Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 36, Number 24, Jasper, Dubois County, 23 February 1894 — Page 3

fypotf ffipcftJll of honor; yfuftyyfG-:

ill? name, of lfioc wIioip glory Qi&wj nordd, HllamRnortfj4'Wuii forWei dear, loWioif cmofig Hie lart.1Dp jplpridiu jun VVhogave ft Uberly far pallof liW find led nerws wronouynroipiue mm UCYS HATCHET. rOrlfflnaLl tj jiiiM - EALLY.it is too bad to be giving up our time to dancing and amus c m o n t s when bo many of tho boys ut tho front are suffering," said Lucy Dean, a iittlo regretfully, as hIio surveyed the arrangements for the great party in tho rambling yet luxurious old bomcsteaiL "1 lon't know," replied her friend Anna Tracy, as she stepped into a chair to straighten an engraving of "Washington and His Family," a household treasure that was gayly decorated for tlie occasion. "Wo can do nothing more to help them, ami it would certa n'y add nothing to their comfort to Ml here and mope." ""1 hen it is a kind of patriotic display, too," put in Lucy, brightening, "iciebrating Washington's birthday by n party will help make the guests love our country more." Anna laughed a little at tho, logic of her frioim.biit was too anxious over the arrangements for the. evening to discuss the matter further. The Dean farm was near the fateful "border." and yet the two years of civil war lud brought no inconvenience to its inmates. Lucy, the only daughter, rode st her u ill over tho surrounding eouutry, and tho colonel, her father, whose warring imys were past, hastened to the conflict only in fancy. l!ut in thcM midwinter days of 1SC3 there were more than tho usual dangers to tho quiet household. They had iak'n no active part in tho carrying on of the struggle, though their sympathies were with tho union army, where Paul, the beloved son and brother, was winning his spurs. The armies were camped nearer now than ever before, and no ono relished an encounter or even a halt of armed forces on the well-kept lawns and fields of tho farm. Lucy had invited the young people of the neighborhood to spend the evenin? of Februarv 22 with her. and had erranjjed to malco tho occasion consonant throughout with the anniversary it conn lemoratcd. Flags decorated the rooms, and portraits of the "Father of ilk Country" were Been in tho most conspicuous places. Late in the afternoon Lucy donned her riding-habit and mounted her pony for a brisk canter over the snow-laden roads. Sho spared not her horse and hurried through the drifts at a bpecd that meant tome danger. Suddenly sho stopped. A gray coat was half hidden by a trco trunk, and -a a moment tho figure of a young man ia gray uniform Mood before her. Ho was thin und pale, but every motion and every word spoke of tho training and instincts of a gentleman. "Do not bo frightened," lie began, 'l won't hurt you." "I don't think you will," the girl sarcastically replied; "you look halfstarved." "I am." " W hat cro you doing in this country? I know by your clothes that you belong somewhere else." "I've escaped they wcro taking mo north to prison I was captured. For two days 1 have not dared to ask for d. I haw you coming and determined to try and see if you would not at least Cve mo n piece of bread." He limped as lie came nearer, and tho pirl muv blood stains on the gray troupers that told of a wounded knee. Kindness and partisanship struggled "r the ma3tery in her heart. "We are union" ehe begaa, then with a glanco at the deep nunkcu dark 'J'cs her own moistened and she gave er decision promptly: "I will; maybe oino southern girl will do something jor Tom but you must be very careKapcrly the stranger promised and the two stood for several minutes in the early twilight counseling over tho mode j asilstance, tho comradery of v Mith a'one making a bond of sympathy be'een them. V hen the hostess of the evening returned It was with heightened color. 1e rldo had apparently done her good and if an unusual nervousness characterized her manners no ono noticed it Team after team unloaded its fair bürde,, at the gate, and the lads and Haidens for ten miles around made the Jw ceilings ring with their laughter liadinnge. 'Tim bluo eoats aro over in Green ..KT" one of tho young men. What a pity we could not havo o of tho soldiers hero In uniform to35 rep,'le(1 Anna with a CO(mttlsh "You might havo got 'era," put In the master's son, "a equad of them ere riding down the Chapmaa creek Uila afternoon." Micy was listening and her bright uddealy lost their color, hat wkt were taey dolafT Im

