Newspaper Page Text
%
THE ATLANTA. SFMT-WEEKLT JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1913.
■y •
C'ONDUCTE.D
ftf MISS
LIZZIZ O. THOMAS
7 he Evening Story
(Copyright, 1S)13, by W. Werner.)
Neighbors
CHAT.
The letter that Evelyn Dare wrote, ask
ing “What Shall I Do With My Life to
Make It Worth While?” has called forth
a host*of winged messages. Some do not
seem to know just what they would do
after ten years’ teaching; some seem to
think that their “Prince Charming will
certainly ^ome," some seem to think that
the question need not be considered for
the first five or six years of apprentice
ship to the profession and some remind
me of the fable of the be.e and the grass
hopper, or was it the ant and the grass
hopper? At any rate the one that idled
ill summer was dismissed by the indus
trious one to freeze and starve. When a
small girl I read that and was sorry for
the poor beggar. It must have been a
great shoe'k to be so rudely treated. 1
am glad that there are associated chari
ties, homes for old people, homes for lit
tle children, and even alms homes, though
i do think they might do as rs. Lang
suggests and fix them up a bit. I re
member one that I visited in a distant
state, and I felt almost like Mrs. Lang
does about going there. One thing is cer
tain, if I should go to such a place—
and who can tell what’s in store for one?
I shall try to keep my room clean and i
do *hope that I shall have a picture or
two to hang on the walls.
There is a certain very celebrated au
thoress whose spirits sometimes go to
zero. She gives so much of her vitality
to make the world smile that it leaves
her at a very low ebb. She comes to see
me and we try to forget the present ana
plan all sorts of things for the future.
One is to get adjoining rooms in some
old ladies’ home and on cold nights sit
by a cozy fire and spin yarns about out
past.
People have a habit of forgetting how
things actually happen. Both of us have
traveled a bit and by that time things
we did and things dreamed of may get
mixed, but we will have each other to
help keep the truth before us.
But all this is a long way from wha.
TTvelyn Dare is troubled over. One wom
an wrote me that she had her father
and mother* two helpless old people to
provide fo;* until she was forty, then
a brother’s family outgrew his capacity
for doing very much for them and she
put t c- oldest girl through college Then
—some of you will be shocked sne
married a widower. Not that she felt
the romantic heart thrills that so many
wait for, but she thought she could do
a better part by him than his grand
children were doing, and she would
have a home.
“The best laid plans of mice or man s
oft gang ogle,” and this one only last
ed a very short time. He died and
things were so tangled that she even
failed to get dower. So today she is
out in the world again. “Where is the
girl she helped, and the others? Well,
the girl married a man about as trifling
as one finds in a day’s journey, and he
resents “anybody’s living offer” him.
Moral: “Do the best you cafc for every
body you can, but don’t count on their
doing things for you. So as you go
through life try to provide for the fu
ture by se? *ng which old ladies’ home
suits yen best.”
Now* I am going to say something
that will put some of you to thinking.
In all the institutions I've visited T
have found more widows than old ma ds.
Ts it because the widows once had
homes of their own and cqji’t get along
with their “inlaws,” while the unmarried
women, pr or (?) creatures, have al-
ways been at some one’s beck and call
and have established themselves in
some home permanently? Mind you, I
ask you if such is the case. I do' not
-say it is. I give you the facts and
leave it with you. Keep the letters
you read m this week’s paper, next week
there will be more, and Evelyn Dare
may wanl you to help her judge them.
* Faithfully yours,
LIZZIE O. THOMAS.
THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE.
Dear Miss Thomas:
I have been a reader and a great ad
mirer of your page for many moons,
but have never before ventured to
write. It is impossible to resist the
temptation longer since reading Evelyn
Dare’s letter in the last Journal.
I am afraid I will be late in .getting
this letter to you, ^s our Journal was
delayed two days, but still I hope 1
shall have a chance with the rest.
The first question in that letter is
one that has no doubt been asked by
any number of p’eople, especially women
situated as Evelyn Dare describes the
old maid school teacher in the past, and
will still be confronting and confusing
as great a number in the future years.
“What shall I do with my life to
make it worth while?” This is a seri
ous question. But is it really possible
that a school teacher will be asking
that question? One that has such a
fine opportunity of studying human na
ture- The different /methods which one
You will enjoy the white
ness ancl lightness of
bread made with
Cottolene
Although less Cottolene is
needed than either butter or
lard, yet Cottolene is so much
richer that foods shortened
with it are always exception
ally tender.
It makes all foods more diges
tible; Cottolene is more
wholesoirie,' more easily
assimilated by the human
system.
Bake bread as you always do,
using a third
less Cottolene
than other
shortenings, and i
add a pinch more 1
of salt. You will
be glad of the
day you began
using Cottolene.
has in viewing the minds of the little
ones coming daily to her arc enough to
! make one clearly see that life is worth
while even if it is spent in ceaseless
toil.
