Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-17

observe a white track across the tenn
Pile and through the sparse gray hair;
then, with mis- brain in whirl, secur-
ed the stick of wood, laid it careful
ly upon the blaze, took out pencil
and notebook and scribbled few
lines to his wife. A close carriage,
fire in his best room, warm dinner;
his pencil checked off the items at
lightning speed. He called the watch
man and dispatched him with the note,
meeting the mans wondering look
with one of stern decision. As the
door closed behind the messenger,
and his departing footsteps echoed
fainter and fainter in the distance,
he turned to find his compulsory
guest arisen from his chair and con-
fronting HIM with white face.
ssThe almshouse? I'll die first !"
"Never achile liUe, Col. Leaaoir r.
Having uttered this blunt assur-
ance, Brewster sat staring at his old
friend through q mist of tears. The
old man answered with startled
look. He drew his slouch hat lower
over his eyes. His chin worked con-
vulsively.
Old and thin and gray, overtaken
by reverses, crushed by misfortune,
the colonel was found out.
s. S. LESSON FOR AUGUST 2Sd.
ELIJAH AT HoREB. Kings xix,
1-18.
GOLDEN TExT-And after the fire q
still small voice. l Kings xix, IL.
In the last two lessons we have
the boldness, energy and great sue
cess of Elijah in the demonstration,
first, that Baal was no God. and
secondly that Jehovah was the God
of Israel and man, and the only one;
and also that he was His prophet.
We should have supposed that none,
whether man or demon, could make
him play the coward. But the
naughty and bloody Jezebel sent him
assurance that in twenty-four hours
time his life should answer for the
slain prophets of Baal. He arose
and fed to save his life to Beer-she-
ba in Judah, and leaving his servant
there, he went days journey into
the wilderness, and at length sat
down under a juniper tree and said,
SIT is enough. Oh, Lord, take away
my life, for I am not better than my
fathers. He fell asleep and an
| angel touched him and said that the
Lord had prepared supper for him.
He ate and again fell asleep and the
angel again touched him and told
him to eat heartily for the journey
was too great for his strength. He
ate and went in the strength of his
meat forty days to Horeb, the mount
of God. This was the place where
God had given Moses the law amid
earthquake, tempest and fire. When
he reached it he entered a cave and
God spake, ssWhat doest thou here,
Elijah?' He said, 81 have been
very jealous for the Lord God of
hosts, for Israel has forsaken thy
covenant, thrown down thine affairs,
and I, even I only, am left; and
they seek my life." The Lord COM
manded him to 60 forth and stand on
the mount before him. The Lord
passed by, and hurricane rushed on
ward in its fury and broke the rocks
in pieces. After the wind an earth
quake shook the mighty mountains
and then devouring fire played its
role of destruction in the track of
the earthquake and tempest, but God
was not in one of these. Then came
still small voice. Elijah wonder
ing and overwhelmed, wrapped his
face in his mantel, and went and
stood in the door of the cave. God
again asked, "What doeth thou
here, Elijah?'' He answered as at
first. The Lord told him to return
| by the wilderness of Damascus and
annoint Hazael king of Syria, Jehu
king of Israel, and Elisha to be
| prophet in his room. These were to
be the agents of his hand to execute
his purposes and judgments in Syria
and Israel, and Elijah was to leave
the work he had to other hands.
Moreover the prophet was assured
that he was short sighted and ignor-
ant for God had seven thousand who
had not worshipped Baal.
The lesson shows, first, how weak
and cowardly Elijah the great, the
brave and wonderful prophet, was
when instead of trusting in his God
he looked at the irate and bloody
Jezebel and her threat. Second, it
shows the plying love of God to his
faithless and fleeing prophet. He
saved him, fed him, made him see his
glory and power, and gave him fresh
work to do, and promised him a
speedy release from his Office. Third,
it shows that he ever has and will
have people of his own, since IN
idolatrous Israel he had 1000 when
Elijah supposed there was only one.
The BoUNDLEss WEsT.-A west
ern paper gives this advice: 'sIf you
are coming for the pleasure to find
out the ways of the West and have
some fun, come along; you can get
plenty of that. If coming with the
expectation of filling your purse with