2

inquired slowly, trying with all her

tuiglit to keep her voieo steady. "I don't know. You needn't get Beared. Maybe they wcro looking for 11 deserter or something." "Father says lhuros likely to be a battle over on tho creek some- day, the bluffs nro so high," remarked Aunnu "It's tho best placo around hero to hide." Lucy knew in n flash why tho man in gray had been in the woods adjoining the creek, though sho wondered a littlu why she hnd not seen any signs of the union soldiers tho youth -spoke of. Perhaps the hadnotgono far enough down the valley. Had the guests not been too intent on themselves they would havo missed their liosteas a few minutes later. Had tho noise It -en a little less in volume thu visitors might have heard an upstairs window open and detected a scratching sound on tho wall of tho house. Hut had they done so they would havo thought nothing of it, nor did they notico anything nmiss when Lucy came downstairs, flushed but smiling, and nervourdy anxious to forward any amusement of the party. Dancing would not begin until nftcr supper, mid some good old-fashioned games had been prepared for the interim. Then there would bo a recess for costuming and the gathering would take on an eighteenth century appearance. As Lucy appeared tho games had commenced. The postmaster's Hon stood on a chair holding in his hand a little hatchet. "It goes to the one who cannot toll a lie," ho was announcing in a mockserious tone. "Three judges will be appointed and you will bu examined one by one. He or she who answers tho questions with, in the judges' opinion, the nearest approach to the truth, will get tho reward." With solemn visages tho trio com prising tho jury toolr places on n raised j dais intended for tho musicians lator I in the n ig lit. They wens dcuoratod with huge paper crowns and made a grotesque appearance. llapldly tho guests were called out und questioned. The absurd queries put to them, the references to joke3 which had attached to their history, embarrassing confessions as to their personal likes and dislikes ea:ae fast and kept this autiienco in- constant laughter. The quick wit of the leader and his knowledge of his subjects made tho exercise one of lively amusement to nil, and time after time did ho announce that no worth' succcüor had been nr. U3rr.D as kf. found for the Tcnerated emblem of truth so closely identified with tho nation's history. Suddenly there was a sound of heavy feet without and a ring at the door that told of a sterner caller than some belated guest. A halt came to the merriment and all stood it? silence while Col. Dean in person answered the summons. In response to his greeting an officer with sword at his side stepped into the hall. He was in blue and had a stern face. Again the color fled from Lucy's cheeks, and she 6ank back into tho corner of a sofa where the shadows made tho expression of her feature1 of little consequence. All could hear occasional words in tho low conversation in the halL Anna volunteered the suggestion that the officer wanted to make one of the prty and was decidedly in favor of his doing so. Hut the errand was of an entirely different tenor. Mr. Dean, after a few minutes of conference, came forward and mounted the Iittlo platform, beside the judges. "Tho gentleman iu tho hall," ho began, "Is Capt Morris, of tho union army, and his object here is not a pleasant or attractive one. A confederate soldier captured a few days ago by his command has escaped. The prisoner is believed to bo In this vicinity. Ho is young and was wounded in the skirmish where ho was taken. Knowing you nil to bo of the captain's faith 1 volunteered to ask you if any ono present had seen or heard of any suspicious person who might turn out to be tho missing prisoner." lie halted, but no one spoke. "I know this request is unusual, and it is made on my own responsibility, not tho captain's. IIo has searching parties out and believes that he will recapture the prisoner before morning." Again he looked over the Iittlo assembly, and tho rosy-cheeked girls and bright-eyed young men smiled at one another and shook their heads. All bat one she pushed farther back lato the shadow and tacrreiHdjr t wised

