The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-02-16

or not and transfers to them, SlnGly or
collectively. the estate of the deceased
husband and living widow.
Now, that is specimen Of unjust laws
in al the states concerning womanhood.
Lstead of flying off TO the discussion as
to whether or not the giving Of the right
of voting to women will correct these
laws, let me say to men, he gallant
enough, and fair enough, and honest
enough, and righteous enough, and God
loving enough to correct these wrongs
against women by your own masculine
votes. Do not wait for woman suffrage
to como, if it ever docs come, but so faI
as You can touch ballot boxes, and legis-
laturcs, and congresses begin the refor-
| nation. But until justice IS done to
your sex by the laws Of all the states. and
women of America take the platforms
ard the pulpts, and 10 honorable man
will charge Vashti with having lost her
veil.
| Again, I want you this morning to
consider Nashti the sacrifice. Who is
this that l sec coming out Of that palace
gate of Shushan? 1t seems to me that l
have seen her before. She comes home
! less, Eouscless, fricndless, trudGing alonG
| with Il broken heart. Who is she? 1t is
Vashti the sacrifice. Oh. what a change
it was from regal position to way
farer's crust A little while ago approved
and sought for; now none SO poo as
| to acknowledge her ac9uaintaneeship.
| Nashti the sacrifice. All, you and 1 have
! seen it many a time. Here is a home
empalaced with beauty. All that refine
ment, and books, and wealth can do for
that home has been done: but Ahasuerls,
the husband and the father, is taking
hold on paths of sin. He is gradually
going down. After a While he will
founder and struggle like wild beast in
hunters net-further away from God,
further away from the right. Soon the
bright apparel of the children will turn
to rags; soon the household song will be-
come the sobbing of broken heart. the
old story over again. Brutal Centaurs
breaking up the marriage feast of La
pithae. The house full of outrage. and
cruelty, and abomination, while trudging
forth from the palace gate are Fashti
and her children. There are homes rep
resented in this house this morning that
are in danger Of such d breaking
up. Oh Ahasucrus, that you should
stand in home. by a dissipated
life destroying the peace and comfort
of that home God forbid that Your
children should ever have to wiring their
hands, and have people point their finger
at them as they pass down the street and
say: ''ThCrc goes drunkard's child"
God forbid that the little feet should ever
have to trudge the path Of poverty and
wretchcdness. God forbid that any evil
spirit. born of the wine cup or the brandy
flask. should come forth and uproot that
garden, and, with a blasting. blistering,
all consuming curse. shut for ever the
palace gate against Eashti and the chill
dren
Oh, the women and the men of sacri-
flee are going to take the brightest coro-
nails Of heaven! This woman of the text
gave up palatial residence. gave up all for
what she considered right. Sacrificed
Is there anything more sublime: a
steamer called the Prairie Belle, burning
on the Mississippi river, Bludso, the engi-
neer, declared he would keep the bow of
the boat to the shore till all were Off, and
he kept his promise. At his post, scorched
and biackcned, he perishcd but he saved
all the passengers. Two verses of pa
thetic poetry describe the scene, but the
verses arc a little rough, and so changed
a word or two:
/ Through the hot black breath of the burning
Jim BludsO's voice was beard,
And they all had trust i'll his stubbornnesS,
And knew he would keep his word.
And Sure's you're born they all got OF
Aforc the smoEestacks fell;
And Bludsos ghost went up above,
In the smoke of the Prairie Belle.
He weren't no saint, but at Judgment
I'd run my chance with Jim,
Longside of some piouS gentlemen
That wouldn't shake hands with him.
He'd seen his duty, dead sure thing,
And went for It there and then,
And Christ is not going To be too hard
On a man that died for men.
Once more: want you to look at
, Vashti the silent You do not hear any
outcrv from this woman as she goes forth
from the palace gate. From the very
dignity Of her nature YOU know there will
be no vociferation. Sometimes in life it
is necessary to make rstort; sometimes
in life it ii necessary to resist; but there
: are crises when the most triumphant
thing to do is to Keep silence The phil
osoriler. confident in Lis newly Giscov-
. rod principle, waited for the coming oi
: more intelligent generations, willing tha:
: men should laugh CT tho lightning rod.
md cotton gin and misunderstanding foI
: .ong years through the soothing Of plilo-
@ophical schools. III grand and nIa 9niiicent
| silence Calico, condemned by malhc-
5 nla;icians, and monks. and cardinals
,aric.lturcd everywhere. vet waiting ald
! Watching with his telescope. to sec tlIe
? coming UP ef stellar rc-cnforccmcnts
} wllcll the stars in iEeir courses wor!ll
? light fYr the Co.crnican system; thcT
-ilting down in comilctc blindness art
lcafncss to wait for the coming on 81
, the generations who would build hi.
Z monument and bow ut his grave. lii,
rcforElcr, cxecrated by his contcIapo
raries. fastened Ii a pillorv, the sloH
fires of public coHtc:npt burning undel
| him. ground Gndcr the cylinders OF The
{ printing press get CALMLY waiting for tht
day wien purity Of soul and beroism q
, character sill get the saEction Of eaTtl
+. and the plaudits Of heaven. Affection
t enduring without any complaint TIM
! sharpness OF the pang. and the yiolenc'
OF the storm. and the hefC Of the chain
t and the darkness of the night-waitin:
e until Z divine hand shall he Put forth {,
e Foothe the rang. ana hush the storm. an,
e release the captive. i wife abused, per
{ 7ecuted- and a perpetual exile from ever!
e earthly confort-waiting waiting. ur.ti
: the Lord shall gather UP his dear childr1