It seems to me that a teacher could
bo so interested in her work that it
j would be almost an impossibility to
! cast her, or rather for her to cast her-
] self, into a rut and become despondent
; and blue.
There is no work that is all and all
! happiness, neither is there any work
! that is all and all toil and no pleasure.
Tnere is no work that will kill our
' sorrow*, nor one that will keep us from
being happy and finding happiness il'
We wish.
A teacher lias more chances than
any one else in forming pleasant
friendships.
Why not get the citizens in that com
munity to form a Grange, if there is
not already one; that worfld form some
thing interesting as well as educational
to talk about and would also divert the
mind from the school duties.
Starting a Sunday school class—If
there is nu church close have it at the
school house or at an individual’s home
—will help one immensely.
Have pleasant little entertainments
once a month and this wi,ll make you
know the children’s parents better, and
will give you many chances of making
adjustments in your pupils that you
never thought of before,
i Have a parents-teachers’ day, inviting
! the teachers of the neighborhood
| schools to be present which wiH fo
I pleasant memories for the. next week.
Taking correspondence courses, by
j mail will advance one more than can
i be imagined until it is tried.
I Literary societies will be found in-
} spirmg and uplifting for both teacher
and pupil. /
Oh, there are so many interests that
are worth so much that one could men
tion, but for lack of space can’t, that it
seems that one’s life is worth whne if
there is nothing in life but the singing
birds, green trees, blue sky and pretty
flowers. Can’t one be happy with just
these if there are no other interests?
There are so many useful things that
need to be done and are only Waiting
for willing hands to do them that we all
can be useful and make others happy
if we can’t have the desired happiness
ourselves.
What we want we get, so what is the
need of complaining? •
If we have good health we can shake
our fist at all other things in general
anyway. We'are all too ready to get
blue over nothing. When in reality we
have everything in common which mor
tals can desire.
All have something to live for; some
thing to work for, and something to
love, so where is the kick coming in?
All teachers can so arrange their life
that after teaching ten years they will
have something more than complaints
to offer the public.
j-»et us all join in thanking God for
His countless blessings, and singing
“Count Your Blessings” (counting our
own, not tne other fellow’s). I am
Mrs. Wiggs: I have a happy feeling
plumb to the end of my toes all the time
and I have my share of trouble, too,
but still I am a little bitsy girlie, and
a housekeeper.
JULIA STONE.
WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO.
Dear Miss Thomas: I, like Evelyn
Dare, am an old maid school teacher,
aird was confronted by the same per
plexing question she has put into words.
I pondered over this quite a good
while. I could never f&el that married
life would be a success for me, or per
haps as Evelyn puts it, I did not feel
the thrills I had dreamed of, and went
on with the old life until it almost be
came unbearable.
I realized it was time to center my
life on something, create happiness of
my own free will.
Now this question is all settled with
me. I believe even an old maid school
teacher has a place in her hard old
heart for a cat, a dog or a child. It
| happened to be a child in this case, a
i poor, neglected, unhappy orphan, with-
| out any hope of a future except w*hat
! presented itself at an orphans’ home. P
obtained permission to take this child’s
j future into my hands, for a few years
I at least. Today I have her in college
j endeavoring to fit herself for the work
i that God has placed her here to do.
1 Having no one that was interested in
, iier, it was easy for me to become
j friend, sister and mother to a lonely
heart crying for love.
Many of you are asking what security
I have as to her future. . None. I trust
God to make it as He will. As you
and I trust Him concerning ours.
I may be disappointed in her, you
say. Yes, that is true. But was your
mother sure she would not be disap
pointed in your life when she brought
you into this world? Certainly she was
not, but we can believe, trust and love
as long as possible anyhow.
Regardless of this fact, I shall have
the satisfaction of feeling that I -did
what I could. 4
When she is fully prepared for life’s
work, I mean to help another. I know
this is where I get my happiness out
of teaching, feeling that I have today
done my duty in the school roorp and
with the money earned by my own labor
I can fit another’s life for the work
God has for her to do. Sincerely,
ECYLIA REYD.
CHICAGO
HOW I’M GETTING ALONG.
Dear Miss Thomas: ‘Their Yester
days” I consider an inspired book, fine
for scholars, since theirs is the initia
tive in regard to the old, old door; but
I’m sure its reading, combined with the
effect of fading roses, and autumn
leaves, which so often in this latitude
change from green to brown with no
hint of scarlet and gold (like lives that
iniss the transforming touch of love,
eh?) is respensible for the mood which
has overtaken sweet Evelyn Dare.
However, I believe every unmarried
woman asks herself these questions oc
casionally. Will it suffice if I give the
answers which always satisfy me, and
tell how one country school ma’am,
just over the shady (?) side of thirty,
contrives to wrest excitement and pleas
ure from life?