and intertwined her slender Uuger

i.ui isiiQuiu not speak. Tho colonel returned to tho hall and they heard him say: "1 am sorry, captain, that wo cannot help you. but no Olm here lm, seen or heard of the perbun for whom you nro looking." Tlu'ii the two men exchanged goodnight greetings and tho captalu duparted. Tho postmaster's son wont on with lib game, although tho crowd hud lost interest in it, "Only two more," he announced, nnd called buoy Dean 0 tho inquisition. The questioning was rather tamo now and she could easily answer all the queries. She was dismissed with llatterlng congratulations and thu remaining "subject" was ordered forward. Tho judges deliberated but a moment, and then with their minds somowhat biased by courtesy, perhaps, declared tho hostess the winner, and tho glittering toy was handed her with admonitions to let cherry trees severely alone. It was a gorgeous train that trooped downstairs a half hour later. Powdered wigs and continental uniforms adorned tho guests, and tho old house seemed to have been set back a century in tho twinkling of an eye. Lucy was not with tho merrymakers. Hack- in the servants quarters was an unused closet largo enough for a bedroom, but devoted to a ritorohouse of odds and ends. There on a pile of worn-out bedding sat tho stranger in gray. The hostess stood before him, her hatchet in hand. "You must eat as fast as you can and go," she wus sayinc "They are looking for you all round here, and if they should search tho house, think where we would be. "I took that, loaf of bread from the table for you and there is some liniment for your leg. Remember, you promised nie not to fight any more." "I promir-c," said the stranger, "this wound alone will stop that. I can't thauk you enough for this." "Don't try, then. Now you must go." She laid the hatchet on tho floor and pulled from a pile of rubbish an antique coat and hat. "You can pass for Miles Standisli or Thomas Jefferson or somebody liko that. They arc all busy and will not notico you. Go down the front stairs boldly ami out tho front way." Iiis drooping spirits revived by the bounteous lunch and every faculty alert, the stranger prepared to obey her. came ssAnna When he stepped out into the hall, the extra loaf hidden beneath tho antique coat's ample fold.s, ho was joined by a queer Puritan maiden who chatted and laughed until he could scarcely believe it was his serious-eyed rescuer. As they descended the stalra she remarked, quite too loudly, ho thought: "Let's go out and sec if tho soldiers are about," and with her dainty hand fluttering on his sleeve they stepped through tho widp doors to tho porch. Quick ns thought the stranger's dark mustacho touched tho slender finge renting on his arm and he was gone. No ono noticed that the Puritan maiden returned alone or wondered what had becomo of tho oddly-dressed individual who had accompanied her.' When just before the gray of morning the last guest had departed, Lucy Deun sat thinking beforo tho fire in her room. Had sho done right, sjie wondered, or had ßhe done wrong? Almost tho latter, she was afraid; but then as the haggard face and limping gait of tho stranger he was a Virginian, he said came before her, she felt that she would do tho samo thing again. Hut '.he hatchet! She blushed a little to think that she should have accepted the emblem of so much of truth and uprightness, even in tho hilarity of a game, when in fact she was so little deserving of it. After all, sho meditated, somo people pronounced tho hatchet Rtory a myth. Sho would not worry about It Hut she would get the hatchet She remembered now where she had left it In tho storeroom where the stranger rested. Quietly sho flitted along the hall and Into the barren apartment. Her lamp illuminated tho rubbish there gathered and showed a gray eape over by tho wirdow. Sho did not notice that, however; she was searching for the hatchet She knew where she laid it but it was gone! The war ended, and erne spring day Ton came home pale aad worn Iron aa attack of feter.

