St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 21, Number 27, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 25 January 1896 — Page 7

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SHAFTER NXV. —(Continued.) “Do you understand all this?" said Paul, sharply, to Nousie, who was standing with her hands pressed to her brow, and she made an impatient gesture. । “What!" she said quickly, "Let me think—my head—so strange." She staggered as if about to swoon, and Paul hastily placed a ehair into which she sank. "Water.” she said, faintly, and she drank with avidity. •’The trouble —my head I can't think.” Bari took a glass, poured a little spirit into it, and placed it in her hand. She swallowed it without a word, and there was a terrible silence in the dimlylit room, till from outside there came the sound of whispering and hurrying feet. Nousie started from her chair again, stood listening intently, and then ran to the open door and ’listened again as fresh voices were heard as of people passing. She hurried back with her face wild is if from some fresh horror, and stood with her hands clasped to her forehead. Then dropping on her kneei she caught Chernbine’s arm and shook her. The woman's eyes unclosed, and she appeared to be awakened from a deep sleep. "Do you hear me?” said Nousie, sharply. “I cannot think; the trouble has dazed me. The meeting—it was to-mor-row night?" Cherubine closed her eyes as if sinking into her deep sleep again, but her lips moved, and she said in a faint whisper: “No—to-night—great meeting—the goat without horns—to-night.” "She is wandering,” said Bart, feeling her pulse. "Dying." said I’aul, hoarsely. "1 think not. The poison seems to be narcotic. Sleep.” Nousie had risen, and stood with her hands pressed to her brow. Then she uttered a low, strange cry as she caught at Paul's arnisj and literally dragged him to the door. “Quick!" she gasped; "it is too horrible, but —God help me— my brain seems turned. Here, quick! You are young and strong. Run—run fast as man can go, and ” She dragged him down so : that she eouljl whisper a few words in his I ear. "What!" he cried, starting from her, * and gazing at her as if he thought her mad. "You are wasting time." she cried, piteously. “Go—l, her mother, ask you. It is for Aube's sake. Go!" I’aul turned from her and darted out : into the darkness, while Nousie stood panting with excitement as she listened to his footsteps till they died away. Then she turned back into the room with her breath coming and going with a hoarse sound. “Sho is sleeping.” said Bart as he approached her. "Tell me what all this means?" “Wait, wait.” she replied, as she press- , ed h“r hands to her head again, and then hurried to a cupboard, whose door she j threw open. “But where have you sent my friend?” j “Wait till he returns. I cannot speak to you now. Yes,” she said. "I must ; speak. I must think of something else, | or I shall go mad. Tell me—will she i live?" j "I hope so. I cannot say. But teli me this—it was an error then? She would not purposely have given poison to your child ?" “She? Poor Cherubine! See!" cried Nousie passionately, "has she not tried to die?" “And narrowly escaped.” said Bart. : "But why was this? Who is this Genie?” [ "Wait, man; wait till he comes back. I You shall know all soon. But quick. ; teli me—are yon brave?” "No,” said Bart, bluntly, "I don't think I am." Nousie groaned. “But you would fight—for him—your friend —to save him?" “I should try to," said Bart, grimly. “And you have pistols?" “Yes.” “Oh, how long he is!" cried Nousie, running to the door again. "I am not sure," she cried piteously, "or I would go alone." "Look here!" said Bart, sharply. “We are your friends. Madame Dulau. and for that poor girl's sake wo will try to servo you in this new trouble if you will ' only fol! mo what it moans: but it is all a I riddle to me. Come, tell me, where have ‘ you sent I’aul?” She held up her hands to him. "Hush, listen!" she cried, and sho ran j again to the door, but came back wring- । ing her hands. “No. no; wait," she said. : “When he comes. It can't be so. 1 am ■ mad and wild, and think such horrors. ; Ah! at last 1” For there were rapid steps in the road. { and before she could reach the door I’aul lushed in ghastly-looking and wild, the sweat standing in great drops 'ipon his face, his hair clinging to his teniples and foam upon his lips. “I’aul. man!” cried Bart, running to him and drawing a pistol, "are Jou being । hunted down?" "Speak! "My child!" cried Nousie. who was clinging to I’aul as he fought for his breath, which came and went With a rattling sound. "The grave,” he gasped at las :; and his voice was like that of one in mortal Agony, “rilled —my darling sl'e is not there.” Nousie uttered a low. strange moaning sound as she caught the two young men each by the wrist, ami the wom?n s manner and voice seemed changed as she dragged them toward the inner part of the room, close by where Cherubine lay now in a trance like that of death. "Do as 1 tell you,” she said, in a quick, strong voice, “we may be in time.' CHAPTER XXVI. ' Far away in the forest, where the darkness was made more intense by the hot Btcumj air which ru*e from among the

