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% 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 '