Earlier text: The Ministration of Death. 2 Cor. 3:7The Commentary.
By Alonzo T. Jones
NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON.
DANIEL was in Babylon in fulfillment of prophecy. More than a hundred years before this, a king of Babylon—Merodach-baladan—had sent an embassy to Jerusalem to congratulate King Hezekiah on his recovery from his sickness, and to inquire about the going backward of the shadow on the sun-dial of Ahaz. Hezekiah was so elated over such a notice of himself that he showed them all his treasures; "there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not." Then came Isaiah and said to Hezekiah: "Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon; nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." 2 Kings 20: 12-18. Accordingly, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up and besieged Jerusalem, and took it. "And the king spake unto Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans." Dan. 1:3, 4. We know not how many there were chosen to be thus taught; we only know the names of four who were of the company selected to be taught the learning of the Chaldeans; and we would never have known the names of even these four, if they had not had the courage to stand upon principle and firm conviction of truth and duty. They were to study three years, and then pass an examination for places in the king's favor, and it was to be at the king's expense. "The king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank." "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." It is evident that Daniel was the one who led out in this, and that the other three decided to stand by him. It was Daniel that purposed in his heart that he would not do as was expected by the king, nor as all the students, but his three brethren, were willing to do. At this time Babylon was in the height of its glory. It contained between two and three million inhabitants, and all the Babylonian plain was teeming with population. Wealth and magnificence, with their inseparable accompaniments—luxury and intemperance—reigned on every hand, and this, too, in heathen manners. It was in the midst of such scenes and such influences, that Daniel was placed when only a mere boy. But boy though he was, he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself by conformity in any way with any of their customs, nor allow himself to be defiled with any of the evil influences that were around him. He refused the king's meat and wine, and asked that he might be given pulse to eat and water to drink. In the Revised Version, margin, we have "herbs" as the alternative reading for "pulse;" and "herbs" conveys the correct idea. It was what would be now called a vegetarian diet, the diet that was originally prescribed for man; and those who, even in this day, conform most closely to it, are in every way the better for it. It was not altogether a miracle, that their countenances were found "fairer and fatter" "than all the children which did eat of the portion of the king's meat." True, it must have been miraculous that so marked a result was seen in so short a time—only ten days; but that result would not have been seen at all if they had not adopted the diet. God works by means which he himself has appointed; and the closer men conform to the Lord's appointed ways, the more wondrously will he work in their behalf. If the church of God to-day would adopt the principles of Daniel, their power and efficiency would be increased manyfold. Daniel was set there to study the learning of the Chaldeans, that he might successfully pass the appointed examination, and stand in the presence of the king. To accomplish this in the best way, he adopted a vegetarian diet. Those who, with him, did so, were approved of God, and succeeded so well that they were ten times better than all the wise men in the realm. We are set in the school of Christ to study the word of God, that we may successfully pass the appointed examination and stand in the presence of the King of kings. If such a course would accomplish such results in the study of heathen learning, why would it not accomplish much more in the study of the wisdom of God, as given in his sacred word? Without hesitation we say that it would. But where are the Daniels of to-day? Where are they to-day, even in the church, who will put themselves upon a strict regimen that they may have clearness and strength of mind to discern the precious wisdom of God? The clearer the brain, the clearer the thoughts; the purer the blood, the clearer the brain; the purer the food, the purer the