'Pl

"Tom," began Lucy the first after-

noon, "I have a confession to mako '! aided and abetted the enemy' as the newspapers say." Then she told him tho story nnd added: "1 hnvu nover told father, for he might bo angry I want you to do it Heshlcs, my conscience has troubled mo for accepting tho hatchet for superior adherence to truth even if it was in jest" Much to her wonder Tom roared with laughter. "Wait a minute," he said, and went to his knapsnelr. Out of it lie took something bright and shining and held it up beforo her the hatchet "When I was sick down among thoso Virginian swamps, a young fellow took me to his homu and let mo stay for three days until I could be removed to 11 hospital. IIo gave mo this to return to the angel who saved his life. IIa also gave mc a letter for her, which I will now deliver." Lucy took both with downcast eyes and ran off to her room to Inspect them. Sho would not tell what the letter contained, but Tom noticed that a month later the mail contained a missive for her with a Virginia postmark. Tho colonel scowled a little when ho heard Lucy's story, but the scowl vanished when ho heard Tom's. Then, tho next winter, the young Virginian came up to see them to see Tom, of course. On the anniversary of his escapade beneath the samo roof he sought the colonel in the library. "Lucy lias decided that sho has no right to tho hatchet," ho began, "and will deliver up her prisoner." IIo handed out the toy. Tho colonel took it and with mock solemnity replied: "Who is to be the jailer?" "Sho will, and for life too, if you will allow it" "Well," and tho colonel gave a sigh, as if the fates were all against him, "I see no other way out of it In fact I have rather expected some such result as this ever since 1 learned how that gray coat found in the storeroom came into the house." CH.11.Lns Monr.AU I1ai:geb. WASHINGTON THOUGHT SO, TOO. A Tenmiter Who Claimed to Hare a Good h KlIit tu tho Itosul an the I'rPSHlcut. Despite his great personal dignity, reserved manners, and his aristocratic bearing, Washington had n warm heart for tho humblest and. especially after his revolutionary experiences, a sympathy with common folks. Jlesldcstho many anecdotes in print and well known, tho followiug, we think, illustrates strikingly this trait It was first told by Alfred Kly, I). D., who was, we believe, an eye and ear witness of tho incident. Dr. lily was afterwards for sixty years pastor of the church in Monson, Mass., and from his daughter 1 have heard it We quoto from "the written word:" "In the autumn of ITS9, during Washington's first presidential terra, ho made a journey to liostou, following up tho west side of tho Connecticut river, and crossing it at Springfield. He traveled in Iiis English coach drawn by four horses, with footmen, postillions and outriders. "As they approached the river iu the town of West Springfield, one of tho outriders galloped ahead and held a parley with tho driver of a loaded haywagou, to Induce him to turn out and allow Washington's chariot to pass. He refused to yield nn inch of tho road, und the state chariot patiently followed tho wagon for some distance, until, at a safe point, it passed by to the bank of the river. "While waiting for the ferry-boat, Washington stepped out of his coach, when ono of the outriders approached, and, saluting him deferentially, said, with an air of injured dignity: " 'Your excellency, as I was riding along, a little way back, we overtook a man with a loaded cart, which occupied the entire road 1 asked him to stop his teaui, and let us pass; but ho refused. I then told him President Washington' was in tho coach. He refused again, saying that ho had as good a right to the road us President Washington.' "Washington's laconic reply was: 'And so he had.' "The outrider, astonished nt this reply, retired in silence." Comment is needless. The essence of tho declaration of ind'ependence nnd of the constitution of tho United States is in that reply. William E. Oriflis, in S. S. Times. WMs.itrjxton'g Coach. In Philadelphia, in accordance with the spirit of tho times and with what Washington believed to bo the proprieties of his station, he lived in stately style Not tho least striking indication of the importance of the president and of tho government was tho splendid coach in which Washington rode to church and when traveling or on outings for health Mado in Europe and especially imported for the presidential use, it was of white decorated with medallions. When traveling, this wulto coach with four bay horses, two uniformed outriders and tho same number of footmen and postilions, with its fierce-mustachioed coachman in white and red livery, with cocked hat and well-incased queue, "the president's chariot" was a sight to overawe the rural spectators. In our day such splendor of ofiicial dignity would not bo relished. Wo aro more democratic than our fathers. William 11 Griuls, in S. S. Times. Vfomlerlnic About Washington. "This is vcy and (Jen. Washin'ton's blrfday," said little G. W. Brown as he sat waiting for his "party" to arrive "1 wonder how ha came to be borned samo day I was. I wonder If ho ever had a birfday party. I wonder if his mamma mado him a big cake all full of raisins. I wander if his papa gave hlin a pretty pouy like mine I wonder if his grandma used to hug him and oall hlin 'Geordie' and givo him chocolate drops? He most seems like Nome 'latlon to me, beln' horned the same day and named the same name. Gueaa We nrmst'a' beea named after me no, I fink namma said I was named after him. But I believe I'd rather be me tbaa Gea. Waala'toalYetk'e Co.-yaaioa.

