Earlier text: The Curse of DrunkennessPERVERTING GOD'S PURPOSE.
By G.
THE power of invention is God-given. The Lord gave special wisdom to the men who constructed the tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. 31: 1-11; 35: 30-35), also to the builders of the temple (1 Kings 7: 13-51). And He gave His people skill in agricultural work (Isa. 28: 23-29). There never has been an invention the principle of which was new to the Lord. The past century, and especially the last half of the century, has been prolific of invention; but the Lord could have revealed the principles involved thousands of years before just as well, had it been within His purpose. All the wisdom that God has given to men has been for the benefit of the masses, and for the furtherance of His cause. But that which has been imparted, especially in scientific and mechanical lines, has been perverted to selfish purposes to a great extent, and turned from the object of the Giver. The Lord has all the time known this tendency of the natural man, and withheld much inventive skill until the last days,—for the time of which He says that “He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Rom. 9: 28. The spirit of invention which has brought forth the modern facilities for travel and quick communication with all parts of the earth, together with machinery for the production of literature containing the Gospel of salvation, and the manufacturing of appliances for a quick work, was given to men for a specific purpose, for finishing the Gospel work. But while these things are being utilized to a limited extent in the Lord's work, they are to a far greater extent being turned to serve the selfish purposes of covetous man. Not only are the special inventions that are essential to the dissemination of truth thus perverted, but the inventive genius with which the Creator has entrusted fallen man has been used in creating engines of destruction and apparatus whose only purpose is evil. Another point is, that the much-boasted labor-saving machinery is doing its work to such an extent that thousands of poor people who have been reared to wage-working are thrown out of employment. All the mechanical and most of the agricultural industries are conducted by machinery which helps only those who have means to own them, and the comparatively few who are fortunate enough to get the ever-lessening employment of operating them. The results of the selfish perversion of God's blessings to the personal use of the few who have the cunning and the disposition to monopolize them, is illustrated in the following summary taken from an exchange:— Distress of Nations with Perplexity.
Mr. Gladstone said; but a few years ago, that “the productive capacity of the world doubled every seven years, but population does not double in four times seven years, and our consumptive capacity does not more than double in twice seven years.” He estimated the machinery of England, worked to its capacity, as able to produce as much as 600,000,000 men, or half the adult population of the globe, could have done at the beginning of this century, with the tools and machinery of that time. The productive capacity of the machines of Massachusetts is estimated as equivalent to the productive capacity of 50,000,000 workmen sixty years ago. The labor-saving machinery in the shoe industry, employing 215,000 operatives, men, women, and children, will produce as much as 2,500,000 men working by hand. In the steel industry, three men now turn out as many steel billets as 115 men did in 1892. In boiler making, thirty men do the work of 500 but a few years ago. The new type-setting machine threw 15,000 printers out of employment in five years. A modern spinning machine can be handled by a child, and will turn out more and better work than 45,000 spinning wheels, such as our grandmothers used to make cloth with. One boy now attends enough stocking-knitting machines to turn out 5,000 pairs a week. The pneumatic atomizer enables one unskilled laborer to paint more freight cars than can fifteen skilled hands. Twenty-four out of twenty-five men have been displaced in the manufacture of musical instruments. The new machinery for handling coal from piers to vessels does what it formerly required thousands of men to do, and the steam-shovel mines and loads ore for a few cents which was formerly handled at an average cost of one dollar per ton. With the new diamond-match machines 300 girls can turn out as many matches as 8,000 workmen by former methods. From 1856 to 1861, 146,000 embroidery workers were displaced by machinery in Ireland and Scotland, and in 1856 the power loom took the bread from 250,000 hand workers in Flanders. To-day one man and two boys can spin as much cotton as 1,100 could do in 1800, and one weaver can do as much now as fifty-four could seventy-five years ago. One man with one nail machine does the work of 1,000 by hand; eighty-five per cent. of the hand labor has been displaced in the manufacture of watches. In 1891, 2,739,743 tons of coal were mined by the use of machinery; in 1896, 12,553,522 tons. One boy now does the work of eighty men with a machine for making tin cans. These facts show that the more men in their unregenerate condition are entrusted with the blessings of God, the more selfish they become, and the blessings become curses to the masses. Thus we know that the development of invention, the increase of knowledge in our time, is given of God for a special quick work, to be accomplished before men can utterly destroy one another through the perversion of His abundant blessings. Surely “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” G. AN AID TO RELIGIOUS DESPOTISM.