It began with a resolution made in
early youth to keep myself sweet ancl
true for my Prince should he ever
come, but not to depend on his coming
for my support and happiness; so to
school my mind as to be sufficient unto
myself in /all things, should he miss the
way. So 'far, he has failed to arrive,
and I’m gaily determined to go on wait
ing for the proper “thrills” even down to
the brink of Jordan. Besides, I’ve ob
served that all is not bliss unalloyed in
the lives of women who dwell beyond
the old, old door; and as to support in
old age, I’ve seen so many dear old
parents hurried from home to home as
unwelcome inmates, I'm willing to take
my own chances for comfort in rny de
clining days. No, not a pessimist, Just
sympathetic observer.
A twin to this early resolve was an
other to make a home for my mother,
Letha frowned after her husband asj
he hurried out the front door of the
small cottage and across the common
to the distant elevated. Intercourse
at breakfast and for two days before
had ben on the verge of disputatous,
something new in their live years of
married life. But another man had
been appointed over Vernon’s head to
a position that he had counted on. 1
Letha did not take disappointment'
good naturedly. She had looked
eagerly forward to freedom from the;
skimping that had been necessary
since they moved from a downtown
cramped flat to a cottage on thej
monthly payment plan.
She had inferred that Vernon—possi
bly—wasn’t so—so—
"Efficient,” Vernon interrupted in a
hurt tone. “Well,’ with a sigh, "maybe
I’m not.” Then he finished his supper;
—it w*as the evening previous—in con
strained silence.
Letha had been talking to relieve
overcharged feelings. When she saidj
more than she intended her irritation
bubbled up. “Then, why aren’t you?”
sister, and myself, though any of the
married children would gladly give
mother a home. During thirteen years
as grade, high school and country teach
er, I’ve paid my college debt, bought a
little rancho, built, furnished and main
tained a simple home and supported the
three of us with no outside help. Moth
er needs me more than anyone else can.
And that is one of the truly grefft things
of life (with apologies to H. B. W.) to
have a loved one need you. “There is in
man a higher than love of happiness;
one can live without happiness and in
stead thereof find blessedness.”
But the excitement? Well, two years
ago I succeeded in having my pupils
collect materials from nearly every
state in the union and we made a large
production map which was easily the
feature of our county fair. The experi
ment w*as exciting, delightful, educa
tive. I am sending you a post-card pic
ture of the map. Am thinking of hav
ing my pupils exchange products with
one or two foreign countries this winter,
keeping my geography class interested.
As to home interests, I’m convinced
that nothing needs loving and mothering
more than these red old hills of Geor
gia. I’m intensely interested in coaxing
my bare slopes to yield a maximum har
vest, and hope in future years to realize
my dream of an ideal little farm—grain;
alfalfa, fruits, poultry, bees, and* roses.
Evelyn’s trouble, I judge, is that no
one really needs her, or else she’d have
less time for the porch. My heart goes
out_to her, and in all sincerity I say that
in Her case I’d spend a little time, mon
ey and wit in keeping gloriously young;
and atune my soul to the beauty of this
wonderful old world and its Maker. I’d
economize on dress and invest in such
way as to insure competence in old age.
Then I’d take an absorbing interest in
something or somebody, choosing from
this list: Educate a bright little rela
tive, support a foreign missionary, save
money for a trip to Europe (a fine one
costs only $300 from start to finish, and
we’ve all wasted that), buy a little car
or -a pony and buggy to keep at my
boarding place; take a course in do
mestic science, or some form of agri
culture or farm life in a good universi
ty, and who knows but that in happily
pursuing a wise choice of these the
Right One might be met! These are pos
sible even to a Georgia teacher who has
only herself to care for.
Evelyn is too refined to take the next
suitor regardlessly, and be happy. Re
cently a nice Household bachelor w*as
bewailing his single blessedness and
now—where can Cupid be hiding?
Sincerely, t
THE LITTLE SCHOOL MARM.
she asked, tartly.
Vernon flushed. After the dishes
were cleared away he made an effort j
to talk on other subjects. “Been over |
to see 1 that little Mrs. Brenson two j
houses down?” he asked. “I see her
every night when I come home. She’s
waiting by the gate for her husband,
and she looks sort of lonesome.”
“No,” - said Letha, coolly, “I
haven’t.’V Vernon’s choice of subject
was not happy. “And,” more coldly,
“I don’t think that I shall. None of
us care for her. I really think that
she is the most inefficient house
keeper that I ever saw. What she
doesn’t burn she wastes. Yesterday
she threw out a kettle of new potatoes
—and you know what price new po
tatoes are at this time of year. And
the day before she left her breakfast
dishes go till her husband came home
that night, and he did them. Mrs.
HOW I’M PLANNING.