trees and floated on high in a dense cloud which blotted out the great golden stars. Here and there in the openings cut by some hurricane, and where the great forest monarchs lay rapidly molding into dust, the fireflies flitted and danced. For a time all would be black, and then leaves and twigs flashed out with a bluish green phosphorescence, which died out again, save where some spark winged it ■ way onward like a tiny wandering star. There was the hoarse croaking of frogs, the hollow shout of night birds, and strange, weird cries from far in the depths of the virgin forest, where the foot of man never trod. But heard above this, like the hum of a gathering crowd, came a low murmuring sound, which developed into the eager chattering of men and women, the rustling of boughs and the faintly heard tramp of feet, while noises came and died away as a narrow intricate path was followed, which terminated at last miles away from the nearest habitation in one of the abovenamed openings, a mere patch of a hundred shed-like buildings thatched with leaves, and whose sides were formed of densely interwoven brushwood. Only one opening was visible, made plain by a lurid light from within, the light of smoky lamps hung from the ridge pole, and also swinging pendent from the rough verandah just over the door. Beneath these lights dimly seen were the heads of those who had already reached the rough building; and as they turned and swayed .and leaned towards each other in eager expectancy, gleams of opal eyes and white teeth flashed in the smoky red light, and shone from glistening faces. As group after group came out of the devious path, reached the opening, and turned into the great hut like building, as if in fear of being late, a burst of low buzzing talk arose, ami there was a great deal of good-humored pushing and scuffling before the newcomers settled down in their places. To one uninitiated in the ways of the people, the place suggested that prepara tions were afoot for some dramatic performance, for at one end of the building a low rough platform or stake had been erected, and this was shut off from the ! rest of the place by a large red curtain, j ; behind which from time to time people : ■ moved, causing the curtain to bulge out i I and sway a little, so that dark shadows . i rippled across it. I Everything in the place wore a lurid ! ' aspect, heightened as it was by the large display of red handkerchiefs worn by the congregation assembled, one seeming to have vied with the other in this kind of display, so that heads, necks, and waists were bound with these tokens of initiation. For it was to no secular play the people had come from afar, but in secret and in the dead of night to one of the mystic celebrations of tin 1 Voudoux worship—of the old religion brought by the savage slaves frjm their far homes in : the interior of the dark continent a worship which, in spite of missionary enter ■ prise atid the teachings of the French fathers, was still in force, and practiced widely—a kind of idolatrous fetiehism, fostered by the Voudoux priests, ami reveled in by their followers for the sake of its horrors, its mysticism, revelry, rfbd debauch. Group after group had come through the forest till all seemed to have gathered, and a growing .excitement thrilled the crowd, whose faces, for the greater part black, but dotted here ami there by those of the mulatto and nearly white, turned ! from one to the other, each scanning his - or her neighbor curiously, while an eager ' murmur arose, and the yellow light, aided : by the glow of the red ornamentation of ; the gathered worshipers, and flashed and ' glowed from a hundred eyes, made the | ' place seem like some pandemonium such j : as poets have described. The murmurs of impatience rose and ' fell and the red curtain swayed, but no I sign was made from beyond it til] an ex- j cited voice shrieked the word "I’apaloi!" ! and this seemed to be the cue for a burst ' of other cries —“Mamanloi!—l’apaloi!” ‘ followed by a suppressed murmur of excitement, and the rolling of opal eyeballs as the great red curtain suddenly divided in two from top to bottom, and was drawn quickly back by invisible hands. A low "Ah!” rippled through the assembly ns, dimly seen nt the back of the stage or platform, rose a rough Eimi of j altar, upon which stood a large dark l>ox, j : which was either stained or appeared to i be in the lurid glow of a darkened red. As the curtain was drawn aside by the j invisible hands the box moved slightly, I when a faint cry of horror rose from some of the women, and the gathering I swayed slightly toward the doorway; but j low murmurs arose, and whispers, fol- : lowed by hysterical laughs, and then there was the rapt silence of awe every eye being fixed on the box. For. with measured steps, two figures, decked with scarlet handkerchiefs, advanced toward the altar from behind the curtain on : either side, stopped as thej' reached the : middle, and turned and faced the people, I displaying the faces of Genie, the mulatto : woman, and Jaeaine. the gigantic black, j Their hair was knotted in a peculiar way, I and the half-nude form of the black was i girdled by a scarf of vivid blue, in which ■ glistened a knife, while as they stood in I statuesque attitudes, on either side of the j altar with its box. the people uttered a | triumphant shout for the Papaloi and I Mamanloi, the high priest and priestess ' of their diabolical rites. The pair stood unmoved, gazing straight before them till the cries had ceased, and then, turning to face each other, a low murmur i)»Ji through the place, and the people swayed and undulated an the lid of the box, with a great deal of ceremony, was slowly lifed. Jaeaine raised his hands above his head, and then plunged them deeply into the coffer, from Which he slowly drew a heavy-looking serpent of some six feet long, but unusm-lly thick : a.ud distended, its sluggish undn’ations as

