Earlier text: THE BIBLICAL INSTITUTESubstituting Mary for God.
By M. K. W.
THE question has been asked as to where the order of the pope withdrawing the word Father from the Lord's prayer and substituting the word Mary, is to be found. Just where a copy of this order can be found is not known perhaps to any except the Catholic dignitaries themselves. But that such an order has been made appears evident from the following from the Christian Statesman, in which Dr. Cumming, of London, is credited with being the first to call public attention to the fact:— “Profound interest has been awakened in England and in this country by a charge made publicly by Dr. Cumming, of London, that the Romish church has adapted many of the Psalms to the worship of Virgin Mary, substituting her name for the name of God. The well known Roman Catholic, Dr. Newman, evaded the charge by pointing out that the Catholic Bibles and Psalters were not changed in this way, but admitted the existence of parodies of the Psalms, as he called them, in which this change has been made, doubting, however, whether any Catholics used them. This was a complete admission of the charge first made, and Dr. Cumming has since completely fortified his position, stating that he has in his possession a copy of the Lord's prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary, which he had purchased in Paris, observing also that it was one among many. That such Mariolatry is not, however, an isolated case, he goes on to show by a reference to the writings of St. Bonaventure, in which the Psalms and the Te Deum are addressed to Mary:— “Bonaventure gives a new version of the Psalms. Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man that cherishes thy name, O Virgin Mary,” and so on. Psalm 6, “O Lady, permit me not to be delivered over to the fury of God.” Psalm 7, “O Lady, I have hoped in thee; deliver my soul from mine enemies.” In Psalm 110, thus, “The Lord said unto our Lady, Sit thou upon my right hand.” In Psalm 94: 1, “Come, let us sing unto our Lady the virgin queen of our salvation.” These lines are merely a few fragments from the Psalms. The Te Deum is also given as follows: “We praise thee, O Mother of God; we acknowledge thee to be the Virgin. All the earth doth worship thee, the Spouse of the Eternal.” “Holy, Holy, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Mother and Virgin.” When we take into consideration the fact that all Catholics believe, as the pope declared in his encyclical in 1849, that “God has willed that we have all through Mary,” is it to be wondered at that they should pray to her for those things, and then thank and praise her for answering their prayers? Certainly not. The only wonder is that they should dare to change God's holy word. If this were the first time that they had meddled with his word, we might indeed be astonished; but it is not. Dr. Cumming further states that he has ascertained by personal examination that “in the Roman Catholic translation of the Scriptures into French, Italian, German, and Spanish, the fourth commandment is omitted entirely, and in its place they have substituted the command, ‘Remember the festivals.’” This is in addition to the change made in this law in the English language, by which they omit the second, divide the tenth to make up the number, and so abbreviate and interpret the fourth as to make it enjoin the observance of Sunday. Surely this is the power spoken of in Daniel 7: 25 which would “think to change times and laws” (of God), and whose power was not to be entirely broken until the end of all things come. M. K. W. “Fallen from Grace.”
By E. R. Jones
FREQUENTLY is it the case when the claims of God's law are presented, and especially that part of it which is so generally disregarded by professors and worldlings alike, that we are met with that which, in the mind of the objector, no doubt seems to be a most valid objection which sweeps away all our arguments like chaff before a mighty rushing wind. It is this: “Christ is become of none effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Gal. 5: 4. First, we wish to correct a wrong impression usually conveyed by this quotation, by showing that we do not believe that we shall be justified by the law independent of Christ, but through faith in him we are justified from sin; neither do we believe we can thus be justified when we are openly violating the law of God. “But the doers of the law shall be justified.” Rom. 2: 13. And this very clearly shows that faith in Christ must be accompanied by obedience to the law in order to avail unto justification. Secondly, we ask, How is it shown that we are so far fallen from the favor of God by obedience to that which the apostle says we establish through faith? Rom. 3: 31. Is it because we have no gods before the Lord, neither worship graven images, nor take his name in vain? Is it because we honor our parents, and in heart and act refrain from killing, committing adultery, stealing, lying and coveting? Are these the evidence that we are fallen from grace? If so, then how greatly has God changed since the time he brought his people out of Egypt when he promised them his favor in great and innumerable blessings, if they would