Dear Miss Thomas: Will try to re
spond to Evelyne Dare’s letter in regard
to “An Old Maid School Teacher’s
Later Years.”
To begin I wish to say I am a school
teacher, but have not reached the last
stage yet. Have onftr taught three
years. I don’t believe Evelyne really
thinks an old teacher’s life is like she
pictures it.
We must take into consideration both
modes of life, “Single blessedness and
married happiness.” And also remember
that “every sweet has its bitter.”
The ways of life are hard any way
we take them. Yes, a teacher must go
to her school five days every week, no
matter how she feels or what the weath
er is, teach fifty or more children all
day, settle all troubles that come up. Un-*
der all of these difficulties she thinks
her troubles are more than she can
bear, but if she is doing her best- great
is her reward. She Is* sowing good
seed- that will reach maturity in the
children’s hearts.
We are not in this life for pleasure
any way. We must not live a selfish
life. If we would be happy one must
think of others first.
Next comes the evening when she
comes from school tired, if she ever
makes any friends at all the lady she
boards with will greet her with loving
words. The other members of the fam
ily are usually nice to her. I am al
ways as one of the family. We are
just homefolks till -after supper. We
take walks or do anything we wish. I
do not believe a teacher is ever com
pelled to, walk alone. There are people
glad to take the wajk. Besides, it isn’t
a mile to a neighbor’s house. Not all
people have neighbors in half mile.
Should she be compelled to go alone,
there is no danger. While she is doing
what she wishes, making calls, going to
clubs, etc.^ that poor wife must be at
home using every means in her power
to have things cheerful when her “hub
by” comes in. Then he comes so angry
he could tear everything down in a min
ute and never rebuild it. Then those
poor children who have been with the
old maid all day must quietly get out of
the way. (Sad to say this is true in
many homes.)
Now after supper. Yes, she must make
out reports and corect exercises or the
children would be disappointed next day.
This is a pleasure to most teachers. If
her eyes ache she can easily lay those
horrible papers aside and retire. Could
she do this if she were married? No,
indeed. She must stay aw*ake with that
baby till it decides to let her rest. She
may get three or four hours’ rest. Then
she must rise and Jix John off to work.
While she does all this that old maid
is still sleeping.
There is Sunday school most every
Sunday and they will allow her to go
there.
She sees her pupils a success in life.
Then she knows she has not failed. I
do not mean to say that every home is
as the one I have described, but give
me a happy home or an old maid’s lot.
She gets almost everything she wants,
except a man. If she ever wishes she
had taken one or thinks she will the
nevt, am sure no one knows that. Should
she decide she would change professions
I am sure there are plenty of widowers,!
grass widowers and . bachelors she can |
get. I am not worrying about the fu- j
ture.
When I am an old maid I may talk
differently, but should I do so, I will
write again and warn others. Hope my
name will be kept secret, for if the old
bachelors read this I know I’ll never
get one. Old maids, take courage, I’ll
be with you in ten years or sooner.
Best wishes to all,
JIMMIE.
He seined rather dazed and anxious to
say something*.
Wilkins, who lives next door, saw
him. And I wish you’d see the way
she irons. Mrs. Jones said that she
wore a dimity dress to the grocery
store Wednesday morning that looked
as though she had never touched an
iron to it. And she bought three crates
of straw*berries the other day—to can,
I suppose—and they’re still sitting in
her pantry now. Spoiled! * Mrs. Wil
kins’ pantry windows are opposite,
and she can see right in. Shiftless,
that’s all she is. All yesterday after
noon she sat on the front porch read
ing a magazine and those berries
wasting.”
Letha did not mean her accent on shift
less to be personal. But Vernon had
flushed and, without commenting on Mrs.
Brenson’s loneliness again, had begun to
read his own magazine. Letha saw the
flush and resented it. He had no busi
ness to be so touchy. She flew back to
the subject they had dropped. “Why
don’t you march straight up to Colton’s
private office and demand promotion?”
he asked hotly. “Are you afraid of
him?”
“You don't know Colton,” said Vernon.
“He isn’t the kind of man that you can
bluster at. He’d simply say get out.
And I can’t risk losing my position—at
least, not while we’ve got to keep up the
payments on this cottage. And just now
positions are scarce. Colton turned away
twenty yesterday.” Letha had shrugged
her shoulders. Vernon’s face had red
dened again. A shrug can be so very
expressive. ✓
The next morning Letha was persuaded
by a fruit peddler with a persuasive
tongue into taking five crates of straw
berries. After she bought them she, of
course, had to can them. It was with
relief and disinclination that she put
them in pans and on the stove. Relief
because the labor would work off her
irritation; disinclination because she was
not in the humor to care whether Ver
non had any jam and jelly that win
ter or not.