blood; therefore the purer the food that we eat, the better will be our power to think, and the more clearly we can discern the truth on any point. How many ten thousands are singing, "Dare to be a Daniel"! But alas! how many tens can be found who do really dare to be Daniels? It is said of these four Hebrews, that by this course their countenances were "fairer" than all the others. In this lesson is a proved prescription which we commend to all young ladies who wish to have a fair complexion. It is better than all the paints and powders in Christendom. We once heard the question asked Dr. Simms, in a large audience, "What is the best means of preserving a fair, beautiful complexion?" He answered, "Avoid tea, coffee, pork, oysters, fish, etc. Use a vegetarian diet." That is the truth, and it is a truth that is taught in this lesson from the first chapter of Daniel. This very lesson in Dan. 1:8-21, is of the first importance to all people in this our day. We say indeed, in every sense, "Dare to be a Daniel." The following by Dr. Geo. P. Hayes, in "Half Hours with the Lessons," is exactly to the point:— "When Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself with the king's meat, it was purely a question of principle. . . . It seemed utterly foolish. King Nebuchadnezzar and Melzar both believed that the popular opinion of the day was all right in saying that wine and fat meat were necessary for a clear complexion and a quick brain. The same false notion is widely held now about lager beer and tonics. Is it true? Ask the health records. . . . Gout, liver complaint, and the hundred-faced dyspepsias are Nature's protest against mince-pies, fruit-cakes, brandy-puddings, and gluttony. . . . You may not wish to obey Nature's health-laws, but you cannot defy them and escape. Just now the papers are reviving the discussion of the value of the Mosaic law on food, as a law of health. The health and brain-power of the Jews would teach the Gentiles a lesson, if the Gentiles were not so heedless. Many will doubt this statement and stick to Melzar's notion, that if they restrict themselves to Daniel's diet they will soon become 'worse-liking' than others which are 'of their set.' Well, why not take Daniel's way of settling it? Just try it." The Throne of David.
By Alonzo T. Jones
ZEDEKIAH was the last king of Judah and Jerusalem, the last king upon the throne of David. To him it was that the prophet wrote the message from God: "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." Eze. 21:25-27. There can be no question as to who is the One "whose right it is" to sit upon the throne of David, to put on the kingly crown, and to wear the43 royal diadem. There can be but one,—He who is the aim of all the prophecies and the subject of all the promises. And when the fullness of the time was come when He should appear in the world, the annunciation was: Thou "shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:31-33. This promise is itself a prophecy of what should be in the future, "the Lord God shall give" etc., but there is nothing in it to signify when this event might be looked for. However, it was said to Zedekiah, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it." It was to be overturned three times, and then, "be no more till he come whose right it is," and then it shall be given him. Now by turning to Daniel, who had been carried captive to Babylon with the first that were taken—about B. C. 606—we find that he has recorded in the second chapter what was seen by King Nebuchadnezzar in a dream; and in the seventh chapter what himself saw in a dream. There it is said that there were four great kingdoms to be in succession from Nebuchadnezzar to the end of the world; the fourth was to be divided into ten kingdoms, "and in the days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom." These answer to the three overturnings that were spoken of to Zedekiah. The kingdom of Judah was then subject to the kingdom of Babylon; when that was overthrown by Medo-Persia, there was the first overturning; when Medo-Persia was destroyed by Grecia, there was the second overturning; and when Grecia was succeeded by Rome, there was the third overturning, and then it should be no more till He come whose right it is, and it shall be given Him. All these overturnings are in the past; long centuries have gone since the kingdom of Judah was no more; and soon, very soon will He come whose right it is, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. Isa. 9:7. A. T. J. THE SANCTUARY, ITS SERVICE, ETC.
The Cleansing of the Sanctuary.