obey him and keep his commandments. And to the father of the faithful too, he promised that he and his children should have salvation and a part in the heavenly inheritance because he obeyed God's voice and kept his law. Gen. 26: 4, 5. Oh no, says the objector, your obedience to these which you have mentioned is not the evidence that you have fallen, but there is one you have not mentioned. Ah yes! It is the fourth commandment against which the objection is aimed. And is the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord which was made for man, the evidence that we have separated ourselves from grace and turned our backs on Christ? Yes, is the triumphant reply. And pray, if your objection be a valid one, why single out one precept from the ten, when the apostle says “the law?” But to show that in this even there is no soundness, we turn to another scripture written some six years after. “But when they departed from Perga they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.” Acts 13: 14. After reading from the law and the prophets, the apostle preached to the people. When he had finished his sermon, the Gentiles besought that the same words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Verse 42. “Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Verse 43. Here were Jews and religious proselytes. No doubt they were converts to Christianity. They were keeping the Sabbath and hungering for the word of life. They followed the apostle, anxious to hear more of that instruction so dear to them. Did he reprovingly tell them that so long as they continued keeping the Sabbath they could not hope for the favor of God? No indeed! He “persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Being now in that grace, he earnestly desired them to remain there. And, after this sound advice and earnest entreaty of the servants of the Lord, the very next expression is: “And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” They were not fallen from grace because they observed the Sabbath, but that was an essential part of the means whereby they still continued in it; thus by obeying his commandment they secured to themselves his continued favor. And now, the devil, for devil it is, having dwindled down to one point, its utter emptiness is quickly shown from the word of God, and will more forcibly appear to those who by it excuse themselves from obedience, in that day when he shall judge the doings of every one in the light of his law. Eccl. 12: 13, 14; Rom. 2: 12, 16. E. R. JONES. Religion That Controls Life
A RELIGION that does not control a man's thoughts, words, actions, and his imaginations, is not worth much. (Condensed from Review and Herald.) OLCOTT.—Elder D. M. Canright began meetings with the church in this place, Friday evening, April 20. Very little effort was made to secure the attendance of outsiders, most of the labor being bestowed upon the church who had drunk deeply of the spirit of the world and had largely lost their interest in the truth. Sabbath there were some seventy-five present, and all seemed to realize their backslidden condition. Sunday afternoon every one of our people in the house, church members, backsliders and unconverted, came forward to seek God. Then, for the first time, there was much deep feeling manifested and good confessions were made. Owing to the intense interest Elder Canright postponed all other appointments and remained another week, holding meetings from house to house evenings and visiting during the daytime. The next Sabbath he baptized ten, and fifteen united with the church, eight of whom were young persons. Sunday was devoted to business matters. The church record was straightened up, all present joined the Tract Society, and Brn. Gaskill and Lindsey were elected and ordained deacons of the church. This church has heretofore occupied the Universalist house of worship, but they here decided to build a house of their own, and a building committee was chosen. PARMA.—Eld. S. B. Whitney says: “Our second course of lectures is proving a success. Some have attended that did not attend before, and we are receiving new accessions, so that now nearly thirty persons have expressed their purpose to keep the Sabbath.” SCIOTA, CLINTON CO.—Bro. J. E. Morin reports that he baptized eleven in this place which is a French settlement, and organized a church of fourteen members. These have entirely given up the use of tobacco, pork and tea. He now leaves for another French settlement. LIMESTONE.—The church in this place is new and but temporarily organized. It is made up partly of brethren from Monmouth. At both these places strong efforts have been put forth to keep the people from hearing; but the Lord has blessed the truth, and now twenty are keeping the Sabbath where ten months ago there were only three. Some have moved to Arkansas, and are calling for help there. HUMBOLDT.—April 28 and 29, Bro. Boyd, Wing and Clark met with the brethren here and organized a church of twelve members. Bro. D. H. Maxson was ordained elder and Bro. David Babcock, deacon. A Tract Society was also organized with thirteen members. MT. PLEASANT.