By N. G. Wells
It has been a question in the minds of many persons as to how Sunday observance could be enforced, and a union of Church and State made operative in this country, as set forth in Rev. 13: 11-17. The whole tendency of both Church and State in general is toward the consummation in this prophecy set forth. More than this, the same tendency is found in organizations not supposed to be either religious or secular. An instance of this is found in that order called the Modern Woodmen of America, which claims to represent five million of the strongest and best young men of America. I was employed by a member of this order to build a hotel, and he refused to let me work Sundays, but afterward gave his consent, and I did work Sundays. As the Society of Friends did much threatening (a thing not to be looked for in that quarter) at that time, I thought the man feared a boycott. I have since found out the reason. I was handed a copy of the By Laws of this order. It is the revised edition of 1899. On page 78, sec. 300, chapter 47, I read— The Head Consul shall have authority in a summary manner to receive charges against local camps for failing to prosecute their members when guilty of the offense of holding Sunday picnics under the auspices of the society or of any local camp thereof. Sec. 301: If the Head Consul deems the charges thus preferred sufficient to justify an investigation, he shall refer such charges to the Executive Council. It shall thereupon give notice to the camp,9and direct such charges to be heard in such manner as said Executive Council may determine. And it shall have the power to fine, suspend, or dissolve said camp, if in the judgment of the members of said Executive Council such punishment should be inflicted. And thus we see in these secret combinations religious Liberty bound in fetters mightier than an army with banners. In this action by this large society in June, 1899, another footprint has been made upon the sands of time that only marks too sadly the apostasy of this liberty-loving people. Words can not express how painfully true it is that the whole world has become intoxicated with the cup of fornication that mother Babylon has held out to them. And we may know that according to the prophecy we have reached the time for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is not far off. May Almighty God inspire in the hearts of His believing children to make a greater effort than ever before to rescue these perishing souls, who are being carried away with strong delusion. Harlan, Kans. N. G. WELLS. A PARAGRAPH taken from the Age of January 16 reveals a change of attitude that must appeal to many thoughtful minds:— One of the striking features of the coronation, says the Whitehall Review, will be the number of Catholic peers who will make their appearance on the occasion as compared with those who were present at the crowning of Queen Victoria. The Duke of Norfolk's family have, of course, always been Catholics, so have the Howards of Glossop and the Howards de Walden, as well as the Cliffords, and the Herries, and all of these distinguished families were probably represented at the coronation of the late queen, tho when they took up their positions they may have received a rather doubtful reception, inasmuch as Catholics were then accepted with more reserve than cordiality. All this is now changed, and his Majesty will welcome a host of Catholics on the great occasion, for religious bigotry is now mercifully a thing unknown among people of culture. This is indeed a “striking feature,” and the question must in all fairness be asked, How has this change of front toward Rome been accomplished? Has Rome changed? Has her contempt for kingly authority been cast aside? Has the will of the Vatican ceased to be her court of appeal? Is the authority of the pope recognized as subordinate to that of kings and rulers? Have her anathemas against thrones and crowns been recalled, or has her antagonism to the Protestant faith lessened in any degree?—No! In none of these respects has Rome changed. Her policy is still, “Obey the Vatican first, and then, if convenient, obey the king.” But there has been a change, and therefore it must be Protestantism that has changed. In Revelation the prophet speaks of all the world wondering after the power that once received a deadly wound. Rev. 13: 3, 4. Next we see the world worshiping this power, and last of all the kings of the earth give it their power without reserve or question. Rev. 17: 12-18. This prophetic change of attitude toward Rome, among the nations, has already begun. The world has wondered at the vitality displayed by that power; it is now preparing to worship, and soon the time will come when for a short space the hand of Rome will again control national destinies. But that time will be short. Thank God for this.—Australian Bible Echo. AMONG the canards, that are floated by the advocates of open beer saloons is that in Germany they do no harm, that the workmen are all sober, industrious, and happy. The Evening Post announces this misrepresentation in a recent editorial:— So serious has the drawback of beer-drinking workingmen in Germany become, and so thoroughly is it recognized, that a movement has been started to exclude the drink from the factory premises. It has been not uncommon for a man to consume ten pints a day in his shop, while the average is put at not much below a gallon per day, excess being especially marked among moulders. Several experiments have already been made in educating workingmen to dispense with the morning and afternoon recesses for beer, and one firm making electrical apparatus in Berlin has found an increase of ten per cent in its product per man since the change was made. There is no arguing against such facts as these. A Munich employer of many skilled workmen, in speaking of the difficulty of competing with foreign concerns, laid stress on the cheapness of Munich beer as one of his greatest handicaps. Said he: “If we were on equal terms in every other respect the fact that my men's brains and bodies are sodden with beer day and night would put me behind in the race.” Even in North Germany complaints are frequently made by employers of the “sodden condition” of workmen on Monday from beer-guzzling on Sunday.