But by the time that she had stewed,
boiled and stirred through the long June
morning and afternoon relief and disin
clination had both been dissipated. She
was tired, but it was the satisfying tired
ness that testifies to a day’s excellent
work, and she complacently surveyed the
shining,* red filled glass jars that stood
on table, shelves, sink and stove. Ver
non was fonder of strawberry jam than
anything except green tomato pickles.
Well, she had for once put up enough
to do him through the winter. It was
while she was complacently admiring
her work that she remembered shiftless
Mrs. Brenson and the crates of good
fruit that had been allowed to spoil.
Letha grew meditative. It seemed queer
that she should buy it and then waste
it. Maybe she didn’t know how. Al
though any one surely could stew ber
ries and pour them into jars even if she
couldn't make jam. “I believe ”
Letha hesitated. She had never spoken
to the slim little woman. But Vernon
had said that she looked lonesome. Curi
osity had as much friendliness to do
with Letha’s determination to run
ov'er and take a dish of jam as excuse.
But she w*as bound to find out why good
berries went to waste.
* She ran in the back way, a bit em
barrassed. Custom decrees that a front
door dall shall precede a back w*ay visit.
But Letha was impulsive. Moreover, a
woman who let her husband wash the
dishes when he came home at night
was not worth wasting conventionality
on. Mrs. Brenson opened the door at
her knock and looked at her in surprise.
Letha was more than a bit embarrassed
then. But not for her call—because
she hadn’t come before. “Oh, come in,”
said Mrs. Brenson, in the glad voice
of utter loneliness.
Letha went into the kitchen, which
was not so untidy as she had expected.
Mrs. Brenson was preparing supper, al
though it w*as hardly 5, and her hus
band, in company of . the other hus
bands of the suburb, would not be home
till 7. “It takes me so long,” she said,
explainingly, “since—my! How do you
make' it so clear?# And how do you get
that tangy flavor? It tastes like—-like—
Numbers 22:26.
Golden Text: A double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
II CHILB’S LAXATIVE
IS “SYRUP OF FIGS”
Made from fruit—Can’t harm
tender stomach, liver
and bowels
Moses began preparations to lead the
people from Kadesh immediately. The
immediate entrance into the Land of
Canaan was guarded by a very strong
and war-like people, so he thought it
best to make a detour and enter from
the east side. Immediately to the east
of Canaan was the Land of the
Edomites. These all were descendants
of Esau. Moses sent a verjf reasonable
request, it seems, to the king of * the
Edomites that he be allowed to lead
the people of Israel through their land,
promising that he would not turn aside
from the highway, and that if any one
took any forage, or drank any water
from any of the wells, they would pay
for it.
The old family feud between Esau and
Jacob now after 500 years came to the
front, and the king of Edom refused
to grant Moses’ request, and backed
up his refusal by coming to the border
of his country with a strong force of
men.
The way to the north and the shorter
way to the east, thus having been shut
off, nothing was left for him to do but
to retrace his steps and take the long
'journey down to the Horn of the Red
sea, so as to encompass the Land of
Edom. The long, tiresome journey dis
couraged the people so that they began
to complain, and as a result of their
complaint, the plague of the fiery ser
pents was visited upon them. Vast num
bers of them died, all dying, in fact,
who refused to look upon *the uplifted
serpent which God gave them through
Moses, as his way of salvation. This
act typified to them the coming deliver
ance when the Christ should be lifted
up as God’s only way of salvation for
those who had been bitten by the ser
pent of sin.
With God as their leader, the con
quest of tne Amorites was not difficult,
so the close of the fortieth year from
ttieir leaving Egypt, this vast company
was encamped in the plains of Moab,
on the east side of the River Jordon,
over against Jericho. It must have been
quite a sight to stand up on some emi
nence and over look the valleys dotted
with the tents of more than 3,000,000
people. No wonder Balak, the king of
the Amorites, was alarmed for the safe
ty of his people and for his own head.
BALAK’S ANXIETY.
He was nonplussed. If he had gath
ered every one of the men at his dis
posal, in case of war, they^ would not
have been able to stand against so
vast a company as that of Israel was;
and when to their numbers was added
the stories that he had heard of the
remarkable ways in which God had
dealt with them through their forty
years’ journeying, he felt himself ut
terly helpless. \ After thinking* of all
What does it taste like?”
"Lemon,” exclaimed Letha. “I put
just a little juice in. But you were
saying ”
“Since I burnt my arms,” carelessly.
“They’re stiff and it makes the work
slow, and I got some berries and
couldn’t can them. I cried.”
“My gracious!” cried Letha! “How’d
you burn your arms?” She gazed shiv-
eringly at the red, livid streaks that
stretched from wrists to elbows.
“I had a kettle of potatoes on the
stove. They were burning and as I
reached to turn off the gas I slipped
and fell forward with my outstretched
arms. My hands went beyond the hot
iron and so escaped, but my arms! 1
didn’t sleep that night—and,” with a
laugh, “neither did Mr. Brenson. But
they’ll be well enough to work with.
