The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-06-18

When Moses and Aaron went to Pha-
roah, demanding the release of the Israel
ties from bondage, that they might go
forth and offer sacrifices unto the Lord,
the King was seized with the conviction
that they were having too easy times, and
that the lightness of their tasks gave them
time for entertaining mischievous
thoughts He proposed therefore to in
crease their burdens, in order to render
them more docile if not more contented
This is the great central idea which char
acterizes all forms of human bondage no
matter whether it be as to slavery proper,
or military or civil experience of any
kind. The most rigid discipline is con-
sidered essential to the keeping of the
bondmen in a useful attitude toward the
master. The idle boy at School is the
one who is author of mischief, and if not
suppressed in some manner, soon draws
a strong following. "Idleness," we are
told in the old maxim, ''breeds vice"
This seems to have been the idea of Pha-
roah, though his methods were those of
cruel oppression rather than for the good
of the laborers. The idea-like great
many ideas of which the wrong applica-
tion is made-is good one if rightfully
used.
We knew a young man who was very
careful of his physical powers. 1t is
taught us that ''men love darkness rather
than light" This young man loved idle
ness, rather than work. He came into
the world somewhat fatigued, and seemed
never to have found time to become
thoroughly rested He. married beau
tiful girl, and it was then thought that
he would make an effort to do something
useful. But this only added to his bur-
dens. The management of a family, in
addition to the care of keeping his own
health in a robust condition so occupied
his time that he had no time to fool away
in search of the stuff which men call
wealth.
Finally, however our friend became
tired of remaining away from the people
who had proven his friends, and he jour
neyed to their country, and abode with
them. In the course of time he entered
the service of one of them as regular
6LlplOy6t. InClt NdS IL Idplu ttuCl Suuu6u
transformation in his little world, at
once. The most humiliating and fatigu-
ing duties were heaped upon him, day by
day. He was compelled to toll, early and
late, with barely time to partake of food,
and enjoy a few hours sleep. AS time
wore on his duties seemed to increase in
their roppressiveness. Kind-hearted friends
began to note that the young man-who
had not been raised tomanual labor-was
overworked. Prompted by motives of
humanity, they called upon his employer,
clear and emphatic: Il a0iU make q man
ofhim!' And he did. He drove all the
idleness out of the young mans life, and
made him an industrious man, filed with
thoughts of usefulness.
That was the correct application of the
idea-tO take idleness and convert it into
industry, not to take industry and de-
grade it to the point of oppression or
cruelty. This young man had been con-
tent, in former years to make a few
bricks -metaphorically speaking - but
somebody else had to furnish the straw,
in every case. When compelled to Skin
mish around and collect his own straw
and make bricks as a matter of daily
necessity, he became successful man.
The Israelites were kept too busy to 60
to the places of their choice and worship