(Lesson 4. Sabbath, January 30.) 1. DESCRIBE the daily round of service in the sanctuary. “Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even; and with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering. And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” Ex. 29 : 38-41. 2. What other services were performed from time to time? Lev. 4 and 23. 3. When did the yearly service take place? “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” Lev. 23 : 27. 4. What was that day called? “And ye shall do no work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.” Lev. 23 : 28. 5. What was the object of this day of atonement? “For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.” Lev. 16 : 30. 6. With what was the atonement made? “For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Lev. 17 : 11. 7. What besides the people was cleansed? “And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar; and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.” Lev. 16 : 33. 8. How were the people required to observe this day? “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.” Lev. 23 : 27-31. 9. What offering was selected with which to make the atonement? “And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.” Lev. 16 : 7, 8. 10. What is the penalty for breaking the law of God? “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Eze. 18 : 20. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6 : 23. 11. Which goat was slain? “And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.” Lev. 16 : 9. 12. Why did the goat have to suffer this penalty?—Since the sins of the people rested upon him, he had to receive the penalty of God’s broken law. 13. What did the priest do with the blood of the Lord’s goat? “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.” Verse 15. 15. Why was the blood of these sin offerings sprinkled upon the mercy seat?—To show that the law deposited beneath it demanded the life of those who had broken that law. 16. What was the mercy seat? “And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not.” Lev. 16 : 13. 18. What solemn work did the priest perform when he returned from the most holy place into the first apartment, called in this chapter the “tabernacle of the congregation”? “And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.” Lev. 16 : 18, 19. 19. How was this work accomplished? 20. For what did the priest first make an atonement on this tenth day of the seventh month? “And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself; and he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail; and he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not; and he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.” Lev. 16 : 11-14. 21. What was the next step in the important services of the day? “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat; and he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, in all their sins; and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.” Verses 15, 16. 22. What work of cleansing was performed in the first apartment? Verses 18, 19. 23. After the high priest had thus made an end of reconciling, or purifying, both holy places and the altar of incense, what ceremony did he perform at the door of the tabernacle? “And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat; and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.” Verses 20, 21. 24. What name was given to this goat that was kept alive? “But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.” Verse 10, also margin of verse 8. 25. What was finally done with this goat? “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness; and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited; and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.” Verses 21, 22. 26. What was thus in a figure fully accomplished?—The cleansing of the sanctuary by removing the sins of the people from it. 27. Did this service actually take away sin? “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Heb. 10 : 3, 4. What to Leave Out.
By Kate W. Hamilton
THERE was the faint suspicion of a headache, to begin with—not a good beginning, for Mrs. Grey had opened her eyes upon a busy day. "Oh, dear! There are a dozen more things to be done to-day than I can possibly do," she sighed, as she left the breakfast table. "Then you must decide what to leave out," answered Mr. Grey, who was gathering up hat and gloves for his trip down town. It did not sound like a very wise reply, nor a particularly sympathetic one, his wife thought, as she watched him passing down the street. Of course he did not understand. He had only to go to his office, get through a regular routine, and stop at a certain hour. If a woman's work were like that! And she quoted the old couplet: "A man's work is from sun to sun;
