Burlington weekly free press. [volume], January 23, 1908, Page 11, Image 11

About Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928

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II
"I nln't dttink," Matthews declared.
"I never been drunk. My stonilck ain't
big 'uough to hold th reequlsslt
amount."
There was more laughter. The In
terpreter, well pleased with himself,
lurve.ved his nudlencc, pointing tho
cigar, now up, now down, no thnt Its
Slowing end threatened to burn his
shirt collnr or, tilting skyward, all
but singed what there wns of n tow
.vebrow.
"And thnt nln't the best part of the
Itory," he went on. "Ah I was snylu',
"My frtend, ioti'il hist to tuo thousand
picttu 60OH."
not a darned pound of Ice was left In
Boston. Wi'll, what d' think my
old man does? He rents the fastest
coast steamer he can find. Then lie
goes way up north in tho Atlantic nud
lays to with his weather eye open.
Day or two long comes a' Iceberg bin
ns a house, and, by , he hitches to
It, and Boston gits ice!"
And now, like a ponderous bobcat
descending upon its prey, Brndcn stole
soft footed across tho room. "Nick!"
he said. Ills Jaws came together with
the click of a steel trap.
Mntthcws lowered bis heels. ".lump
In' buffalo'" he cried In amazement.
"Al Bra len' Whore 'd you come
frorj?" He took the other's hand, at
the same time pulling him slowly to
wanl the lour. Away from the crowd,
they brought up.
"Well, you're a nice one!" wna Bra
den's answer. "You're a nice ono!
"Lettln' that bend slip through your
Bngersi"
Ali the Interpreter's cocksurcness wus
gone. He threw the cigar into the
tnnd box under the stove and looked
on the verge of following It.
"Say, yon talk of lleecln'!" taunted
Braden. "Why, you been skinned clean
's a whistle! And by u' old fool duffer
from Texas!"
"I was at Podge when ho come,"
M'Tlcd Matthews llnding his voice.
"What you go streakin' off to Dodge
for after the tip I glw?"
"Well, uo one here was tulkln' rail
road, so I well, I'-
Bradea addressed the ceiling, his fat
hands outspread. "No one here was
talkln' railroad; no one here wus talkln'
railroad," he mimicked.
"so I didn't put much stock In your
letter"
"You didn't, eh?" Braden searched a
coat pocket, found a newspaper clip
ping and thrust it under Matthews'
nose. "Well, read that!"
"Bead it yourself," said Mntthcws.
"You know blamed well"
Braden interrupted him by begin
ning. He lowered his voice and in
toned, giving the Interpreter a glance
designed to wilt him with the words
that called for stres:
" "The proposed line will open up n
country of rich grasses and ground
and of unexcelled hunting. The In
dians, while still troublesome beyond
the Missouri, are rapidly being brought
to see the advisability of remaining on
the reservations, and little more an
noyance on their part may be appre
hended. Fort Brannon, lie declares, is
In tho bands of several hundred brave
fighting men and may bo looked upon
as a place of certain refngo in case of
n outbreak. The soldiers are proving
to bo sucli a menace to those Indians
who will not agree to reservation life
that whole bands of the more savage
redskins are leaving for the bad lands
and flie rougher country farther west.
No Indian war parties have been seen
east of the big river for some time. Al
ready there Is an increasing Interest In
land along the survey, and it Is be
lieved that when the last ties of the
now lino are laid there will be few un
claimed quarter sections between the
Big Sioux nnd the Missouri.'
"There!" Braden wound up, "And
rradln' begun already at the Missis
sippi!" "The h-I you say!"
"Believe me now, won't you? Didn't
they have u banqult, with champagne)-?
All the state big bugs, head mtr
veyor, and so on!"
"Too bad!"
"That's what I say, and I'll say
more. Of course wo was to go part
ners on this thing. So far, so good,
but here you nin't did your half, nnd
you enn't kick if I deal from now on
with old man Lancaster."
Matthews understood. "By , I
done my best!" he cried. "Y' can't
come any of that on me, Braden!"
"Keep on your shirt, Nick; keep on
your shirt. I looked Into this thing at
Bismarck, and under the law you ain't
got ouo right. Lancaster owns that
bend, nnd if I pay him out of my own
money why ain't It square?"
Tho Interpreter liuug his bend,
"Of course," Braden went on, "I'd
rather divvy. I can see he's otie of
them, greedy old ducks that's hard to
talk money with. Maybe you can think
up how to get the land back."
Matthews loaned close, "I had a
scheme"- ho nodded south In tho di
rection of Medicine mountain -"but tho
reds can't come. I had t' go slow.
There's women In th' fambly. Nat'lly
nil tho men up and down the Muddy
want t' see Lancaster stay, There's
been n dude fr'm Bismarck here off
nnd on- tony cuss, sleeps between
Kheots, nlco about his paws ns a cat.
He's been ready t' tnttlo or roll a gun."
