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A VISIT HOME.
I couldn’t believe it, and I never
would have thought it possible for me
to live almost a whole year without
going home. But it would have been
a full twelve months between my
visit last year, and our anticipated
jollification trip to spend the holidays
this year, if a surprise had not bobbed
in to shake us up.
By the way, I wonder if Eve invent
ed surprises. I am “sure positive” a
woman was at the bottom of them, be
cause there are so many brands of
surprises and they change so rapidly.
A message came, stating that a man
taking a joy-ride on a bicycle without
a light had run into and severely in
jured my uncle, Mr. John Dekle. To
me “Uncle” has been everything,
from Pater Familias to Father Con
fessor. After the death of my mother
I was taken into his home, and I fear
that I initiated this big-hearted kins
man of mine, and his devoted wife,
ifito mysteries of forlorn hope and
mazes of gloomy despair that they
were not due to fathom either in this
present life or the life “that is to
come.”
But, back of all my childhood bad
ness, on through the unspeakable era
where “the brook and river meet,” and
the transition from docile obedience
to “being sixteen and your own boss”
occurs, the “better self” within me
held fast to one bright constellation
that had fixed itself in the horizon of
my heart’s sky-line. And the four
stars that burned steadiest in my con
stellation were God; the memory of
my mother’s love; the deathless con
viction that Uncle believed there were
some little specks of good in me that
were worth trying to cultivate; and
“Aunt Mana’s” pure ideals of true
womanliness, which she held before
me always both in precept and ex
ample.
It is a great thing in life to have an
anchorage like that, and even though
the years have brought many changes,
THE KINGDOM DIVIDED.
January 1, 1911.
1 Kings 12:6-16.
Time—97s B. C.
Place—Shechem.
GOLDEN TEXT—“He that walketh
with wise men shall be wise; but a
companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
Prov. 13:20.
SUGGESTIVE THOUGHTS.
What should I do?
I. Don’t Consult Others About
Plain Duty. Vs. 4to 6.
There was considerable justness in
Israel’s complaint. (1 Kings 4:7-28;
1 Kings 9:15-24.) Yet they were only
reaping what they had sown. _ (1 Sam
uel 8:7-19.) It was clearly right to
lighten their burdens, and positively
wrong to seek to increase them. Re
hoboam should have complied with
their request and not waited to con
sult with any one. When a matter of
plain duty confronts us, we should at
once do what is right, and never wait
to consult with others as to the wis
dom of doing what is clearly right. If
we hesitate and seek advice upon a
question of plain duty, the chances are
that, like Rehoboam, we will do wrong.
11. Follow Good Advice. Vs. 6
and 7.
Rehoboam showed wisdom ki con-
PINEY WOODS SKETCHES
JWA DA Y SCHOOL LESSOR
Margaret Deberly Upshalv.
separations and new duties, yet the
same sense of peace and humble
thankfulness comes to me now when I
can kneel down at night and feel my
heart and conscience resting in the
approval of “my guiding stars.” It
brings a warmth and glow that no
language can describe.
But, speaking of surprises, you
would have caught the inspiration for
a new model if you had seen Uncle’s
face that Sunday morning when I
tipped into his room all unannounced
and unexpected. A radiant smile
chased the lines of pain from his dear
face, and taking my hands in his he
said very tenderly: “It doesn’t mat
ter what happens, MY GIRL always
stands by me.” Maybe you wouldn’t
ride through the desert of Sahara on
a camel’s back to heai’ your Uncle
say that, but I would!
A Christmas Confidence.
Os course, I had a little visit with
my only brother while I was in
Thomasville. Monday morning a slight
noise at my door aroused me from a
sound nap. I raised up on my elbow
to investigate and spied two big, blue
eyes, twinkling with merriment, and
a pair of adorable lips just parting to
say: “Aunt Margaret, can I get in
your bed?” It was the work of an
instant to lift that little bundle of
sweetness up and then, with her
chubby arms around my neck, my lit
tle five-year-old niece, Elizabeth, and I
snuggled down under the covers and
she poured out her Christmas “wishes”
into my ear. After naming over the
list, including an Indian suit and tent,
a tea set, a doll go-cart and the pro
verbial dolly “with sure-nuff eye
lashes,” she dropped her voice to a
confidential whisper “My daddy’s
awful busy this year Aunt Margaret,
and he says he may not have time to
get us a Christmas tree.” A little
frown furrowed her pretty brow, but
she went on: “Mot ler says we can
hang our stockings un and that will be
suiting the old men when he decided
he would seek advice. There is a wis
dom that comes only with experience,
and this advice is worth considering.
The counsel of the old men was good.
It is in harmony with the teachings of
our Lord. He that is truly great
serves the best (Mark 10:42-45.) If
we serve others, they will serve us.
When we are advised to do good to
others, we may know that the advice
is right and should be followed.
HI. Reject the Counsel to Wrong
Others. Vs. 8 to 11.
The young men advised to increase
the burdens of the people. This was
clearly wrong, and should at once
have been rejected as altogether bad.
That advice which tells us to put bur
dens on others is bad, and should
never, under any circumstances, be
accepted.
IV. Go to the Best Source for Ad
vice.
When Queen Victoria was seventeen
years old she was told that she was
to become Queen of England. She ex
claimed, “Oh! won’t you pray for me
that I may be wise and good?” She
went to the right One for advice and
wisdom. If we wish to know and do
God’s will, He will make it known to
us if we ask Him. (James 1:5.) Sol
omon asked for an understanding
The Golden Age for December 22, 1910.
