Newspaper Page Text
Irwin County Hews.
SYCAMORE, GA.
Eighty years ago,Spain's territory in
tbe new world amounted to 5,000,000
square miles. Of tlrs empire Cuba
and Porto Rico are the only remnants,
50,000 square miles.
Italy, the home of music, lias com¬
missioned its Mini ster of Public In¬
struction to study England’s great
music schools, with the idea of gaining
hints for use at home.
Says the Chicago News: “Every one
will be sorry to hear that General
Weyler’s horse was shot. If only the
bullet had gone a trifle higher the
poor animal might have been saved.”
In spite of 3824 new wells put down
in the past twelve months, the supply
of natural gas is falling off' steadily,
and it is claimed that a cheaper and
better gas will eventually be obtained
front petroleum.
The island of Porto Rico is more
populous than Cuba, quite as rich
and productive and almost as disaf¬
fected. The Spanish government has
been obliged to increase its forces
there for fear of an outbreak.
Arrangements are being made foi
the establishment of a warehouse in
Mexico where samples of American
goods will be exhibited by competent
agents in order to iaeilitate United
States trade with Mexico, It is not
yet decided at what point the ware¬
house will be located, but it will be at
some central city.
The good people of Yenosa, the an
cient Yenusium, have just wakened to
the fact that 1900 years ago a poet of
the name of Horace was born in that
city, and they intend to commemorate
the fact by a statue. The memory of
Horace needs no monument of stone
to keep it green in the hearts oi
scholars, declares the New Orleans
Picayune.
The German carp introduced in
American waters a few years ago
prove destructive to other fish, and
fortunately they seem to be on the
decrease. The Legislature of New
Jersey imposes a heavy fine on any
person who iuLriduces these fish in the
Imissioners yyaters ofpflKate, an 1 the havtToome fish eom-
of New to
a like decision.
Prison labor is taking another tun
in England, The commissioners of
prisons have recently arranged to sup¬
ply a London firm with a large num-
her of bead blinds, similar to those
used in Japan. These are to be made
by the female prisoners and is the
most recent industry introduced with
a view to the total abolition of oakum-
picking by women.
Meehan’s Monthly says that Califor¬
nians are trying to place on record
who Bnd m wbat part of the State
started the great business of fruit
raising which now distinguishes that
State from all in the union. So far it
seems to be in favor of a Mr. Wolf-
skill, who planted eighty' acres of
apricots and peaches and 6000 grapes
in the town of Winters, in Selma
County, in 1851. In 1855 the first
apricots from these trees were sold.
In one of the Erckmann-Cbatrian
novels there is a vivid description of
the joy in a French village when a
native returned to it and brought
what they called “pa rings” of a
strange plant that he told them could
be cut into small sections and planted,
and in due time would produce great
balls of good food. This was early in
the last century, when the misery of
the common people was extreme, and
when a little failure in good weather
for perlecting his crop brought the
peasant face to face with starvation.
Of course, these fruitful “pa-rings”
were to produce potatoes; and now it
is almost impossible to realize what a
boon their introduction was. The
London Field, in a late number, gives
an account of a celebration of the
tercentenary of tho introduction of
the potato into Ireland that was held
in Dublin a short time ago, under the
auspices of the Irish Gardeners’ Asso¬
ciation, in the Rotunda, As this
esculent is the “staple food of Ire¬
land,” its cultivation is naturally
carried to great perfection, and a
marvelous txhiuition was the result.
We become so accustomed to the
vegetable in our daily use of it that,
we forget how toothsome it is when
well cooked; and we can believe whati
one lady, who had taken no solid loofi-.
for some weeks in consequence of an
injury to her jaw, said of a boiled
potato, which was what she was
allowed at first: “It was the pleasantest
food I ever tasted-"
WHEN LOVE COMES KNOCKING
4 AT THE GATE.”
When 'Ll comes knocking at thy gate,
Bid l\»t once depart.
tie will >»iatlent, and will wait
The bli.Mug ot thy heart.
Tell him heknooketh there in vain.
That he may ne'er come in.
He’ll smiling leave—but come again,
Thy loving heart to win.
Then whon at last ho knocks In tears.
Oh, open wide lovo’s gate.
He’ll soon forget hi? foolish fear3,
And vow 'twas sweet to wait!
—William H. Gardner.
WON BY WAITING.
