The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-10-08
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
L Discourse to Young Men About
to Enter City Life.
The Careers Of Two Young Men-Through
Idleness and Dissipation to Death
by Industry to Wealth and
Honor-An Earnest Appeal

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage, in a recen
sermon at the Brooklyn Tabernacle tool
for his text:
Ponder the path OF thy feet.-iProv. *. IS
and preached the following sermon on the
subject:
"Two young men who came to live in
the city,"
1t was on Monday, September 90, at a
eclntry depot. Two young men are to
take the cars for the city. Father brought
them in a wagon with two trunks. The
evening before at the old home was a sad
time. The neighbors had gathered in tc
say good-by. Indeed, all the Sunday af-
tsrnoon there had been a strolling tina.
way from adjoining farms, for it was gen.
orally known that the two boys the next
morning were going to the city to live,
and the whole neighborhood was inter-
esSd.some hoping they would do we'll and
others, without saving anything, hoping
forthem a city failure. Sitting on the fence
talking over the matter the neighbors
would interlard their conversation about
the wheat crop of last summer, and the
apple crop vet to be gathered, with re-
marks about the city prospects OF Edward
and Nicholas, for those were the names of
,the two young men-Edward seventeen,
and Nicholas nineteen; but Edward. al
though two years younger, being little
quicker TO learn, knew as much as Nicho-
las. They were both brown-faced and
hearty. and had gone through all the cur
riculum of hearty sports. by which muscle
is developed and the chest filed out.
Father and mothe, on Monday morning
had both resolved to go TO the depot with
tie bows, but the mother at the last mo-
ment backed out, and she said that some
how she felt quite weak that morning, and
had no appetite for day or two, ard so
concluded to say goodbye at the front
door Of the old place. where she wept, and
what she did after the wagon left leave
other mothers to guess. The breakfast
things stood almost till noon before they
were cleared away. But little was said on
the way to the railroad station. As the
locomotive whistle was heard coming
around the curve. the father put out his
band-somewhat knotted at the knuckles
and one of the joints stiffened years ago
by wound from a scythe-ani said:
''Good-bye, Edward; cooi-bye, Nicholas.
Take good care of Yourselves, and write
as soon as you get there. and let US know
how they treat YOU. Your mother will be
anxious to hear"
Landed in the city. they sought out
with considerable inquiry of policemen on
street corners ami questioning of car-driv-
ers the two commercial establishments to
which they were destined. SO far apart
that thereafter they seldom saw each
other. for il is astonishing how far apart
two persons can be in large city, espe-
cially If their HABITS are different. Prac-
ticallv a hundred miles from Bowling
Green to Canal street, or from Atlantic
avenue to Fulton.
Edward, being the youngest, we mus.
look after him first. He never was in so
large store in all his life. Such inter-
mirabie shelves, such skiIlful imitation CT
real men and women to display goods on.
such agility OF cash boys, such immense
stock of goods, and a whole community of
employees! His heal is confused as he
seems dropped like pebble in the great
ocean of business life.
SHAVE YOU seen that greenhorn from the
country" whispers young man to Young
man- "He is in such and such a depart
ment. We will have to break him in some
aiCtit."
Edward stands at his new place all dav
SO homesick that at any moment he could
have cried aloud if his pride had not sup.
pressed every thing. Here and there
tear be carelessly dashed of as thou-h il
were from Influenza or cold in the head.
Bat some of you know how young man
feels when set down in a city Of strangers,
thereafter to fight his own battles, and no
one near by seeming TO care whether he
lives or dies. Tie center Of desert. a
months journey TO the first settlement, is
not much more solitary.
But that evening. as the hour for CLOSING
has come, there are two or three younr
men who side up to Edward and ask him
how he likes the city, ard where he ex-
poets to go that night. aud if he would
like them to show him the sights. He
thanks them, ard SAYS he shall have to
take some evenings for unrackiuy
and making arrangements. as he had
Just arrived, but says that after awhile he
will be glad - accept their com panv. At
ter spending two or three evenings in his
room, walking up and
down. looking at the ibure wall or an old
c hromo hung there atssfe time that relig-
Gus newspapers by suGl prizes advanced
their subscription lists, and after an hour
toying with the matchbox and ever and
anon examining his wasch TO see If il is
time to retire-aud IT seems that ten
F~ln at Is-fa 4
never come-he resolves TO accept the
chaperoniug Of his new friends at the !
store.
The following night-th.y are all out TO- |
gether. Although h;s-saiary is not large.
Re Is quite flush with POCKET money, which |
the old folks gave him after saving by for |
some time He can nI be mean aad |
these friends are doing all this for his |
pleasure. AMI SO he pays the bills. A. the !
door Of places 6 enchar.meat his COM !
pauions can not .ild the change, and thew |
faN benin jsst as the ticket |
office is approached, or they say they |
will make it all right. ard will themselves /
pay the next tina Edward. accustomed /
% farm life or village life. is dazad and |
with TIE glitter st spectacular
'in- Plain and diunt iniSuity Edward
would have Immediately repulsed, but sin
accompanied by SewitchiRS orchestra:
IN amid gilded pitSrs and gorgeous up
,olstery: sin arrayed in ali the attrac-
ions that the powers OF darkness in COM !
'ination can arrange TO magnetic,
Toung man. is very different from sin in
IS loathsonne and disgusting shape.
But after few nights being very late
,ut- he says:
81 must stop. Ny pr1xe won't stand this.
IL health won't stand this NJ reputa-
ion won't stand this.-