—Eld. Geo. I. Butler gives a cheering report from this place: “The church has increased from about twenty, when organized a few years ago, to upwards of fifty now. We have no church trials in our midst. We have a good Sabbath-school, good meetings, and a growing interest to work for the Lord. There never were as favorable openings to work in this city as now.” In Dr. Dick’s “Philosophy of Religion,” pages 84, 85, are found the following very excellent and scriptural thoughts in regard to the ten commandments:— “The first four commandments of the moral law may be viewed as flowing from the principle of love to God, and the remaining six as ramifications of the principle of benevolence, or love to man. These laws were published in the most solemn manner, to the assembled tribes of Israel in the wilderness of Horeb. While Mt. Sinai was shaking to its center, and smoking like a furnace; while flames of fire were ascending from its summit, and thick darkness surrounding its base; while thunders were rolling in clouds above, and lightnings flashing amidst the surrounding gloom, and while the earth was quaking all around, and the voice of a trumpet waxing louder and louder,—in the midst of this solemn and terrific scene, God spoke the commandments with an audible, articulate voice, in the hearing of the trembling multitude assembled round the mountain. A combination of objects and events more awful and impressive, the human mind can scarcely conceive; compared with which, the pretended pomp of Pagan deities, and Jupiter shaking Olympus with his imperial rod, are lame, ridiculous, and profane; and never, perhaps, since the commencement of time, was such a striking scene presented to the view of any of the inhabitants of this world. The most solemn preparations were made for this divine manifestation; the people of Israel were commanded to purify themselves from every mental and corporeal pollution, and strictly enjoined to keep within the boundaries marked out for them, and not to rush within the limits assigned to these awful symbols of the Deity. An assemblage of celestial beings, from another region of creation, was present on this occasion, to perform important services, to swell the grandeur of the scene, and to be witnesses of the impressive transactions of that solemn day.” “Moses was appointed as a temporary mediator between God and the people, to explain to them in milder terms the words of the law, and the further intimations of the divine will. Yet so terrible were the symbols of the present Deity, that even Moses was appalled, and said, ‘I exceedingly fear and quake.’ In order that the impressive words which were uttered on that day might not be forgotten in future generations, they were written on tables of stone with the finger of God. They were not simply drawn on a plane, like the strokes of writing upon paper, but the characters were engraved, or cut out of the solid stone, so that they could not be erased. They were not written on paper or parchment, or even on wood, but on stone, which is a much more durable material. ‘The tables were written upon both their sides, on the one side, and on the other, were they written; and the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.’” “This was intended to prevent the possibility of anything being added to the law, or taken from it. The tables were two in number, the one containing the precepts which inculcate love to God, and the other containing those which enjoin the love of our neighbor. These laws, thus engraved on the most durable materials, were deposited in the most sacred part of the tabernacle, in the ark of the covenant under the mercy-seat. All the striking circumstances now mentioned, were evidently intended to proclaim the majesty and grandeur of the Supreme Legislator—the excellency and perfection of his law—that it is the eternal and unalterable rule of rectitude—that it is of perpetual obligation on all the inhabitants of the earth—that it is the rule of action to angels and archangels, and to all other moral intelligences, as well as to the human race—and that the most dreadful consequences must ensue on all those who persist in violating its righteous precepts.” “The proclamation of this law was prefaced by these words, ‘I am Jehovah thy God,’ which contain a ground and reason for our obedience. They evidently imply that he is the self-existent and eternal Being who brought the vast universe into existence, who ‘garnished the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth,’ and peopled all worlds with their inhabitants—that he has sovereign authority to prescribe a rule of action to his creatures—that he knows best what laws are requisite to preserve the order of his vast empire, and to secure the happiness of the intelligent creation—that he is the former of our bodies, the Father of our spirits, and the director of all the movements of nature and providence, from whose unceasing agency every joy proceeds—and that all his regulations and arrangements are calculated to promote the present and everlasting felicity of all rational agents that submit to his authority. These laws are not mere acts of divine sovereignty, but founded on the nature of things, and are calculated to preserve the harmony and order of the intelligent universe.” “Almost Persuaded.”