N one of the turret
8 ) rooms of lioitzen-
berg castle, a
young girl ar-
rayed in a simple
dress and white
apron, sat sewing
7~ IS industriously. At
the soiwid ot foot¬
steps she paused
m. ml 7 the her sight work; of a
Hussar
in uniform she
reddened with
vexation. Yet
there was nothing in Albrecht von
Reitzeuberg’s appearance to annoy
her ; on the contrary, he was young,
very good looking, tali, and of digni¬
fied bearing.
“Will you allow me to come in?” he
asked, standing on the threshold.
The girl took up her work again.
“You can come iu if you wish,” she
said indifferently. “I have
He walked across the room.
a proposal to make for you, Barone,ss
Irma. Will you give me your atten¬
tion for a little while?”
She looked at him indignantly; she
had a sweet oval face and deep gray
eyes.
“I prefer not to listen to you,
Count Albrecht.”
“I thought you would say so!”
(there was something like a ring of
triumph in his voice), but indeed my
proposal is very harmless. Let us
come to an understanding."
There was uncertain distrust in her
eyes.
“Yes,” continued ihe young officer,
“I know that you have every reason
to be offended. You have been most
unfairly treated.”
“I have been invited to this house
under false pretenses. I catne be¬
cause I thought that the visit would
give pleasure to Frau von Wolde, who
fills, or is supposed to fill, the place
of my mother. I am sorry to speak
disrespectfully of your cousin, but—”
“Not at all. You are perfectly
right, and my relative, Frau vou
Wolde, is in the plot, and has boon
from the beginning, I know all
about it now. I, as the heir bf Reitz-
motioning castle—you will excuse my
my name first ?-have re-
eetvcil orders to offer my hand and my
debts, m marriage to the Baroness
rma von Buchow, who on attaining
her majority will become possessed of
so large a fortune that she could free
tne Reitzenberg es ate with a stroke
of her pen Nay, hear me out; this
lady was to have been kept in igno-
ranee of the plan, but that the fnend
and chaperon could not resist the tem-
tation oi giving her a lr,nt as to how
matters stand, alter she had become
the guest of the castle. Is this so?”
( l Yes.” She stood by his side now
and the suul.ght jus touched the
coils of her auburn hair. I have
been deceived, cruelly deceived.
“Under tbe circumstances nothing
remains for me but to give you the
opportunity of expressing your opinion
as to this tyrannous family compact
even more decidedly than you have
done already. Baroness Irma oi
Buchow, will you consent to give me
your hand in marriage?”
“Count Albrecht of Reitzenberg, I
thank you for the honor which you
have shown me. I will not.”
They stood facing each other, and
as Irma looked at her strange wooer
she saw a faint smile in his eyes. Her
own anger was beginning to evapo¬
rate; he really was behaving well,
considering that the Reitzenbergs
were renowned for their hasty tem-
pers.
“Youadmit,” she said, after a pause,
“that I have been awkwardly placed.”
“I admit that you have been inhos¬
pitably, abominably treated ! I blush
to think that a member of our family
could have dreamed of such a scheme.
In order to show you how penitent I
anf, now that 1 have received my dis¬
missal, I will immediately leave the
house and rid you of my presence.”
“If you do that, Count Albrecht, I
shall be worse off than ever. You
don’t know your cousin, Frau von
Wolde. She will insist upon my re¬
maining here for three months, as was
arranged; she will reproach me for
your absence, she will argue and make
one dislike you more than ever, if—”
“If possible?”
His good humor was irresistible;
she burst into a merry laugh.
For another half hour the rejected
suitor remained in conversation with
the heiress, and at the end of that time
they, too, had made a plot. Albrecht
was to remain at the castle, he and the
Baroness Irma were to pretend to be
on amicable terms, and the two con¬
spirators (the count and the chaperon)
were not to learn until the last day of
the visit had expired that their hopes
had failed.
“I will endeavor to make your visit
as little irksome to you as possible,”
explained tha heir of Reitzenberg;
“and we can behave as if there were
no enmity between us.”
“Yes,” (there was still a little doubt
in her voice and manner,) “I think
that I can trust you.”
“Come," he said gently, “Baroness
Irma, is it a truce between us signed
and sealed?”
He took her hand in his, and bend-
lng it, raised her fingers to hie 1
over
lips.
The master of tho castle was the
first to begin hostilities. One day,
toward the end of the three months’
visit, Irma came into tho drawing
room to find the whole party awaiting
her arrival, and in an instant she per¬
ceived that something was wrong.
