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6 ' (150) TH E F
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Our Boys
THE LITTLE MAID FOR ME.
I know a little maiden
Whom I always see. arrayed tin
Silks and ribbons, but she is a spoiled and petted
little elf;
For sheinever helps her mother, ,
Or sister, or her brother;
But, forgeit'ng all around her, lives entirely for
< '- herself.
She simpers and she sighs,
And she mopes and she cries,
And knows not where the happy hours do flee.
Now let me tell you privately, my daning little
" friehds,
, She's as miserable as miserable can be.
And J fear she's not the little maid for me.
But I know another little maiden,
Whom T've seen arrayed in
Silks pnd r'bhons, but not always; she's a prudent
little elf;
And she always helps her mother,
And her sister and her brother,
"And lives for all around her, quite regardless of
herself.
So she laughs and she sings.
And t>m hours on happv wines
Shower in e'adnevs round her nathway a a thev' Pee
r Now Ir-tell- you privately, my darling little
. . friends.
She's as banny as a little maid cpn be!
ThiB is surely the little maid for me.?Ex.
HOW GRANDMA ENTERTAINED AN
ANGEL.
BY MRS. J. O. BECK.
"Now, ole Mistis, you'se gone and took dem
boys in dis cold night, makin' like dey wus
soldiers wid all dem uniforms on, and dere ain't
no tellin' what dey is."
"But, Aunt Ella," answered Mrs. Baker,
"the Bible says; 'Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers; iur tiicrcujr sunie iitive eiiLcriuiueu
angels unawares.' "
Little four-year-old Lydia then interrupted:
"Mamma, is 'em so-jers angels? What is angels
unawares.' "
But mamma hurried li6r away with a promise
to tell her hfter supper.
The young men were much amused when told
of the child's question, but Mrs. Baker knew
that deep down in those hearts lay buried feelings
which mi"ght be touched and awakened,
and scarcely she hoped that the innocent childish
question might cause "chords that seem
broken to vibrate once more." When the young
men had retired to' their room, Lydia did not
forget the promise, so, while her mother rocked
' her brother Erskirie, she told them how grandma
entertained an angel h long time ago.
"It was in early springtime, and they were
<*pttinc? rpnrlv fnr n moptincr in ffrnniimn's ptmrpVi
When grandpa came home from the session meeting
she asked who would take care of the preacher
who was to assist in the meeting, and was shocked
when told that it was not convenient for any
member to take him, so he would be sent to the
hotel. Grandma had been reared in a country
home in those days when it was considered a
privilege to have the preacher in the home. Her
father's house was always 'the preachers' home,'
so she said emphatically, 'I do not believe in that
'*way of doing. I have no patience with mothers
' who \vhine about their children's being unsaved,
I.' 1 _ 1_ A?_ _ < _ i . i 1 il *
. nm hi sucn umes renise 10 take tnc prcacner into
the home artd give him a ehanee to get in
touch with the young folks. If it does not suit
anybody else, we can take him.' Grandpa re?
minded her that they had had sickness, and she
... herself yraa -not weJJ, the_ cook was uncertain,
, apd it hardly seemed possible for them to take
care of him. Grandma had to adhiit the . truth
> R E S B Y T E R fA N OF THE S<
and Girls
of all he said, but through her mind ran some
lines learned in her school days:
" 'Tired? Well, what of that?
Didst fancy life was spent on beds of ease,
Fluttering the * rose leaves scattered by the
breeze?'
"In answer to the questions came a decision
to take the preacher, but later she had some misgivings
as to how it would all turn out when
she thought of Mary, the oldest daughter at
home. Mary was causing her parents a great
deal of anxiety because of her indifference to religion.
Education occupied first place, and her
closest friend in college made light of everything
pertaining to Christianity. Mary came in
from school one afternoon and said, 'I understand
that we are to entertain Dr. Hall?' "Without
waiting for an answer, she began to state her
objections, but grandma assured her that Dr.
TIall would not interfere with her school work,
that she need not even meet him if she did not
want to. Taking grandma at her word, Dr. Hall
was in the house several days before he met
Mary, and even this meeting occurred when he
came into the hall unexpectedly one morning as
shfe was coming downstairs. Afterward she
made herself agreeable, but grandma was startled
three or four days later when she came from
school and announced that she had prepared all
her lessons in order to go to church that night
Because of bad weather Dr. TTall was forced to
spend a while in town, hut every member of the
family had fallen in love with him, and insisted
that he must come back to spend the last day of
the meeting with them.
"It was Easter, a bright, cool day, and to
grandma it was a very, very happy day; for at
the morning service, after an appropriate
sermon, two of her younger children, with several
nephews and nieces, were received into the
church. Only one thought marred her happiness
?Mary's heart was still closed against her
Lord.