A woman's work is never done." But she had no time to moralize. The rooms must be dusted and put in order; the apple jelly—delayed too long—must certainly be made to-day; and she wanted to look over her baskets and boxes, and find some pieces for Auntie Snow's quilt. Oh, there were a host of things to be done—no use trying to count them, she said—but the worst of all was Tot's little dress, which must be finished. There was so much work on that dress! "The apples will be ready directly, ma'am," suggested Bridget, who had no idea of any work outside of her own realm. "So will I be," answered Mrs. Grey, promptly. But after all, it required some time to arrange the rooms in the dainty order she liked, and then Willie must be dressed for his kindergarten, and his tiny lunch basket packed; so that it was nearly ten o'clock before she was ready for the kitchen. The jelly was getting on finely, when Tot created a diversion by falling down stairs. "Bless the baby! There's no bones broken, ma'am," said the warm-hearted Bridget; and once assured of that fact, Mrs. Grey soothed the child while keeping one eye on the clock and the other on the jelly kettle. "I shall have one good hour, at least, for my sewing this forenoon," she had just remarked to herself, in a congratulatory tone, when a message arrived from her sister Helen, announcing her coming with a young school friend for dinner. "It is so far to go home, and I know you are always ready for droppers-in," ran the girlish note. Mrs. Grey read it with a smile and a sigh. "Always ready!" Little did Helen know about it. Mrs. Grey donned the apron so recently thrown aside, and hastened to the kitchen to make a pudding. To be sure, the dinner would be nice with some more simple dessert that Bridget could prepare; but the young housekeeper's pride rejected that suggestion. She wanted something extra when the girls came, and so the precious hour was consumed. Helen and her friend enjoyed and commended, lingering and chatting, in girl fashion, until the latest moment. Their appreciation of her pretty home and praises of her housekeeping were very pleasant; but the little dress was unfinished; and as soon as she had closed the door upon her visitors, Mrs. Grey flew up stairs and caught up her long-neglected sewing. She had not a moment to spare, but it seemed as if there were never so many calls for moments. Willie came home, and was eager to show the bright papers and cards which that morning he had learned to arrange. "Yes, dear; they are very pretty," answered the mother absently. "But you don't look at them, mamma," complained the child. "Why, yes; I said they were very pretty. But mamma is busy now, Willie, run away." The child withdrew disappointed, but soon came back. "Mamma, I have ever so many pictures; won't you help me paste them in my scrap-book?" "Some other time, dear, I am too busy now." "But, mamma, I'll do them myself if you'll only show me," urged the little fellow. "I am too busy. Run away now, Willie, and stop teasing." The nervous headache, which had been slowly gaining ground all the morning, made her temples throb painfully now, and her tone was impatient. Willie reluctantly retreated to the window, looked out drearily; and began to drum a pair of discontented little feet against the panel. It was not a sound calculated to soothe disturbed nerves. "Willie, do stop that drumming!" "Well, what can I do, then?" demanded Willie, in a tone that caught the irritation of the older one. "I do not know what you want to do. Run away and amuse yourself, that's a good boy, and let mamma work." Willie obeyed, trudged down stairs, and presently found company on the street. Not very choice company—even Willie realized that, but he rebelliously whispered to himself,— "I don't care! I couldn't make mamma glad, nor s'prised, nor nothing." Meanwhile, the busy needle flew on as rapidly as the delicate embroidery would allow; but it seemed to the weary worker that Willie had scarcely disappeared before Tot awakened from her nap. Tot could not be sent out of the room, and on this particular afternoon she manifested no inclination to amuse herself. Picture books she threw aside as soon as she found herself left to look at them alone. Then her slate was given her; but that she placed at once on her mother's knee, and every stroke of the unsteady little hands was accompanied by an importunate, "Look, mamma, look!" She was a sad hindrance, and the faint smile which at first rewarded her efforts soon vanished. "Tottie put her slate on the chair; that will be nicer," suggested mamma, coaxingly; but Tot shook her head. She wanted somebody to watch, approve, and direct, and the dimpled arm rested more and more heavily upon the tired knee. "Tot, you musn't lean so; you draw my work away," was repeated several times; and then the little artist was pushed aside with an impatient, "I can't bear it any longer! You must take your slate somewhere else, Tot." Tot took the slate away with a burst of petulant tears, but brought herself back: "I's tired; I wants to be held." "Not now. Dear me! I do wish Bridget would come up stairs and take you! I must finish this dress." The child, in her dainty attire, did not look as if she were suffering for clothing; and if, indeed, the want had been pressing, the little garment in process of construction need not have been so elaborate. That thought flashed through the young mother's mind; but she did not pause to consider it; she was too hurried and worried to consider anything. Her head throbbed and her hand trembled. If Willie would only come and amuse that fretting child! Where was Willie? she suddenly questioned, somewhat uneasily, as she remembered that he had been gone for an hour or more. She had no time to look for him just yet, and he was forgotten again, as a slow step on the stairs informed her that Auntie Snow was coming. "O Auntie, I haven't looked up those pieces yet; I've been so