Frau von Wolde had been shedding
tears, the old count’s brow was olouded
with anger, and Albrecht! —Irma
hardly dared folook at him, so changed
was his aspect. It was too clear that
the termination of the pleasant com¬
panionship of the last few weeks was
to be war.
“My clear Baroness Irma,” said the
count, advancing to meet his young
guest with ceremonious politeness, “I
ura exceedingly pleased to see you.
y our v i H ,t here has given mo great
satisfaction. Yon honored this house
w ith y 0 ur presence, with the full con-
gen (; 0 f y 0ur gnurdian and my esteemed
oous j ni Frau von Wolde. I had hoped,
I without grounds, that the friend-
ship between you and my heir was
gradually ripening into a deeper and
| more lasting feeling. Tho alliance is
i one which must give satisfaction to all
I interested in our families. Imagine
! our distress on hearing to-day from my
nephew that you have refused his pro¬
posal of marriage.” toward Albrecht;
lima looked Count
something that she read in his wrath¬
ful mien made her hesitate as she an¬
swered: “It is quite true; we are
friends, and nothing more.”
“It cannot bo, my dear young lady,
that so young a maiden should have
given away her preference without
the consent or knowledge of her
guardian? Answer me candidly; are
affections
The color surged into Irma’s cheeks
and left them again. She glanced at
Frau von Wolde. There was no help
for her there. ( “This is a question
which you have no right to ask, Count
Reitzenberg, and which I refuse to
auswer. I must beg you to excuse
mo.”
“The Baroness Buchow is right!”
burst in Albrecht. “She has suffered
enough at our hands already. She
shall not be thwarted in her will. If
she honors me with her friendship, I
accept it gratefully. Listen to me,
my uncle, I refuse to be a party to
your scheme.”
He rose and held the door wide
open. There was no smile on his face
now ; his eyes were full of trouble as
they rested on hers. He did not offer
to take her hand in farewell. He
stood there in mute distress as she
passed by—a fair, girlish figure, in j
her white dress, her laces and blue
ribbons—and she passed h ; m w’lLout
a word. The truce between them was
over.
The forest spread its wide wmgs Irma !
even as far as the castle garden.
loved the green paths and quiet
shades, and here she came with her .
book the morning after her interview nded
with the com , t ’ snd prete to, !
^ tll0u U ghe kept h er eyes
on t| ^e read there only j
Albrecht’s parting \- words-he
\ ted ber offer 0 friendship grate-
^ Driven tQ b as it were , in
t h that was what be
jd During f the Ja8t three
h h ba(J c( me to understand
” # Jjj8 n ri bt „ eS5) bis
^ ge 3e of hono r. He would
a woma n-though she
we f e a P™ . 0 *-to , whom i he . could n „,11
not , h.s love.
give
,
' nearly
h maile him hate me at
drgt >> Did he hate her now?
she shut P h book and wanf i e red
m further into the wood, down a
hillsiJe d ith fern an d moss,
a stream that ran between
hi ; h rooks> ohaUe rmg and foaming on
J 0n the further side of the
stream . tract oi open country, ,
was a
clotted with clumps of trees and under¬
wood and bright with heather. The
stepping stones were half covered with
water to-day; the current was running
fiercer than its wont. She bethought
herself of a rustic bridge a few yards
further down.
The bridge hung high in the air,
supported by rough pine stems; it
was picturesque but a fragile affair.
Half way across Irma put her hand on
the rail—how noisy the stream was!
—it snapped off at her touch, one
wooden plank tottered under her feet,
another fell with a splash into the
water below, Slie had plenty of
courage; she was light and active.
She knew, moreover, that she could
easily leap that formidable-looking
gap aud gain the bank, She was
about to make the attempt when she
was stopped by a peremptory shone;
“Gently, gently ! Jump from that
projecting stem; it is safe 1”
She looked up; on the edge of the
heather-covered rook stood Albrecht
Reitzenberg.
She paused uncertain, half inclined
to retrace her steps. Perceiving her
hesitation, he raised his voice and
shouted still louder above the clamor
of the rushing water :
“Can you hear me, Baroness Irma?”
She nodded assent.
( 4 Step there—to the left. Do not
look back!”
Involuntarily she obeyed. He held
out his arms, the gulf yawned between
them, he could be of no belp.
“The stem will bear your weight.