Braden willfod. "What trick 'a ho
played 5"
Mntthcwa evaded the question, "I
seen ono of the Clark outilt," ho con
tinued, "and tried f Kit him f bother
old llmpy. Says I, 'Tbey's stealln'
your alow elk down there.' Wasn't any
use. 'ThundorHtlonl' says the cow
punch. 'You mean that bull? He was
a yearlln' when he come to 'em. That's
ninvorlck age.' "
Brnden sneered. "Such a kid!" he
murmured. "Why didn't you lay low
and not no butting down their door7
Why didn't you lose the old man nnd
snub up ono of tho girls marry her?
Big one's a rip snortln' beauty; pert,
by Jingo, as a prairie dog!"
"She'd send me n-flyln," urged Mat
thews. "But th' little one"
"Sure! You're a good looker hand
some If you'd fix yourself up some."
"If I could git rid of the old manl It
I could I Aw, come t' think, what I got
that lout of a brother for? Easy with
Indlnns to lay It on. Blnze the way foi
'Bn'bo'--he's a saphead but he knows
enough to follow a spotted line."
"Go careful."
"I'll try to senre 'em off."
"Huh! Folks that ain't afraid te
come this far in a schooner, Indians ot
no Indians, ain't likely to stampede at
one white."
"You don't know how I menu."
"Go ahead. No use our brayln' like j
srarveu jacansses. uo Homoimn . ion
was a fool to ever let 'em winter."
Matthews clinched his fists. "Well,"
he said, "they won't winter again!"
CHATTER XX.
f r 1AVID BOND was on his kneel
I I J I In the bed of his wagon be
fcrSEFi nenth tho high board cross.
Before him he held nn open
Bible, but he was not reading. His
head was uncovered. His beard was
lifted. Hlf. eyes closed In prayer. Be
side him knelt Squnw Charley, with
hands prt.sed together, ns If reverent,
with shoulders bent lower than their
wont, with shifting, downward look.
North of the barracks on the road
thnt led from the steamer landing th
two hnd met In tho early hours to sny
good by .
Swift on the first hint of coming
trouble the evangelist had made ready
for his long Journey to the west. Shad
rach was shod, his master fitting tho
plates to the shaggy hoofs. The run
ners were taken from the green box
nnd replnced by the red wheels. Can
led food, salted meat, hard tack and
forage vere boxed or sroked at the
kutler'r. Tho harness was greased. A
new null was driven home through the
base of the sagging cross.
During these preparations the post
Joined in an effort to damp the aged
preacher's hopes and to check his go
ing. He was needed at Brannon, they
said, so that the regiment could be
rid of Matthews. His belief that he
could talk peace terms to the hostiles
was ludicrous. As for the Jamleson
women, they were dead or they would
have been returned long since to savo
the four condemned from hnnglug.
And his own life wns to be uselessly
endangered. Already out upon the
prairie Indian scouts were keeping
watch. He might be able, though
alone and unarmed, to pass them nud
reach the coulees beyond, but he would
only fall Into the murderous clutches
of the savages swarming there.
David Bond smiled when they ar
gued. His faith was as firm as the
bluffs that ramparted the fort, nnd his
old heart was unafraid. With him
against the rest ranged two men
Robert Fraser and young Jamioson.
They believed, ns he did. that, know
ing the tongue and having friends
among the Sioux, he would be In no
peril; thnt by now the captive mother
nnd daughter were on American
ground again and would be given over
to his. care more readily than to an
other's; that the arrival of troops be
fore the enemy's c.imp would be
fraught with risk for the defenseless
two and that an attempt to take them
by force would be their death signal.
Colonel Curamlngs was harrowed by
Jamleson's months of ungulsh and Ill
ness and angered by the lndilference
and dawdling of the captors in the
face of his demand and threat. Ills
heart was set upon punishment now,
not treaty. He felt that he was being
played with, and he longed to find the
red Sioux and thrash them soundly.
A word about the evangelist's trip put
him out of patience. He regarded It
as futile and rash. Yet he did not for
bid It. He dared not, for there was
Jamleson's old-young face and whiten
ing head and n hidden spark in' hope
that would not die.
He owed It to his conscience and po
sition, however, to discourage David
Bond. "There will be sharp lighting
this summer," lie told him. "A hun
dred good men like you couldn't stop
it. The cause lies too deep, and It Is
too well founded, in the matter of
the women you will also fall. They
did not come as the price of four
chiefs. Will they come because you
ask for them politely? They won't.
And you will be slaughtered."
"Then I shall die In n noble cause,"
answered the preacher simply. "The
Indians know me. I am their friend.
I have spent my life with them, taught
them, advised, converted, What is all
my labor worth, colonel, if I cannot go
among them In times of distress?"
"Worth this," said the colonel, "that
you should know when to use your
common sense. I tell you, you will
meet with treachery. Friend or no
friend, this year the Indians are hunt
ing scalps,"
"I put my trust In God," murmured
David Bond.