busy to-day," she explained, apologetically. "Well, deary, some other day will do," answered the old woman, cheerfully, trying to keep her disappointment out of her tone. "I have had so much to do," repeated Mrs. Grey, wishing her caller would depart at once, and annoyed, she scarcely knew why, by the knowledge that the kindly old eyes were taking note of her work. "I have hardly taken time to breathe this afternoon." "You musn't try to do too much," answered the quavering voice, gently, after a moment's pause. "My sister used to be one of the real driving kind; but I've heard her say that she couldn't wash and iron in the same day and be a Christian." The remark sounded irreverent at first, and then the listener suddenly suspected that it was not so, and drew her thread through with a jerk that broke it. Conversation flagged, and the visitor soon went away; but the hurrying fingers flew on, until, at dusk, the last stitch was taken. The worker's eyes were almost too heavy to see it; but she held the garment up for the inspection of the disconsolate little bundle on the floor, curled up on the hearth rug with the kitten. "Didn't want some nice dress; wanted some nice mamma," declared the still aggrieved Tot. It was only a child's petulant speech, but in it there was a keen dagger of truth. The mother turned abruptly away and hung the little dress out of sight. In a year what difference would it make to any one whether that little garment had been so exquisitely trimmed or more simply made? Could she have put into that afternoon love, sympathy, companion-ship—a mother's impress on her children's hearts and lives—that might have outlasted many years. She had leisure to think it all over that evening after the little ones were in bed—an enforced leisure when she lay on the lounge with a handkerchief bound around her throbbing temples. Auntie Snow was right: one could not crowd in too much work without growing hurried, nervous, and irritable—unchristianlike in temper and feeling. But then—she suddenly looked up at her husband who was reading near her, and asked,— "What did you mean by what you said this morning about choosing what to leave out?" "God does not ask impossible things," he answered slowly. "A day that is too full usually holds many questionable duties; but its first positive one is wisely to choose what we will allow to be crowded out. That our strength shall be as our day, is a promise for the days as God sends them, and not as our pride, ambition, or impatience makes them."—Kate W. Hamilton. The Home Circle.
By J. Albert Libby
My organ stood a useless thing,
Week after week, to those who sing;
All who would seat themselves to play
Did soon arise and come away.
I said, I'll go and look within—
'Tis outwardly as it hath been;
The pedals play an organ breeze,
Yet discord rings along the keys. So carefully I laid aside
Piece after piece, and back-board wide,
Lifted the key-board, when I found
The trouble with my organ's sound,
A mouse had lived above the reeds,
And built his nest for napping needs;
His nibblings fine about were blown,
Stopping and spoiling many a tone. The reeds were drawn, the brush was used,
And many a silent tongue was loosed;
The parts replaced, and then the keys
Rang out the old-time harmonies.
I thought, "This figure suits me well,
A story of ourselves to tell;"
Attuned by Heaven, what music flows
Harmonious as the Spirit blows. But when some little mouse of sin
Creeps from the outer world within,
The prayers, the talks, the songs we sing,
To listening ears with discord ring.
Ah! then what dusting should there be
Of every inharmonious key,
Till prayer and praise in sweet accord
Flow out as music—to the Lord!
—J. Albert Libby, in Crisis. Health and Temperance.
By Editor
WE give below an exact copy of one of the most singular documents which has come under our notice for a long time. Mrs. Mary A. Cornelius, of Mulberry Grove, Ill., gave Wm. J. Pitt, a saloon-keeper, written notice not to sell her husband, Jones Cornelius, any more intoxicating liquors. Mr. Pitt paid no attention to the notice of Mrs. Cornelius, and continued to sell the husband liquor at every opportunity. Under the influence of this liquor, Mr. Cornelius neglected his business and his family to such an extent that Mrs. Cornelius could endure it no longer, and so commenced suit against Mr. Pitt. The document which follows is the agreement entered into between Mrs. Cornelius and Mr. Pitt by which the suit was discontinued:— "State of Illinois, Bond County—ss.
Mary A. Cornelius vs. Wm. J. Pitt:—
Damages for selling her husband intoxicating drinks and for his time. Before Wm. M. Redding, a Justice of the Peace, I, Mary A. Cornelius, plaintiff in the above entitled cause, for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, to me in hand paid, the receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge, and a written gaurantee from the said Wm. J. Pitt not to sell my husband, Jones Cornelius, any more intoxicating drinks or cider or any other drinks at any time in the future, do hereby dismiss the above entitled suit, and all other suits that I may have commenced against the said Wm. J. Pitt. I furthermore, for and in consideration of the aforesaid sum of money, hereby acknowledge myself amply and satisfactorily remunerated from all claims and damages against the said Wm. J. Pitt, in full to this date.