it raised its head proving that It had only lately been gorged. The black raised the reptile higher, and Genie raised her hands and passed them beneath the curves formed by the creature's body as it hung from Jaeaine s hands, supporting it altogether in a picturesque group, while additional effect 1 was given to the strange seem' by the serpent slowly raising its head between the pair, swaying it to and fro tor a tew moments, and then uttering a loud hiss, before lowering its crest and striving to ! reach the box, above which it was being held. The actors in the scene slowly lowered their hands, and the serpent gli<led back into the ark amid the low excited murmur of the people; while Genie drew a knife from her girdle, waved it, replaced it, took a step forward, raised her hands, and spoke angrily in one of the \\ est African dialects, with the result that a ' wail of despair came from the people. "The serpent is angry," sho said. “His children fall away from him, ami there will be sickness ami death if they are not forgiven. Come.” A shudder ran through the little gathering, but they passed forward to take their priestess’ hands, and renew their oaths of fidelity to the serpent, and make ■ promises for the future, bringing, too, r offerings of all kinds—fruit, flowers. I money food, and spirits, gay articles attire which were laid about and around the altar, at whose side the great black stood like an ebony statue, gazing scornfully before him. (To be continued.) THE TABLES TURNED. The Strange Career of Ex-Gov. “Bob" Stewart. Gov. “Bob" Stewart, who was the, chief executive of Missouri once, and i afterward I nited States Senator from | that State, had a strange career. During his gubernatorial incumbency I he was one day looking through the penitentiary at Jefft rson City, when he saw among the convicts an aged man whom he recognized. Ou the following I day he sent to Hie warden of the prison orders to have that man brought to the executive mansion. When the man appeared the governor, calling him by mime, asked him if he hadn't once Ih>cu the mate of a Mis sour! river steamboat, Th<' convict admitted that lie had been, and then ; the following conversation ensued, the ' governor beginning: “Do you retnemlier at one time of j having taken away front him a boy's blankets, who was a stowaway on the boat, and kicking him ashore?” “The circumstance doesn't recur to me now. but doubtless 1 did it. A steamboat mate in those days had to be considerable of a brute," “Yes, sir; and you tilled tin* bill admirably. i was the boy you lobbed ami kicked ashore very near to this capital city and thus 1 became enabled ito give you your pardon. Here, sir. I take it. Now. right about. Mm* h out I of that door ami off these premises, i । and never let me see your brutal old | i face again.” j The old convict walked away quite# briskly for one <>f his age. A little while ago a Senator told me that one day, about the close of the war. or. perhaps, a little later, he was ; walking flown 1 ‘ennsylvania avenue in Washington with another Senator, when his companion abruptly called his attention to a ratht'r distinguished look ing man inti gang of laborers who veto cleaning the streets, and 1 think he said under police surveillance. “Do you know who that man is?" the second S< nator asked, “Well, that is ex Governor and ex Senator Bob Stewart, of Missouri. He was of a convivial nature, and the con vivialities of Washington proved too much for him." Man with an Iron Skin. In Bi 'aMii a t'ingalese buttles all investigation by physicians by the im penetrability of his skin. The bronzed Easterner, a Hercules in shape, claims i to have found an elixir widen will ren : der the human skin impervious to any ! meta) point or sharpened i dge of a I knife or dagger, and calls himself the I “Man with the Iron Skin.” It is true । that it has been impossible to even 1 j scratch Ids skin with sharply pointed ‘ nails, with finely ground knives am! I daggers He is now exhibiting himself, | and his greatest feat is to pass with I his entire body through a hoop, the in • j side of which is hardly big enough to admit his body, and is closely set with sharp knife points, daggers, nails and other equally pleasant trifles. Through this hoop he squeezes his body with absolute impunity. The physicians do not agree as to his immunity. i and some of them think that Rhaukim ! which is liis name, is a lakir. aim j by long pra<-tice succeeded in harden- ' ing himself against the impressions of I metal upon his skin. The professors I of the Ih riin clinic, however, consul- ! < red it worth while' to lecture about the' man's skin, pronouncing it an inex- I plicable matter. Profession;il Wolf Hunters. Oue big firm of ranchers near Miles i city. Wash., employs all the year round • two hunters and a pack of fifteen Russian wolf hounds to keep the range • free of wolves and coyotes, which are I a pest to stock raisers all over the re gion. So tar this year the hunters have taken the scalps of 223 wolves and many coyotes. Whenever anv traces of wolves or coyotes are found the pack is taken out and put on the scent and usually the pests are run down and killed. This method is the only one that has proved effective, as tlie wolves refuse now to take poisoned bait. Ger many’s Population. , The census of 1895 shows that the German Empire now has a population of 51,758,000, despite emigration, an increase of 2,330,000 in four and a half years. A man breathes about twenty times ia a minute, or 1,200 times an hour.