Do not be in too great a hurry.”
(“Why does he look so grave?”
thought Irma; “is he still angry?”)
“I had better return the way I
came, Count Albrecht. Do not trouble
on my account.”
“No; do as 1 direct you. You see
which is the best place to stand? Drop
your book, it might be in your way,
and jump as far as you can. Now!”
One spring, and Irma was safe on
the moss heather, while the plank on
which she had thought to stand slipped
slowly but surely into the foaming
water. Albrecht held her hands clasped
in his.
“Thank heaven that you are Rate 1”
he cried. “Oh! Irma, my Irma, I
oould not stop yon. I oamo just too
late for that. I could only look on in
agony. Are you frightened? Are
you hurt?”
“I am not hurt. I did not know
that it was dangerous; I did not, in¬
deed.”
She saw him turn pale at the
thought of her peril, and the tears
•which she had not shed for horself fell
fast for his distress.
“The bridge should have boen de¬
stroyed long ago; it shall be done to¬
day. I did not dare to join you, or to
speak till you had passed the worst. If
you had been killed—ah! I cannot
bear to think of it—I should never
have known another day’s happiness,
and it would have been my fault—
mine! How could I let you wander
about alone when I was longing to bo
with you? My Irma, my best-beloved !
Thank heaven that I have you safe at
last. Surely we have played at being
friends and enemies long enough?
Look at me and say that you love
mo?”
When he had made her an offer of
marriage three long months ago she
had been ready with her refusal. Now,
whon her whole heart was his, she
oould find no words amid her tears ex¬
cept, “I love you ! I love you!”
It was enough for him. “My bride,
my wife J" he said, and held her in his
arms.
The green ferns rustled and whis¬
pered, the beeches tossed their boughs
in the sunlight, the rod squirrels
played in the oak trees, the whole
wood was full of life and joy at that
moment when the lovers plighted their
troth. — Woman at Home.
Corn-Stalk Armor for Battleship!.
A new scheme has been devised for
tbe protection of men-of-war, which,
if put into operation, will make these
look even more cumbersome than they
do at present. This new plan involves
no additional Haryeyized steel or fur¬
ther coating of seventeen inch armor
to protect the chip from hostile guns.
Upou the other hand, the new armor
is to be made of no less a substance
than corn stalks. With a covering of
this substance, chopped fine and
pressed into a hard, solid mass, it is
said that no man-of-war can be sunk.
Shot and shell may go through her,
her bottom may be* ripped open by
torpedoes, and she may even have a
hole punched in her side by a Pam,
and yet float. This marvel is to be ac¬
complished by the simple action of
the water.
The water having once gained access
to the corn-stalk armor, which lies
along the whole outside of the ship
under a thin covering of steel, the
vegetable sacking swells so rapidly as
to soon close the hole. Tests made by
naval officers have shown that this
curious corn-stalk packing, when once
wet, swells with a force that is irre¬
sistible.
ih e of the , great ship- , .
, builders, , has purchased the patents
on this new process.
Cut up into huge slabs, like the
steel armor which is made at the Car-
negie works, this vegetable substance
will be loaded on freight cars and
shipped from the agricultural districts
where corn is plentiful to the sea¬
board. There it will be packed and
screwed into place in the sides of our
new men-of-war.
According to the plans which have
been drawn up this curious substance
is to be placed outside of the heavy
armor of our men-of-war from a dis¬
tance about eight feet above the water
line to the keel on both sides. It will
run from stem to stern, thus covering
the whole submerged portion of tho
vessel.
Seen from ihe outside yon would
not know a corn-clad vessel when you
saw one, as the vegetable armor would
be protected by a steel covering that
is to be made waterproof. The corn
armor will, however, add considerably
to the bulk of our men-of-war.—New
York Journal.
A Bear’s Trip in a Balloon,
There is a bear out at Sioux City,
Iowa, that goes up in a balloon. He
made an ascension at Crystal Lake
some time ago in the presence of 1000
persons. Bruno is a big black bear,
and the task of training him for an
ascension was no trifling one. He
had a natural aversion to a balloon,
and when he caught his first glimpse
of the great swaying globe he uttered
a growl of disapproval, and would
have Had but for the restraining hand
of his master, A. Hirbour.
After awhile he was induced to ap¬
proach the balloon. He put his head
over the side of the basket and snuffed
longingly at a small box of hooey on
the car’s bottom. Presently the limit
of temptation was reached, and a mo¬
ment later the big animal was in the
basket licking the honoy vigorously.