"At the close of that beautiful day, when the
sun's last rays streamed through the large window,
they fell on two kneeling forms?Dr.
Hall praying earnestly that the gloom and darkness
might be dispelled from the young girl's
mind, that the veil might be lifted from her eyes,
and that she might hear that voice of heavenly
sweetness speaking peace to her troubled heart.
as it spoke to Mary of old when she wept in the
garden on the first resurrection morn.
"And Mary did realize the presence of her
Lord, and into her heart there came the peace
which passeth all understanding and love which
transformed her frcm a rebellious, self-willed
girl into an obedient, self-sacrificing daughter.
Grandma always blessed the day when Dr. Hall
came into her home, and always said"?
"Oh, mamma, I know!" interrupted Lydia.
"Dr. Ilall was an angel, and was you Mary?"
But little Erskine was fast asleep, and mamma
tucked them in their bed there to dream of sureenough
angels with white robes and shining
wings.?TIerald and Presbyter.
The humble man is thn nn<> whn lmrmro mm,*.
? ? W ?t ?*y ?t O I11UIU
about himself than he docs about others.
If cdpital and labor would kneel together at
the Master's feet, for he loves them both, the
Master would say unto them?A new commandment
I give unto yon, that ye love one another.?Rev.
Stephen Burrow.
. f.' . ttf 'i . , klUtlh
>
TJ T H r '^February 14, 1912 .
A LESSON FROM DAVID.
BY SARAH N. M'CREERY.
"I just wish I could have a new piano to play
on to-morrow night," said Miriam Halstead, in a
disconsolate tone. "My old one has such a shabby
cue." '
"The case is marred some," agreed Mrs. Halstead,
"because it has been shipped to and from
school a number of times, besides we have made
several long moves, but the tone is certainly
sweet. Professor Damon said yesterday that he
had never heard a sweeter toned piano, and tha>.
it seemed to improve with the years. "We can
not afforl to buy a piano this year anyway."
"It does have a sweet tone," assented Miriam,
"but I would like a fine new instrument to use
the first time I play before an audience here in
Lineolnsville, my home."
"You should try to play so well that your
audience will forget the piano and player, and
think only of the music," suggested her mother.
"The audience may not think of the looks of
the piano, but I shall," Miriam declared.
Mr. Halstead laid down a book that he was
reading. "You remember something of David,
the shepherd lad, who became Israel's great
king, don't you, Miriam?" he inquired.
"Yes," answered Miriam. She secretly wondered
what David of Israel had to do with her
wish for a new piano.
"David, son of Jessee, the Bethlehemite, was
anointed to be king of Israel by Samuel, the
prophet, as Saul, the reigning king, had been rejected
because of his disobedience to the command
of God. It was a number of years after
David was anointed before he came to the
throne. Soon after he was anointed he went to
play before King Saul and became his armorbearer,
then he returned to Bethlehem to feed
his father's sheep.
"In course of time the Philistines came to
fight against the Israelites; both armies were in
battle array when Goliath, a giant of the Pliil'
istines, clad in a strong armor of brass, went
forth and challenged the Israelites, saying:
'Why are ye come out to set your battle in are
ravt Am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to
Saul? Choose you a man for you, and let him
come down to me. If he be able to fight with me,
and to kill me, then will we be your servants:
- but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then
shall ye be our servants and serve us.' "
"David and Goliath!" exclaimed Miriam. "I
always liked that Bible story. Go on, father."
< "David's three elder brothers were in Saul's
army, so Jesse? called David from tending the
sheep and bade him take parched com and ten
loaves to these brothers, and take ten cheese to
the captain of their thousand men. When David
reached the camp of the Israelites and was talking
with his brothers, Goliath came forth and
repeated his former challenge.
"David listened in astonishment and then
said: 'Who is this uncircumsised Philistine that
he should defy the armies of the living God!'
These words were told to King Saul, and he sent
for David. The Israelites had been filled with
dismay at this great giant, and not a man had
offered to fight with him. David said to Saul:
_ . ? ^
'Let no man's heart fail because of him, thy
servant will go fight with this Philistine.'
"Saul was doubtful of youthful David's
ability to do this so he replied: 'Thou are but
a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.'
" 'Yes,' answered David, 'but I keep my father's
Sheep, and I killed a bear and a lion that
stole a lamb from the flock, and I am sure that
I can kill this Philistine.' So it was decided that
David should go to fight Goliath, and Saul gave
his armour to David, and put a helmet of brass
on his head and armed him with a coat of mail
and., a strong, ;sharp fword. ."Wl^n David had all