Earlier text: ON THE TRACKThe Missionary.
By William Ings
UNDER date of February 23, Brother William Ings, of the London Mission, writes thus to the friends of the cause in America:— DEAR FRIENDS: As you are donating so liberally each week for the support of the work in this city, it may be of interest to you to learn some facts relative to the advancement of the work here. It has been a study with those connected with the work, how this great city, with its five millions of inhabitants, could be warned by the Third Angel's Message. And the conclusion arrived at is that it must be largely accomplished by the distribution of reading matter; but how to get this matter before the people is a question not easily solved. The Lord knows the best way to advance his cause, and when his people cry for help he hears their prayers and sends his angels to open up the way. There are in England a people known as vegetarians, who are making no small stir, not only in London, but throughout the whole kingdom. Their work is aggressive and minds are being moulded by their teachings. They advocate the use of grains, vegetables, and fruits, as the best and most healthful diet for man. They discourage the use of intoxicating liquors, and many of them condemn the use of tobacco. As a class they are above the average in intelligence. In order to propagate their views these vegetarians are establishing restaurants in the most prominent places throughout the city. They now have twenty-five of these places opened, and thousands resort thither daily. The cheapness of food served draws many to their places, where they soon learn the benefits derived from such a diet. The habits of the English people vary greatly from those of other nationalities, and especially the Americans. While the last-named act as though it was a waste of time to stop to eat, the English people dote much on their dinner hour, and spend the time in both reading and eating. Usually those visiting these places provide themselves with reading matter, as the supply in the restaurants is not sufficient for the demand; and as these249 rooms are usually crowded, the managers would prefer that the stay of their patrons should be as short as possible, in order to make room for others. Therefore, it seemed absurd to think of asking the privilege of placing our periodicals in these restaurants. But the same God that opened the Red Sea and rolled back the waters of Jordan, still lives, and to our joy we found that he had prepared the way before us so that we were enabled to place Good Health and Present Truth in all these restaurants; not one refused, and now about fifteen thousand people can have access to those publications daily. For convenience, a neat paper holder has been gotten up to hold the periodicals while being read, and when not in use it can be suspended from the hat-rack, thus keeping the reading matter in an accessible place. These holders are models of convenience and are admired by all. The work here is beginning to show good results, and it is proving a feeder to our depository at Paternoster Row. Calls are daily made inquiring for our publications, and subscriptions for our periodicals are coming in quite rapidly, and we hope that a good foundation is being laid for a permanent worker. There have also been other steps taken in which we have seen the guiding hand of God. The managers of the Castle Steamship Line, and also those of the Union Line, have more than met our expectations by permitting us to place a library of our bound books on each of their ships for the use of passengers. There are twenty-five ships in the two fleets which make their regular trips to Africa. These companies have also granted us the privilege of placing a file of our periodicals on their reading-room table. We believe this will be conducive of much good, as there are thousands of travelers constantly journeying to and from the distant ports visited by these vessels. I would also mention an item of interest, the result of missionary work done by the friends at San Francisco. It seems that a young man, a clergyman's son, who had made a voyage or two, visited that port and received some copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES from our ship missionary there. Those on board knowing that this young man was inclined to godliness, said, "Give the papers to Marsh" (as that is his name), and he took possession of them, and while on his voyage to London, read them with more than usual interest, and became convinced of the truths which they contained. On his return he wrote to learn more about us as a people, and to learn more on certain points of truth, saying that although his father was a teacher of the word, he could not get satisfaction from him. This young man seemed to be ripe for the truth, and now is planning to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Wishing the good work abundant success in America, and that all your work of love may be blessed of God, I remain yours in the blessed hope of eternal life. The Commentary.
By G. C. Tenney
NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON.
(May 6.—Matt. 25: 31-46.)