When Bruno was in the car tho rope
was loosened and the balloon shot up¬
ward, It had gone but a few feet
when the black head of the bear was
seen peering over the side, and the
movements of the car indicated that
he was wabbling about in consterna¬
tion and wishing he was out.
A rope was attached to the balloon
so that it could not rise above 3000
feet. As the balloon floated close to
the top of a big cottonwood tree
Bruno grabbed at its branches. The
balloon, with Bruno, floated around
iu the air for some time and finally
settled on the shore of Crystal Lake.
When Mr. Hirbour came up Bruno
was seated in a cornfield eating corn,
the abandoned ear of the balloon last
in a neighboring tree. Bear and bal¬
loon were uninjured.
Bruno has been taught to dance,
wrestle and do other tricks. It was'
Mr. Hirbonr’s intention to transform
Bruno into steaks and roasts, but ow¬
ing to the remarkable intelligence hi
has displayed the death sentence has
been revoked, and Bruno may now live
as long as he behaves himself.
A Palace ot Silver.
Edward Rosewater, chief of the Bu¬
Trans-Mississippi reau of Publicity and Promotion of tho
exposition, to bo
held in Omaha from .fune to Novem¬
ber, 1898, acting for the exposition di¬
rectors,yesterday approved and accept¬
ed tho plans of Architect S.S.Boman, of
Chicago, for a silver palace. This pal-
nco is to bo the most imposing feature
of the exposition and the central figure
in a portion of the grounds to be
called El Dorado.
The building is to be 400 square
feet, surrounded with mammoth orna¬
mental towers, and the entire struc¬
ture will be covered with rolled silver,
which will reflect the dazzling glories
of tho rising and setting sun. The silver
to be used in its external eovering will
be contributed by the minors of the
great West. Over 300,000 square feet
of external surface will be covered by
the precious metal.
It will arranged in the form of a
square, with open arcales and loggias
at each story, similar to the Venetian
palace, The corners will be adorned
with octagonal towers, terminating
with spires and pinnacles covered with
the shining metal.
Tbe crowning glory of tho palace
will be the central lantern, or spire,
which is octagonal in form, 250 feet
high and 150 feet in circumference.
The roof of the lantern will be of
glass. Wide avenues will traverse the
ground floor, at the intersection of
which elevators will asoend to the roof.
The interior of the building will be de¬
voted to a perfect and practical exem¬
plification of the uses of silver, from
the mine to its most intricate and ar¬
tistic adaptation to the beautiful in
art and the indestructible in science.
The contributions of silver will be in
the nature of a loan, and when the ex¬
position is over the building will bo
burned and the silver returnod to the
original owners.
Already the public-spirited citizens
who are managing the exposition have
secured subscriptions to the amount
of $400,000, Congress will be asked
to appropriate half a million dollars
for the erection of a building for Gov¬
ernment exhibits and tho transporta¬
tion ancl proper arrangement of the
great fair.—Chicago Times-Herald.
Revolution In the Boot Trade.
“The wooden peg, as far as the cob¬
bler is concerned, ” said Uncle George
Wayman, an old-time shoe cobbler,
“has about jilayed its part and will
never be heard of again. The steel
nail or tack ha3 taken its place, and is
used exclusively by cobblers now, ex¬
cept in building a heel, whore we can
run in a few wooden pegs before we
put on the last top, which is nailed on
with steel nails, The wooden peg
makes a much easier wearing job, but,
as nearly ail shoes are now factory
made and the welts put in them are
very thin, they are not strong enough
to hold the pegs so we can shave off
the ends. If we used the old-style
shaver it would cut the welt to pieces.
Shoes are manufactured so cheap in
the past few years that people find it
cheaper to buy a new pair of shoes
than to have them cobbled to any great
extent. Time was when shoes were
made so that they would wear out
three or four sets of heels and soles,
but that time has passed. It is rarely
these days that they will stand more
than one set of heels and soles. Eew,
very few, persons think of having
shoes made to order any more in com¬
parison to the large number in former
days. This ready-made shoe business
has been steadily growing for the
past twenty years. As for boots, ex¬
cept for a few old-fashioned persons
who will not change, they are seldom
made any more. Many is the hun¬
dred pair of boots I have made for the
older residents of Georgetown and
Washington. But all of my custo¬
mers of forty years ago are long since
dead. Why I am left over 1 do not
know, but I was taught and always
believed that God amoved in a myste¬
rious way His wonders to perform.