"Don't put your trust In redskins,"
retorted Cunimlngs crossly. Whereupon
he tramped away,
"Waste of breatIi--nothlng else," ho
declared to his wife. "I'm clean put
out with the old fellow. He's daft on
going. Now, why doesn't he stay here
Instead of sticking his throat to tho
knife? Thcre'H plenty to do; but, no,
oil' he must rush on a wild goose chase.
Well, he'll have one, mark that! He's
either ripe for nn Insane asylum or he's
u religious adventurer and I'm hanged
if I know which!"
It was the bluster that covers nn
nchlng wound; that Is a vent for out
raged helplessness. And David Bond
understood.
When he asked leavo to address tho
stockade the commanding olllcer will
ingly consented. The attitude of tho
hostages on that occasion startled nnd
disturbed the whole post, for tho evan
gelist might ns well have harangued
fie cottouwood grove ncross tho river.
He asked the braves for messages to
their brothers. By way of reply they
got up one nftcr the other from where
he had found them grouped in the sun
before the council tent and strolled In
solently to their lodges. Soon he wns
discoursing to empty space and to n
line of squnws who threw him malig
nant glances and Jeered nt him. He
left, surprised, saddened, but unshaken.
Impudence, bold hatred nnd dellnnce
those were following the smoke from
Medicine mountain. They formed n
cue that pointed to one fact the pris
oners were disappointed. They hnd
been expecting not pence nnd reserva
tion life, but freedom nnd battle.
David Bond felt n double need for
his quick departure nnd his services
nniong the gnthering war bands. Ho
hnstened tils few remaining tasks nnd
set the dny for the start. Now tho
Cay was come. His farewells had been
f.nld at the shack and at headquarters.
Breakfast over and Shndrach put to
the shafts, he would take his way up
the river. But first there must be laid
ftpou Squnw Charley a final and sol
emn charge.
The prnyer finished, he put out n hnnd
and touched the Indian. Then he
opened his tear blurred eyes nnd look
ed at him, his face softening nnd work
ing. Squaw Chnrley did not budge. His
palms were still pressed tight. He
blinked at the wagon bed.
"Charle," said the evangelist ear
nestly, "you and I love the little family
over yonder. They have been good
nnd kind. I want you to watch ovei
them while 1 am gone nnd be faithful
to them. Tlci father Is crippled nnd
weak, and h has no friends. Charles,
J on must be friend to him and to the
f Iris. No matter what happens, do not
fall them. There will be another guard
ing. Guard with him. Something may
rail iiim nway. Some one uinj kill
him. Take his place. If dniifier cornea
tell of It at the fort. Do you promise.
Charles? Do you promise?" He loan
cd forward, outrtT.tlmr.
The outcast moved from side to sHi
tmeas-ily.
"Promise, pro-nice:" said DnvK
Bond. "You lniif't give up nnythu.',
for them, even yo-ir life. Iloiiieiii'v.
that-even your life. I have told you
often, and you have not forgot, 'Groat
er ,( hath uo man than this, thnt a
man lay !o,n his life for hl- frlendr.' "
Again the Indian moved uneasily.
"Tor his friends,'" repeated ih
evangelist. "Ah, they have boon your
friends!" He nut his fingers beneath
Squaw Charley's chin ami lifted it. The
two looked long Into each other's oyoe
Then they awKo and parted.
Later v. hen the hint buckle of Shad
raoh's harness was lived 1 nn id Bond
climbed to the sent and took up th
loins. A "core of Hoopers about the
head of tie1 white horse stepped aside
and formed a little lane. Here and
there a man reached up. Here and
there, 1 1 i. were awkward attempts at
wit. "Hope y' 've made yer will, par
son." called one. "Look out them lock
o' yourn don't go t' trick out some big
buck," adtuoiil-hcd n second. "Good,
by," cried a tl.lul, fainting with great
formality, "'loll ol' St. i'eter he'll git
a bunch of us some time this summer."
To all the evangelist returned lib:
blessing.
The interpreter shoved forwan'
through (lie growing crowd and mad.
a show of friendliness. "Gran'jia," he
said, 'you're prltty game, all right
Most old war bosses l!l:o you'd be
stayln' home and enjoy In' their pei.
sion."
David Bond throw up hi head i
sentfully. "PonMn," lie said. .' '
shot a searching look Into Matthev,
face. "I nm not a man who sells li.
principles for money, What I gi'
to my country I give free."
The crowd cheered him, swlngln
their caps.
Then there wsi a hush. A : Uninke
figure was hurrying up. stretching or
thin hnnds to detain him. No v
'coffed now, but one stout trooper p
an arm about .lamleson to steady lii'e
while he talked.
"Mr. Bond, the colonel thinks '
oughtn't to go with yon. He wntr
mo to wait for the ambulance. But
he's fooling lie's fooling. lie mean
me to stay behind, and 1 know it.
I've come to say that I look to you t
find mother and Alice. Tell them to
hurry, for I can't stand this long."
The gray head dropped to the trooper''
shoulder.