"Witness my hand this 12th day of December, 1885. MARY A. CORNELIUS.
"E. REVIS, Witness.
"ROBERT HUDSON, Witness." When we look at this document from the standpoint of the money consideration which it contains, it is certainly contemptible. If it was only a loss of one dollar to Mrs. Cornelius to have her husband made a drunkard and a vagabond, then she might much better have kept out of the courts and allowed Mr. Pitt to finish the work which he had so well begun, by sending Mr. Cornelius to a drunkard's grave. It occurs to us, however, that Mrs. Cornelius did not look at this matter from the dollar standpoint. It was from the dollar standpoint that Mr. Pitt had been looking at the matter. He wanted the dollars which rightfully belonged to Mrs. Cornelius, and to get them was willing to make Mr. Cornelius a drunkard. Mrs. Cornelius did not commence the suit against Mr. Pitt for the purpose of getting back the money which her husband had expended at Mr. Pitt's bar, but for the sole purpose of saving her husband. Such being the case, she was ready to drop the suit against Mr. Pitt the moment he became willing to give her a written gaurantee that he would not sell her husband any more liquor. We see in the circumstances which surround Mrs. Cornelius in this case enough to make angels weep, and men hide their faces for shame. Here is a veritable vagabond who for the sake of gain is willing to engage in a business which debauches and kills every man who comes under its debasing power. This man is not only "permitted," but he is "commissioned" or "authorized" to sell intoxicating drinks to the husband of this helpless woman. Until the husband gets so far along in the downward course as to be a veritable drunkard, Mrs. Cornelius is absolutely powerless to help herself. She may watch with anguish the work which is being done, but she can do nothing to stop it. Finally, when the husband has become a common drunkard, when all the manhood is crushed out of him, when his business is ruined and his money all gone, when he is debauched in his morals and ruined in health, the law gives her the right of appeal to the courts. This right she gladly avails herself of, and makes a heroic fight to save what is left of her husband. Shame on any Government under which such a condition of things is possible!—The Lever. Success—A Sermon for Young Men.
By David Wilson
1. WHAT is success? You will have the answer to this question as we go along. 2. How shall success in life be achieved? (1.) Nothing is achieved in life without a beginning. Every man must make a start. Start yourself. Do not wait for your father or your mother to start you in the world, or get you a place. Get it yourself! "Already got a place." Have you? I congratulate you. Let me tell you how to keep it, and how to get higher. Do your work so well that your employer can't spare you. Then, when others are discharged you can keep your place, because you are a necessity; and some day there will be a consultation in the office, and your name will be mentioned, and it will be said, "He is too useful to be down there; we must have him up here," and you will be promoted. (2.) No matter how humble your work may be, do your work well. If it is the first step on the ladder, remember if you fail at the first step you will not set your foot on the topmost round. Aim at the topmost round, but begin at the bottom. "They tell me, sir," said a young man to Daniel Webster, "that the profession is full, that there are more lawyers now than are needed. Do you think there is room for me?" "There is always room at the top, young man; there is always room at the top!" But no man who is now at the "top" ever reached it by going up in an "elevator." He took the stairway, step by step. Dr. Carey, the missionary, when asked the secret of his success, said, "I can plod." Honest, plodding toil is the secret of success; idleness, of failure. I have earnest sympathy for any young man who, from necessity, is out of employment; but if he is determined to find something to do and to do it, for the encouragement of such let me say, He will not be idle long. (3.) To be rich, to be learned, to have power and influence—that is not success. To make character, true nobility, that is success. Not what you have, but what you are, is the true estimate of manhood. Character is what makes the man. A man may win reputation and lose it; but Heaven has ordained that none can rob us of our character without our consent. He may win wealth and lose it; he may secure position and lose it; but character, good or bad, shall last through all time, aye! and through all eternity. (4.) Live not for time alone. Seek Christian character; for that only is the noblest character. Not religion as a sentiment, but religion as a vital power in the heart, giving direction and impulse to the life, that is the noblest coronet of manhood. No man is successful who does not live for eternity. Buy of Christ "gold tried in the fire that thou mayst be rich." (5.) It is necessary to success that there should be an aim. Most men who have hit a mark in this world have had a mark and set it high. If we aim at the curb-stone, we shall land in the gutter. Aim high. Aim as high as Heaven.