There was a time when 1 had a num¬
ber of customers who wore four pair
of boots in a year. I got from $10 to
$12 for each pair. I haven’t made a
pair of boots for over two years.”—
Washington Star.
The Human Braiu and Animal Brain.
The number, the extent, and the
significance of the resemblances and
peculiarities of tbe human brain con¬
stitute some of the mo3t difficult mor¬
phological problems. Compare the
appearance presented by the human
head cut in two in the middle and that
of the head of a chimpanzee which has
been prepared in the same manner.
Then compare the brain of a child at
birth, as seen from the side, with the
brain of a young chimpanzee. Upon
comparison of these two aspects of the
divided brains, the resemblances are
seen to be very much more numerous
and significant than the differences.
Indeed, the differences are insignifi¬
cant; the resemblances are startling.
Nobody has yet succeeded in defining
what it is that constitutes the human
brain as different from the brain of
any other animal. We may recognize
it. Any skilled anatomist would re -
cognize the human from the animal
brain; but that is a very different
thing from formulating the differences,
and that is what we aim at. It is one
of th3 objects for the remainder of my
life to be able to say in words what it
is that differentiates our brain from
the brain of other animals.—Arena.
Something New in Bread.
Another important discovery is that
of a new grain, a mongrel plant de¬
veloped from wheat and rye, which is
Baid to combine the most valuable
qualities of these two grains and to be
much more productive. The flour
made of this new grain is represented
to be of the most superior quality and
to be more nutritious than the finest
wheat flour, It is expected that the
new plant will proven most important
factor in the production of breadstuff's.
—Burlington Hawkeye.
SABBATH SCHOOL
IMTRKNATJOVAL LESSON FOB
, APRIL 4.
Besson Text: "Peter Working Mlro
oles,” Acts lx., 33-48—Golden
Text: Acts ix., 34—
Commentary.
32. "And it came to pass ns Peter passed
throughout all which quarters, he came down also
to the saints dwelt at Lyddu." The
last wo heard of P. ter lie was with John
preaching the word of tho Lord as they re¬
turned from Samaria to Jerusalem, having
witnessed the great work of the Lord
through 28). Philip in Samaria (chaptor viit.,
In Jerusalem the number ot disciples
multiplied believed greatly, and a great company of
the priests (chapter vi., 7). In all
the land tho ohurohes had rest, and wore btv
ing built up, and were multiplying, walking
in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of
tbe Holy Ghost (chapter ix., 81). Peter
seems to be itinerating a little and helping
the saints here and there. Notice this name
"sainlK.” We are not called to be saints,
but we are called saints (Bom. i„ 7, omitting
the italics; also I Cor. i., 2) by virtue of our
o ueu oas with. Christ. Every believer is a
saint.
33. "And there he found a certain man
named .’linns, which had kept his bed eight
years and was sick of the palsy." Wewould
infer that .Runs was one of the saints to
whom Peter came, and finding him in this
helpless condition be had compassion upon
him. Possibly TEmis and others had been
praying that the Lord would send some one
that way through whom health might come,
remembering Math, xviii., 10. How very
suggestive of the utter helplessness of the
sinner is the condition of this paralytic who
had been eight years in bed.
34. “And Peter said unto him, /Enas,
Jesus Christ maketh thee whole. Arise and
make thy bod. And he arose immediately.”
Peter was greatly used of the Lord in
the healing of the body as well as of the
soul. See chapters tii., 6, 7; v., IS, 16. It
would seem that some were healed even by
the shadow of Peter falling upon them.
35. "And all that dwelt at Lydda and
Saion saw Him. and turnsd to the Lord.”
God saw that this showing forth of His
power through Peter would bo the means of
many turning to Him. He does not heal all
who are sick, but to this day Ha does, both
with and without medicine, heal many who
are sick. He knows whether it is best for us
to abide here or be with Him at home, and
whether, well. Bidding here, it thing is best for us to be
sick or The great is to/ glorify ’
God that people may turn to Him (Phil, i.,
20: John xvil., 4).