".lamleson," said the evangelist, "h
God spares my life I shall met you'
mother and sister. I shall cheer them
and help them. I believe 1 shall save
them. If they are given to me, 1 shall
come straight back. Do not go with
tho command. Stny Ixdilnd, .lamleson
I'll bring them to you."
"I'll Hay, then. I believe"
The preacher smiled down and t"
every side. Then he clucked to Shad
rach. Tho tugs straightened. The
wagon rolled slowly out of tho post
The .sunlight shone upon the give l
box and the rod wheels nnd upon the
stanch old driver, who never once
looked back. Above, emblem of tlv
sublime Martyr, sagged tho high board
cross,
fTO HE CONTINUED.)
Jsps Tsking Up Coxing.
A. M. Loughuey, nn athlete, who h i
been studying jiu Jltsn In .Japan, sny
that the .Japs tire beginning to take a
great Interest In American boxlnj.- nui.
that a great prize lighter will utuloub.
edly be turned out by that country
some day.
"Tho Jap." says Loughuey. "Is by nn
turo a lighter. If he turns to prize
fighting he would be more of a fighter
than a boxer. Ills head and Jaw are
shaped like a lighting animal's, and he
has what prist" lighters call the 'heart.'
He can light a losing battle like nt
Irishman. In studying Jiu Jltstt I haw
found that the Japanese are not neaii;
ns susceptible to pain as we are, .!,
Jltsn Is terribly painful and dangerou
If they can stand thnt, they coulii
stand prize lighting nnd not mind Un
punishment.
"I tnuglit a number how to box wLlle
In Japan. They know very little about
It. but learned with remarkable quick
ness on account of their much uiui.
rapid sword play. Their tunlii dlsad
vantage hi In the shortness of their
leach." Baltimore News
Impure, blood runs you down makes
you an easy victim for organic ills
eases. Burdock Blood Bitters purities
the. blood cut cs the causo build
yuu UU,
Calmage
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank Dc Witt Talmnifc, D. D.
Los Angeles, Cal Jnn. 10,-In this
crmon the prencher reveals the secret
of the true enjoyment of life and tells
us how to escape worry and the thou
sand nnd one afflictions that make ex
istence a burden to so many of us.
The text la Proverbs 111, 17, "All her
paths are pence."
At one of our church prayer meetings
I had nn experience that I shall never
forget. It was ono of tho happiest of
the many such meetings that I have at
tended Love seemed to lie reigning
everywhere. The songs were sung us
if every one was enjoying them. The
prayers came welling up from tho
heart nB tho bubbling brook leaps over
the rocks of the mountain side. The
preacher was sitting In his chair, but
the meeting was being run by the peo
ple. The hour In which we prayed
nnd sang and testified wns gone too
soon. The subject of the evening was,
"Why the Christian life should be a
happy life nnd whv It should grow
happier each yrir ' It was a great
subject to talk upon. Each Christian
was able to speak upon It out of the
experiences of his own life. Truly, It
seemed thnt each testimony wss n lit
tle better than the one that had pre
ceded It. Then, when all our hearts
were overflowing with gratitude a
God for his tunny mercies, a dear
friend arose and told this suggestive
Incident:
"Some time ago In n northern city 1
wns very much depressed. Things
seemed to be going against me. I did
not know which way to turn. Then ns
if to Intensify my discomfort the
weather was Inclement. It is always
harder for me to worship Cod when
the wind Is from the oast than when
tho sun Is slilliln-: But suddenly the
storm seemed to b.e-ik. From a rift In
the clouds the sun burst through and
flooded the brandies of a great tree
Just before me. '1 leu as If by magic a
tlock of sparrows ..rue from every di
rection and Hew u; into the- branches
of that tree nud began to twitter as If
in ecstasy. I ntop"e,i and said, 'If a lot
of sparrows could hunt out a little ray
of sunshine like tli.it and be happy In
it, surely 1, who (.in bathe in the sun
shine of God's inef ies and promises,
should be huppy too.' When my
friend sat down, i seemed to bo sur
rounded by a great flood of God's sun
shine. In the glow of that sunshine
there seemed to arise before mo the
Innumerable blessings which crowd
into the Christian'- life. And then
there came to my clnd these beauti
ful words of my text: "Her ways are
ways of pleasantness, and till her paths
are peace."
Tho Paths oi Peace.
The paths of , the g snel are fragrant
with peace, first, because those who
tread them learn to 'oe the simpler
things of life. They lime not a viti
ated or a depraved tus'o lor pleasure.
They can tune their mui'js of life to
the keynote of Cliniiiiing's s mp'ioiiy.
