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?The Character of Our Sowing De ir termines the Quality of Our Reapings. "They that sow In tears shall reap in joy."-Ps. 120:5. Harvest joy does not come from the tears which accompany our seedtime, hut from the faithfulness with which we sow even in tho midst of sorrow. Sheaves do not grow from tears but from seed. It is important that we hold fast to ?the truth Just stated, for we are prone ito withhold our hands in the days of sorrow. Such days are frequent. Clouds are everywhere. It seems that (the sun will never shine again. Hope ?of harvest has almost died away. '"What's the use?" we say, and we are tempted to make no further effort. 'Blinded by discouragement, weakened by disappointment, we sit down and bemoan the fate that has befallen 'us. Thus we postpone or make Im possible the joyful day which might be ours, the day of rejoicing in nn abun dant harvest which grew from faith ful sowing. The Day of Sorrow. Not so the Jews in Babylon. Groat ?was their sorrow and distress. Upon the willows by the rivers they hung their harps, those musical instruments by means of which they expressed their joy, for they could not sing their national hymns in a strange land; yet In their deep sorrow they began to sow seeds of desire, seeds of resolute pur pose, seeds of righteousness, that they might be flt for communion with Je hovah in their own beloved land. In Babylon they remembered Zion and how their own willfulness and sin had been the means of sending them as ex iles; but Instead of giving up in de spair they began to prepare for a new life as a restored people in a restored fatherland. So they made possible the jubilant songs of deliverance. The Reason for Joy. It was not the tears ift Babylon which brdnght them their rejoicing. It was hecause they had turned from their folly and discovered the truth which had been stated to them so often, that "his salvation Is nigh them that fear him." What blessings come out of these days of tears if only we make wise use of the sorrows that come to us! Headstrong and dis regarding Cod In the pride of their own strength, calamity had come upon them ; but we can almost see these sorrow-stricken people encouraging one another t<? turn again unto thc Lord, teaching their children the truth which they had neglected to follow, and. as a consequence of such sowing, they were rejoiced to s?e that "truth sprlngeth out of the earth; and right .cousness hath looked down from heaven." There is a sowing In joy-or that which is called joy-that yields a harv est of tears, a sowing to the wind that yields the whirlwind. Dut the sowing of right thoughts, right purposes, right desires, even though lhere is no joy at the time, always yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness and fills the mouth willi laughter and the tongue with singing.-Kev. James E. Clark, .D. D. An Incident In France. Two thousand men had paraded nt * one of our great base camps previous to going "up the line." Thc Inspection was complete, .'ind in a few minutes the order. "Quick March." to the rail way station would be given. Just at that moment, while all stood at "at tention," fully equipped, a voice begau j to sing, JVPUS. the very thoutrht of Thea With gladness nils my breast And like a wave of melody the song ! passed from rank to rank, until every j "man seemed to be singing. The hymn | was sung right through to the last j verse the ot?cers, meantime, looking on In silence. How many of these men have already looked into the face of him of whom they sang? There was a Christian association hut In that | camp at which this hymn was a great favorite with th" men-surely much better than tho senseless "Tipperary." -D. J. Findlay in The Christian. True Thanksgiving. It Is eminently desirable that wo should emphasize the moral obligation which rests upon every child of God to cultivate the spirit of thanksgiving and to manifest that spirit in its full beau ty and power In till t!u> relations of life. The thankful spirit reveals itself in a broad and true sympathy with otb- '< ors who are less fortunate than our selves. It delights to remember thc' widow and the orphan and strives to carry the message nf joy and gladness into tho homes of the sick and the sor rowing nf Thanksgiving Day. lt looks unto Ced as the author of every grtod and perfect gift, ami insists on shar ing the blessings which he has bestow ed with those who ?ire needy and in want.