Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-10-29

?
Eds. Gazette Thinking that per-
haps some of your readers might like
d little change from politics, I send
You a few lines on another subject.
Once in the town of L. there lived 3
certain family of children, watched
over and tenderly cared for by kind.
indnlgent parents. They were abund
antly supplied with the comforts Of
life, and had a rich endowment of the
luxuTi5s. Love was their guardian
angel peace and GOODWILL toward
each other, and all mankind, shOne
forth amid their brightest stars. They
were pointed out to the stranger who
ehanced to pass their village as 4ithe
happy family and maf1V said would
that I with mine might dwell near
them" But after time, as '-SataE
was going to and fro In the earth,
walking M and down in it, he espiet!
this happy group, and at once was i'll
at ease. Forthwith he hastened back
to his internal regions and dispatched
some Of his MOST cunning imps to SOW
among them a few seeds OF discord and
discOhtett, and to plant in their midst
two little vines, unfaithfulness and self
ishriess, In hot haste his commands
were obeyeds and those parents were
soreIv grieved to find their children
were learning to sing from Satan >
music book; and often after this they
were compelled to take from them
some of their best comforts and cholc-
| est 1uxuriess
vet whenever those children "begail
to feel the keen demands of appetite,
and asked for morsel OF food, they
were provided with the best IN store.
This would arouse Satan's jealousy
somewhat, and Immediately he would
strenart hen the tendriIs OF those vines
he had planted, look well to the
plants which grew from the seeds soWn
at his command, and devise some plan
by which he would persuade those
children to cast aside the delicious
morseI given in answer to IL cir cry for
food. without their saying even so
much as 'fWe thaak you for it," But
scarce would it have passed from their
hands. when they would turn and m
suit those eVer-forgiving parents by
saying, "Giye us to eat; Oh! give us
to eat, whatever you viii but give us
to eat. :" There is a little church, of
the PresbUteEiaB-oFd oFder,-E10t many
miles from this town, that has often
reminded me of those children. Years
ago I used to 90 there upon the Sab
bath, and often thought if ever l bad
my name placed upon church record
that church would be my choice. But
of late I hear that those l5ttle vines
of Satan's are fast gaining ground
among that people; and if there is any
truth in modern prophesy, that church
will, ere long, be numbered with the
things that WERE" The people have
apparently ceased to work their house
of worship is old and in a ruinous con
dition; Atheir yard Is all grown over
with briers, and weeds have covered
the face thereof. and the wooden wall
thereof is broker down. the poor
sheep are becoming scattered, and the
lambs are going astray- And all for
want Of a shepherd It is said that
Satan has succeeded in getting his vine
of selfishness so closely wrapped
around them. that they have ceased to
read that the promise of Increase is
only to those who give" They have
forgotten, tTke liberal soul shall be
made fat, and he that watereth shall
be watered also himselfs" "G;ive and
it shall be given unto you; good meas
ure, pressed down, and shaken tOgeth-
er, and running over shall men give
into your bosom. For with the same
measure that We mete with all, it shall
be measured to you again - "Give to
all men Hbera1ly-nOt grudgingly ;"
s'God loves the cheerful giver - It is
more blessed to give than to receives"
''Bring We all the tithes into the store
house that there may be meat in mine
house, and prove me here with, saith
the Lord of hosts, if I will not open
you the windows of heaven and pour
you out blessing that there shall not
be room enou b to receive it - tIhe
lDefal Q0N1sotn 4ABOLd4 tAAA6Ss
ssIord, all I an, and all I hare,
Shall be forever thine;
Whatever duty bids me give,
III cheerfally resign"
They take more pleasure in reading,
'sGet all you can and keep what You
have"
tRFoney is a needfuI thing,
will seek it day by day;
OF its worth III daily sing.
And for its increase viii pray
They will receive the curse of Meroz,
instead of receiving such blessing as
did Jael. When she was asked for
water, s'sha gave milk, and brought
butter in Iordly dish" But when
tbnf rnncr,Ia are aslFad for rRtar they