—Christian Advocate. SOME idea of the quantity of malt liquors produced and sold in Great Britain, to take no note whatever of the imported beers sold and drunk, may be gained from the annual reports which have lately been published of the two great brewing companies, Guinness and Alsopp, says the New York Commercial Advertiser. Guinness paid as beer duty for the year £864,000, approximately $4,320,000. The item of income tax on the business amounted to £11,000 “extra,” so the report reads. In addition £100,000 has been placed to the reserve fund, £30,000 to the depreciation fund, and a 9 per cent dividend, with a 4 per cent bonus added, has been paid. The sum of £48,562 was carried over as surplus. The Alsopp report shows a deficiency and a decrease in the original value of the concern of nearly $10,000,000 on a capital of about $22,000,000. This is attributed partly to bad investments in “public houses,” of which the company had as many as thirty-one, including some large hotels, and to an attempt to make lager beer, in which field the company found powerful competition in the importation of German beer. From these figures an idea may be obtained of the vast capital invested in beer and breweries in England, those named being only two of the companies engaged in the business, although they are the largest. Growing International Tensions in the Far East
There seems to be no abatement of the spirit of unrest in Russia. Since the riotings reported last week, many threatening letters have been received by the minister of the interior, and a Russian general, Prince Varkoff, has been arrested, charged with complicity in this wide-spread revolutionary movement. The rebellion in Formosa against the Japanese is said to be growing. All attempts by Japan to conciliate the rebels have proven fruitless, and the war is now being carried on in a most relentless manner. Blockhouses and wire trochas have been established, and the reconcentrado policy has been adopted. Russia has been sounding Germany and the United States in regard to the matter of neutrality in case of complications between Japan and England on the one side and France and Russia on the other. It is thought that if Russia could be assured of American neutrality, she would declare war upon England. In spite of the language used in both the Anglo-Japanese treaty and the new alliance between France and Russia, government officials are coming to believe that a crisis is approaching in the far East. The Russo-French agreement declares that they reserve to themselves the right to defend their interests in China. This is their answer to the Anglo-Japanese intention of maintaining the integrity of China, altho Russia professes to be anxious that China's integrity shall be maintained. The questions that would make possible a universal war are the questions that are now stirring up the leaders of the world. Several petitions have been received by Congress from the inhabitants of the Philippines asking that the Chinese laborers should not be excluded from the Philippines, as their labor is very much desired there. When the last lot of petitions was presented, Senator Hoar raised an embarrassing question as to whether the petitioners were American citizens. If they were not, the petitions could not be received by Congress; while if the petitions are recognized, it would seem to indicate that the Filipinos are American citizens. The matter was referred to the Philippine Commission. As long as the Philippines are held, and the people are denied the right of petition, they must be regarded as subjects and not citizens; as colonies governed against their will, taxed without representation in the deliberations of the governing power. Unless the efforts of the Civic Federation are effective with the coal barons, it is more than likely that there will soon be a repetition of the great coal-miners' strike of 1900. In that year more than 100,000 coal miners were on strike for a number of weeks. The coal operators have refused to meet with representatives of the men to discuss the situation. The only hope of averting the strike lies in the possibility of the Civic Federation bringing about an agreement. President Loubet of France has accepted an invitation from the czar of Russia to visit the Russian capital. This visit at this time is considered significant in view of the recent alliance of England and Japan, and the publication of a somewhat similar alliance between Russia and France. There seems to be a lining up of the forces that are particularly interested in the Chinese question, the outcome of which only the future can reveal. There has been much comment in the press during the week over the rumor that General Miles is to lose his place at the head of the army on account of testimony which he gave before the Senate committee on military affairs. The matter under consideration by that committee was a bill which the War Department has framed, and upon which it is pressing for a vote. General Miles' testimony was in opposition to the bill. Some time ago the Russian Government ordered telegraph posts set up in Korea, contrary to the protests of the Korean Government. Later the latter government ordered the posts cut down, and the order was carried out. Russia is now demanding of Korea a heavy sum as indemnity for this act. Korea demurs, and her foreign minister refuses to have any dealings with the Russian minister. The government of Bermuda is reported to have prohibited the distribution, by the American Bible Society, of any more copies of the Psalms among the Boers now held as prisoners of war in the Bermuda Islands. The alleged reason of this prohibition is that the reading of the Psalms by the captive Boers tends to keep alive their fighting spirit. Thirty Russian strikers were killed in a conflict with the military on March 23 at Batoum on the Black Sea. Simultaneously similar outbreaks occurred at