and I beg leave to add three hundred francs thereto for having bo disturbed the conversation of your guests." Blissful Ignorance. He?"They say he has mere monej than he knows what to do with." Sho ?"Ah, 6uch ignorance must be bliss." I jmfllonal SUNDAYS* Lesson (By E. 0. SELLERS, Director of Evening Department, the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago.) LESSON FOB JANUARY 25 SERVING JEbuS. LESSON TEXT?Luke 8:1-3; 9:57-?2; 10:38-42. GOLDEN TEXT?"Inasmuch as ye did It unto one of these my brethren, even the least, ye did it unto me."?Matt. 25-40. The first section ot'our lessen text has no connection with the other two. It is taken from a time several months' previous to the time of the Perean ministry and was undoubtedly chosen as an indication of t^he company who traveled .with Jesus and his disciples* and who provided for his needs. We must remember that Jesus was not supported by a board, ? church, nor by some philanthroplcally Inclined fellow citizen. It Is to the second two sec tions therefore that we devote our chief attention. Different Classes. I. Those who would follow Jesus, 9:57-62. Read carefully Matt 8:19-22. Three different classes are here repre sented: (1) The. Impulsive follower (r. 57, 58). This is the man who is moved by a sudden desire to accom pany this marvelous Teacher, but like the man in the parable, does not sit down and count the cost ere he starts to build his house. .This thought is emphasized when we read (Matt 8:19) that this man was a scribe, one who would not be expected to make such ' a resolve. He muqt have been deeply stirred by what he'had seen-'^nd heard in the life of Jesus. Such a resolve promised well, but It is soon revealed to him that he did not realize what was Involved in his promise (v. .68). Jesus sfiowed the man that to go "whithersoever" with him means to share his experiences, his fare, his quarters, and to receive the same treatment he received, 2 Tim. 3:12. It is a mistake to tell folk that the road of righteousness Is a primrose path. The road of disobedience Is a rough one, as the man who went to Jerifcho found, still the road of righteousness is a narrow one, Matt 7:13,14. Every follower of Jesus must be willing to take what, he took, and to receive what he received, John 15:20; 1 Pet i.?i '-V,'"V: ' k* ic-ipl This sentence (v. 58) has done more to gtoe us a comprehension of the earthly surroundings of our Lord than any other in the gospels, 2 Cor. 8:9. (2) The procrastinating follower (v. 59). Jesus did not forbid the first man, he simply showed him what was Involved. This man, however, Jesusj Invited to a place as diftciple?learner^ That he was willing to accept Is evtj dent, only he was not yet quite reacfyJ "I will, but?." It is not at kll proba-j ble that this man's father was await* lng burial; had his father but Just died, and awaiting burial, Jesus would! not have prevented. Rather he was Indicating a father about to die and; that he would follow, after his father's" death. Hence the sharp words of thej Master, "Let the dead bury the dead.'* A proper duty, a sacred duty, but noti bo proper nor so sacred as to have^pre* cedence over the clairo? of Jesu?, Mattv 6;3J; 10;37;. Mcin flo not as a nuv miss opportunities to mike money, toj s ! v serve their ambitions nor to gratify . their desires, by the excuse of waitings to look after aged parents. Jesus. would have us bury the dead when . ' f they are dead, not to neglect them while living by any means, but at the same time to follow him. (3) The Ir resolute follower (w. 6*1,62). This man was not troubled so much with going back as with looking back. Ultimately i.'[ he intends to follow, but his desire la still with others than being set upon Jesus. Like Lot's wife, he Is looking back rather than embracing 'the op portunity to follow. This generally ends in forgetting to follow at all, see Luke 17:32 and Gen. 19:26. Such ones are not fit for the kingdom, e. g., are not ready, to enter, nor are they really desirous to enter, Phil. 3:13; Heb. 10:38, 39. Jesus' reference to the plow /(v. 2) recalls the call of Eiisha. He with safety did bid farewell to loved ones and returned to worship nrnnhot 1 TCinCS 19:19-21. J6 vv1vu tuo yi vyuw) ?-~o ? ? -? - . sub intimates that such a step is apt to be fraught with fatal consequences. It is in this case, the spirit of resolu tion that Jesus commends. No furrow can be plowed Btraight, when he who holds the plow is looking backward. Ever Ready to Serve. II. Those who did follow Jesus, 10:38-42. We now turn to consider this little company who were ever ready to serve our Master. Prom v. 58 we know that not every home was open to receive Jesus as was this one in Bethany, John 11:1. Though this was Martha's home (10:38), and there fore Bhe felt the burden of hospitality, yet she did not hear the word as did her sister Mary, Mark 4:19. Martha was occupied with duty and Mary, with Jesus. Martha was occupied with many things, Mary was occupied with the "one thing needfuL" The result was that Martha was "distracted" (R. V.), while Mary was at rest. Jesus wants his disciples, his followers, to sit at his feet and to learn of him. He knows all about duty's dull demand, but the one thing needful is, first of all, to learn of him. Martha's lovq j prompted the service, but there wasi doubtless mucn priae mat ucuumyu* nied it. Jesus, as we have seen, waa not cumbered with much comfort, and it is doubtful that he was desirous of a big dinner. Jesus does, however, commend communion with himself a3 being, "that good part" Afterwards, when death invaded that circle, it waa Martha that had the most intimate dealing with our Lord, see John, chap! ter 11, hence we conclude that she learned on this day the lesson Jesus Eouglit to teach, viz., that in the life of quiet communion (Isa. 30:15) wq shall receive that strength that is ab solutely essential, if we are to serve him acceptably. We must not allow the daily, legitimate demands of duty to interfere with a life of ful^ 'ree, fell lowship with the Master, '