I'm starting dinner early today because
my brother is coming out.” x
“Why didn’t you let some of us
know?” Letha demanded. “We’d have
been glad to run in and do your work.
“I din’t know any of you,” murmur
ed Mrs. Brenson. Her face was pink.
Letha’s own face grew red. They had
been standoffish. If Mrs. Wilkins,
though, hadn’t been so free with her
tales of waste (Letha caught herself up
with a mental jolt.) She was as much
to blame for listening as the other for
telling. She hurried to make what
amends she could. “Now, Mrs. Bren
son,” determinedly, “you just put away
those potatoes, put off your apron and
come over to my house for dinner. I
insist. It won’t be a bit of bother. No,
it won’t. And you can watch from my
porch for your husband and brother.”
As she finished Letha was flying home
to begin preparations. And presently
Mrs. Brenson followed. She watched
Letha’s sw*ift, skillful movements with
open envy, and presently confessed that
she had been married only a short time
and was retarded as much by ignorance
as by the burned arms.
“You couldn’t be any more stupid than
I was in the beginning,” said Letha.
“Hello, here’s my husband! Vernon,
you go out and watch for Mr. Brenson
and Mrs. Brenson’s brother. They’re
coming here for dinner, and they don’t
know it! Hurry! They’ll be in the
house.” *
And she pushed him out. He seemed
lather dazed and anxious to say some
thing. But almost in. a minute he was
back -with Air.' Brenson" and a large,
pompous man, whose only point of re
semblance to his sister was a pair of
pleasant blue eyes. She introduced him
as Mr. Colton. Letha did not remark
the name. She was wondering what
had upset Vernon, who seemed to be
holding back a nervous chill or a con
vulsion. But presently she understood.
It was after Air. Colton had been helped
four times to strawberry jam.
“Mrs. Vernon,” he said, “I’m going to
raise your husband’s salary. Any man
that had sense enough to pick out a
woman that can fix up that combination
deserves it. And if you’ll show Bessy
here how to make it I’ll make him gen
eral manager.”
Letha joined in the laugh. But when
they had gone home afterward she
looked at Vernon with an expression far
from laughter. “Just think! If I’d
never gone near her! I guess I’ll wait
after this before judging.”
If-aniBaBsaK! THAT aHnsHHBBHBSBBBBBBBaBBBBMMBMMBuR
I “Blue” Feeling 3E3& i
- against you—that’s
your system’s way
a
a
b
B 1
•I telegraphing yon that something is WRONG and needs HELP.
It may b« that your liver is tired and refuses to work, or your
digestive organs have had too much to do and need care. Perhaps
you have been eating the wrong kind of food, and your blood is too
rich or impoverished. What you need is a tonic.
Pr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery
will give the required aid. Tones the entire system. The v^eak stomach is
made strong. Thtf liver vibrates with new life. The blood is cleansed of all
impurities and carries renewed health to every vein and nerve and muscle and
organ of the body. No more attacks of
the “blues.” Life becomes worth while
again, and hope takes place of despair.
Insist on getting Dr. Pierce
Golden Medical Discovery.
Sold by dealers in medicines.
i
:
s
I
a
SI
a
!
President, World's Dispensary
Medical Association, Buffalo, N. Y.
mm
■B
the schemes that he might devise, there
occurred to him one possible way that
he might save his kingdom, and this
thought was made possible by the ori
ental ideas at that time. He conceived
the idea that if he could conjure Israel
or cause some magic spell over them,
he might take them under his power.
Away over in Mesopotamia, on the Riv
er Euphrates, at the City of Pethor,
liver a noted man by the name of
Balaam. He was a sooth-sayer and a
diviner, and great in the east country,
the land of his fathers, and his fame
had spread as far west as the land of
Moab. Balak, therefore, dispatched
messengers of high rank and with a
large bounty to Balaam, requesting that
he come and curse these people that
had come out of Egypt and had encamp
ed on his domain.
Balaam was a strange person. He
was a man of a good many parts. He
had spiritual discernment. Away off in
that eastern country, among heathen
people, he not only knew the true God,
but had' some conception of His ways
as well. When answering the messen
gers of Balak. he said that he would ask
God what He w*ould have him do, and
that he could only speak the words
which were given him.
REFUSES WITH REGRETS.
During the night, God appeared to
him, and told him in very unmistakable
language that he should not go with
these messengers, that he should not
curse these people, for they w*ere bless
ed. And so in the morning, Balaam re
ported the result of his interview with
God, and sent word to Balak that he
would like to come, but could not, since
God would not let him. Just here, Ba
laam made his first mistake. He
should have refused without regrets.