They low the Mowers and the birds
and the children. For them the pleas
ures of home are the sweetest and
dearest. They can Hud t udless enjoy
ment In a walk through the woods and
in the cultivation of a garden In their
back yard. They would rather gather
around the piano In the evening hour
and with the membe's their fami
lies sing the old gospel hymns than
hear the most exquisite opera sung by
the most famous prima donna Import
ed from foreign lands. They would
rather see their children play pranks
upon the nursery tlnnr than go to see
the finest tragedians net their master
pieces In the theater. They do not need
cathedrals In which to woiship God or
palaces In which to find pleasure, but
they can take delight In the simple
things of life. Like the poet, they can
sing In a garden the words:
Were I, O God, In churchlrsa landa rc
malnliiK. i'ar from nil voice of tnclirrs nml di
vines, My soul would find In flowi r.s of thine or
ilalnlnK Priests, sermons Klirines
I was deeply linpri" sod with this
fact In rending the life i.r Phillips
Brooks. That prince of preacheis had
the simplicity and the tenderness of a
child. Witness thoregiet he had when
he felt himself growing out of the com
panionship of children. Though lie
had no child of Ids own. he adopted all
the children In the families of his ac
quaintance. When he entered a home
lie wns like a big boy out for a frolic.
He could not bo made to ' bey tho rules
Hid the regulations of the house. lie
raised the standard of mutiny against
decorum, nnd every eh. Id run to him.
He would get down on his knees and
play nud romp as the merriest boy ot
the lot. Then, when he was Hearing
the twoscore milestone, when ono
would suppose that, like Tnul, he
would bo willing to put away childish
things, wo find him writing' these de
lightful words of regret to an old Thil
idelphla parishioner: "The worst thing
I see about getting old or being old Is
Hint you get farther away from the
poung people, who nre the best people
,n the world. 1 never see a lot of boys
fvlthout wanting to be among them
ind wishing they would let me Into
their company and being sure they
won't. I hate to think that boys of
sixteen think of me as 1 used to think
of men of thirty-seven when 1 was
their nge." Could ther be a sweeter
fragrance of spring blossoms than
that? Could you dream or u gtent man
being simpler or purr nnd gentler nnd
more loving ihun I'hllltps Brooks
wanting to play !ea?ftog r a .,, ot
baseball with a lot of boys when he
himself nt that time was tin, honored
ruest of the great Dean Stanley nnd
was preaching to Kngland's greatest
men, who crowded Westmhistur abbey
to hang on his words?
Tho Simple Things of Life,
My friends, one of the most pnsltlvo
proofs that a man Is not a (rue Chris
tlnn Is when ho does not love tho slm
Iilo things of life. His tuhid nnd heart
and tastes nro cloved with artificial en-
Joyments, He Is living upon ophemernl
stimulants. There Is not n night when
he hns to stay at home that he is not I
restless. No sooner Is the evening j
meal ended than he says: "This Is stu-1
pld. No need of sitting around here. J
Let us go to the theater." Or he says,
"Come, let us go to Mrs. So-and-so's
card party." Or: "I must do some
thing. Let us go to tho club and have
n game of lillllards." Or when sum-,
mcr comes Tie hies nwny to the fnsli
lonnble hotel where he can turn night
Into dny nnd day Into night. And he
Is never happy unless he Is Intoxicat
ed with some kind of excitement. To '
such a man I would say: My brother,
whnt you need Is a change of heart.
What you need Is to get close to God.
What you need Is to have so mnch
divine grace thnt you will think It n
sufficient ntuusotnent when you can 1
play n childhood game with your five-year-old
daughter and when you can 1
enjoy an entertainment of n magic Inn
tern show made out of nn old sheet
hung up In your parlor, with the magic,
lantern slides being run by your little
boy. "I never pick a Illy out of the gar-,
den," said a poor dressmaker In my
home some time ago, "but It says to me, 1
'See how hnppy I am on account of ;
God's goodness to me.' " Why? Be-;
cause, like Enoch, she was walking
with God. And so, my brother and j
sister, If you once get your hearts !
right with Christ, the smallest nnd the !
most Insignificant things of life, like
the prattle of n child, the sight of two 1
little kittens tumbling upon the floor, 1
the merrymakings of a lot of boys play- j
Ing baseball In the back lots, will offer '
to you an endless variety of amuse- !
mcnt. Oh, that you nnd I could be '
like Thilllps Brooks nnd never out-1
grow our love of simple, Innocent
pleasure. The ways of heavenly wis- .
doni "are ways of pleasantness, nnd '
all her paths nre pence." i
Ways of Pleasantness.
The Christian's ways are pleasant
also because they nre full of peace. As
he trends tho path of life he has that
wonderful peace which passcth all un
derstanding, and he says: "There Is a
divine power guiding me and mine.
Wherever I go nnd whatever 1 do his
hand Is leiullng mo nnd his nrm is de
fending me. My path of life may ap
pear checkered, but God will never let
me or mine get beyond the reach of
Ills protecting love. All things work
togothor for good to those that love 1
God." Oh. my brother, can you not
feel what a glorious peace comes over
the wayfarer In the Journey of life
when he fully realizes that God Is lead
ing hlurand protecting him? He Is on
the highway of wisdom, and nil "her
ways are ways of pleasantness, nnd nil
her paths nre pence."