PERSONAL. AND UTtRARY.

Miss Frasels K. Willi rd suggests a Christian theater, one (oadueted, as the says, iu such a way that religious papers could advertise :rnl recommend it, to which a young Jjlvl might be taken without fear of anything on the stage that would bring a blush to her cheek. Prof. Milligan, who died nt Edinburg, was one of the most distinguished ecclesiastics in Scotland. He held tdie chair of Jllblical criticism in Aberdeen university for nearly forty years, and sinco thu beginning of lbüfl lie had been the principal clerk of the general assembly. The works of Quintillian were revived by being discovered under aheap of rubbish in an Italian monastery. Those of Tacitus were found in a monastery in Westphalia, where they were being used us fuel by the cook, The original manuscript of Justinian's pandects was found in a cellur in a little town iu Calabria. The London "Athenmntn" says: "Lord Tennyson, who is at Farringford, engaged upon thv mem-dr of Iii father, wishes to borrow all letters ol the late laureate which arc not mere formal notes written in the third per sou. And as soon as ho has copied such letters as may be intrusted to him he will return them to tho lenders." Labouehere's "Truth" (London) gives tho following recipe for makinp a modern English literary celebrity "Half educate a vain youth at Oxford let his hair grow; dip him into erotk French literature; add one idea, chop it small; log-roll the wLole; give a grotesque name; then serve up as n rival to Milton, Sheridan and Shakespeare." A portion of Cicero's treatise "On Glory" was recovered from the works of Petrus Aleyonius, a homan physician. The book had been bequeathed to a convent and was stolen by Aleyonius, who used all he could in his own works and destroyed the original. The passages he stole, however, were so much better than Iiis own writings suspicion was at once roused und the theft detected. Mis Luev Garnott is given a pen sion of five hundred dollars a year by the Dritish government in recognition of her literary merit and to enable her to prosecute her researches in oriental folklore. Miss Margaret Stokes also receives five hundred dollars for her researches into early Christian art and archnjology in Ireland, and Mrs. Cashel Hoey two hundred and fifty dollars for her novels. Senator Turple's method of aiding his constituents togctolllce was shown recently in Washington when lie was requested by an applicant to go to one of the departments and look after his appointment. 'T have no carriage," paid Senator Turpie, "and I don't intend to walk." "I will get the carriage for yon," said tho oflleeseeker. And he soon placed one at the senator's disposal. To the surprise of the Hoosier oflleeseeker Senator Turpie climbed into the carriage and closed the door, leaving tho oflleeseeker standing outside. "When the latter attempted to get into the carriage Senator Turpie said sharply: "I won't go unless I can jo alone." HUMOROUS. The milk of human kindness is not all cream Galveston S'ews. .1 ill son says he has noticed that the human hog is nearly always pigheaded. P.uflulo Courier. "1 guess Plunkit's fa tlier must have died and left him an enormous fortune." "How to you know?" "Well, I've seen the plumbers up at his house twice." Inter-Ocean. She "Should you die, are you opposed to my remarrying?'' He "No." She-"Why notr' He "Why should I be solicitous about the welfare of a fellow I 11 never know?" Life. "I am really nta loss,"said the young minister, "to know why 3-011 did not like my last sermon. Didn't you consider my arguments sound?" "Yes," she replied; "exclusively." Washington Star. The Sage "In choosing a wife, young man, you must not look for beauty alone." Youth "Of course not. It is the other kind of a girl that one may expect to find alone." Indianupolis Journal Citizen "Well, you. have nice weather, winter pasture, not too much rain, and stock is thriving; what ha-e you to complain of this winter?" Farmer '(promptly) "Aw, the wheat, the wheat! Xot enough snow!" Cleveland Plaindealer. In the garden of a certain nobleman's country house there happened to bo fixed up at different spots painted boards with this request: "Please do not pick the flowers without leave." Some wag got a paint brush and added an "s" to the last word. "Yes," said Oibley, "It came pretty near being a wedding between Miss Hly and me; but she said there was one thing I lacked. I asked her what that one thing was, and she said: 'Don't ask me; you'll call me mercenary.' So I didn't press her." Hoston Transcript "I always suspected that cashier," .aid a member of tho board of directors. "Maybe he'll turn up," said another. "You can't always judge a man by his appearance?" "No. Hut in a ease like this it Is pretty safe to judge him by his disappearance."' Washington Star. He wns a fine doctor there wns no denying that but sometimes he said things Hint made people wonder. A patient with a fever recently complained of thirst, and he said to her: "Well, quench it You can drink water, orten, or most anything, so long ns it'i a liquid." Harper's Ham. "Col. Urown," remarked a chappie, "is tho finest after-dinner speaker know of." "Why," f-aid his friend, in some astonishment, "1 never heard he had any ability in that direction at all." "Well, he has; I've dined with him several times at various places, a lid after dinner he always say "Isafs all right, my boy, I'lUj fet 11' "-Detrol t Free Frese.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. laUrimtloHul I.en for IVbrunry tmU-Trlut of Abraham' Valla-Ota.. 'JJil-l.l. Specially Arrsntfcrt from Pdouuct' Kotes.) (lui.iiUN Tkxt. l!y faith Atirnhutn, when a wus trial, offered up Inaac Heb. 11: 17, Srio.i or iiiHTouv Include clu-ps. 80-21 'J'lMi Probably about H. (X ML Twentystz yrarit after our last Um son. The exact time li uncurtain. It dcncix1 on tho ago of Isaac, v.lio was txjrn U C lC& IIo Mas certainly a young man at this time, lfbowa-j twenty-live, as Josephus nuy.4, t'.iun thu date at thu pa-scut Ioksou would bu 1S71. Plack. Abraham's homu was now Beershoha Instead of Hebron, an in our last lmson. It was a town on thu nouthcra border of Palestine, forty-Jlvu inlloi south of Jerusalem. Tho sacrifice wan upon Mount Morlah, on that part which was ufterward the situ of the temple of Jerubulem, or on Calvary, Just north of tho tcmplo. AiiiiAiiAM, now ono hundred and tvcaty-flvo ycar old, llvlm; at lJceriheba with Sarah. Ho had two son, Islitnael, thlrty-ulao yearn old, but banished from home, und Isaac, living t homu. IrtAAO was born at IJeorshcba, II. C. 1P98. His namo Isaac, 1. c., laughter, 'xnrciüCH parents' Joy at tho birth of a son in their old ago. LESSON XOTKfl. The Circumstances. Lot us take a frlaneo over the intervening years. First. Very soon after the destruction of Sodom Abraham left that region, and went southerly and dwelt in tho vicinity of the' Philistines. Here again, as in Kgypt, Abraham's faith showed an imperfection in its hold on his daily life. After this he dwells at peaco with his Philistine neighbors, passing gently into a quiet, serene old age, and still strong nnd vigorous, though one hundred and twenty-Uvo years old. .Second. Isaac was born as the reward of faith. As ho grew up Abraham showed weakness in yielding to Sarah's request, and the boy's rough conduct, and sending away Hagar and his son Ishmael, now grown to bo an activo boy of fourteen to seventeen years. It was a bitter trial to Abraham. Wo need only notice the instructive incident of Hagar nnd Ishmael almost dying of thirst, while a well of water was close at hand, unseen till the angel showed It to her. So often we mourn