The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-05

worldly elevation. This Egion vas what
the world called grest man. There were
hundreds OF people wn0 would have consid.
ered 1t tie greatest honor OF their life lust 70
have him to speag 10 .bem. Yet eltnOuga
he is not beyond the reach Of Ehud dagger.
l see great many people trying to climb
up in social position, having ana idea that
there is 4 safe place somewhere far above
not knowing that the mountain of fame has
top like Mount Blauc. covered With per-
petual sDoE. We laugh at the children OF
Shinsr for trying to bald a tower that could
reach to the heavens bat think ii orr eye
sight were only coed enough we could see a
3 bel IN many doOr-ysrd. Oh, the strug-
gle is fierce. It is store against store. house
against house. street sgsioss street, nation
against nation. The goal for which men are
running is chairs and chandeliers and mir
rors and houses and lands and Presidential
equipments. IL they get what they antici-
pate, what have they got? Men are not safe
from calumny while they live, and, worse
than that, they are not safe after they are
dead; for | have seen swine root up grave
yards. One day a man goes up into public
ity and the world does him honor and people
climb 10 into sycamore trees to watch him
as be passes. and as he goes along on the
shoulders of the people there is waving OF
hats and q wild huZza. Tomorrow the same
man is caught between the Jaws of the print
ing press and maDgled and bruised, and the
very same persons who applsuded MIN be-
fore cry: Down with the traitor Down
with bim!"
Bslshszzar site at the feast the mighty
men Of Babylon sitting all around him. Wit
spEIkies like the wine AID the wine ike the
wit. Music rolls up among the Chandelier;
the chandeliers fash down on the dec -.
tiers. The breath of hanging gardens Fl PATS
in on the night air; the voice OF reVelfy
floats out Amidst wreathes aud tapestry
and golden banners fiuger writes Tee
march of hest is heard on the stairs.
Laughter catches In the thTost. a Thousand
hearts stop beating. Ths blow is strack.
The blood on the floor is richer hue3 than
the wine on the table. The kingdom has de-
parted. Belshazzsr was no worse. perhaps,
than hundreds of people in Babylon, bat
his position slew him. Oh ba content with
Just such position as God has placed you
in. 1t may not be ssid of us. he WAS 8
great general" or "he was an honored chief
tain" or he was mighty in worldly attain
ments;" bat this thing may be said of you
and of ne. He was 4 good citizen. q faith
ful Christian, friend OF Jesus" and that in
the last day will be the highest of all eulo-
glums.
learn farther from the subject that death
comes to the eummef-ho1ss. Eg.0n did NOT
expect to die in that 6ne place. Amidst all
the flower leaves that drifted like summer
snow into the window; in the tinkle and
dash of the fountains; in the sound Of .
thousand leaves 1ntteriug on the tree
branch; in the cool breeze that came up to
shake feverish trouble ont Of the kings
locks-there was nOthingtha spoke OF death,
but there he died In the winter, when the
snow is q shIoud and when ths wind is q
djIge, it is easy 10 think OF our mortality, bat
when the weather il pleasant and al our sur.
roundipgs are agree able, how difficult 1t IS
for Us 10 appreciate the truth that we sr5
MORTAL And yet my text teaches that death
N cr a tn M ms n. n
He is blind and can not see the leaves. he
Is deaf and can not hear the fountains. Ga,
if death would ask Us for victims We could
point him 10 hundreds OF people who Woald
rejoice TO have him come. Push back the
door of that howell Look st that little child
cold and tick ard hungry. 1t has never
heard the name of God bat IN blasphemy.
Parents intoxicated, staggering around Is
stIa1 bed. 0 Death, thsre is 4 mark for
thee? Up with 1t into the light! Before
those little feet stumble on LIES pathway,
give them rest
sHere is an aged man. He has done his
work. He h IS done Ii gloriOusly. The COM
panions OF his youth all gone, his children
dead, he longs to be at rest, and wesrily the
days go aud the nights pass. He saYs:
Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly" o,
death, there is a mark for thee! take from
him the staff and give him the scspteT; up
with him into the light where eyes never
grow dim and the hair whitens not through
the long years of eternity. All, death will
not do that Death turns back from the
straw bed aud from the aged man ready for
the skies, and comes to the summer house.
What doest thou here, thou b0ny, CHASTITY
monster, amidst this waving grass aad under
this sunlight sitting through the tres
branches? Children are at play. HJT
quickly their feet 60 aud their locks toss in
tie wind. Father and mother s5snd at he
side of the room enjoying their glee. i does
not seem possible that ths woif should ever
break into that fold aud carry Oil lamb.
Meanwhile an old srcber STANDS looking
THROUGH the thicket. he points his arrow st
the brightest OF the group. He IS = surs
marksmaD. The DO bsnds, ths arrow
speeds, Hush now. The qnick feet have
stopped and the locks toss no more il the
vino. Laughter hiss gone out Of the nall.
Death in the summerhoussl
Here IS father in nlidljfe; his coming
home it night is the signal for mirtb. The
children rush to the door, and there are
books on the evening stand and the hours
pass away on glad feet There is nothing
wanting IN that house, Religion is there and
sacrifices on the altar morning aud night.
You look in that household aud say: "I can
not think of anything happier. do not
really believe the world is 50 SAD q place rs
some people describe It 10 be-" The scene
CHANCES. Father IS sick. The doors must
be kept shut. Ths death watch chirps dole
fully on the hearth. The children whisper
and walk softly where once they romped.
Passing tho house late At night yo1 see the
quick glancing OF lights from room to room.
It is al over. Death IN the sumner-houss!
Here is sn sged moihsT-3ged but no. IN.
iirm. You think you will have the Joy of
caring for her wants good while yet As
she goes from house e. house, 20 children
and grandchildren, hes coming is dropping
CT sunlight in the dwelling. Your children
see her coming through the lane, and they
cry 'grandmother's come" Care for you
has marked up her face with many q deep
wrinkle. and her back stcoDs with carrying
your burdens. Sons day she is very quiet;
she says she IS not sick, but something tells
you you will not much longer have mother.
She will sit with you no more at the table
nor at the hearth. Her soul goes ont 80 gent
! ly you do not know exactly the moment OF
its gong Fold the hands that have done so