Some of tis have been travelers, and '
we know only too well the disquietude
nnd the anxiety which come over us
when we realize that we have strayed
from the right path. And, oh. the joy
that wells tip In tho heart when we rec
ognize onio faniliar place from which
we enn find our way back home! Some
time ago I was camping In the wild
regions of Humboldt county, Cal. We
left the beaten paths and struck into
a side road nnd wetit to the end of the
road, and there we pitched camp for
deer hunting. One morning about I!
o'clock we arose and started after
game. After awhile It began to rain in
torrents, but still we kept on. Then,
after we hnd hunted for some six or
eight hours, we decided to make n
short cut over the mountains and get
back to camp. Wo climbed the motin
t.'in and pushed our way on for an
hour or two. Then the whole topogra
phy of the country seemed to change
We were lost! With no food and no
mentis to build a campllre, with drip
ping clothes and empty stomachs, the
situation wns anything but Inviting.
How to got back to camp we did not
know unless we retraced our steps to
the place whence we started for the
cliort cut. So back we went. Yet ns
wo tramped along everything was so
strange At lust, nftcr a long pull and
tup, we cried, "Safe at last!" for we
hnd sighted some familiar landmarks.
And though we had still miles upon
miles to travel and though the rain
was falling in torrents we cared not.
For we knew each step we were tak
ing was loading us nearer home. It Is
a happy feeling, after one has been
lost for hours in the woods, to (lud
(lie familiar path that loads him back
to tiro and food and blessed sleep.
f Christ as Guide.
Well, the same feeling I hnd when
lost among the mountains of Hum- .
boldt county and then striking the
trail for home Is the feeling the Chris
tian hits when Christ becomes Ills
guide. In the first place ho Is com- '
plotcly lost. He is lost on the uiouu- I
tains of sin. Kvcry stop lie takes is a '
stop in tho dark and seems to be load
lug him farther and farther away from
his Father's house. As uv tramps
along in t lie lonely mountains of sin ,
the tierce eyed monsters of trouble ,
lecp out of the thickets nnd nssall lilni .
and the loved ones he carries hi his
arms, and It Is dark and growing '
darker every minute. But suddenly I
out of tho darkness there comes the I
figure of a man. He has a beautiful
face. It Is the face of a man, and yet j
It has on It the signs of divinity. He j
reaches out his hands to the lost trnv- ,
eler nnd snvs: "Whnt! Lost? Lost In
the mountains or sin? follow me, and
I will lead thee back to thy Father's
house!" And ns soon as that gentle
Christ takes our hnnds to guide us our t
nnxlety disappears. Then perfect peace
throbs In the heart, and trouble and
despair give place to hope and tri
umph. "Her ways are ways of pleas
antness, and all her paths are peace."
But there Is another fact I want you
to notice about these paths of gospel
peace. They nro the most healthful of i
all paths to travel. They will glvo
clearness to the eye. They will give !
breadth to the chest. They will give
strength to tho nerves and the mus
cles. They will give wonderful resil
iency to the bruin. And they will make
men drink out of the fountain of per
petual youth. The simple fact Is a
givat many people are sick uot be
cause they need medicine, but because
they need the grace of God in their
hearts to make them trend the paths
of peace. Then while they get spiritual
health they will find their physical
health renewed also. And all this
can be demonstrated on physiological
grounds.
In the first place. If you will only
lonrti to trust God you are going to be
emancipated from useless worry, that
awful phynlcal nnd mentnl curse which
Is racking your whole organism to
pieces. You remind me of n little child
who goes to bed and Is frightened
with n foolish dream, You put your
little hoy to bed and kiss him good
night, and ho rolls over and goes to
sleep. But In the middle of tho night
you are awakened by a heartrending
cry, "Oh, mammal" You call out:
"Yes, my dear. Come Into bed with
mamma." And your bnby crawls Into
bed and you say, "Did my baby have
had dreams?" and ho answers, "Yes,
mnmma; a great big benr was running
after me nnd almost caught me up."
Then you sny, "Never mind, my dnr
ling; Just lie close to mammu, and she
will not let the bear touch you." Then
your boy nestles down by your side
nnd goes quietly to sleep.
Frightened by Dream.
Now, my brother, that Is the trouble
with you. You hnve a whole herd of
bears running after you. One of those
big bears Is going to eat up your busi
ness, and another one of those big
bears is going to swallow down your
good name, and nnother is going to
stcnl your child, nnd another steal
your home. You nre frightened with
foolish dreams. These dreams, called
worry, nre rncklng, your whole body to
pieces. You cannot sleep by night, nnd
you cannot rest by day, and you enn
not properly digest your food, Whnt
you should do Is whnt your little baby
does when he has bad dreams. He
knows you will tnke care of him nnd
let no hnrm come to him. Whnt you
need to do Is to nestle close up to God's
heart. He will tako enre of you. He
will never fall you. Then If you can
only grasp this infinite truth nil this
useless worrying will lenTe you. And
In nowise will the vnlue of the gospel
be shown quicker than In the benefit
to your physical health.