JESUS having spoken fully of his second coming and the necessary preparation for that event, through watchfulness and faithfulness, proceeds to speak of the great and eternal consequences which will attend and follow it. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory." Now he sits upon the throne of grace. Heb. 4: 16. He invites the sinner to come, laden with his sins; he invites the weary to come and find rest, the weak to come and find help in time of need. But then his mediatorial work will have ceased, and the voice of inviting mercy will forever be hushed. The decree goes forth: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22: 11, 12. Then will there be no more probation, no more pardon, and no more changing of character. Whatever is done for us to fit us for the Judgment must be done before Christ comes. The decisions of that hour are final, and they are for eternity. But these decisions are not reached in an hour. They are the results of the Investigative Judgment spoken of in a previous lesson. The Judgment is represented in two parts: First, the judgment by the books, in which the dead are judged according to the things written in the books (Rev. 20: 12); and, second, the Executive Judgment or the carrying out of the decisions of the heavenly court. Paul describes the second advent of Christ as follows: "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not250 prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Thus the separation of the righteous and the wicked takes place. But the distinction is made at once even as the Lord descends and the dead in Christ come forth at the call of the trumpet. THE resurrection will be in two parts, First, that of the righteous who sleep in Christ, and another of the wicked, one thousand years later. In the twentieth chapter of Revelation, after speaking of the reign of the saints with Christ during a thousand years, it is said in verses 5 and 6: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." The separation is not properly the work of judging. This is previously done, and the coming of Christ is that event which brings to the people of God of every age their final reward and glorious triumph. And it will be vain to look for it elsewhere. The Bible invariably points to that event as the moment of victory and triumph; triumph over Satan and his power, over death and the grave, over mortality, sickness, pain, and sorrow; a triumph over doubts and fears, an everlasting release from temptation and the weakness of humanity. By this and every other scripture bearing upon the same point the Judgment is located at the close of probation; and it is a general judgment. Men are not judged as they die, one by one, nor do they go immediately to their eternal destinies, as is generally supposed. If so, there would be no need at all of a judgment. Christ not only comes to save his people and take them home, but his coming also seals the doom of the ungodly. They have slighted the last opportunity and invitation, and thier sentence is, "Depart from me, ye cursed." The living righteous are changed to immortality and taken with the resurrected saints to the mansions prepared for them. The living wicked are destroyed by the brightness of his coming and lie unburied upon the face of the desolate earth. At the end of the thousand years they too will have a resurrection, as we have seen, and receive their punishment, the second death. "THESE shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal." The same word in the original is used to indicate the duration of both the punishment and reward. They are eternal. In verse 41 we read, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire." From these texts, largely, the idea of everlasting consciousness in misery has been deduced. But the idea is not a necessary one, nor is it in harmony with the inspired comment upon these texts. Just what they do mean we may learn from Jude 7: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, . . . are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." And 2 Peter 2: 6: "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." We have, then, only to look at the fate of those cities which suffered eternal fire to know what the fate of sinners will be. They were utterly and eternally consumed. No trace of them remains, and their place is forgotten. In Mal. 4: 1 we read, "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." It is not necessary to misunderstand these plain scriptures. The punishment and the fire are eternal in their nature and consequences. THE standard of judgment presented in this connection is worthy of special thought. It is intended to teach us that acceptable religion is an intensely practical work. To the righteous it was said, "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me." But, strangely, they were unconscious of having done these things; they did not know that they had ever seen the Lord. He assured them that having done so to even one of the least of his brethren it was done to him. These acts of mercy and kindness were not done ostentatiously, nor for a reward, but from a heart overflowing with love and compassion. It is the Spirit of Christ that prompts these deeds, and this is the identifying characteristic of every child of his; and "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." IT is comparatively easy for us to love those who love us, and can reward us, and to bestow kindnesses upon those who are in superior stations. The wicked ones were very much surprised to have it said that they had ever seen the Lord in suffering and had not ministered unto him. It would have been a welcome opportunity to minister to Jesus Christ himself. That would have brought them into favorable notice. But they overlooked the fact that Jesus is always represented in his suffering children. The poor, the sick, and the afflicted always find a friend in him. And it is the work of his disciples to carry on the work of compassion. "YE have done it unto me." How tender is the love with which the infinite Saviour compasses even the least of his children! He condescends to call them "my brethren." More than that, he makes their pain and all their afflictions and misfortunes his own. So that whoever relieves the sufferings of his fellow-men relieves the suffering of Christ. Whoever brings joy and light to darkened hearts and homes brings a thrill of joy to the heart of the Master. AN APPEAL TO OUR FRIENDS IN AMERICA.