By Nellie F. Heald
Dear reader, there is a question of urgent and solemn import addressed to each and every human soul. It is a question calculated to awaken the most earnest inquiry and solicitude in every thoughtful mind; and yet it is a question that you and I cannot answer. No Christian can answer it; no unconverted person can answer it; the angels cannot answer it; even Jesus, the Son of God, cannot answer; nor yet God the Father. This is the question: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Can any one tell how we shall escape? Can even God our Maker, tell how we shall escape if we neglect so great salvation? “There is no way provided, whereby we may escape. There is none other name [but Christ’s] under heaven; given among men, whereby we must be saved.” God has plainly said that if we neglect to hear his voice we shall not escape. “For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven.” God is now speaking unto us from Heaven. He is now calling unto all men everywhere, to repent, believe and be saved. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” Saved! O joyful thought! Saved from sin and its condemnation; made free and happy in Christ. How false the idea that to accept Christ, and obey the truths of God’s holy word, will deprive us of any true enjoyment in this life; that when we serve Christ only suffering and trials await us, and we are no longer free and happy. Truly, those who serve their own selfish interests, are the ones who are not free and happy. Christless souls are the ones who endure the keenest sufferings, for they have no balm for their sorrows; they are the ones in whom the ills of life inflict the sorest wounds, for they spurn the healing remedy prepared and offered them by the Great Physician. When a Christian meets sufferings, trials and afflictions, it is faith in God that enables that one to bear all things without murmuring, nay, even to rejoice for Christ’s sake. It gives to the young convert his first realization of pure and true enjoyment; and teaches him how to be useful in the broadest, truest, and highest sense. In this life, salvation gives to its possessor all that is truly worth possessing—a pure heart and an unsullied conscience. It gives a personal, loving Saviour, whose grace is sufficient for every emergency; and that hope which is an anchor to the soul. What salvation gives to its possessor hereafter, is beyond our highest conceptions of joy and blessedness. God hath said: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” On this glowing promise we may rest, knowing that in its fulfilment we shall be satisfied. Can any one then, refuse so great salvation? Alas! will any one neglect it till the Spirit is finally grieved, and they are lost? Every time we refuse to heed the “still small voice,” that calls us to repent, believe and be saved, we grieve the Spirit of God; and it may leave us to our own way, for God has said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” Many are “almost persuaded,” but the cross lies in the path before them, and they hesitate, fearing to take it up lest it shall bring reproach, or persecution, or prove detrimental to their worldly interests. But Christ says, “Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” “Blessed are ye when men shall hate you; and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” Many are “almost persuaded,” but they look at the responsibilities and the greatness of the Christian’s work, and fear that their strength is insufficient, forgetting that they are not required to hold out alone, in their weakness; and that Jesus has promised, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be,” and “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Many are “almost persuaded,” but earthly ambition, or loved friends, stand in their way, and they cannot yield to the Spirit’s pleading. But Jesus says, “Whosoever be he of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Many are “almost persuaded,” but hesitate, fearing to take the first step, because they cannot see all the succeeding steps. We walk by faith, not by sight. If we take the first step that Jesus bids us, we shall then see the second. I heard a very simple illustration of this a few days ago. A gentleman started for a certain place, but soon came to a river deep and wide, and seeing no bridge, nor any way by which he could get across, he walked up and down its banks. By-and-by, he saw another gentleman walking along, and he asked him if he could tell him of a bridge, upon which he could cross the river. The gentleman very kindly told him that though there was no bridge there was a way by which he could cross. So he led him to a certain place on the bank of the river, and pointing into the water, said: “Do you see that flat stone just below the surface of the water?” “Yes,” replied the other. Then he asked: “Do you see another flat stone just beyond that?” “Yes,” was the answer. “Well,” said the stranger, “Do you see another stone beyond the second, and another beyond the third?” “No,” was the reply, “I cannot.” “Well,” said his director, “If you will step on the first stone you will then be able to see the third, step on the second and you will see the fourth, and so on till you get entirely across the river. The gentleman did as he was directed and got safely over on the other side. Now, if he had doubted the reality of the third and fourth stones, because he could not see them, and refused to take the first step, he would not have reached the other side. The same is true in stepping heavenward. We all desire to reach that home of the redeemed. But how many hesitate, and are afraid to venture out and take the first step, because they cannot see their way clearly to the end. We are afraid to trust God to fulfill his promises; but will God bless and honor such unbelief? Shall we reach Heaven with a faith that is afraid to take God at his word? Did God ever fail in a single instance to fulfill his word? To be “almost persuaded” only, is to be lost. “Almost persuaded now to believe;
Almost persuaded Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
Go, Spirit, go thy way,
Some more convenient day,
On thee I’ll call.
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail;
Sad, sad that bitter wail—
Almost, but lost!” NELLIE F. HEALD.
Temple, N. H. The Power of Tradition.
