The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-18
HOh, What q Loss

Suppose the whole community where
you live were wrapped in flames, and all
the houses with their rich and costly fur
niture were falling into ruin. AS you
gaze on that sight you would exclain,
"Oh, what loss !" Mu.titudes who
witnessed those awful conhagrations
few years ago in Portland, Chicago, and
Boston, aad saw those splendid ware
houses, filled with the richest mcrchan-
disc-almost the fortunes Of some of tho
wealthiest citizens - consuming into
ashes-no doubt thought within them
selves, "Oh, what destruction Of prop
erty, what great loss" And it was
great loss. Hundreds of thousands of
wealth in few short hours took wings
and flew away.
But suppose you were to look on a
single youth who had entered course of
diss: patton and sin that would lead to
inevitable ruin-the ruin of his soul. His
loss, unless he repents, will be infinitely
greater than in either Of the cases men,
toned. Yea, greater than the loss
should whole city, yea, all the cities in
America and in Europe, with all their
mansions and untold wealth, be wrapped
in flames; or even the world itself. Who
can estimate the worth of an immortal
soui2 "What shall it profit man if he
gain the whole world and lose his own
soul?" Think of its destiny-everlasting
happiness or everlasting woe! Think
Of the price paid for its redemption.
One sigh which heaved the bosom of
Our Saviour in procuring this redemp-
ton, or one drop of that blood which
be swat in the garden or which flowed
from his wounded body on the cross,
would be infinitely too dear ransom to
save the gold and silver, yea, all the
wealth of the universe from one general
conhagration. But the ransom of the
soul cost all those groans and all that
blood.
Who, then, can estimate the worth OF
the soul9 Parent, can you2 Teacher,
can you2 Christian, can you2 Can we
exclaim, ooh, what loss!" when we
see few dwellings or the riches of
oity exposed to the devouring elements,
and can we be unaffected whom we see
the souls of our children and friends ex.
posed to everlasting burnings4
How can any live unconcerned while
their souls, that treasure more valuable
than all the riches in the world, are in
DANCER of that fire that will never be
extinguished! Jesus Christ only can save
that precious treasure for every one who
will seek his aid. Will not every one,
then, flee to Him, committing his soul to
divine keeping2 Then. when this world
shall be wrapped in fire, and all the ele-
ments melt with fervent heat and the
wicked, like stubble, shall be consumed,
YOUR treasure will be safe and forever
with the Lord.
As counting over our treasures we look
at our earthly possessions, which at the
best are uncertain and transitory, may
none of us fail to see that We have
treasure laid up where the fire cannot
consume and where moths and rust will
not corrupt and where thieves will not
break through and steal.-American
Messenger.
An Indian boy, Pawnee, one Of Cap
tain Pratt's pupils, edits the Indian
Helper at Carlisle, Pa. Here is one of
his '"notes." Some older and lighter
complexioned people could not do bet
ter: zone hundred years ago, one hun
drei miles northeast of Carlisle, the In
dians in one day killed many white pe'-
pie. 1t was called the Wyoming Massa-
ere. Everybody called the Indians,
s-savage brutes." Recently in Wyoming
Territory party of white men killed
many Chinese workmcn. Now boys and
girls, it is time for you to call these
white people savage brutcs." Not all
Indians are savage. Not all white peo-
pie are civilized.