-American Messenger. Our Life a Prayer. If wo can learn how to control our thoughts by trying tn r<il<>c-t God's thoughts, then our whole life will lie- 1 rome a prayer, and by elegroi s the panie mind will be in us that was also in Christ Jesus.-E. V. H. Mena San na in Corpore Sano. Ile::!.h ?S one of l'ie results of right thinking-the knowing cf the truth about God and .man. Purification of thong":? ,s necessary to the right un derstanding of (?ml and man.-Lillian po Waters, Meet Trouble. ' Rise above small things. The worn an who lets small things worry her will bo completely undone the first time she meets with a really big prob lem. It is disintegrating to your men tal and nervous condition, not to men tion your physical condition, to worry. You needn't be resigned to fate nor slip your troubles off; as the old friend duck's back throws water. But you can meet troubles with a will to con quer them or adjust them-and, after that, "they should worry," but not you. -Exchange. Boys Drowned, Cat Escaped. The tables were turned in a tragic manner at Port Elizabeth, South Af rica, recently when two young boys who attempted to drown a cat-at the request of the animal's owner-were themselves drowned in a small bay about three miles from the city. The cat struggled when the lads tried to hold its head under the waves and be fore the boys realized their danger they were swept out to sea by the out going tide. The cat escaped from the water and returned to its old home. Utilizing Rice Hulls. . Experiments have been made with rice hulls in combination with differ ent binding agents, but while the re sulting briquets gave every satisfac tion from the standpoint of heating, yet the initial cost of the various bind ing agents made their cost too high for practical purposes. The experi I monts, however, are being continued, j and it is hoped that in the futuro a I briquet can be manufactured thai will I be satisfactory from an economic j standpoint. A Leaking Faucet. When the faucets i-n the bathroom or kitchen leak or do not allow the water to flow freely they need a new washer, and " the washers cost five cents each. To put on the washer, turn off the water, the rod is usually under the sink or in the basement, and unscrew the faucet ; take off the worn out washer and slip on a new one and turn your water on again and presto ! the work is done and no repair bill to pay. Make Windows by Hand. In. making stained-glass windows ev ery bit of the work is done by hand, and it is amazing to realize how many times each piece of glass must be han dled. An operator tells of counting up j one day and finding that no less than ! twelve times were necessary. All the j leadwork is done by hand too, even the ? opening of the little slots into which j the glass is fastened. Record Floods in China. Tho Celestial kingdom has been the scene of some of the most terrible Hoods on record, observes London Tit Bits. In 1801 the Yellow river over flowed and destroyed nearly 2,000 vil lages and towns and 5,000,000 people. I Two years later there were great inun ! dations in Mongolia, caused by ty I pinions, resulting in a death roll of j 0,000. Do Your Work Properly. Make up your mind that you will do what you have to do the very best j you know how. There is very little j work that is really difficult, lint all I good work is painstaking. If you put your whole soul Into your work, you will learn to enjoy ?t, and you will ; I become constantly better and more I worth while. Cupid Makes Early Call. An American professor who has' spent his life investigating and has' collected tho evidence of 1,703 young1 j people, declares that both sexes start i being wounded by Cupid's darts nt the i ! age of three and that n woman's love ! reaches maturity at twenty-two and & ? ' man's at twenty-four! Velvet-Making. Velvet was developed and originated 1 from fur in China. Thence velvet- ? 'making was introduced into India, and ' In the fourteenth century into Italy, where that sort of fabric especially appealed, and where thc art of velvet making reached its height. The Potato. The potato was first introduced into Spain by Hieronymus Cardan, a monk, in "I.".").';; iiito England by Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake inj 1563, and Into Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1?30. Fertile Land Untouched. The mountain regions of Cuba In elude many ridges and valleys ol' ex tremely fertile land, nearly all tmtoueh- j cd, and existing practically as they did before the time of the Spaniards. As the World Moves. "Love makes the world z<> round," quoted the Parlor Philosopher. "Ves, j bul marriage generally squares things," added the Mere Mun.