By Wm. Sheldon
TRADITION has a blinding power. What we receive at the hand of our forefathers is deemed almost sacred, and we reluctantly relinquish our grasp upon it, even after it is shown to be erroneous. When we present a truth to the people, no matter how strongly fortified it may be by testimony from the Bible, the first question is, “Why did not our forefathers believe it, if true?” It is our business to believe God when he speaks, whether our forefathers believed him, or not. We are responsible for what we believe or disbelieve, and not for the faith of our forefathers. They may have held error under extenuating circumstances, never having had their minds especially called to consider the counter arguments, and therefore not have incurred condemnation for rejecting the truth that now presents itself for our acceptance. Condemnation falls just where light comes to open eyes, and is deliberately rejected. Many who were once innocently ignorant, died without rejecting the truth, and died uncondemned though they died in possession of error; while many others holding the same errors under other circumstances—under the blaze of gospel light—remain willingly ignorant, still holding to tradition after the light shines, and are condemned. We now have great Bible themes crowded upon our attention, in contrast with prevailing traditions, and therefore are inexcusable if we refuse to investigate. Whether our forefathers accepted these truths, or rejected them, it remains a fact that if they are in the Bible now, they were there long ago, and are not new sentiments, though newly presented to the mind; and if they were true when first put into the Bible, they are still correct, whether our forefathers endorsed them, or had their eyes blinded by tradition.—Wm. Sheldon. Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail of success.—Rochefoucault. Mr. Spurgeon in preaching not long since from Rev. 5:10, said: "Do you know that I am a fifth-monarchy man? In Cromwell's time some said that there had been four monarchies, and the fifth would come and overturn every other. Well, I never wish to do as they did; but I believe with them, that a fifth monarchy shall come. There have now existed four great monarchies (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome), arrogating universal dominion, and there never will be another world-wide monarchy until Christ shall come. Jesus, our Lord, is to be King of all the earth, and rule all nations in a glorious, personal reign. The saints, as being kings in Christ, have a right to the whole world." John Milton on the Nature of Man
JOHN MILTON says, “Man is a living being, intrinsically and properly an individual, not compound and separable, not, according to the common opinion, made up and framed of two distinct and different natures, as of body and soul, but the whole man is soul, and soul man; that is to say, a body or substance, individual, animate, sensitive and rational.” Symptoms of Spiritual Decline
THE symptoms of spiritual decline are like those which attend the decay of our bodily health. It generally commences with loss of appetite, and a distaste for spiritual food. “If they wouldn’t let him have it!” said Mrs. Leslie, weeping; “Oh! if they wouldn’t sell him any liquor there’d be no trouble. He’s one of the best men when he doesn’t drink. He never brings liquor into the house; and he tries hard, I know, to keep sober, but he cannot pass Jenk’s tavern.” Mrs. Leslie was talking with a sympathizing neighbor, who responded by saying, “It’s a downright shame!” While this conversation was going on a little girl, not over ten years old, sat listening attentively. After awhile she went quietly from the room and took her way, unobserved by her mother, down the road. There was a purpose on her mind; she had started on a mission. “Oh, if they wouldn’t sell him liquor!” Those earnest words of her mother had filled her thoughts. If Mr. Jenks wouldn’t sell her father drink, there would be no more trouble. How simple the remedy! She would go to Mr. Jenks and ask him not to let her father have any more liquor, and all would be well again. Artless, innocent child! The tavern kept by Jenks—the laziest man in Milanville, he was too lazy to work—stood nearly a quarter of a mile from the tenement occupied by the Leslies. Toward this point under a hot sun, Lizzie made her way, her mind so filled with its purpose that she was unconscious of heat or fatigue. Not long before a traveler alighted at the door. After giving directions to have his horse fed, he entered the bar room, where Jenks stood behind the counter. “Have something to drink?” inquired the landlord.
“I’ll take a glass of water, if you please.”
Jenks could not hide the indifference felt at once toward the stranger. Very deliberately he set a pitcher and glass upon the counter, and then turned partly away. The stranger poured out a full tumbler of water, and drank it off with an air of satisfaction.
“Good water, that of yours, landlord,” said he.
“Is it?” was returned somewhat uncourteously.
“I call it good water, don’t you?”
“Never drink water by itself.” As Jenks said this, he winked to one of his customers, who was lounging on the bar. “In fact, it’s so long since I drank any water that I forget how it tastes. Don’t you, Leslie?”
