Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1878-04-19
The Marks on the Sand.

The following chapter is taken from
IA Wreath of Indian Stories," by "A
L. 0. E."
A Mohammedan youth, lIskim Ali
by name, on mis- return fro!n y Journey
through Arabia, visited bis friend Yu.
hanna, the Christian. Though the tw o
held not the same faith there was much
friendship between them. They sat to
gether under pepul tree, and Hakim
Ali with great animation, gave to Yu.
hanna an account of all he had seen in
his travels. For long time Yuhunna
had all the listening and his friend a II
the talking. In almost every sentence
uttered by Hakim Al he brought in the
name Of Allah, (GodD If he were but
describing how a mule stumbled, or
what evil fare he had at an inn, he call
ed God to bear witness to what he had
said-even if he were laughing when
the holy name was on his lips. Yuhan
ma had stick in his hand, and every
time that Hakim Ali uttered the sacred
name, Iuhsnna With the stick made
mark on the sand. Hakim Ali at last
noticed with surprise this act Of Yu
hanna.
"What are yol arkins?" he cried
p "D.bts," was the brief reply.
5n "You have many," laughei Hak i'm
Ali, again using the name of the High
est, and sgain Tuhanna drew line on
the sand.~ Then Yuhanna-turn;ng ask.
ed a question. -.....-.
''You have visited many holy shrines
and sacred tombs in your life, O Hak i'm
Ali!' said he, "did you ever take off
your slippers before entcrins?"
J Hakim Ali was so much astonished at
the question and more loudly thai, ever
he uttered the name o! Allah.
''Do you coun me as clean Swine:"
he exclaimed; "do you doubt that 81
ways take off my slippers on such &C.
casions? Never without Que reverence
do approach that which IS holy"
Yuhanna pointed to the marks on
the sand.
80, my friend!" said be, "Gl.een
times within the last hour have you
shown no reverence for that which is
most holy"
r. "What is your meaning:" exclaimed
the astonished Hakim Ali, again lightly
using the sacred name oe God. Once
more Yuhanna made mark on the
sand.
"Is building made by the hands OF
men more To lie reverenced than that
sacred name bofore which the angels
bow" said Yuhanna, gravely. as not
every time that name is taken in vain
marked down, not on the sand, where
it can be lightly effaced. but in that
book of emembrance which is kept bv
the Highest? my friend, it was the
voice Of the Almighty himself gave the
command, Thou shalt not take the
name Of the Lord thy God in vain, for
the Lord will not hold him guiltlcss
that taketh His name in vain.' This
command vas written first by the fin-
ger of God on the tables Of stone CON-
mitted to Noses"
'Are you Christians then, so careful
how you take the name Of God on your
lips:" asked Hakim Ali, rising some.
what angrlly from his seat.
"We, Of all men, should be most care
full" replied his friend, "for in the
prayer taught BY the Lord Jesus Christ
to His servants, the very first petition
to God is. 'Iallowed be Thy name II
we use that name without reverence,
our very prayer becomes mockery,
and we are convicted Of sin before God.
Solemn was the warning given by our
Lord, Every idle .ord tha. man .sh=,i=
speak he shall give an account thereof
in the day Of Judgment"
"Who then can stand in the day Of
Judgment" asked Hakim Ali, with
troubled countenance, as with his foot
he hastily erased the marks on the sand.
"None can stand but those who can
plead not their own righteousness, but
righteousness Of another" replied Yu-
hanna, looking upwards. Like the
prophet Isaiah have often cried, 'Woe
is INC, for I am undone, for am man
Of unclean lips;' but when think of
the blood that was shed by Christ on
the cross for sinners, to my heart the
answer comes, 'Lo! this hath touched
thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken
away, and thy sin purged.' There is
no condemnation to them that's in Christ
Jesus"