-Town Topics. Worth Consideration. Pleasure conies through toil and not by self-indulgence and indolence. When one gels to love work, his life is a happy one.-Ruskin. Sir Oliver Lodge's Faith. "I will not believe that it is given to man to have thoughts higher and nobler than the real truth of things." Only Those Redeemed by the Blood of Christ Can Enjoy That Privilege. This has been the uppermost topic In my mind, and my constant medita tion, and the theme of several Bible studies, during these past summer days, and I can thick of nothing so glorious while we Sojourn in these mor j tal bodies. Such a life is the privilege of every true believer, and gives a fore taste of heaven even here on earth. We cannot begiu this walk, this heav enly life, till we are redeemed for the spirit through Micah, when he exhorts to do justly, love mercy and humble ourselves to walk with God, is speak ing to those who had been redeemed, Micah G:4, 8. It ls impossible for ? those who are not redeemed by the j precious blood of Jesus Christ, ns Israel was saved from death by the blood of the Passover lamb in Egypt, to walk one step with God. It ls the height of folly and unbelief to''think or talk of serving God, or worshiping him. or holding communion with him, unless we have been born from above and become children of God by faith In Christ Jesus. The sad thing ls that so few of his redeemed ones seem to i want to walk with him, for It is so costly, and the way is so narrow, yet he | is ever looking and longing for such, that he may show himself strong on j their behalf, and be glorified in them, II Chron. 1G :9. It is written of Enoch, ; Noah and Levi, that they walked with God, Genesis 5:24; G:9; Mal. 2:G; but If we consider the cost of it to each of them, und that the whole world still lieth in the evil one, the prince and god of this world, and that fellowship j with the world means enmity with God (T John ?:19, lt. V.; John 14;30; ; j II Cor. 4:4 ; Janies 4:4), lt may help us I tn understand why. though ninny are ? ? called, few are willing to be his choice J j ones. It means constant living with : I him, walking as he walked, walking in love, much study of his purpose as re- ? vealed through the prophets, full agreement with him about everything and every detail of his plans, no will i of our own about anything, sincere and conti mini abandonment of our whole I being to him, that he mny work in us I to will nnd to do all his good pleas- ! ure, and that we desire In all things | ' and nt nil times only his approval (I ! Thess. n :10 : I John 2:0; Eph. 5:1;! ! Luke 24:25 : Amos 3:3, 7 ; John fi :3S ; I :8:.r.O; Romans 7:1. 2; Phil. 2:13; I Thess. 2:4). It implies patient con tinuance in well-doing till absent from the body or caught up to meet him In the air. not thinking of any set time on which he may come, but wholly occu pied \Vj'h himself, nwt! ready to fill any appointment of service or suffering if j only he may be glorified in us.^wltev. i D. M. Stearns in Kingdom Tiding ; KOW TO LOVE IN GOD'S WAY j The Infinite Everlasting Never Failing Love of God i? Our Perfect Pattern. Love that depend?) on circumstances is not love. Love that grows deeper and better under the loved one's re sponse is noi love. Perfect love, so ; perfect that it cannot be improved up- j on, alone is real love. God loves us with that unimprovably perfect love; and we can love others with the same love. To have God's own actual life as our literal life is the secret; and God's perfect love offers to us his only son Christ, who is God, to be not only our Savior but our life and our love. When we accept God's gift in entire faith in him, then "God abidetb in us, nml his love is perfected in us" (I John 4:12). H. G. Guinness has de scribed this perfect and perfected love: "There is therefore a love which is infinite in Its measure ! There ls a love which is everlasting in its dura tion : which is omnipotent in its power, which is unchangeable in its character, i i which ls all pervading In its presence, j which passeth knowledge! There ls a love which lins creation for Its theater. ? earth for its footstool, Heaven for its chief abode, its everlasting home! Of nil created love lt is the source, and of . nil blessings it ls the giver!" And It is with exactly tins supernatural love that God asks and enables us to love others,-"because as he ls. even so are we In this world" (I John 4:17).