The man to whom this was addressed was not so far lost to shame as Jenks. He blushed and looked confused as he replied:—
“It might be better for some of us if we had not lost our relish for pure water.”
“A true word spoken, my friend!” said the stranger, turning to the man whose swollen visage, and patched, threadbare, garments, too plainly told the story of his life. “Water, pure water, bright water! is my motto. Its attendants are health, thrift and happiness. It takes not away the child’s bread, nor the toiling wife’s garments.” There were two or three customers at the bar besides Leslie, to whom this was addressed; and all of them, in spite of the landlord’s angry and sneering countenance, treated the stranger with attention and respect. Seeing this, Jenks could not restrain himself; so, advancing to his side, and laying his hand rudely on his shoulder, said, in a peremptory manner, “See here, my friend, if you are about to make a temperance lecture you can adjourn to the town-hall or Methodist chapel.” The stranger moved aside a pace or two, so that the hand of Jenks might fall from his person, and then said, mildly, “There must be something wrong here, if a man may not speak in praise of water without giving offense.” “I said you could adjourn your lecture.” The landlord’s face was now a fiery red, and he spoke with insolence and passion.
“Oh, well, as you are president of the meeting, I suppose we must let you exercise an arbitrary power of judgment,” said the stranger; “I didn’t think any one had so strong a dislike of water as to consider its praise an insult.” At this moment a child stepped into the bar room. She glanced neither to the right nor left, but walked up to the landlord, lifted up to him her sweet, young face, and said, in tones that thrilled every heart but his, “Please, Mr. Jenks, don’t sell papa any more liquor!” “Off home with you this instant!” exclaimed Jenks. As he spoke he advanced toward the child with his uplifted hand in a threatening attitude. “Please don’t, Mr. Jenks,” persisted the child, not moving or taking her eyes from the landlord’s countenance. “Mother says if you would not sell him liquor, there’d be no trouble. He’s kind and good to us all when he does not drink.” “Off, I say!” shouted Jenks, now maddened beyond self-control, and his hand was about to descend upon the little one, when the stranger caught her in his arms, exclaiming as he did so, with deep emotion, “God bless the child! No! no, precious one!” he added, “don’t fear him. Plead for your father; plead for your home. Your petition must prevail. He cannot say nay to the little one, whose angels do always behold the face of their Father in Heaven. God bless the child!” added the stranger, in a choking voice. “Oh, that the father, for whom she has come on this touching errand, were present now! If there were anything of manhood yet left in his nature, this would awaken it from its palsied sleep.” “Papa! O papa!” now cried the child, stretching forth her hand. In the next moment she was clinging to the breast of her father, who, with his arms clasped tightly around her, stood weeping and mingling his tears with those raining from the little one’s eyes. What an oppressive stillness reigned in the room! Jenks stood subdued and bewildered, his state of mental confusion scarcely enabling him to comprehend the full import of the scene; the stranger looked on wonderingly, yet deeply affected. Quietly, and with moist eyes, the two or three drinking customers, who had been lounging at the bar, went stealthily out; and the landlord, the stranger, the father and his child, were left the only inmates of the room. “Come, Lizzie, dear! this is no place for us,” said Leslie, breaking the dead silence. “We’ll go home.” And the unhappy inebriate took his child by the hand, and led her toward the door. But the little one held back. “Wait, papa, wait,” she said; “he hasn’t promised yet. Oh, I wish he would promise!” “Promise her, in Heaven’s name!” said the stranger.