Balak knew what Balaam’s weak
point w*as. He was a covetous man. He
desired honor and large gifts. The
thing uppermost in liis mind was in
his reply to the messengers of Balak—
if Balak should give me his house full
of silver and gold, I cannot but speak
the words which God gives me. Realiz
ing, therefore, Balaam’s pious refusal,
Balak sent other messengers 4 to him
of higher rank, and with them, a larger
bounty. He knew that all Balaam needed
was for him to meet his price.
When they came to Balaam he should
have refused without further ado. God
had already spoken to him, revealing to
him His will in this matter. Balaam
had no right to try to wrest from God
His consent. However, he wanted the
prize, and so told the messengers to
w*ait until morning, and he would find
cut what God’s plan was for him. If
we had had his prayer written" down
for us, it might have been something
like this: “O, God, I would like very
much to have this gift that the king
seds me. If you will let me go,'I will
promise you not to speak anything but
w*hat you say.”
Well, God allowed him to go. Some
times the greatest punishment God can
inflict upon us is to let us have our
own way. In fact, in the closing chapter
of Revelation, we find that the punish
ment which was inflicted upon the
wicked was just this. “He that is
wicked, let him be more and more
wicked; and he that is righteous, let
him be more and more righteous.” The
day comes finally when God lets the
man alone, removes from him the re
straining influences, and lets him have
his own way. And his end is destruc
tion.
Balaam was greatly elated, and set
off next morning in great glee in Ba-
lak’s direction. But God was not ready
yet to let him go. He was determined
t9 put every obstacle in the way of his
doing that w.hich was wrong, that was
possible, so he sent an angel to ob
struct his way, which the ass seeing,
turned aside from. Balaam went on
doing -wrong. He did not see it,/ and
beat the ass. A little further on, the
angel stood in in a narrow way between
two walls of a vineyard, and the ass
trying to escape, crushed Balaam’s foot
against the stony wall. . Balaam, still
blinded by his sin, beat the ass again.
The third time, the angel stood in a por
tion of the road so narrow that it was
not possible to get by him, ahd the
ass laid down under Balaam. Again, he
beat his beast. Then God opened the
mouth of the ass, so that with human
voice *he rebuked Balaam; and finally
Balaam’s eyes were opened so he, too.
saw* the angel. •
Now this ought to have been enough
of an intimation to Balaam, as to what
God’s will was, for him to turn back;
but persistant in his determination to
gain the coveted prize, he goes on under
instructions from the angel. Again, he
must speak only those words, which
God gives him.
BALAAM BLESSES.
Balak was delighted that at last he
had secured the renown spoth-sayer. By
his instructions, he carried him to a
high place and offered seven bullocks
on seven altars, then carried Balaam to
a point of advantage, where he might
view the camp of Israel, and asked
him to curse them, or conjure them.
Then Balaam opened his mouth, and in
stead of the curse, pronounced fne of
the greatest blessings that could come
upon any nation.
BalaK was disappointed, but nof de
feated. He suggested to Balaam that
he come to another pdace from which
he could see only the hindmost part
of the camp of Israel, so that now he
would curse instead of bless. If the
devil can get us to see things from
another viewpoint he sometimes suc
ceeds in gaining his point. But, here,
after consulting God ,again t Balaam
shows to Balak the fruitlessness of any
enchantment or divinations against
these people, whom God has blessed, and
prophesied that their history shall be
such that when people view* they shall
be impressed with one thought—“what
hath God wrought!” •
Balak was outraged. He dismissed
Balaam in anger, and sent him on his^
way home without any of the honor or
any of the silver and gold w*hich he had
intended to give him, had he done as
he wished. How far Balaam went we
do not know, but we are told, through
his counsel the Midianitish women were
used as a snare to Israel when he
found out that he could not curse Is
rael, he was not willing to &o home
without the reward, so he suggested
the shrewd, wicked scheme to weaken
the Jews by vice, when he could not
conquer them in any other way. He
recived his reward. Under God’s direc
tion, Moses sent out 100.000 picked
warriors against the Moabites and the
Atidianites, and amongst the list of
names of the princes that were slain is
found the name of Balaam. Ho loved the
wages of unrighteousness He was covet
ous. He sought to serve two masters.
He knew what was right, and did what
was wrong, because he loved the
w*ages. Although God used him, he
finally rejected him, and Balaam’s name
will ever be associated with the basest
of men and of sins.
Has Balaam any relatives today? Are
you one of them? Are you trying to
serve God and Mammon? What is your
price?
BALAAM’S FORECAST.
But let us turn aside for a moment
If your little one’s tongue is coated, it
is a sure sign the stomach, liver and
bowels need a gentle, thorough cleansing
at once: When your child is cross,
peevish, listless, pale, doesn't sleep, eat
or act naturally; if breath is bad, stom
ach sour, system full of cold, throat
sore, or if feverish, give a te;»ai?oonfvJ
of “California Syrup of Figs,” and in a
few hours all the clogged-up, constipat
ed waste, sour bile and undigested food
will gently move out of the bowels, and
you have a well, playful child again.
