The Nicodemus cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Graham County, Kan.) 1887-1888, 1888-09-07

mire the prancing span The next best thing
70 having banquet given to ourselves is hav-
ing q banquet given TO our prodigal brother
that has come home TO his fathers house.
Besides that If we do not get as much
honor and as much attention as others, we
| ought 10 congratulate ourselves on what we
escape in the way of assault The French
| general, riding on horseback at the head Of
| ms troops, heard soldier complain and say,
! IL IS very easy for the general to command
Us forward while lie rides and we walk. 4"
| lneU the general dismOunted and compelled
the complaining soldier to get on the horse
| Coming through ravine, a bullet from
Q snarpShooter struck The rider, and he fell
dead. Then the general said, "How much
safer II is to walk than to ride p'
Once more have to tell you that this senio
brother Of my text stands for the pouting
Christian. While there is so much c0ngratu-
lation within doors, the hero of nv text
stands outside, the corners OF his mouth drawn
down, looking as he felt-miserablp | am
glad his lugubrious physiog nomy did not spoil
Inc testiVity within. How many pouting
Christians there are In our daY-Christians
who do not like the music of our churches,
Christians who do not like the hilarties Of
the yOung-pOuting, pOuting, pouting at so.
ciety. pOuttng at the fashions, pOuting at the
newspapers, poutlng a tue government pout-
ing at the high heaven. Their spleen is too
large, their liver does not WORK, their dges-
ton is broken down. There are two eruets in
1iiCIl GholOI always huEG 10 DC McIl SuppllCu-
vinegar and rcd pepper! Oh, come away
from that mood. Stir little saccharne into
your disposition. While you avoid the DISCO
lu'eness Of the Younger son, avoid also the
lrasclDlilty and the petulance and the
pOutng spirit of the elder son, and initiate
the father, who had embraces for the return
ing prodigal and coaxing words for the
splenetic malcontent.
All! the face of this pouting elder son is
put before rs in order that we might better
he 1iaF, aud ~ FEn EaSI
or. Contrasts are mighty. The artist in
sketching the field of Waterloo, years after
the battle, put dove in the
mouth of the cannon. Raphael, in
one Of his cartoons, beside the face of a
wretch put the face Of happy and Innocent
Child. And SO the sour face of this irascible
and disguised elder brother is brought out in
order that in the contrast we may better I'M
derstand the forLving and the radiant face
of God. That is the meaning of it-that God
Is ready to take back ANYBODY that is sorry,
10 take him clear back to take him back for
ever, and forever, and forever, to take him
back with a loving hug, 70 put a kiss on his
parched lip, ring on his boated hand. an
easy shoe on his chafted foot, a garland on
his bleeding temples, and heaven in his soul.
Oh, | fall fiat on that mercy! Come, my broth
er, let Us get down into the dust, resolved
never to rise until the Fathers forglvlng hand
shall lift US
Oh, what God we have! bring your dog
OlOgies. Come, earth and heaven, and join
In the worship. CRY aloud. Lift the palm
branches Do YOU not feel the Fathers arm
around your neck! Doyou not feel the warm
breath of your Father against your cheekl
Surrender, Younger son. Surrender elder
son Surrender all! Oh, 60 in to-day and
sit down at the banquet. Take slice of the
fattel calf. and afterward. when you are
seated, with one hand in the hand of the re-
turned brother, and the other hand in the
hand of the rejoicing father let your heart
beat time to the clupping of the cymbal and
that we should make merry, and be
glad: for this thy brother was dead and is
alive again; and was lost, and is found"