when conbolation is close by us unseen. We lament bitterly when the water of lifo is at our side. We are weak, we are despairing, we cry in the dark when God is very near with help. So llunyan's Pilgrims in iTiant Despair castlo felt themselves utterly lost and hopeless, though the key of promise wasall the time in Hopeful's possession. So the sailors at the mouth of the Amazon were perishing of thirst, not knowing where they were, and that the fresh waters of the great river were on every side. Third. There always comes a specialdanger in times of long-continued placid existence, moving on in the even tenor of the way, like seasons without cloud or storm. Hust and miliaria may injure as really as storms and hard usage. A sudden and strong trial would (1) increase Abraham's faith; (2) give him a consiousness of his faith, an assurance to his own soul; (P.) show his faith to those who were unbelievers; (4) call attention to it as a bell does to a lire; (5) make him a teacher and exemplar of faith to all after ages. The Great Test of Faith. Vs. 1, 2. 1. "And it came to pass after these things." The things described in tho previous chapter. It must have been a number of years after. 4'0od did tempt Abraham:" "Tempt," i. e., try or prove as in the revision. 2. "Take now thy son, thine only son:'' He was the only son by his wife Sarah; he was tho only son of promise; by the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael he was the only son left to his. father's house. "Whom thou lovest:" For whom he had waited long, in whom his hopes had centered, who was the joy and comfort of his old ngc. Iiis whole heart rested in him. lie was the choicest thing on earth to him. lie would have given up everything lie pos!.esscd rather than havo the least harm come upon his beloved son. "Get thee into the land of Moriali:" The mountainous district of Jerusalem. "The height upon which was the threshing floor of Oman, tho subsequent teinple mount" (2 Cliron. 1). "And otter him thcro for a burnt offering:" Kven as the heathen around him gave their children in sacrifice as ofTeriug their most precious things to God. Abraham's obedience was prompt. He did not think he was doing wrong. (1) He had the direct command of (Sod. It is true as urged by Canon Mozlcy that no miracle could be to us an evidence of a Divine command if it required a contradiction of our standard

of morality. Hut at the samo tune we might have commands the full reason of which we cannot understand, as when one is commanded by the city authorities to blow up a house, because it is necessary to prevent tho spread of a tire, even though ho did not see the necessity. (2) In Abraham's day tho universal conscience had only approbation to express for such a deed as this this way of giving the most precious things to God. So that probably Abraham did not think it wrong to sacriilco his son. His own conscience did not clash with God's command. He seems to havo seen only the cost, the duty, the yielding of his best to God. He was to learn tho true way, his conscience wns to be enlightened, while he retained the spirit of obedience and trust. LIGHT ON OUIl PATHWAY. Trials are tests of character and faith, to prove whether we are fitted to receive larger duties and wider use-, fulness and blessing. Kverything must be tested beforo it is safe to put it to use the ship, tho cannon, tho engine, the bridge. And tli ere must bo a stronger test for a larger use. The tests of life come not only in great things, but in the multitude of little temptations. We cannot understand a r.tory or a life till wo see both the beginning and the end. Tho frreatest trials of lifo aro often those for which at the time we do not ecc any good reason. Jesus says te un as he did to Peter: What I do the knowest nob now, but thou shalt kreotr?-hereafter-