Smyrna times., 1876-03-15

: Va gram Vi CnrlStlan primer
pie IN youthful soul develop into
large crop of gladness on earth and to
harvest OF eternal joy in heaven? Hear m,
!, then, this morning, while discourse upor
some OF the mistakes which young peopl,
E make in regard to happiness, and point ou
to the young women of the Church what
l consider to be the sources of comnlet,
; satisfaction.
And, In the first place, advise YOU no
TO 6'Id yo'fr happiness upon mere social position
Persons at your age, looking off upon life
are apt to think that if, by some stroke Of
what is called good luck, you could arrive
IN an elevated and affiuent position. a little
higher than that in which God has oollod
you to i've you would be complety happy.
INFINITE mistakel The palace floor Of
Ahasuerus is red with the blood of Vasbti,s
broken heart. There has been no mora
scaIdlng tears wept than those which co,,rsad
the cheeks of Josephine. If the sob of un.
happy womanhood in the great cities could
break through the tapestried wall. that sob
would come along your streets TODAY like
the slmoon of the desert. Sometimes
nave heard in the rustling of the robes on
the city pavement the hiss of the adders
that followed in the wake. You have
come out from your home, and YOU have
looked up at the great house. and coveted
a hfe under those arches, when, perhaps at
that very moment, within that house there
may have beer the wringing of hands. the
start OF horror, and the very agony of hell
l knew such an one. Her fathers bousa
was plaln' most of the people who came
there were plain; but, by change in for
tune such as sometimes comes, hand had
been offered that led her into brilliant
sphere. All the neighbors CONGRATULATED
her upon her grand prospects; but what an
exchange! On her side it was heart full
OF generous impulse and affection. On his
SIDE 1t was soul dry and witbered as tba
stubble of the field. On her side IL was
lather's house, where God was bonorad ord
the Sabbath light flooded the rooms with
the very mirth of heaven. On his side II
was gorgeous residence and the comino
OF mighty men to be entertained there
put within 1t were revelry and godlessness
Hardly had the orange blossoms of the
marriage feast lost their fragrance than the
night OF discomfort began to cast here and
there its shadow. The ring on the finger
was only one link of chain that was 70
bind her eternally captive. Cruelties and
unklndnesses changed all those splendid
trappings into hollow mockerv. The
platters OF solid silver, the caskets of nura
gold, the head-dress of cleaning diamonds. |
were there; but no God, no peace. no kind
words, no Christian sympathy. The festal
music that broke on the captive's ear turned |
out to be dirge, and the wreath in the
plush was reptile coil, and the upholstery
that swayed in the wind was the wing of n
destroying angel, and the bead-drops on the
pitcher were the sweat of everlasting despair.
y, how many rivalries and unhappinesses
among those who seek in social life their
chief happiness! 1t matters not how fine
you have things; there are other peonle
who have it finer. Taking out YOUR watch
to tell the time of day, some one will cor.
rect your time-piece by pulling out a watch
more richly chased and jewelled. Ride in
carriage that cost you eight hundred dol.
lars and before you get around the park
you will meet with one that cost two thou.
sand dollars. Have on your wall a picture
by Copley, and before night you will hear
OF some one who has picture fresh from
the studio of Church or Bierstadt. All
that this world can do for you in ribbons.
in gold, in plush, in tapestry, in wide halls.
in lordly acquaintanceship, will not give
you the ten-thousandth part Of a grain of
solid satisfaction. The English lord. NOV
ing in the very highest sphere, was one day
found seated, with his chin on his hand
and his elbow on the window sill. looking
out, and saying, "Oh, wish could ex.
change places with that dogl' Mere social
position will never give happiness to
soul. | have walked through the
halls of those who despise the common peo-
pie; ] have sat at their banquets; I have
had their friendship; yea, have heard
from their own lips the story of their dis.
quietude; and tell the young women of
this church that they who build on mere
social position their souls immortal happi-
ness, are building on the sand
go further, and advise you not 70 depead {
for enjoyment on mere personal attractions. 1t
would be sheer hypocrisy, because we may
not have it ourselves, to despise or affect to
lespise beauty in others. When God gives
i, He gives it as blessing and as a means ,
of usefulness. David and his army were /
coming down from the mountains to de- I
'troy Mabel and his focks and vineyards. !
The beautiful Abigail, the wife of Mabel, {
vent out to arrest him when he came down !
rom the mountains, and she succeeded.
Coming TO the foot of the hill, she knelt j
David with his army of sworn men came
down over the cliffs, and when he saw her I
kneeling at the foot Of the hill, he cried, I
Haltr' to his men, and the caves echoed 4
- l. lsfs u.