The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-07-12

j. hours
Wait till thy. hand shall ope the eternal gate,
-- And change thorns to flowers.
,0~s;:l|:: ! Apples q sodom. ~
- On the arid shores of that Eastern Sea
whose origin was a chastisement and
WHOSE existence is q warning, old travel
ers related that there grew tree laden
with fruit marvclously beautiful and lus-
cious to. the eye; but when the pilgrim,
wearied by a journey across the scorch-
ing sands that encircle the lake, sought
eagerly for rcfrcshmcnt from the juices of
this deceptive fruit, instead of the antici-
patcd delight his mouth was filled with
bitterness and ashes: As in the case Of
ssmany another venerable myth Of oIden
times, modern investigation has thrown
mot little doubt even on the existence of
' this Dead Sea Apple, but the moral les
son 1T illustrated is entirely independent
both of the nature of the phenomenon or
even of its existence. Little need of a
pilgrimage to scenes Of Holy Writ to dis
coYeT that many Of the objects. from the
ownership of Which we have expected
kccnfgratification, turn out to be sources
OF trouble or vcxation when actually in
our possession. In this way there are
few among US who have not tasted the
flavor of the apples of Sodom, and it
hardly lessons our distress to reflect that
often our own thoughtlessncss, impru-
dcncc, or misconduct has either caused or
sharpcned our disappointment.
How many have looked forward with
Joyful ntripations to some holiday cx-
cursion or festivity the arrival of which
has brought tt. en- only WEAKNESS or dis
gust! And these feelings are often the
AesAAa ofbeme trihlng anhoyance, some
petty miscarriag cs of our wishes, which
shortly afterwards: is either forgotten as
insignificant or remembered with a smile.
Then, again, many man has been so
confident Of augmenting his bliss by
purchasing an addition to his acres or
making costly mprovemcntson his home
stead that he has borrowed money and
often Inortgagcd his land to obtain it. in
order to increase his pleasure in this way,
bit in nine cases out of ten he finds that
he has taken a large bite out of an apple
ofSodom, and that to get rid of its bitter
,atter-tastc will take long years of labor,
hardship and anxiety; for happiness
gained by indebtedness is nearly always
illusive.
There arc not few farmers who have
expected help and satisfaction from the
ownership of a moving machine or some
other expensive agricultural implement,
and then when, at length, the coveted
treasure has come into their possession,
use it so carclcssly and leave it exposed
SO negligently to injury from the weather
and preYentable. accidents that the thing
soon becomes either entirely useless or a
'sourco 'of constant trouble and vexation.
Surely these, too, have learned the taste
Of Dead Sea apples!
How many father and mother have
yearncd as ardently as Hannah of old to
be blessed with children, rejoiced at their
birth and for:years dwelt with lingering
delight; on the help and consolation their
,dalipgA5 }iQlil@ he T. them in the: years to
acome; yet have through neglect, undue
indulgence nor harshness so reared them
that instead Of joy and assistance their
mismanagad7 efspripgs :shave brought
them onl Sorrow and distress! Cruel is
the fate that forces these unhappy pa
rents to eat, in their old age, of the bitter
sfpit~ mich, their own wretched hands
have sctlltivated>@to maturity. The rank
soil in which revenge tlourishes most lux
srs a,i is especially productive of Dead
How much worry, plotting. litigation
or even crime is often incurred to accom-.
plish mans Findctive or spiteful designs
while the: pleasure derivable from the full.
til1ment of these is, in nearly every in
stance, confined only to anticipation. and
leaves an after taste whose bitterness is
greatest when lies end draws near
While welkassorted marriage, to which
in addition to love, each partner brings q
due sense of the solemnity and obliga.
tions of wcdlock, and spirit Of forbear.
sances md *cdmpromise, is sure to yield
content and happiness, a union lacking
anE0f, these conditions is not at all un
likely to be fertile in Dead Sea fruits
In short those who desire never to taste
this nadseous product would do we'll t
keep clear of improvidence, idleness, in
temperance and vices of every kind, fol-
the fruits Of all these will inevitably have
the favor Es ef the apples Of sodom. -:
Styerm isosooms with a Single Thought
An amusing incident happened on
Kansas City paper the other day. Tw'
brothers, snamed. Hart, were, arrested
semcwhefe' in the interior, for obtainin.
goods under false pretenses. There wa
unusual commotion and mystery anon.
the members Of the editorial staff tina
evening, and each said unto the other
i've got a bully thing for tomorrow
paper,-;just you wait and see;" and. bein!