Tiflis, and Baku on the Caspian Sea. Several warehouses were burned at the latter place, and conflicts occurred between the troops and strikers, but the number of casualties is not given. A report from Rome states that Mgr. Sbarretti has been given authority by the pope to negotiate all Philippine questions at Washington. The pontiff expresses the opinion that an agreement satisfactory to all concerned will yet be reached, altho Washington insists upon not recognizing the monastic orders in the Philippines as legal bodies. The acting president of the Boers and other leaders in their cause came in to Pretoria, South Africa, on March 22 under a flag of truce for the purpose of conferring with General Kitchener in reference to terms of peace. The news of this movement has been welcomed in London as the possible preliminary of a termination of the war. The three post-office officials who were accused of fraud and embezzlement in connection with the Cuban postal business, have been found guilty and sentenced. All of the three men, Neely, Reeves, and Rathbone receive ten years' imprisonment and are fined respectively $56,701, $55,516, and $55,324. The bill for the protection of the President from attacks of Anarchists and others, passed the Senate on March 21 by a vote of 52 to 15. A bill for the repeal of the war revenue tax also passed the Senate on the same day. Preparations are now going forward for turning Cuba over to the rule of the Cubans. The date set for the change of administration is May 20. Governor-general Wood has been in conference with the President during the week, and the new president of Cuba also has been a guest at the White House. A report from China states that Marshall Su's army of 20,000 foreign-drilled soldiers has deserted and joined the rebels. If true, this adds to the revolutionists a foreign-drilled and armed force with which the imperialists will be unable to cope, and makes the prospect of peace a shadowy one. Great suffering is reported from certain parts of Australia on account of the drought, especially in New South Wales. The governor of that State has caused to be set apart a day of special prayer for the removal of the calamity. Cattle are dying in herds, and vegetation is scarce and dry. Reports from Macedonia state that plans are on foot for a general uprising against the sultan's government, but the sultan has assured the representatives of the powers at Constantinople that he is able to suppress any uprising that may occur in Macedonia. The London Times accuses the government of “timorousness” in dealing with the growing power of the United Irish League. That journal states that it will be perilous for the ministers any longer to shut their eyes to the serious condition in Ireland. A report from southern Albania states that a revolution is in progress there, and several engagements have occurred between the rebels and the Turkish troops. An attack was made on the governor's palace, and some of his guards were killed. A revolutionary outbreak occurred at Ilok, Poland, on March 24, led by students who attempted to burn a technical school and lynch the teachers. The latter escaped with difficulty. Mounted troops were necessary to quell the outbreak. An avalanche occurred at Katsunosawa, Japan, recently, in which 200 persons are said to have lost their lives. The victims were employees of an oil-refining establishment which was completely destroyed by the avalanche. By loaning to Persia 10,000,000 roubles, Russia has obtained a concession for a railroad from Tabriz to Teheran. This is another step in Russian diplomacy toward gaining a controlling influence in Persian affairs. A general strike of the textile operatives in Lowell, Mass., now seems unavoidable. The spinners and loom-fixers are demanding an increase of ten per cent in wages, and the mills have refused the demand. On March 19 the Missouri Supreme Court, sitting in bank, handed down a decision to the effect that courts of equity have no power to enjoin labor organizations from enforcing boycotts on corporations. The Liberals and Socialists of Belgium are demanding universal suffrage and proportionate representation. Altho there is much agitation over the matter, there have been few acts of violence. Persons coming out of the Klondike country report an unusually large number going in over the trails, which are said to be strewn with the wrecks of bicycles and various kinds of vehicles. The Committee on Isthmian Canals has presented majority and minority reports to the Senate on the proposition of purchasing the Panama Canal. The majority are not in favor of the purchase. A strong opposition has developed in Denmark against the sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States. The leaders in this opposition intend to prevent the sale if possible. The plague has broken out again in Australia, and a number of deaths have occurred. The authorities are exterminating the rats in the hope of staying the progress of the disease. Much suffering is reported among the settlers of northern Arkansas on account of the failure of their crops through drought. Whole families are said to be subsisting on acorns alone. The Chinese general Ma has been defeated by the rebels of Kwang-Si province, who have taken possession of Fang-Cheng. The rebellion is spreading rapidly in that province. French society leaders and actors are now engaged in raising money to build a monument to President McKinley as a new testimonial to Franco-American fraternity. On March 18 Prince Henry arrived on German soil after the completion of his tour in the United States, and was welcomed by the emperor with great ceremony. An epidemic of the grip threatens to exterminate all the Indians of Unalaska. They seem utterly unable to combat the disease, and it is rapidly carrying them off. Official reports from Manila confirm the reports which have reached this country of the existence of the plague and Asiatic cholera in the Philippines. Reports from Arabia state that at Mecca and Medina a plague of cholera has broken out, and hundreds are dying of the disease. A LAST-DAY SIGN.