Day WITH A SENATOR' SOMETHING ELSE TO DO THAN TO LOOK DIGNIFIED. Senatorial Life la a Laborious and E x . act mu Bound— Duties to Constituents and to the General Public-Private Secretary and llis Work. " ashinjjton Gossip. w asliiugton correspondence:

THE I'nited States Senate is now entering upon its busy season. All the committees having been reorganized the work to come before them is being referred to specia 1 com mi 11 ees, and shortly there will be n deluge of reports for the full

l oinniittees to consider and pass upon. • P to the present time the committees, the exception of two or three of the Snore important ones, have done little or |iothing. The Democrats realizing that lense of power was drawing to a t-foswrtid not care to start the wheels of legislation which would shortly be under the control of the Republicans. It has often and truly been asserted that the Wy si g® AT WORK. 1 nited States is pmernd by committees, and with the great mass of legislation to i be enacted by the national legislature, it i must abv ays he so, but the only inq>ortant ; act passed by the Senate during the pres ent Congress, the resolution providing for; the nppoin; meti: the Venezuelan com mission, was d stiff, ;|y legislation by ('<m ' gross, timtlendnod and approved by every i wmniber of the Senate and House, rather 1 than by a mere committee. While the importance of n Senator': work is piqnilariy gauged by the part be ।

NO WONDER SHE COMPLAINS. .— -• I i- 1 ' X --- F 'l^' 4 ■ •-•-PSSW —•-iN -T-’ f: - Ju ii A ■■' . ' e. 1 ■ - '■-f ~ । (X) • I '■ - -'jfib - MRS. M ARS I DO WISH, Mils. EARTH, TUA i M>: T> STOP YOVR BEATS QI ARREEING Al l. THE TIME: OXI CAX’I EEI \ WINK o’ SLEEP.

. - ■ fl e Sen ate, his real duti< < are chiefly perform'd in connection with committees. The daily routine of a Senator involves attemlam ' on committee meetings, usually call'd : ■ i^cet at 10 o’clock in the morning, a id i lasting until nearly noon, when they are adjourned, and the members take their ,iats in the Senate. Each committee di rrwes its work among sub-commit tees, consisting of one or more Senator-, and ■ reports of facts bearing on the particular ' b ll under consideration, together with rec BE WHAT THE PTBLIC SEES. ommendations for its disposition, are made a, meetings of the full committee. In ' i nearly all minor matters those recom- ’ mendations arc approved by the committee, and in turn by the Senate. It is I only in the consideration of important political measures that a general discussion is carried on, and oven in such cases th^ sub-committee, being in accord with thb dominant party, usually has its work approved with little or no amendment. A