But there Is another fact I want you
to lenrn about these gospel paths of
peace. The longer you travel them the
more beautiful they become, tho more
you will bo stimulated by their fra
grance and the more they will reveal to
you the messages of God's love. They
will be to you Just whnt the pnths of
the woods nre to the lover of nature.
The farther ho travels over them the
more fasclnntlng nnd beautiful he finds
them.
God Is Love.
I might nppeal for confirmation to
the experience of any aged Chrlstlnn.
Ypu, with your white hair nnd trem
bling limbs; you, who are leaning on
your stuff, you have been following
the gospel paths of peace now for over
half a century. Tell me, you with
your fourscore years, Is not Jesus more
precious to you than he was when ns a
ruddy cheeked ind you first surrender
ed your henrt to him? "Oh, yes," an
swers the aged Christian. "As I look
back over my long life like the psalm
ist I can say, 'I have been young, but
am now old. yet I have never seen the
righteous forsaken nor bis seed heg
giug bread.' My journey lias been a
long, hard Journey. Sometimes it was
away in the mountains. Sometimes it
was down in the valleys of despond.
Sometimes my feet have stumbled.
Sometimes I have had to look Into the
gaping mouths of opened graves. But
Christ has never forsaken mo. Eacli
month and ench year he has been
drawing closer to me. And now he Is
so much a part of my being that 1 nev
er breathe tho fragrance of a llower.
I never her.r a lird sing. I never see
a star twinkle. I never seea man's or
a woman's or n child's face but I heai
a voice singing in my heart; 'Cod i
love. God s love. God Is love.'"
Come, aged mother in Israel. What
Is your testimony? In the kitchen and
nnrlor and nursery nnd home you have
had .v.nir trials Is Jesus Christ nearer
and dearer to you as the years roll on
and the time draws nigh when you
will see them face to face? "Yes, yes,"
answers the beautiful faced saiut. "As
I think of what Christ Is to me now
and what he always has heen truly 1
can say thee Is one name above ever
uume nnd one love iibme every love
Oh, truly. Christ is dearer to me than
ever before. Like all Christians, I can
say, 'God Is love.' " Truly "the path
of the righteous Is ns the dawning
light that shlueth more and more unto
the perfect day."
A Triumphant Peace.
And then the terminus of the gospel
pnths of pence oh. whnt a glorious, a
triumphant peace they have! As all
roads during Caesar's reign were said
to lead to Rome, so all the gospel
paths of pence ultimately converge at
one great central destination. They all
meet at the foot of the great white
throne of God. And all those who trav
el them shall assemble there. In the
mnuy paths of the dense woods of
earth you enn pass within a few
yarns oi your menus and miss them
entirely, but there is no dnnser of ever,
losing those who travel the gospel
paths of peace. You see, wo cannot
miss ouch oHier. We are all bending
to the same destination. We are all
going to assemble In the one place,
where we shall sing the same songs and
look upon the face of the same Christ
nnd live there through all eternity In
the same mansions. Oh, Is It uot glori
ous news thnt those who have gone
before us nnd our dear children who
are coming behind us shall yet be ono
with us in glory?
While I wns writing this sermon 1
seemed to seo a most wonderful vi
sion. I saw a beautiful picture. In
apocalyptic vision I saw the members
of my church traveling those paths of
peace and all meeting there at the
foot of the throne. Then I saw our
selves ouo day going oflf alone and as
sembling tis n congregation, Just as wo
do here Sabbath by Sabbath. We were
singing the old songs and meeting lu
holy fellowship. Just ns we do hero.
And In my vision I saw myself arise
and repeat tho beautiful words of my
text, "Her ways are ways of pleasant
ness, and all her paths are peace."
Copyright, 1D0S, by l.oula Klopseh.)
Greenwich Observatory.
In the yenr 1(175 King Charles II, of
Kngland founded the royal observatory
nt Greenwich In order that nstronom
lcnl observations might be made for
the assistance of sailors. Tho history
of tho observnlory has been the his
tory of chronology nud of this practi
cal side of astronomy. Ms work nnd
Its stnndnrds hnve become dlatlnctly
International, The meridian of Green
wich now determines the longtltude of
tho world. Exchnuge
DAVID MASSON.
Four Great English Novelists Were
His Pupils In Literature.
The ninn " ho tuiight Ihigllsh lite 'a
lure to four great English writers, Rob
ert Louis Stevenson, J M. Barrle, S. It.
Crockett and Dr. John Watson (Ian
Mnclnretii, has just died In Scotlund,
His name was Dnvld Alnssoti, and a
writer In the Mllwntikoe Sentinel gives
a short history of Trofessor Mnsson'n
life nnd comments i,pon t;(, four fa
tuous, pupils To (mote:
Ali these novelist- Mudud at Edlll
burgh university, where Professor
Mnsson occupied the chair of Lngllsh
literature from 1805 to 1M)5. Steven
son nnd Barrio were members of Ins
clnssos in the early sewn ties, wline
imoug other pupils were Willlnm Arch
er, the drutnutlc critic, and Lord Rose
boi'.v.