By George R. Drew
It is well known to every missionary worker that our health publications act a very important part in presenting the Third Angel's Message to the people. For many years we have believed this, and for seven years we have seen it fully verified. In most instances we have to reach the people through our health journals, which they always highly appreciate. For a few years our friends have been sending us these useful periodicals, which we have sent to all parts of the world; and every year we find that we need more. Now that we have a good health journal printed on the Pacific Coast, will our friends kindly furnish us 150 copies every month for the ship work? We feel sure that they will do good, for the Pacific Health Journal meets with favor, and is greatly needed by the people. PLOTTING AGAINST THE JUST.
LESSON 18.—SABBATH, MAY 5.
1. WHERE did Jacob dwell?
"And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan." Gen. 37:1. 2. In what light did the patriarchs consider their residence in the land of Canaan?
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Heb. 11:13. 3. To what did they look forward as a permanent residence?
"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11:16. 4. How many sons had Jacob?
"Now the sons of Jacob were twelve." Gen. 35: 22, last clause. 5. Which one did Jacob love the most?
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors." Gen. 37:3. 6. How did Joseph's brethren regard him?
"And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." Verse 4. 7. What made them hate him still more?
Verses 5-11. 8. Upon what errand did Jacob send Joseph?
"And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem." Verses 13, 14. 9. When his brethren saw him coming, what did they propose to do?
"And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him." "Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams." Verses 18, 20. 10. What did they do with him when he came?
"And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into a pit; and the pit was empty, there was no water in it." Verses 23, 24. 11. How did they afterwards dispose of him?
Verses 25-27. 12. For how much did they sell him?
"Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph into Egypt." Verse 28. 13. How do the wicked ever regard the just?
"The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth." Ps. 37:12. 14. What trait was it that moved Joseph's brethren to sell him into Egypt?
"And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him." Acts 7:9. 15. What scripture was verified in their case?
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16. 16. In what class is envy placed?
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:19-21. 17. What is said of those who do such things? 18. What course did they take to deceive their father?
"And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found; know now whether it be thy son's coat or no." Gen. 37:31, 32. 19. When Jacob saw the coat, what did he at once conclude?
"And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." Verse 33. 20. How did this affect Jacob?
"And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him." Verses 34, 35. 21. Can you recall any actions of Jacob that were of a similar character to this wicked deception? Relate them. 22. When had Jacob been forgiven for his wicked deeds? 23. What important lesson may we draw from this?—That although a sin may be forgiven, the results of it may remain, and the one who committed it will often have it brought before him, and will suffer in consequence. 24. What scripture is fulfilled even in this life?
"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matt. 7:2. In this lesson we have an exemplification of the proverb of Solomon: "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him." Prov. 26: 27. Jacob had greatly deceived his father, and his sons in turn deceived him. By Jacob's deception, his parents were deprived of his society for long years; and he in turn suffered the same sorrow, only in a greater degree, by being deprived of his beloved son. It is true, even in this life, that as we measure to others it will be measured to us again, and that without regard to our repentance of the evil. Another example is found in the case of David, who, although he bitterly repented of his great sin, had to suffer the same at the hands of others. It is nowhere claimed that this being forced to receive measure for measure is just, but the fact cannot be gainsaid. It is unjust that a man's sin should be remembered against him after he has repented of it, and God does not do so; but unregenerate men will remember a sin to a man's injury, no matter how thorough his repentance may have been. And not only so, but from the very nature of things, certain results must follow certain causes. The man who gets in motion a train of circumstances that will result in evil, may repent of his rash act, but he cannot stop what he has begun. How much sorrow we might avoid if we could always remember to "leave off strife before it be meddled with," and to do to others just as we would wish them to do to us. JOSEPH has been the subject of a great many moral lectures against tale-bearing.251 Well-meaning but ignorant persons have censured him as the cause of all the discord in Jacob's family. Such censure is most unjust. Joseph's brothers were envious of him; but their envy was only the outgrowth of their own wicked hearts, "For where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." A corrupt heart is the only soil in which envy can grow. There is not a particle of evidence that Joseph did any wrong. He is one of the few Bible characters concerning whom no evil is recorded. His father loved him more than all the rest of his sons, because he was more worthy of his love than they were. The same thing moved his brothers to think of killing him, and afterward to sell him, that moved Cain to kill Abel: because their own works were evil, as his were righteous. We