By S. A. Wellman
In looking up the condition in the island of St. Thomas with regard to tuberculosis in cattle and those animals used as flesh-food, it was the privilege of the writer to interview the government meat inspector. He informed me that the government had at one time thought of inspecting the cattle with reference to the disease, but that upon his information as to the number and proportion of animals involved, the project was abandoned. He further stated that should the government exclude cattle so diseased, it would, in his opinion, shut out four of every five head sold in our markets daily, and raise prices accordingly. No doubt the number or proportion is slightly exaggerated; but this shows that not only one part, but the whole world is being affected by the ravages of this dread disease. Surely there is cause for sober thought. He who has the welfare of his dear ones at heart will be seeing to it that such food as this is not placed before them. He will rather provide that which does not require the aid of the veterinary to select, and will return to that which God provided in the beginning for man's sustenance. The prophecy of the prophet Ezekiel is being rapidly fulfilled, and God is indeed pleading against man, the fowls, the fish, the beast, and every creeping thing with pestilence and blood. And they are shaking at His presence. He needs thus to plead, because of man's sinful career, which, month by month and year by year, is becoming worse in His sight. Yea, on account of these things pestilence stalketh abroad in the land. Yet those who fear Him, who abide under the shadow of the Almighty in these times, have naught to fear; for tho a thousand “fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand,” “it shall not come nigh thee.” Those who choose His paths, walking in His ways, doing His will, will, in these times of peril, calmly abide the final day. It has been the privilege of the writer to do work in these lines among some of the influential citizens, and, as a result, several have given up the carnivorous diet. And as this becomes known, many questions are being asked with regard to our doctrines, not only in this regard, but also with reference to other questions for the time being brought before the people. The last days are upon us, and the Lord's people must “arise and shine;” for they have light from on high which demands manifestation, both by precept and example, before all people. Darkness covers “the earth, and gross darkness the people.” “Ye are the light of the world;” “arise, shine.” Charlotte Amelie, St. Thomas, D. W. I. Nettie's Free-Will Offering.