Of nil there, however, perhaps int
one who !"ars the deepe-d testimonv
to Masson's Influence Is .1. M. Barrio,
who once declared that he made tip UU
mind to go In for literature one dtn
when lie saw the professor rummaging
over a secondhand bookstall with $1,
500 In bank notes bulging out of his
pockets.
A whimsical "thumb nail sketch" of
his old pedagogue by Barrle Is worth
quoting. It comes In a series of recol
lections of the novelist's college days,
the "Edinburgh Eleven," and Is ns fol
lows: "Mnsson always comes to ray
moiii'r first, knocking nails into his
desk or tr;. ing to tear the gns bracket
from Its socket. He said that the Danes
scattered over England, taking such a
hold ns a nail tnkes when it is driven
into wood. For the moment he saw his
desk turned Into England; he whirled
an Invisible hammer In the air, and
down It came on the desk with a
crash. No one who has sat under Mas
son can forget how the Danes nailed
themselves upon England. It was
when his mind groped for an Image
that ho clutched the bracket. He seem
ed to tear Ills good things out of It.
Silence overcame the class; some were
fascinated by the man. Others trem
bled for the bracket. It shook, groan
ed and yielded. Masson said another
of the things that made his lectures
literature. The crisis hnd passed, and
everybody breathed again."
It was In 1S05 that this rugged, pic
turesque, literary veteran, so long a
familiar figure In Edinburgh streets,
resigned his chair to live out his dayi
In retirement. He had been called to
the university thirty years before to
succeed the famous ballad scholar,
Professor Aytouu, and twelve years be
fore . ,. he had taken the vacant
place of the poet Clough as professor
of English at University colloge, Lon
don. At nineteen ho was editor of a
religious magazine in Aberdeen, his
birthplace, and at twenty-live, when he
went down to London, ho was one of
the best known magazine writers in
Scotland. Before he beenme a pro
fessor ho wns the first editor of Mnc
mlllnn's Magazine, which, curiously
enough, has Issued Us iast number
and hns died with Its first great
editor.
It was in these rtnys that Car'.yle,
one of his intimate friends, warned
him not to fritter away 'his talents on
little thing", but to concentrate the n
on something big. Tho result or t. ,
was his masterly "Life and Titan- of
Milton." in sis voluin,,p. the rent
work "' his life, which ci u. led i I
tpe loisoxe or mriir.v-.-iie .u-njs. tioj-o
brilliant Is the smaller - Life of i h.if
terton" nnd tho fourteen volume edi
tion of De Quincey's works, the ou1
come of a long nnd Intimate friendship
with the famous opium eater, whose
life he contributed to the English men
of letters series. There nro many peo
ple In Groat Britain today who feel
that In "Davie, a real, kindly Scot,"
Edinburgh has lost her most distin
guished citizen.
Starfish Has Habiti.
Professor IL S. Jennings of Johns
Hopkins university, who lias been con
nected with tho Cnlversity of Cali
fornia In n number of experiments ot
several months' duration at the uni
versity's marine biological laboratory
at La .Tolla, has discovered thnt no nni
mnl known Is so low as the starfish.
He has demonstrated that the animal
Is at the very bottom of animal species.
The starfish is shown to have a com
plicated life and many extraordinary
ways of helping itself. On its back It
bears nbottt 25,001) small Jaws, or hands,
arranged In rings and bands. These
ntlack fiercely any creature that mo
lests the starfish. They seize and
hold crabs and other creatures till they
die. By their aid the starfish captures
many animals for food. Even quick,
active fish of considerable size are sur
prised by these jaws, seized, held and
eaten. No animal so low as the star
fish lias before been known to form
habltsto learn to do things In t er
tnln definite way. To test whether tho
starfish can do this a numbfffcof sped
mens were trained for n lbjHr time to
right themselves In ccrtani definite
ways. By this method It was found
thut the starfish very readily acquires
what may be called temporary habits.
San Francisco Chronicle.
Childless Homos.
Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant Mrs.
Clarence Burns, president ot the Llttlo
Mothers' Aid association: Mrs. Willlnm
Jennings Brynn nnd Miss Mary Mc
Dowell, the Chicago settlement work
er, are co-operating in a p'an to bring
the 1S0.O00 homeless children of this
country to the attention ot the L'.Oi'k).
000 childless homes thai are said to ex
ist. Short histories nnd photoRrnphs of
the children who nre candidates for
adoption will bo published in n pjpoi ir
magazine, and tho women who are
terestlng themselves In tho work
lleve thnt homes will be fouud for most
of tho homeless little ones.
The 'Busy Man
needs ninny little ofllco do
vl cs that he can find here.
i'iti:i: i'iii:ss sroui:.
'ountain
lens
rioec!
airly
ree
ress