do not mean to intimate that Joseph was born without faults; but he certainly had the fear of God before his eyes. It is worth while, in passing, to note the features in which Joseph's experience resembled that of Christ. Joseph was hated by his brethren; Christ came unto his own, and his own received him not, neither did his brethren believe in him. Joseph was sold into slavery; Christ was sold to his enemies. And both suffered thus, not on their own account, but that they might deliver others. Of course it is not designed to place Joseph on the same plane with Christ, but he may be considered as in some respects a type of Christ. If it was wrong to allow envy and jealousy to control the heart in those days it is equally wrong now. Indeed, it would seem that in this age of gospel light and privileges, with the experience of men for ages past written out for our learning, it must be worse to indulge in such feelings now than then. And, too, it is more dangerous now than then. The nearness of the coming of the Lord is given as a special reason why peace and love should prevail. Says the apostle: "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the Judge standeth before the door." James 5: 9. What a terrible thing it would be if he should open the door and find us thus engaged. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2: 1-5. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" W. THE CONSEQUENCE OF PLEASING GOD.
LESSON XIX.—SABBATH, MAY 12.
1. To whom did Joseph's brethren sell him? "Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph into Egypt." Gen. 37: 28. 2. What did the Midianites do with him? "And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard." Verse 36. 3. Who was with Joseph in this strange land? "And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian." Gen. 39: 2. "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him." Acts 7: 9. 4. What was the consequence to Joseph of the Lord's being with him? "And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand." Gen. 39: 3, 4. "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house." Acts 7: 9, 10. 5. What was the result to Potiphar, from having a godly man in his house? "And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field." Gen. 39: 5. 6. How much responsibility was placed upon Joseph? "And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored." Verse 6. 7. How old was Joseph when he was sold into Egypt? "These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report." Gen. 37: 2. 8. When he was strongly tempted in Potiphar's house, what noble stand did he take? "But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; there is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife; how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Gen. 39: 8, 9. 9. Did he stand firm to this resolution? "And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her." Verse 10. 10. What was the immediate result of his upright conduct? "And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound; and he was there in the prison." Verses 19, 20. Read also verses 11-18. 11. Who was with Joseph still? "But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Verse 21. 12. What can always be said by one who has the Lord for a companion? "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Ps. 23. 13. How was this verified in Joseph's case? "But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Gen. 39: 21. 14. What trust was committed to Joseph in the prison? "And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever he did there, he was the doer of it." Verse 22. "The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper." Verse 23. 16. What scripture was fulfilled in Joseph's case? "When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Prov. 16: 7. SANCTIFICATION is a process; a journey along with Christ which the disciple begins from the moment of regeneration, and continues until he reaches Heaven. Burdens We Harbor
By Wesleyan Methodist
MANY of the ills we dread are simply fancied; and many that burden our days are simply harbored when they should be allowed to pass into forgetfulness, overwhelmed by the multiplied mercies which crown our existence. —Wesleyan Methodist. SAID the Saviour to his disciples, "Ye are the salt of the earth." Salt is a preservative; that which would soon decay, if left to itself, may be preserved indefinitely by the addition of a little salt. It is thus that the true followers of Jesus are the salt of the earth. A corrupt generation would soon become so offensive as to necessitate its removal from the earth; but the presence of a humble few who walk in the Spirit, checks the flood of iniquity, and stays the wrath of God. The presence of righteous ones has often served to save the lives of wicked men. So God blessed Potiphar, and all that he had, for Joseph's sake. And since God uses means, it is not presumptuous to suppose that part, at least, of the blessing upon Potiphar's house was because an honest man was administering his affairs. The wicked despise the righteous, yet they owe to them more than they can realize. WHEN David had committed the grievous sin of taking the wife of Uriah, and his sin had been brought home to his conscience, he cried out to the Lord: "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." Ps. 51:4. He realized that his sin was primarily against God. So when Joseph was tempted to wrong his master, he recalled how his master had trusted him by putting everything into his hand, and said, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Every act which shows a lack of love for our neighbor, shows a lack of love for God; the wrong which one may do to his fellow-man is only secondary; the greater wrong is against God. Only conscientious souls realize this; those who have not the "fear of God" before their eyes, will not stop to consider the interest of their neighbor, when it comes in conflict with their own pleasure. W. DWIGHT'S CHARGE.