38. “Now, there was at Joppa a certain
disciple named Tabitha, which Tliis by interpre-
tatiou is called Boreas, womau was
full of good works and alms deeds which
she did. She was a Christian indeed, one
of tho kind that is missed when she goes
away. All who truly receive Christ are
saved (John i., 12). Disciples are tbosewho
live upon His word a::d follow Him fully at
any cost (Luke xvi,, 26, 27). Those who are
both of these and also full of good works
and kindness to the poor must come speci¬
ally near to the heart of Christ, for He, be¬
ing full of the Spir.t, went about doing good
and healing "And it the oppressed. in those that
37. came to pass days
she was sick and died, whom, when they hart
washed, woskdays they laid her she in an is uppet absent chamber.” from her
Her over,
body and present with-the Lord; she hits de¬
parted to he with Christ, which 8): is far better
(Phil, i., 21, 23; II Cor. v., she has truly
experienced a great gain. We are not told
if her sickness was long nor if she suffered
much, but sho has gone from them, and all
they have of her is the body in which she
lived and wrought among them. No, they
have also her good works and blessed mem¬
ories of her.
38. "They sent unto him two men, desir¬
ing him that he would not delay to come to
them.” Lydda was not far from Joppa, and
the disciples, hearing that Peter was there,
sent thus urgently for him, for they longed
to have Dorcas with them once more. This
is the natural longing of the heart to keep
our loved ones with us even though we know
that their departure is their gain.
39. “All the widows stood by him weeping
and shewing the coats and garments which
Dorcas made while she was with them.”
I’ondly remembered by what she had done,
they make us think of the words; "Blessed
are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they
may rest trom their labors, and their works
to follow them”(Kev. xiv., 13).
40. “She opened her eyes, and when she
saw Peter she sat up.” Many miracles Peter, oi
healing had been wrought through
but this is his first ease of resurrection from
the dead. Alone with the dead body, he
poured out his soul to God, doubtless plead¬
ing the promises of God, the commission in
Math, x., 8, the assurance of John xiv., 12,
and withal asking in complete submission to
the will of God (John xiv., 13, 14; I John v..
14, 15). . He must have received some assur-
ance that his request was granted, for he
turned to the body sat'up, and said, “Tabitha,
arise.” And she looking upon him.
41. And lie gave her his hand and lifted
her up, aud when he had called tho saints
and widows presented her alive.” There are
three resurrections of the dead in the Old
Testament, three in the life of Christ, and
this is the first of three after his ascension
(Acts xiv., 19, 20; xx„ 12). We have no
rteord of any utterances of those who had
been dead and had been brought back to this
world. Paul says it was not possible (II for him
to utter what he beard in paradise Oar.
xii., 4), doubtless when he was stoned tc
death at Lystra. known throughout all
42. "And it was
Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.” The
resurrection of Lazarus led to many believ¬
ing on Jesus (John xll., 11), and hero is an-
oth> r ease in which the Lord saw that a res¬
urrection would be the means of leading
manv to Him. It does not seem as If Dorcas
would have been sent from paradise hack to
earth without her consent. She may hava
been informed of the results that would fol¬
low. and for the sake of winning these souls
: o Christ for Christ’s sake she doubtless came
back cheerfully lor His p ensure. We do not
know of any results from the resurrection oi
the many who rose when Christ did (Math,
xxvii,. 52, 53), but there was a reason fot
their resurrection, aud no doubt the result
which God intended. I think they went with
Christ to glory, while the nine previous.y re¬
ferred to probably died again. ha tarried
<43. “And it came to pass that
am: nv days in Joppa with one Simon, a tan-
n«r. ” And here we will find him in our next
lesson. Preaching the gospel, healing with the
sick, raising tho dead or Master’s ju-t tarrying
Simon, ho Ss about his business mid
doing as occasion serves him, knowing that
God is with him (1 Sain, x., 7),— Lusson
Helper.
When the Legislature of Nebraska
enacted a law two years ago offering a
bounty for the destruction of the Rus¬
sian thistle, it was with the notion that
the thistle was a dangerous and un¬
mitigated nuisance. Now, however, it
has been demonstrated that the plant
is valuable both as fodder and fuel,
and the act is to be repealed. This
interesting little incident affords a
practical illustration of Emerson’s
theory that “a weed is a plant whose
good uses have not been found out ”
Arbor day has spread until it has
reached the Pacific coast and in many
parts of California, Oregon and Wash¬
ington it is duly observed. The school
grounds, cemeteries and other public
places are usually selected for the tree
planting ceremony and the school
children perform the greater part of
the work.