By B. Lacy Hoge.
just as good, but what do you think
about it?”
“Why, dearie,” I answered, trying to
avert a crisis, “I think that would be
very nice, don’t you?” She weighed
the matter very seriously for a mo
ment then, drawing her mouth down
at the corners and spreading out her
hands in a gesture of eloquent help
lessness, she replied:
A LITTLE SUNBEAM.
In Second Edition.
I want you to read “A LITTLE
SUNBEAM,” the life story of a
little hero shut-in friend. She has
been a helpless invalid all her life.
Never walked one step. She is 44
years old and only weighs 45 lbs.
Her parents are dead and she has
been in bed since June, 1907.
The book has 200 large pages in
nice style, and has the picture of
herself and loved ones. Price is
one dollar in fine cloth, and 50c in
paper cover and is well worth
the price, and you will feel well
paid when you read the book. She
is in every way worthy of your
help. Send your order to the au
thor at once. Address
MISS MARY ELLEN WILLIS,
R. F. D. No. 3. Barnesville, Ga.
Will D. Upshaw, Editor of the
Golden Age, says: “Send 25c for
her nice, large Photo and 5c for
postage on the book, order one
and make her heart glad.”
W. D. U.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to hang
’em up then, but there’s one thing cer
tain, you don’t get as much that way.”
Poor little girlie, she had forgotten
that there are stockings and stock
ings, and that her Christmas treasure
heart to judge the people and to dis
cern between good and bad, and God
gave him what he asked for, and
riches and honor besides. (1 Kings
3:3-15.) So our God will not only give
us what we ask for, but will “do ex
ceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think”. (Eph. 3:20.)
V. Use Your Position in Life to
Serve God and Man.
Whatever station in life you occupy,
God calls you to serve Him and your
fellow-man in that place. That one is
truly great who fills well his place in
life and faithfully serves God and
man. Those who have been exalted
to high positions in Church and state
and in the social world should remem
ber that God has given them the op
portunity for service in these posi
tions, and they should make the best
of them, in leading men to Christ and
in blessing the world. Queen Esther
came to the kingdom at the time her
service was needed in saving the lives
of the Jews. (Esther 4:14.) Power
and culture reach their real glory in
service.
VI. Teach Your Class That They
Will Reap What They Sow. Vs. 12 to
16.
God says, “Whatsoever a man sow
eth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal.
6:7.) All that God has spoken is sure
to come to pm The dividing of the
would not necessarily have to be con
fined in her own tiny sock.
Not the Pencil Size.
At any rate, she stands a better
chance of getting an assorted Christ
mas array than did the young lady
from Boston. “Jimmie,” her little
brother, met her beau at the door on
Christmas morning.
“Say, Billie,” he called, “hear ’bout
Sis?”
“Nope, what’s up?” questioned Bil
lie, eagerly.
“Man, she hung up her stocking last
night and Santa Claus filled it plum
full.”
Billie’s eyes danced. “What all did
she get?” he asked, breathlessly.
“A lead pencil,” laughed Jimmie,
and, with a wicked wink, he hurdled
over a chair and fled for the front
gate.
I didn’t mean to be naughty, and to
prove it I am here, and now hoping
that the Christmas of 1910 will dawn
for each of you filled to the brim with
happiness and peace. And that the
song in your heart may ring out clear
and jubilant as did the voices of the
angel choir on the Judean hills when
their anthem echoed from earth to
sky in the wonder-song of all the
ages:
“Glory to God in the highest,
Peace on earth, good will to men.”
A Quickly Made Gift.
A cretonne sewing bag, which is
also a receptacle for pins, needles, etc.,
is easily made. It consists simply of
a square of silk —or cambric-lined cre
tonne, with cardboard slipped between
the lining and outer fabric and stitch
ed down the middle so as to form a
stiff bottom and a receptacle for pins
and needles. A gathered bag can then
be sewed on and the ribbon draw
string run through little ivory or steel
rings, so the bag can be drawn up like
a basket. Such a sewing bag is always
a welcome gift to one who embroiders.
kingdom was in exact accordance with
what God had spoken by His prophet
Ahijah. (1 Kings 11:31, 32.) All of
the prophecies in the past have been
fulfilled to the letter, and those of the
future will be literally fulfilled. Re
hoboam’s own folly led to his ruin. By
his grievous words he stirred up an
ger, when a soft answer would have
turned away wrath. (Prov. 15:1.) He
proved the truth of his father’s words,
that “A fool’s mouth is his destruc
tion.” (Prov. 18:7.) He was too
proud to comply with the request of
his people or to follow the wise ad
vice of the old men, and this false
pride led to his fall and ruin. (Prov.
16:18; Prov. 28:25; Prov. 29:23.)
VII. Teach the Effect of Parents’
Deeds on Their Children.
Had Solomon’s example been as
good as his teaching, there is little
doubt but that the history of Reho
boam would have been different. Sol
omon’s sin was the cause of God’s de
cree for the division of the kingdom,
d Kings 11:9-11.) David’s faithful
ness kept the kingdom together during
the life of Solomon (1 Kings 11:12.)
The one tribe was left to Rehoboam
because of the faithfulness of David.
(1 Kings 11:13, 32.) This is in perfect
accord with the words spoken by God
through His servant Moses. (Exodu«
30)4*6.)
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