“If I do promise, I keep it!” returned the landlord, in a threatening tone. “Then, for God’s sake, promise,” exclaimed Leslie, in a half-despairing voice; “promise, and I’m safe!” “Be it so! May I be cursed, if ever I sell you a drop of drink at this bar, while I am landlord!” Jenks spoke with an angry emphasis. “God be thanked!” murmured the poor drunkard, as he led his child away. “God be thanked; there is hope for me yet.” Hardly had the mother of Lizzie missed her child ere she entered, leading her father by the hand. “O mother!” she exclaimed, with a joy-lit countenance and a voice of exultation, “Mr. Jenks has promised.” “Promised what?” Hope sprang up in her heart on wild and fluttering wings, her face flushed and grew deadly pale. She sat panting for an answer. “That he would never sell me another glass of liquor,” said her husband. A pair of thin, white hands were clasped together; an ashen face was turned upward; tearless eyes looked their thankfulness to Heaven. “There is hope yet,” said Leslie. “Hope, hope! And, O Edward, you have said the word. Hope through our child. Innocence has triumphed over vice and cruelty. She came to the strong, evil, passionate man, and in her weakness and innocence prevailed over him. God made her fearless and eloquent.” A year afterward a stranger came that way, and stopped at the same old tavern. As before, Jenks was behind his well-filled bar, and drinking customers came and went in numbers. Jenks did not recognize him till he called for water, and drank a full tumbler of the pure liquid with a hearty zest. Then he knew him, but feigned to be ignorant of his identity. The stranger made no reference to the scene he had witnessed there twelve months before, but lingered in the bar room most of the day, closely observing every one who came there to drink. Leslie was not among the number. “What has become of the man and little girl that I saw here at my last visit to Milanville?” said the stranger, speaking at last to Jenks. “Gone to the devil, for all I care,” was the landlord’s rude answer as he turned away. “Do you see that little white cottage away off there, just at the edge of the wood?” said one of the customers. “Two tall poplars stand in front. The young man you ask for lives there. And what is more, if he keeps on the way he has begun, the cottage will be his own in another year.” “Ah! I see; well, did Leslie, as you call him, ever try to get a drink here, since the landlord promised never to let him have another drink?” “Yes; if you remember, he said in his anger, ‘May I be cursed if I sell him another drop.’ That saved poor Leslie. Jenks is superstitious in some things. On one occasion he drove Leslie from the bar room, threatening, at the same time, to horsewhip him if he ever set foot over his threshold again.” A YOUNG oriental prince was visiting at the castle of a duke in one of the finest countries in England. He looked from his window into a beautiful garden, and inhaled the fragrance which was wafted toward him by the gentle breath of June. “What exquisite perfume,” he cried; “bring me, I pray you, the flower that so delights my sense. See you yon stately stalk, bearing on its shaft those gorgeous lilies, whose snowy petals are veined with blood-red lines and with violet shade; that is undoubtedly the plant I seek.” They brought him the curious lily of Africa. “Its odor is nauseating,” he said, “but bring me that flower of a hue so much deeper and richer than even the beautiful roses of my own fair land. See how it glows like flame!—surely a rich odor should distill from that regal plant.” It was a dahlia, and its scent was even less agreeable than that of the lily. “Can it be, then, the large white blossoms clustered on yonder bush, or the blue cups on the neighboring shrub?” he asked. No, the snowball and campanula proved alike scentless. Various plants yielded their odorless buds or broad-spreading petals for his inspection. But he found not among them what he sought. “Surely, it must be that golden ball,” he said; “for so showy a blossom should at least charm the nostrils as well as the eye.” “Faugh!” it was a marigold. At length they placed in his hand a wee brown blossom. “So unpretending a thing as this cannot surely be that for which I seek,” exclaimed the prince with a vexed air—“this appears to be nothing better than a weed.” He cautiously lifted it to his face. “Is it possible?” he cried. “Is it really this unobtrusive brown weed which gives forth so precious an odor? Why, it hangs over the whole garden, and comes fanning in at my window like the very breath of health and purity. What is the name of this little darling?” “Precisely that, your highness,” answered his attendant; “this flower is called ‘mignonette, the little darling.’” “Wonderful! wonderful!” repeated the astonished prince, placing it in his bosom. “Thus your highness perceives,” remarked his tutor, gravely, “that the humble and unpretending often exhale the most precious virtues.” Give up tobacco? Yes, I will!
There's man enough left of me still,
To break away from its vile use,
With it I'll hold no word of truce. Give up tobacco? noxious weed,
How strange for it I had such greed,
To yield to my perverted taste,
And daily lay my system waste. Give up tobacco? why not now?
No longer at its shrine I'll bow;
No longer be its conscious slave;
What's left of me, I'll try to save. Give up tobacco? poisonous weed,
For it I have no longer need;
My palsied arm and shattered nerves,
Too plainly show what I have served. Give up tobacco? dwarfed am I
By the vile weed,—until I die,
Its poisonous power will still enthrall
My life and being, and my all. Give up tobacco? filthy weed,
Upon it scarce the beasts will feed,
They know too well its deadly power,
But man accepts it—precious dower. Give up tobacco? yes, I will,
Till this poor heart lies quiet, still
Will raise my warning voice on high,
Against tobacco, till I die.