The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-16

direction toward Jesus Christ and toward
heaven.
Years ago the astronomers calculated that
there must be world hanging at q certain
point in tho heavens, and large prizo was
offered for somo ono who could discover that
world Tie telescopes from the great OBJ
servatorics were pointed in vain, but girl
at Nantucket, Mass, fashioned telescope,
and, looking through it, discovered that star,
and won Tho prize and tho admiration OF all
the astronomical world, that stood amazed ut
her genius. And so it is often tie case that
grown people cannot see tho light, while
some ltto child beholds the star Of pardon,
the star OF hope, the star OF consolation, the
star OF Bethlehem, the morning star OF Jesus.
"Not many mighty men, not many wise
men aro called; but God hath chosen
the weak things Of tho world to
confound tho mighty; and base things
and things that are not to bring to
naught things TINT arc." Oh, do not despise
the rrat:le Of little children when they are
speaking about God, and Christ and heaven!
You SEQ tho way your child is pointing; will
you take that pointing or wait until, in the
wrench Of some awful bereavement, God shall
lift that child to another world, and then it
will bcckon you upwardi Will you take the
pointing or will YOU wait for the beckonlngf
Blessed be God that the little Hebrew captive
pointed in tho right direction! Blessed bo
God for the saving ministry Of Christian
children!
No wonder the advice Of this little Hebrew
captive threw all Naamnn's mansion and
Bcn-hadad's palace into excitement. Good-by,
Naaman! With face scariticd and rigid and
inlanled by tho pestilencc, and aided by
those who supported him on either sido, he
staggers out to the chariot. Hold fast the
fiery coursers Of tho royal stable whilc the
poor sick man lifts his swollen feet and pain
struck limbs into tho vehicle. Bolster him
up with the pillows and let him take linger-
ing look at his bright apartment, for perhaps
the Hebrew captive may be mistaken, and
the next time Naaman comes to that place hc
may be dead weight on the shoulders Of
those who carry him-an expired chieftain
seeking sepulture amid tho lamentations OF
an admiring nation. Good-by, Naaman!
Let tho charioteer drive gently over tho
hills of Herlnon, lest be jolt tho invalid.
Here goes the bravest man Of all his day
captive OF u horrible disease As the ambu-
lance winds through the streets Of Damascus
tho tears and prayers Of all the people 60
after the world-renowned invalid. Perhaps
you have had an invalid go out from your
house on health excursion. You know how
the neighbors stood around and said "Ah,
he will mover come back again aliveW Oh, 1t
was Il solemn moment, tell you, when the
invalid had departed, and you went into the
room to make the bed and to remove the
medicine vials from the shelf, and to throw
OMEN the shutters so that the fresh air might
rush into the long-closed room! Good-by,
Naaman! There Is only one cheerful
fuce looking at him, and that is the
face Of the little Hebrew captive, who
is sure he will get cured and who is SO glad
she helped him. AS tho chariot winds out
and the escort Of mounted courtiers, and the
mules, laden with sacks Of gold and silver
and embroidered suits Of apparel went
through the gates Of Damascus and out on
the long way, the hills Of Naphtali and Eph-
rain look down on the procession, ard the
retinue goes right past the battle fields where
Naanan, in the days of his health, used to
rally his troops for fearful onset; and then the
procession stops and reclines while in the
ETOFeS VI Wives 0tiSl S1SSiAihS41 oAh2 SSAi'
Naaman so sick-and So very, very sick!
How thei cbuntrymen gaped as the pro-
cession passed! They had seen Naaman 80
past like whirlwind in days gone by, and
had stood aghast at tho clank Of his wal
equipments; but now they commiserate him.
They say: "Poor man, he will never get
home alive! Poor mann Gen. Naaman
wakes from restless sleep in the chariot,
and he says to the charioteer: "Eow long be-
fore we shall reach this Prophet Elsha's?"
The charioteer says to q waysider: "How far
is it to Elishns house" Hesays: 1.-TWO miles"
"Two miles" Then they whip up the
lathered and tagged out horses. The whole
procession brightens up at the prospect OF
speedy arrival They drive up to thu door
of the prophet The charioteers shout:
aWhoa!" to the horses, and the trampins
hoofs and grinding wheels cease shaking the
earth.
Como out, Elisha. come out, you have
company; the grandest company that ever
came to your house has come to it now. No
stir inside Elishs's house. Tho fact was, the
Lord had informed Elisha that the sick cap
tain was coming and just how to treat him.
Indeed, when you a:e sick and the Lord
wants you to get well, He always tells the
doctor how to treat you; and the reason we
have SO many bungling doctors is because
they depend upon their own strength and in
structions and not on tho Lord God, and TINT
always makes malpractice. Come out, Eli
sha, and attend to your business. Gen. Naa-
man and his retinue waited, and waited, and
waited. The fact was Naaman had two diseases
pride and leprosy; tho ono was as hard to get
rid of rs the other Elisha sits quietly in his
house and does not 60 out. After while,
when he thinks ho has humblod this proud
man, he says to u servant: "Go out and tell
Gen. Naaman to battle seven times in the
River Jordan, ont yondor five miles, and ho
will get entirely we'll"
The message comes out. "Whatp says tho
commander in chief Of the Syrian forces. his
eye kinding with an animation which it had
not shown for weeks, and his swollen foot
stamping OH tho bottom Of the chariot, re-
gardless OF pain: "What! Isn't he coming
out to sec me! Why, thought certainly no
would come and utter some cabaliStic words
over mo or mako some cnigmatical passes
over my wounds. Why, | don't think he