—David Wilson, in Methodist Recorder. The Reserve Fund of Feeling
By Hamilton Wright Mabie
In most men and women there is a reserve fund of sentiment and feeling which is inexhaustible; the dreams of youth do not fade entirely out of the sky even of those who are unfaithful to their early ideals; they still remain along the horizon line like the memory of a beautiful day. However men and women may distrust and restrain the expression of their deeper feeling, they are always eager to hear and quick to answer the honest utterances by another of that which lies silent and hidden within themselves.—H. W. Mabie. The Brightness of Good Temper
By Washington Irving
Good temper, like a sunny day, sheds a brightness over everything. It is the sweetener of toil, and the soother of disquietude.—Irving. Our Sleeping Rooms.
By Mrs. L. J. K. Gifford
It is to be regretted that paperings or carpetings should ever be used in the sleeping room. Alas! what evil is lurking in the area of the four square walls which encompass us! What enemy is that, which, although trodden upon, is not subdued! Let the walls of our sleeping rooms be kalsomined and the carpets removed from the floors. Let the crevices be carefully filled with putty (any one can do this), and the floor neatly painted or stained. A rug at the bedside, with small ones at the bureau and commode (Kensington rugs), will relieve the nakedness of the floor. These should be carried out weekly, thoroughly shaken, and exposed for an hour to sun and wind. Towels and wash cloths used during the day should never remain in the room during the night. I have seen washcloths, used day after day in a sleeping room, become sour and musty, emitting a strong odor both disagreeable and unhealthy. The water-can and the entire toilet set must be kept perfectly sweet and pure. I do not mean merely clean to the eye, but clean enough for a chemist's use. Attention must also be called to the tooth-brush, which should always be thoroughly cleansed after using, and placed, handle down, in an upright holder. I have found odor enough about one tooth-brush to infect the atmosphere of a common sleeping room. In regard to ventilation, open as many doors and windows as permissible, avoiding a draft; but moving air is absolutely indispensable to the health of the sleeper. Let the bed stand as near the center of the room as possible, but on no account close to the wall. No one housekeeper may be able to carry out all of these suggestions; but it is the ideal, or housekeeping as it ought to be, which should be held up to the eye of the reader, that each one may choose what she can best carry out in her daily practice.—Mrs. L. J. K. Gifford, in Good Housekeeping. THERE are some who object to drinking rum or brandy, but who think there is no harm in drinking cider. The stimulating and intoxicating principle in cider, wine, brandy, gin, rum, lager beer, and all these other intoxicants, is the same; it is alcohol, and alcohol is the same poisonous and deadly agent wherever it is found. Distill the alcohol out of cider, wine, beer, or brandy, and what is left would be simply dishwater. No man would drink cider if the alcohol were taken out of it. "But sweet cider does not do any hurt," says one. No; and a man puts a barrel of sweet cider into his cellar; he drinks a glass of it, and it is sweet; he takes another glass, and that is sweeter; he keeps drinking and drinking until the barrel is empty, and the last glass is the sweetest of all; and then he is ready to tap a new barrel. You can no more tell when sweet cider becomes sour than you can tell when a boy becomes a man, or when a pig becomes a hog. The man who commences with sweet cider is likely to proceed to sour cider, and finish off with rum, gin, brandy, whisky, and all the catalogue of alcoholic poisons which ruin mankind and desolate the world. Boys, let cider alone!
—Sel.