National Republican., 1886-09-13

arCn or l1J tne sol out OF the dltch;
whether It be to preach on Pente-
cost, or tell some wanderer OF the
street Of the mercy Of the Christ or OF
Mary Magdelene; whetherit be to weave a
garland for a laughing child on a spring
morning and call her n May Queen, or TO
comb out the tangled locks OF walf OF
the street, and cut up one Of your old
dresses TO llt her out for the sanotuary-do
IL, and do II right away. Whether It be a
crown or yoke, do not fdget. Everlasting
honors upon those who do their work, and
do their whole work, and are contented In
the sphere In which God has put them;
while there Is wandering, and exile, and
desolation, and wilderness for dlscontented
Hagar and Ishmael.
II. Again, l find in this oriental scene a
lesson OF sympathy with woman when che
goes forth trudgiDg In the desert. What
great change IL was for this Hagarl There
was the tent, and all the surroundings Of
Abraham's house, beautiful and luxurious,
no doubt. Now she is going out into the
hot sands Of the desert. oh, what q change
II wasl And In our day we often see the
wheel Of fortune turn. Here is some one
who lived In the very bright home Of her
father She had everything possible to ad-
minister TO her happiness-plenty at the
table, music in the drawing room, well
come at the door. She is led forth into life
by some one who cannot appreciate her. A
dissipated soul comes and takes her out In
the desert. Cruelties blot out all the lights
OF that home circle. Harsh words wear out
her spirits. The high hope that shone out
over the marriage altar while the ring was
being set, and the VOWS given, and the
benedlctlon pronounced, have all faded
with the orange blossoms, and there she is
to-day broken.hearted, thinking Of past Joys
and present desolatlon, and coming anguish.
Hagar In the wildernessl
Here is q beautiful home. You cannot
think Of anything that can be added to IL.
For years there has not been the suggestion
OF a single trouble. Bright and happy chill.
dren I'LL the house with laughter and song.
Books to read. Pictures to look at.
Lounges to rest on. Cup OF domestic Joy
full and running over. Dark night drops.
Pillow hot Pulses flutter. Eyes close.
And the foot whose well.known steps on
the doorsill brought the whole household
out at eventide crying: "Father's coming,n
will never sound on the doorsill again. A
long, deep grief ploughed through all that
brightness Of domestic life. Paradise lost
Widowhood. Hagar In the wilderness
How often Is IL we see the weak arm OF
woman conscripted for this battle with the
rough world. Who is she, going down the
street In the early light OF the morning, pale
with exhausting work, not half slept out
with the slumbers Of last night, tragedies
OF suffering written all over her face, her
lusterless eyes looking far ahead, as though
for the coming Of some other troubleH Her
parents called her Mary, or Bertha, or
Agnes on the day when they held her up
to the font and tho Christian minister
sprinkled on the infants face the washings
Of a holy baptism. Her name Is changed
now. i hear II In the shuttle Of the worn
out shoes. see 1t In the figure Of thefaded
calico. find II in the lineaments OF the
woebegone countenance. Not Mary, nor
Bertha, nor Agnes, but Hagar in the wilder
ness. May God have mercy upon woman
In her tolls, her struggles, her hardships,
ber desolations, and may the great heart Of
divine sympathy inclose her forever
III. Again, l find In this oriental scene
the fact that every mother leads forth tre
mendous destinies. You say: "That isn't
an unusual scene, q mother leading hel
child by the hand" Who is II that she ia
| great nation is to be founded; nation sc
strong that 1t is to stand for thousands oi
years against all the armies Of the world
Egypt and Assyria thunder against It,, but
| In vain. Gaulus brings up his army, and
his army is smitten. Alexander decides
upon campaign, brings up his hosts, and
dies For a long while that nation monopo
Lies the learning of the world. 1t Is tn,
nation of the Arabs. Who founded II
1
| wilderness. She had no idea she was lead
ing forth such destinies. Neither does any
| mother. You pass along the streets and se'
and pass boys and girls who will yet max,
the earth quake with their influence. Wit
is that boy at Sutton Pool, Plymouth, Eng
land, bare footed, wadlng down into tn
slush and slime until his bare foot come
upon piece Of glass and he lifts it, bleedin,
and pain struck9 That wound in the foo
decides that he be sedentary in his life
decides that he be student. Tha
wound by the glass In the foot decide
that he shall be John Kitto, who shal
provide the best religious encyclopedia tn
world has ever had provided, and with hi
other writings as well, throwing lightup
the Word Of God such as has come fron
no other man in this century. o mother
mother, that little hand that wanders owe
your face may yet be lifted to hurl thunder
bolts of war or drop benedictionsl Tha
little voice may blaspheme God in the grol
shop or cry "cowardn to the Lords host
as they 60 out for their last victory.
My mind this morning leaps thirty year
ahead, and see merchant prince OF New
York. One stroke of his pen brings shiJ
ont of Canton. Another stroke Of his pei
brings q ship into Madras. He Is mighty II
all the money markets of the world. WI,
Is he? He sits this morning beside you II
the tabernacle. My mind leaps thirty year
forward from this time, and / find mysel
In relief association. A great multitud
Of Christian women have met together 70
generous purpose. There is one woman
In that crowd who seems to have the con
fdence of all the others, and the.
for her prayers. Who is she ? This afternoo
you will find her in the Sabbath school
while the teacher tells her of that Chris
who clothed the naked, and fed the hungry
and healed the sick. My mind leaps foi
ward thirty years from now, and / find my
self in an African jungle; and there is
missionary OF the cross addressing tn
natives, and their dusky countenances ar
irradiated with the glad tidings OF great 10
and salvation. Who is hep Did you no
hear his voice this morning In the first son
of the servioe9
My mind leaps forward thirty years fror
now, and find myself looking through tn
wickets Of prison. Isee face SCARE
with every crime. His chin on his ope
palm, his elbow on his knee--a picture c
despair. AS open the wicket he starts an
hear his chain clank. The jailkeeper tell
me that he has been In there three times
first for theft, then for arson, now for mui
der. He steps upon the trap door, the rop
is fastened to his neck, the plank falls, hi
body swings into the air, his soul swings o
into eternity. Who is he and where Is he
This afternoon playing kite on the city con
mons. Mother, you are this morning hois
ing a throne or forging chain; you NJ
kindling star or digging dungeon.
A good many years ago Christia
mothers sat teaching lessons OF religion to he
child, and he drank In those lessons, Sh
never knew that Lamphier would com
forth and establish the Fulton stree
prayer meeting, and by one meeting revolt
tioniZe the devolions Of the whole eartt
and thrill the eternities with his Chrlstla
influence. Lamphier said 1t was hi
mother Nho brought him to Jesus Chris
She never had an idea that she was leat
Ing forth such destinies. But oh, when
, see q mother reckless Of her Influence
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