By Phebe Parmelee
A SOUND of singing came from the little Hayward cottage, and the voice was not very musical nor the time very perfect; but one could recognize the old familiar tune, "A charge to keep I have." Those who knew Dwight Hayward, especially his school-mates, would have told you, "Oh! he doesn't know what he is singing about. He doesn't know what a charge is." And yet Dwight was certainly singing to a charge, if he didn't call it by that name. Tied into a low rocking-chair was a child whose size told one its age was five or six years, but whose helplessness explained a sad lacking in mind. The poor little brother had been badly hurt in his infancy, and there was no hope that he would ever be other than a poor, unfortunate body, to be cared for as such, as long as he should live. When the teacher of the school called the roll that night, she stopped at Dwight Hayward's name and asked,— "Can anyone tell me why Dwight is so irregular in his attendance? He has been absent one day out of every week, so far, and sometimes two days. He needs to be very regular too." "He never could bear to go to school. He says it's no fun to be at the foot and then to be scolded into the bargain," answered the "head boy," pertly. The teacher blushed at the implied censure, but proceeded with dignity to finish the duties of the day. The next morning Dwight was on hand early at the school-house. His teacher thought it an opportunity to inquire more thoroughly into his numerous absences. "Don't you like to come to school, Dwight?" She remembered not to scold this time. "No, ma'am," answered the boy candidly. "I'm very sorry; and is that why you stay away so often?" "No, ma'am," again responded Dwight. "But I don't know as I am very sorry that I have to." "Why do you have to? I wish you knew how very necessary it is for you to come every day; you need to try your best to raise your grade. I wish you felt as anxious about it as I do." "But I am glad I don't care very much, for then it would be ten times harder for me. I think it's just right that I don't care, for it makes it easier for mother and me both." "Oh! I think your mother must want you to do your best in school. Doesn't she want you to grow up to be a wise man?" "I guess she does; but she says she would rather I grew up to be a good one." "Of course!" said the teacher thoughtfully. "But why not be both?" "I think I wasn't made to be both, at least not in books. I guess mother's getting discouraged about my being wise; but she says everybody can be good." "And are you trying to be good? I am glad of that. You didn't tell me why you had to stay out of school so often." "Why, I thought everybody knew. The boys pretend it isn't so, but it is. They say I make it an excuse to stay away from school, but I don't. I'd stay in from playing just the same—the times I have to stay out of school." "Tell me about it, Dwight," said his teacher gently, and becoming more interested. "Well, mother gets tired staying at home and taking care of my little brother all the time. She needs to go away out of the house and get some exercise and fresh air, so the doctor said, and I know she does, and I want her to." "Can't she take the little brother with her?" "Oh no! He's a great big fellow, 'most six, and can't walk, and she's a little bit of a woman. Why, Benny doesn't know anything, and never did. He always has to be taken care of like a little baby, and I'm abler to do it than mother is, and I'm always going to help her, school or no school. I don't mean to be saucy, but I've got to help take care of Benny." "Yes, I see, my boy, but do you like to take care of Benny?" "It's no great fun; he isn't much company, and I feel pretty lonesome sometimes, and would almost rather come to school for the sake of playing with the boys. But then father has to be away working, and we are not able to hire a nurse—and it's just no use talking!" "Why, yes, Dwight, I think it has been of some use talking. I understand it better than I did before, and I believe that I am better acquainted with you." Dwight looked glad, and somewhat surprised to be understood. After a moment he looked up and said:— "I guess you are the only one who knows just how it is. The boys and girls don't seem to, and I always think I'll just let it go, and let them think what they're a mind to." "They'll find out sometime, just as I have," said the teacher brightly. "But