Sick children needn’t oe coaxed to take
this harmless “fruit laxative.” Millions
of mothers keep it handy because they
know* its action on the stomach, liver
and bowels is prompt and sure. They
also know a little given today saves a
sick child tomorrow.
Ask your druggist for a oO-cent bottle
of “California Syrup oi* Trigs,” which
contains directions for babies, children
of all ages and for grown-ups plainly
on the bottle. Beware of counterfeits
sold here. Get the genuine, made by
“California Fig Syrup Company.” Don’t
be fooled!—(Advt.)
from Balaam to the people whom he
blessed. Those were remarkabler prophe
cies which he uttered with reference to
the people of Israel. Some of them were
fulfilled to the letter at that time, but
there were some which have never yet
been fulfilled in all of their fullness.
The Jew is the greatest miracle of his
tory. As Balaam said, he shall he sepa
rated from the nations, he shal be a
holy nation, and be has a great future.
One of the most remarkable facts of
history is this, that though scattered
over every land, the Jews have remained
a distinct people, with distinct charac
teristics, both of feature and of life.
While they lack a land, a language, and,
literature, the three things which usu
ally make up a nation they are yet u
distinct nation. God has kept them sep
arate, although dispersed amongst the
nations.
Where they have been true to their
ideals they have been a nation noted for
uprightness, and one marvels when he
thinks of the future that is before these
people. The prophecies relating to their
curse if they turn away from God have
been fulfilled since, as a people, they re
jected the Messiah; but that very fact
is an earnest one of the other fact that
the prophecies relating to their future
blessing will be fulfilled in that day,
when they have turned to Him whom
they once rejected. Recall that worn
derful prophecy of Zechariah: “In that
day I will pour out upon the house of
David the spirit of grace of supplica
tion, and they shall look upon Me whom
they pierced, and shall mourn for Him
as for an only son.” The Hebrew word
translated Me In that passage is com
pared to the first and last letters of
the Hebrew alphabet. Aleph Tav. It
seems that realizing that there might
be some controversy as to whom this
would refer, Jesus, himself answered
it in his revelation to John. He said,
“Every eye shall see him, and they that
pierced him, and all the tribes of the
earth shall mourn over him, I am the
Aleph, Tav.” “The Alpha and • the
Omega,” the first and last letters of the>
alphabet, in which this book was writ
ten.
There are increasing numbers of in
dividual Jews today who are turning to
Him and accepting Him, whom they
once rejected, as their Lord and Mes
siah; and in every case they are a force
for righteousness. When .He return^
in persons, as He may do at any time we
know, because God’s word says so, the
Jew as a nation, will turn to Him and
accept Him as their long-looked-for
Alessiah, and finally they shall be the
greatest force for righteousness that
the world has ever seen. Under their
leadership the whole world will be con
verted and the kingdom be established.
Yes, Balaam was right. The Star
shall come out of Jacob and the Scep
tre out of Israel. He shall have domin
ion.
If you have ever said ought against
these people, chosen of God, repent of it,
for God has not rejected them; He has
merely set them aside for the time be
ing, until they real^zb their mistake,
and then the fullness of all the blessings
which Balaam prophesied will be theirs.
Ten men shall take hold of the skirt of t
him that is a Jew and shall -say, “We
will go with thee, for we have heard
that God is with thee.” The whole world
will follow them when they follow
Christ.
.
DOCTORS DID
NOT HELP HER
But Lydia E. Pinkham’s Veg
etable Compound Restored
Mrs. LeClearis Health—
Her Own Statement.
Detroit, Mfch.— “I am glad to dis
cover a remedy that relieves me from
my suffering gpd
pains. For two years
I suffered bearing
down pains and got
all run down. I was
under a nervous
strain and could not
sleep at night. I
went to doctors here
in the city but they
did not do me any
good.
“SeeingLydia E.
Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound adver
tised, I tried it. My health improved
wonderfully and I am now quite well
again. No woman suffering from fe
male ills will regret it if she takes thi3
medicine.”—Mrs. James G. LeClear,
336 Hunt St., Detroit, Mich.
Another Case.
Philadelphia, Pa. — “Lydia E. Pink
ham’s Vegetable Compound is all you
claim it to be. About two or three
days before my periods I would get bad
backaches, then pains in right and left
sides, and my head would ache. I called
the doctor ar.d he said I hid organic in.
flammation. I went to him for a while but
did not get well so I took Lydia E. Pink
ham’s Vegetable Compound. After tak
ing two bottles I was relieved and finally
my troubles left me. I married and
have two little girls. I have had no re
turn of the old trosbles. ”—Mrs. Chas.
Boell, 2650 S. Chadwick St, Phila.,Pa.
V,7
1 '