By Louise M. Stormont
“And now children,” said Mrs. Randolph after she had explained all about the Feast of Tabernacles to her Sabbath-school class, “it is proposed that our little school set apart some day next autumn and bring an offering to God of the fruit of our toil—something we have grown in the field or garden or something our hands have made; or if we can sell the product of our efforts, to bring the price and give that.” Then she gave some suggestions as to what they could best grow and make for sale. The idea that she could bring a gift that would be acceptable to the great God who had made all things “by the word of His power,” brought a new and sacred joy to Nettie Hamilton. What would it be? It was early springtime, and her teacher had spoken of their raising flowers and vegetables. This seemed promising to Nettie, and more as the people did in olden times than some other ways mentioned. Nettie was thirteen years old and lived in the mountainous region of Tennessee. Since her mother's death a few months before, she and her father had lived together in a log cabin on a few acres which he had cleared of the heavy forest, and was farming in a very primitive way. Mrs. Hamilton had been ailing all the year before her death; and Nettie, who was strong and willing, had cared for her and learned to keep the little home clean and to prepare their simple meals; and altho she now was often sad and lonely, she found little time to nurse her grief. She must make their home a cheerful place for her father, who was a quiet and at times a surly man. The latter mood Nettie found to be connected with a large black bottle which always stood in a corner of the cupboard, and which she had been forbidden to touch. A tent had been pitched in their neighborhood the year previous, and Mr. Hamilton had accompanied his wife and little daughter to the meetings held there nightly. The ministers had since gone, leaving a few earnest converts, who met each week to study the Word; and altho her father appreciated Nettie's faithfulness and was seldom unkind to her, he did not go with her to Sabbath-school; and when she told him of the ingathering offering and her wish to raise a missionary garden, he said, “We're too poor, child. It's all I can do to get a living out of this bit of land with my hoe. I haven't a foot of ground to spare for stuff to give away.” This was discouraging indeed, and Nettie quietly walked across the road and through a narrow strip of timber to the edge of a little clearing where she often went to open her heart to God. Jessie Gray intended to crochet some lace for sale, but Nettie could not do needlework. Sarah Carson was to set a hen, Nettie had none to set, and could not ask her father now. She was too far from town to sell papers. What could she do? And the little girl knelt beside a log and cast her burden on the Lord. Crack, crack, went the underbrush, and Mr. Brown, the owner of the woodland, preceded by a pair of hounds, came out into the open spot beside the sorry, startled little girl. “Well, well! Is that you, Nettie? What's the matter now?” And almost before she knew it, she had poured out her tale of woe to the kind old man. “So you want to raise a garden for the Lord and haven't any ground. If that's all, you could farm right here among these stumps and welcome. So cheer up.” Nettie thanked him heartily, and before they parted he said he believed he would put in an acre of cotton down on his river farm for the same purpose; for “I don't mind telling you, Nettie, that I believe the Adventists preached the truth in that tent, and some day I'm a-going—O, well, good morning, little girl.” A light hoe was the only garden tool which Nettie possessed; but it was soon on the ground, and while the birds sang, she did quite effective work in clearing away the loose leaves and breaking up the mellow soil, rich with leaf mold. But suddenly she stopped, and again a look of perplexity clouded her chubby face. She hadn't a seed to plant except a few old-fashioned flowers that every one thereabouts raised every year. “O, dear! And it's time to get supper, too.” But before she left the place, she knelt a second time beside the mossy log, and told her Friend and Helper of her perplexity. After supper, Nettie was sent to a colored auntie's close by on an errand. As she approached, the old lady stood in the door, holding a willow basket filled with what looked like small white onions, and Nettie's eyes grew large as she heard her say, “Here, you, Sol'mon Isaac, tek out these here ‘shillots’ and give 'em to dat pig. I'se planted all I wants, an' mo' too, an' I'se got mo' left than we'll eat till them grows.” “O Aunt Debby, please could I have them?” asked Nettie, “I'll give you—something—my beads if you want them,” as she unfastened a necklace of braided strands of small steel beads. “Will you, Aunt Debby?” “Why, honey, you mos' 'stonishes me. 'Cos yo' kin have them ‘shillots.’ An' yo' keep yo' beads; I ain't needin' beads very bad jes' now, chile,” and her ponderous body shook with the ripple occasioned by her little joke. Nettie's errand done, Sol'mon Isaac helped “tote” the treasure to the planting ground, and Nettie could scarcely sleep that night, so anxious was she to set the little bulbs and have them growing. This pleasant task was accomplished the following day, and the bright green leaves came up quickly, and stood in stiff little bunches along the rows, and marshaled around the stumps in fine order. She told her teacher of what she had planted, and Mrs. Randolph said that other forms of the word shallot were eschallot and scallion, and that they were brought from Ascalon into Europe. Mr. Hamilton said he didn't think any one would want to buy them, but Nettie said, “I'll do my best and see.” The little plot was well cared for; and when warm and tired, Nettie would sit on the log and look up into the sky or the cool, green woods about her, and the Lord, “who looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth,” impressed her heart with lessons from His great book of nature. Autumn was almost here, and the little garden was brown long ago, and as Nettie gathered her crop she found that each little bulb had produced four, five, or six, and when they were measured she had two and a half bushels. Early one fine morning she started off on foot to Belmont, four miles distant, with a quart of shallots as a sample. She had not forgotten to ask the blessing and guidance of God, and she tripped along with a light heart. The day grew warmer, and the dusty road was long; and as Nettie went from door to door and met one refusal after another, she became less cheerful. But not until every house in the village was approached did she give way to discouragement. She slowly walked out of Belmont and sank down beside a little spring that welled up near the roadside. Refreshed by the cool water and a lunch she had brought with her, her morning prayer was renewed, and hope revived. There was a large hotel on the mountainside near the village, at which many northern people spent the cold winter months, and as Nettie sat admiring the great white house, with its wide “galleries,” fancy windows, and beautiful grounds, she suddenly resolved to try to make a sale there; and altho she was somewhat overawed by the, to her, rare grandeur of the place, she climbed the rocky road, and stepped quickly along on the gravel walk and around to a side-door, where she was met by the cook, who, in his white cap, coat, and apron, bowed with French politeness to “Ma'amselle,” and looked into the now soiled paper bag of shallots. “O, ah, yez, I zee, escolotte, for zee soup.” “Buy, Monsieur, buy?” as he turned to the steward, who was passing. “Get what you'll need,” was his reply. “How many you have? How much I pay?” “Two and a half bushels at five cents a quart,” replied Nettie. “Fi' cent zee quart, very good. I buy two bushels. You bring to me soon. Au revoir, Ma'amselle.” Nettie was so delighted that when she reached the gate, she scarcely noticed a passing carriage until Mr. Brown called to her to climb in and ride, as he was going her way. She told him of her efforts and success in disposing of her crop. The old gentleman was much pleased, and offered to have his man deliver them for her the next day. On the Sabbath of ingathering, Nettie's morning work was done earlier than usual, and she looked very neat in her blue calico, which Aunt Debby had made extra stiff for the occasion. She was almost ready to start to Sabbath-school when her father said, “If you'll wait a bit, daughter, I'll get ready and go along.” He had bought the half bushel of shallots, that she might have an abundance of seed for the next year; and four shining silver dollars, carefully wrapped in her handkerchief, were carried by the little girl—a freewill-offering indeed. The little church was adorned with autumn treasures from forest and field, and happy children, young people and older ones as well, each brought a willing gift, and told in simple confidence of the blessings received in labor for the Master. Aunt Debby, who had never been there before, occupied a back seat and gave a half dollar she had earned doing laundry work: “'Cos Miss Nettie was dat stirred up a workin' for de Lord, it done stir me up.” Nettie's eyes dimmed with joyful tears when her father rose, and, placing the price of a row of corn in the Lord's treasury, said that he had learned to love the One whose influence he had seen in the lives of his wife and daughter; that he intended to follow Him in the future, and would give Nettie the black bottle for a rose jar. Mr. Brown also was present and publicly confessed his faith in Christ and joy in the hope of His glorious appearing. He spoke of the earnestness manifested by the children in this work as having impressed him with a sense of his duty and privilege as a steward of God, and, in addition to the value of an acre of cotton, he offered a farm which should be used to establish a training school for the education and preparation of these and other young people for carrying the “glad tidings of great joy” to “the regions beyond.” Louise M. Stormont. LIVE NOT TO THYSELF.
By Mrs. S. B. Roberts
LIVE not to thyself; precious self ever dear,
Check not the kind impulse, nor sympathy's tear
O'er the ills of thy fellows; for many there are
With sorrows o'erburdened, and little ye know
How much ye can brighten the dark cloud of woe. Think not of thyself; from thyself look away,
From folly and sin lead the wayward, nor stay
From the home of the desolate, lone one, away,
Remember our mission, while walking below,
Is to sweeten the draught in life's cup as we go. Speak not of thyself; tho thy deeds manifold
For chivalry rival the famed knights of old;
Let the lips of another thy merit unfold,
Our effort to win admiration offends;
'Tis the giving of self that will bring thee thy friends. Make the most of thyself; of all thy powers,
Waste not the bright moments of Time's fleeting hours;
Would'st have thy path strewn with perennial flowers,
Keep unsullied thy life, and unselfish thy heart,
Make life a praise song, with no discordant part. Debase not thyself in deed, word, or thought,
In God's image made, with great price wast thou bought;
With interests vast as eternity fraught—
To glorify Him is our duty to-day,
To rest in His love, and enjoy Him for aye. Elmira, N. Y. Mrs. S. B. ROBERTS. Living to Eat or Eating to Live
Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.—Socrates