to be within the rail of the electric bells announcing that a vote is to be taken in the Senate, unless paired with some one of opposite political faith. For the Senators whose committee rooms open on the corridors encircling the Senate chamber this requirement is not attended by any great ‘ ImA I 1 / B I I I I I | I a / AN AFKI.UTIOX. Republican sub-commitiee is given a bill to consider, its report is approved by u Republican committee and a solid Republican vote in the Senate is apt to pass the measure, though just at present, as the balance of power rests with the Populists, it's pretty difficult to pass any bill on a strict party vote. Besides the work in committee that is looked for from a Senator, he is expected inconvenience, but only a small contingency are so favored. Semvtors who happen to be engaged in committee rooms in the Maltby building and in the terrace : don’t enjoy the tramp to the Senate in > order to an-wer to their names when call- i ed. But even in the case of a Senator who attends closely on the business of : the Senate it is seldom necessary for him to spend more than two hours at his desk. From 12 to 2 o'clock is what is known as the “morning hour." ami within that time committee reports are received and often acted on. and Senators frequently ask to have their pet measures considered. At 2 o’clock "the regular order” is demand- : ed. and, as a rule, that means that speeches are continued on the mt asure before the Senate, and un "ss the afternoon : promises something of interest Senators i retire to their committee rooms or -go ! home. Much of a Senfdor's time is taken up in ' attendance on callers. Nearly every one : who comes to Washington on a sight-see-ing journey wants to meet the Senators : from his State, especially if the visitor is ; i of the same political party as the member of the upper hoo.se. There is a standing 1 rule that Senators do not receive cards bet n ten 12 and 2 o’clock, and visitors ) wait until the latter hour before announcing their presenee, and then are invited ; into the marble room. Some of the popu- ) lar Senators find that the reception of visj itors who merely call to pay their respects an important part of their daily 1 labor. I iiacy it doesn’t take much tims

:.i di-jic- of visitors, who are generally disurssed afti r a brief interview, delighted viC th" attention shown in their recei. i'ig a card admitting them to the priw:■■ gallery of the Senate. Fr.qnently the greatest part of a Sen- ' a tor’s work is done in the evening, when . tiie S< nator ami his private secretary get . together, and either dispose of the aeeu- I mulated mail or prepare a speech. It is a fori unate Senator who knows the value of an efficient secretary. and is able to find : one, for they tire not abundant, and wise enough to intrust such a one with re- | sponsibilities. It is the Senator who thinks he must dictate his letters and must open and read them all who is weighted down with routine and non- | productive work. Those who have capa- i ble secretaries rely on them, and it is only । in the case of special communications that the employer is called on to suggest a reply. Many clerks do not even trouble their Senators to sign letters, but are given carte blanche to affix the name of I the principal. The reading of newspapers is an imporI taut part of the daily labor of all the upj to-date Senators, who endeavor not only i to giance over their local publications, i but to read the leading periodicals, witbi- [ out regard to place of publication. At Little York, eight miles west of Scottsburg. Ind.. Walter Coombs shot his wife through the abdomen. She lived but fifteen minutest Coombs then shot , ' himself below the heart. He is still alive | ' and bogs for some one to kill him. 'llie । two children of the Coombs are absent at • school. Mrs. Coombs was a highly re- ■ speeted woman, and there was no cause save groundless jealousy. A thousand families of St. Johns, N. F., are destitute and have nothing with which " * ho ’d^ors of the coming four me nt.’ i