I'll never tell them, and I expect they'll call me stupid as long as I come to school; and I don't wonder, because I can't get a grade over sixty to save my life." "You just go on doing all you have to do as well as you can, no matter what it is—learning lessons, or caring for your brother and helping your mother—and they will know sometime. I'll help you about your lessons all I can, and try not to scold any more. Indeed, I shan't feel like scolding such a little hero as you are." Dwight looked questionably at the lady, wondering who had been repeating his words. With his customary candor, he said:— "Oh! I need scolding sometimes; but I believe I'll try, after this, to do my very best while I am here." The morning session of school opened, and two, at least, in the room felt that the day had begun profitably to them. A scheme was working among the pupils to go into the woods the next day, and have a lunch and a good time generally, picking May-flowers. "Of course we shall need you, Dwight, to climb a big tree to put up a swing. He climbs like a cat," said one of the large girls, turning to the teacher. If there was one thing more than another that Dwight particularly liked, it was a day spent in the woods, and he hadn't seemed to have time this spring to enjoy such days; but he answered quietly and with a disappointed look:— "I don't think I can go to-morrow. May be I could go the next holiday." "You're just fooling! Catch you staying home from a day of fun like that! If 'twas school now—! I guess your mother will have to take care of Ben to-morrow. Oh, come on, now; what's the use of fooling!" "I'm afraid, boys, that I can't go to-morrow. Aunt Mary sent for mother to spend the day in town to-morrow. I hate it awfully, though. I'd just give anything!" "She can put off her visit or take Ben along," said one boy who knew how to arrange plans for himself. "I suppose she would, if I should ask her, but I'm not going to. She needs to go more than I do, and she wouldn't rest any, taking Ben along. It's just no use talking!" Something in the words made him look toward his teacher. She had drawn near enough to hear the whole conversation. Her eyes were shining, and there was a little look of triumph on her face. "Seems to me your talking amounts to a good deal to-day, Dwight. I believe you are gifted in speech." The other boys standing near were surprised enough to stop their talking and listen attentively. "I, for one, believe you have stayed at home from school just because you were manly enough to take care of that mother of yours, and brother, too." The boy who was the best scholar in school looked down, while the teacher went on: "And as much as I prize learning of all kinds, I think more of a manly or womanly heart. I'd rather have a large soul than a large brain. Wouldn't you, boys?" The boys looked doubtfully at Dwight. "The thing is," resumed the teacher, "there's253 no end to the growth of a large soul. I can't help thinking of some Bible words, 'Whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.' But 'love never faileth;' and we all know the everlasting life that is in store for those who possess the love of Christ; so the purer and more loving we become, the more blessed we shall be in the great hereafter." The school enjoyed the next day in the woods—all but Dwight, and he was not forgotten. A girl remarked, "I can almost hear Dwight Hayward singing—and he always sings, 'A charge to keep I have.'" "And I guess he keeps his charge better than he sings the tune," said another. KEEP a watch on your words, my darling,
For words are wonderful things;
They are sweet, like the bee's fresh honey—
Like the bees, they have terrible stings;
They can bless, like the warm, glad sunshine,
And brighten a lonely life;
They can cut in the strife of anger,
Like an open two-edged knife. Let them pass through your lips unchallenged,
If their errand is true and kind—
If they come to support the weary,
To comfort and help the blind;
If a bitter, revengeful spirit
Prompt the words, let them be unsaid;
They may flash through a brain like lightning,
Or fall on a heart like lead. Keep them back, if they are cold and cruel,
Under bar and lock and seal;
The wounds they make, my darling,
Are always slow to heal.
May peace guard your life, and ever,
From the time of your early youth,
May the words that you daily utter
Be the words of beautiful truth.
—Pansy.