Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-11-10
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.


aIyxe human actions, and 70 trace
them back 70 their first impelling
motives, would be vastly surprised
were they 70 learn how strongly the
current Of popular opinion ard the
bias u personal conduct is set in any
given direction by the early install
ing Of some illogical deduction or
even the acceptance Of some radical
" false maxim. The supposed
harmleesness or even desirableness
Of young mems sowing q certain
amount Of wild OATS is an apt
Of this.
''Oh, he'll come out all right, he is
only sowing his wild oats" is the
opinion one often hears given in
partially or mere thoughtlessness,
Of some youth who is fast forging q
chain OF vicious indulgences that
will bind him in lifelong slavery.
Wild oats, indeedl Why, what
q mad fellow he would tirst SOW his
intended wheat field with cookies, as
! preparatisp for the valuable crop!
"Do men gather figs from thistles9"
1t ia short sowing, but a long
harvest. Many u man, whose bowed
form and feeble steps speaks Of the
narrow house, has been for long
years slowly breaking down under
the burden Of that harvest whose
sowing was soon to be over-so his
friends thought, in those far-back
days when he was the pride and
hope of q loving household. Nor is
the harvest limited by this present
life. It extends on, and on, far be-
yond the reach Of the Imagination
even, and from the lips Of its reap
ers now comes the glad ehout Of
harvest home. He that soweth to
the flesh, shall Of the flesh reap cor.
ruption. Once sown, wild oats are
30 hard to eradicate. Many a man
who seems to be a model Of Christian
integrity and zeal, could tell you
that often he finds himself on the
very verge of dispair as he discovers
this seed Of his early sowing spout
ing out, here and there, in his inner
life, just where he thought it was en-
tirely uprootcd. As in the fable the
dragons teeth, when sown, sprung
up around men, 30 from every wild
oat sown, springs up an armed foe
obstinately contesting every ap-
proach to peace, virtue, and eternal
life.
II our natures were angelic, we
might perhaps become disgusted
with evil by close contact with it;
but it is a fatal delusion to suppose
that, as We are, we can daily with
sin, under whatever name disguised,
and escape its pollution.
It is not necessary to court friend
ship Of Satan in order to avoid his
snares, think so who will. This
point may be well illustrated by the
story Of q Mississippi boat captain
who advertised for pilot. A tall
awkward man applied.
do you know where the snags
and sawyers are ?"
"Wa'll,no cap'in, / reckon I don't"
"You don't; we'll how dare you
apply for the place Of pilot? Clear
out"
It was the pilots turn to show a
little indignation; Strengthening HIM
sely up he replied
"Look-a-here cap'in, I'll tell you
what do know. know where the
snags and sawyers amt"
The captains eyes opened wide;
he started at the man q moment,
then an appreciative smile chased
away the wrathful look, and he ex-
claimed
"You are my man !"
That pilot did not have occasion
to reply to another advertisement.
He will safely bring his boats into
q quiet haven who lay his course
where the temptation and snares OF
Satan are not. Christian at Work.