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE LESSON. Reflections of an Elevating; Character —Wholesome Food for ThoughtStudying the Scriptural Lesson Intelligeuvly und Profitably^. Lesson for Jan. 26, Golden Text.- His word was with pow' er.—Luke 4: 32. The early ministry of Jesus is the subject of the lesson this week, the text of which is found in Luke 4: 14-22. In our study Bible we have named the chapter from which our lesson is taken, the chaister of the Temptation. “T and P” the good sister used to put opposite certain strong promises of the Book, meaning “tried and proven.” In this sense we might use the word temptation here, f hrist was in this chapter tested and proven as the Son of God with power. First of all by the temptations of Satan * n the wilderness, then by the rabbis unwittingly, in the synagogue at Nazareth —our present lesson last of all by tlio । record of marvelous miracles with which I the chapter closes—by all these Jesus is | manifestly declared to be the Christ of God. A fit introduction this to the wonderful life study we are about to make. "Long in darkness we have waited For the shining of the light; Long have felt the thing we hated Sink us still in deeper night. Now at last the Light appeareth, Jesus stands upon the shore: And with tinder voice, he calleth, 'Come to me,’ ‘ami sin no more.' ” Lesson Hints. “And Jesus returned." But not directly from the wilderness. He spends some time at Jerusalem where his ministry is begun. The events of this season at the south of Palestine are mainly recorded in John's gospel. During this time he drivs the traders out of the temple, lias an interview with Nicodemus (the miracle at the wedding feast of Cana having already oc- ; curred somewhere about this time) and ou ; his way north the Lord meets and has conversation with the woman of Samaria । at the well. “As his custom was." The habit of ’ church attendance is certainly a good i one. Jesus gave himself to it. Study these habitudes of ('hrist. If Christ with ail the holy trend of his nature found it well to place himself in close connection with the means of grace, what folly for the : fallible children of men to neglect so । many of the God-given aids to devotion! It was well to deliver the book unto tlie Christ, for lie hath jiower, as with that other book of Revelation to unloose the seals. Can any one rightl.v interpret Isaiah who knows not the Christ as the lamb of God? Certainly when Christ read this wonderful passage about him-

self: "He hath anointed me to preach tho gospel to the poor." it was as if at last a great light had suddenly broken upon : the page, sometimes dim ami dark to human eyes. Jesus read it and then “sat down." Was that all? Was he not going to interpret it. expound it. Yes. He himself was its interpremtion. its exposition. And hero is his sutheient explanation of the meaning of the passage, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Jesus at least could do it. Take a text and then sit down and let the life preach, himself the ■.ermon. God give teachers, preachers, all, just a bit of that gracious prerogative ami ; power! It is indeed ours as with life as I well as lips we preach Jesus. Illustrations. A gracious day for old Nazareth. Jesus | Christ is manifestly present in her midst, j Such days we may have without going to lite land beyond the sea. Some one has i said, or words to this effect: "I wou>d i rather be live minutes where Jesus is ’ ’han spend wet ks where Jesus once was." And we can meet with Jesus at any time i alien our hearts are ready to give him I audience. Fletcher paused in the woods I me day ami had such sweet communion with his Saviour as put him in a transport of emotions that abode with him many days and lifted him to a new plane of Christian apprehension. He called it “one of th? days of heaven." Christmas Evans, going horseback over his Welsh hills, got such a vision of the divine Christ mice as bathed his face with tears and his heart in a tender glow that tarried with him. Seek these hours with Jesus. Young says: "He sins against this life who slights tho next." It was well for Nazareth to be at church that day when Jesus made himself known in the synagogue. Alas for the people who persistently refuse to come within the precincts • of the church or within the range of the means of grace. Possibly we may feel at times like closing some of our half-tilled sanctuaries in the country and the down town regions of the citi< s. thus scaling the rhurchly supply down to the present popular demand. But no. these things must i not continue as the. are. Men cannot go much further without Cod. They need ami must have the house of God; and in ; one way or another they will be brought j to realize it. it may be by some terrible I calamity. Indifferentism and absenteeism in city and country places cannot go ; much farther. At any rate we will still I keep our Nazareth houses open, for hero I still souls meet Christ face to face and are | blest. God keep ns low at the foot of the cross. ! When “the eyes of all them that were in j the synagogue were fastened on aim" tho j Lord of glory, they saw but a humble man I in pilgrim garb; and let the disciple be as his Lord, his kingdom not of this world. Was it not this very lordliness in lowliness that fixed their gaze? Well, when we seo him again, “see him as he is.” he shall be king but with the marks of his humility still upon him. Wondrously touching are those words that the blind singers use: “I shall know him. I shall know him. And along by his side I shall stand; I shall know him. I shall know him. By tho print of the nails in his hands!” Oh. to open the Book as Jesus opened it! Oh. to see in what he saw! To his eyes all nature ns well as revelation | was full of God. "Tho acceptable year i of the Lord" is the year of God’s grac-. i thi‘ time when he is ready to bless. And I when is that? Three letters spell it— I n-o-w—now. Are there any “poor." any ; “broken-hearted,” and "captives,” and “blind." any "bruised?” This is a time accepted. Just when you need him, here he is to bless, encompassing our want with his mercy. Do you need him? Behold him near, graciously near. Next Lesson —“The I’ower of Jesus.”— 7 Luke 5: 17-26. '