-S. S. Times. Harmony. If I must force mys,-If to do a thing, then I am only partly adjusted to my j true self. Th" ultimate will or law j ol' tbe universo is harmony. There is n way of thinking, a way of doing nnd I being, which will spare us the fric lion of life-an easiest, happiest way. . . . Eut, just because it is the easiest and simplest way, it Is Hie j hardest to find, and the one which man . ti; slowest to atlopl ; for it culls upon 1 each Individual soul to do the hardest: possible deed; namely, to conquer self, t? let go, to trust, to become recep tive.-Horatio W. Dresser. The Spiritual Attitude. Nothing is so important as the for mation of spiritual habits. Practice dally and hourly the presence of God, so that you can at all times hear lils j voice speaking to you and through you. ' -E. V. II. Momentum of Power. Only those who arc rifted up from the earth draw men unto them. The world is possessed by those who arc Sot pi.v?Si*s.sed by it. ?The momentum i.f love i's ibo source ol power.-Frau-, ?is G. Peabody. astin rou should use the woman's tonic, for your troubles, have been shown in thousands of letters from actual user? of this medi cine, who speak from personal experience. If the results obtained by other women for so many years have been so uni formly good, why not give Cardui a trial? Take Hie Woman's Tonie Mrs. Mary J. Irvin, of Cullen, Va., writes: "About ll years ago, I suffered untold misery v/ith female trouble, bear ing-down pains, head ache, numbness ... I would go for three weeks almost bent double ... My husband went to Dr. - for Cardui . . . Arier taking about two bottles I began going around and when I took titree bottles I could do all my work." E-80 FIRE INSURANCE -F o r This World ONLY J. T. BARLING OFFICE OVKR Bank of Edgefield, S. C. 7 i Light Saw, Lathe and Shin gle Mills, Engines. Boilers, Supplies and Repairs, Porta ble, Stettin and Gasoline En gines, Saw Teeth, Files. Holts and Pipes, WOOD SAWS and SPLITTERS. GINS and PRESS REPAIRS Try LOMBARD AUGUSTA, GA. f ^ t?&m \-v GEO. F. MIMS OPTOMETRIST Eyes examined unc? p.t?ses fitted \ only when necessary. Optical work of all kinds. EDGEFIELD, S. C. Auditor's Notice. All persons owning property of any j kind whatsoever, or in any capacity, as i husband, guardian, executor, adminis trator or trustees ore required to make returns of the same to the Auditor | under oath within the time mentioned below and the Auditor is required by law to add a penalty of 50 per cent tu ell property that is not returned on or before the 20th day of February in any year. All male citizens between the ages ol 21 and (?0 years except those exempt by law are deemed taxable polls. The 6?I per cent penalty will be added for failure to made seturns. For the convenience of tax payers, I or my representative will be at the fol lowing appointed places on the dates mentioned to receive tax returns. Ropers, Monday, Jan. Nth, 1917. Meriwether, (at Joe Thurmond's Store), Tuesday, Jan. 15th, IBIS. - Colliers. Wednesday, Jan. 16th, 1918. Ked Hill, Thursday, Jan. 17th, 191& W. li. E. Winn's Store, Friday, Jan. 18th, 1918. Cleora, Saturday, Jan. 19th, 1918, Pleasant Lane, ' Tuesday, Jan. 22th, 1918. Meeting Street, Wednesday, Jan. 2^rd. 1918. Johnston, Thursday, Jan. 2!th, 1013. li erin,s Store, Friday, Jan. 25th, 1918. Trenton, Saturday, Jan. 26th, 1918. The office will be open to receive re turns from the first day of January till tho Um h day of Feb. 1!;1S, as prescribed by law. J. R. TI .MM ER M AN, Auditor, E. C. S. C. r Fertilizers for 1918 We beg to announce that we are now ready to deliver fertilizers for this season, having secured a liberal supply which we have on hand in our warehouses ready for delivery. Haul your fertilizers now while you can get your supply. Do not wait until there is congestion of freights, when you cannot get goods shipped. Armour, Swifts and Eoyster our spe cialty. Mixed goods with potash, mixed goods without potash. 1(J per cent, acid; 26 per cent, acid, cotton seed meal. The Edgefieid Mercantile Co. Fifty laborers wanted at once for chalk beds. Good wages. Edgefieid, S. C. RRETT & COMPANY (INCORPORATED) COTTON FACTORS i Augusta Georgia I m OFFICERS: J. C. Sheppard, President; B. E. Nicholson, vice-President E. J. Minis, Cashier; J. H. Alien. Assistant Cashier. DIRECTORS : J. C. Sheppard, Thoa. H. Rainsford, John Rainsford, B. E Nicholson, A. S. Tompkins, C. C. Fuller, E. J. Minis, J. H. Allen