The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-11-04

their camps by Jericho, Balak was sore
afraid. He did not like the looks of the
Israelites, numerically. They covered
the face of the earth" and threatened to
lick up all around and about that place,
as the OK licketh up the grass of the field.
So Balek sent for Balaam to come to his
assistance. After some parleying, Ba-
laam mounted his animal and started.
In that journey, like all other journeys in
the temporal existence, there were some
difficulties and trials to be encountered.
The rider could not forsee that he would
have his foot crushed by the mule crowd
ing against a wall, or that he would be
annoyed by the obstreperous animal in
divers ways. The trials came, however,
and the frailties of the human nature
broke forth in a good sound clubbing of
the offending animal. After some trials,
the animal baked, and refused to move
a peg. No amount of urging could move
it, because it saw, what Balaam could not
then see, the angel of the Lord standing
in the way. The animal, in refusing to
go further proved an enigma to the rider.
He could not understand the stubborn
ness of the beast. Beating. kicking,
and if he was anything like his modern
cousins, swearing, Balaam had hopeless
battle to even attempt to move the poor
beast.
Suddenly the animal opened its mouth
and said unto the rider the language
quoted in the text: Am l not thine ass
upon which thou hast ridden?" Why
then should the rider cruelty beat, kick,
strike and bruise the very bearer OF his
burdens? Suddenly the eyes of Balaam
were opened and he beheld the angel of
the Lord, standing in the pathway with
sword in his hand. Then the traveller
know why the animal had refused to
proceed. The beast knew the sword was
intended for Balaam, and Balaam wished
for a sword to use in slashing the beast.
But in any event the procession suddenly
stopped right there. No amount of beat
ing could move the poor, abused beast
any further just then. The rider wished
for sword, and found it ready to hand
but it was in the hand of an angel of the
Lord.
This picture comes back to us, ages
afterward, in as true characters as though
the original scene were presented. AL
most every day we may see Balaam rid
ing contentedly upon some poor ass.
Suppose for a moment we go to the stable
where the poor animals are fed. We
have sometimes heard the names of these
animals are fed. We have sometimes
heard the names of these animals asso-
ciated with diet of thistles. But the
Balaam of to-day feeds them upon fire
and poison. Along the wall of Balaam's
stable are ranged bottles and casks of
this fire and poison, and the poor crea-
lures walk up to the trough as meekly
as lambs and load their stomachs with
the slops. Now says Balaam, 81 will
take ride p Then he waddles out from
behind the manger where he has been
feeding his mules upon fire and poison,
and laboriously loads his huge carcass of
filth into his fine carriage-the product of
the labor of the dumb animals under his
control-and starts out upon the public
highways, these meek and loWly asses
filled with their diet of fire and poison
contentedly and shamelessly pulling the
physical monstrosity through the streets
and public places, as an advertisement of
their own shame and disgrace. The
driver may be, and generally is, ashamed
of his work, but there is profit in it, and
so long as the poor brutes do not object
mitted to enjoy his easy way Of living
without giving himself much worry over
these little temporal affairs.
But it must be noted, as we go along
that the Balaam sometimes meets with
difficulties in the way. Sometimes the
animals become lame, and disheartened.
and rebellious. Under such circumstances
he simply stops feeding them and permits
them to die. Behold the poor, shivering,
emaciated wreck of mule, ambling up
to the counter-Oh-well, yes-counter.
Or, if it suits better, bar. He comes up,
all broken to pieces, and piteously begs
for oats. No oats In his desperation
he calls and brays for fire and poison
mo" calmly remarks the Balaam behind
the bar, "Of you got monish, you can haf
some vire-but you vas not able to work
any more, und ven you can't work. you
vas no account to mew So the work of
mule-driving goes on. But finally there
comes day of reckoning, and for some
of these drivers it is coming now.
At the last the poor, shivering, over
worked ass is ridden into a narrow and
difficult way by his bloated and dishonest
rider, and, overcome by the difficulties
that surround him, and the want of suf-
ficient strength to bear his burden, the
owner and driver begins to kick and
smite him. This poor wreck of animal
life has been used, and is being used, as
long as he was and is useful. Now that
the time comes when the animal needs
encouragement, he beats and clubs him,
killing the animal sooner than by the
process of feeding on poison. But just at
this point, after the cruel, eXacting mas
ter has exhausted himself trying to COM
pei the animal to bear his filthy weight,
or draw him in a carriage, there suddenly
appears an angel of the Lord in the way
a great, strong, avenging angel; and here
the driver of the poor animals. This
angel of the Lord will cut down with
sword of flame, the bloated devil who has
lived by depressing, cheating and abus-
ing creatures much less animal than HIM
self, and this will end the story of one of
Satan's imps. The time of reckoning
comes. The poor, deluded asses that
have daily appeared at the counter and
begged to be abused, reach a turning
point in time, in many instances at least
to see their oppressor cast into ever
lasting fire.
What the world needs is that the peo-
pie stand, like the angel of the Lord be-
fore the bloated Devil who seeks to de-
5troy the world, and in the name of God
and righteousness strike out his life and