The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-09-26

W0at temptatlOn TO eNtortlOh Amlu 50
much display, what temptation to vanity.
Amid so many saloons OF strong
drink, what allurement TO dissipa-
lion. In the maelstroms Of the street.
how many make quick and eternal ship
wreck. II a man-of-war comes back
from battle. and is towed into the navy
yard, we go down to see the splintered
spnrs and count the bullet holes, and
look with patriotic admiration on the flag
that floated in victory from the mast
head. But that man IL more of a Gu
riosity who has gone through thirty
years of the sharp.shOotiug OF business
life, and yet sails on, victor over the
temptations Of the street. Oh! how
many have gone down under the press.
ure, leaving not so much as the patch of
canvas to tell where they per shed. They
never had any peace. Their dishonesties
kept tolliug in their ears.
II had an axe aud could split open the
beams Of that fac house perhaps l
would find in the very heart Of it a skel-
ctOl. In the very best wine there is a
smack of the poor mans sweat. Oh! is
il strange that when man has devoured
widows houses he is disturbed with indi-
geSton? All the forces of nature are
against him. The foods are ready to
drown him, and the earthquake to swal-
low him, and the fires to consume him,
and the lightnings to smite him. But
the children of God are on every street,
and in the day when the crowns of
Heaven are distributed some Of the
brightest will be given to those men who
were faithful to God aud faithful to the
souls of others amid tho marts Of busi-
ness, proving themselves the heroes OF
the street. Mighty were their tempta-
tiOns, mighty was their deliveranoe, and
mighty shall be their triumph.
Again, the street impTesses me with the
fact that life is full of pretensions and
sham. What subterfuge, what double
dealing what twofaceduess? Do all the
people who shake hands love each other?
Are all those anxious about your health
who inquire concerning it? Do all want
to see yOu who ask you to call? Does all
the world know half as much as it pre-
tends to know? Is there not many a
wretched stock of goods with a brilliant
show window? Passing up and down
these streets to your business and your
work, are you not impressed with the
fact that much of society is hollow, and
that there are subterfuges and preten-
sions? Oh, how many there are who
swagger and strut, and how few people
who are natural and walk. While fops
shipper and fools chuckle and simpletons
giggle, how few people are natural and
laugh.
The courtesau and the libertine go
down the street in beautiful apparel,
while within the heart there are vol
canoes OF passion consuming their Life
away. say these things not to create
in you Incredibly and nissan thropy, nor
do forget there are thousands of peO-
pie great deal better than they seem;
but do not think any man is prepared
for the conflict of this life until he knows
this particular peril. Elud comes pre-
tending to pay his tax to King lion,
and while he stands in front of the King
stabs him through with q dagger until
the haft went in after the blade. Judas
IscariOt kissed Christ
Again, the street impresses me with the
fact that it is a great field for Christian
charity. There are hunger, and suffering,
and want, and wretchednes5 in the couu-
try, but these evils chiefly congregate in
our great cities. Ga every street crime
prowls, and drunkenness staggers, and
shame wiUks, and pauperism thrusts out
its hand asking for aims. Here want is
Christian man going along a street in
New York saw poor lad, and he stopped
and said: my boy. do you know Low to
read and write:" The boy made no an
swer. The man asked the question twice
and thrice: Can you read and write?"
and then the boy answered with a tear
FLASHING on the back of his hand.
He said in defiance: "No, sir; can't
read nor write neither. God, sir, don't
want me to read and write. Didn't He
take away my father so long ago l never
remember to have seen him? And
haven't l had to so along the street to
get something to fetch home to eat for
the folks? And didn't l, as soon as l
could carry basket have to go out and
pick up cinders, and never have no
schooling, sir? God don't want me to
read, sir. | can't read nor write neither"
Oh, these poor wanderers! They have
no chance. Born in degradation, as they
get up from their hands and knees to walk
they take their first step on the road to
despair. Let us go forth in the name Of
the Lord Jesus Christ to rescue III am. II
you are not willing to go forth yourself,
then give of your means; and If you are
too lazy to go, ana il you are too stingy
to help then get ont of the way, and hide
yourself in the dens and caves of the
earth, lest when Christ's chariot comes
along, the horses hOOfS trampie you into
the mire. Beware lest the thousands of
the destitute of your city, in the last
great day, rise UP and curse your stupid
ity and your neglect. OAe cold winter's
day, Us a Christian man was going along
the Battery in New York, he saw a little
girl seated at the gate, shivcring in the
cold He said to her:
"My child, what do you sit there for,
this cold day?'
"Ol," she replied, 81 am waiting-I am
waiting for somebody 10 come and take
care of me-"
"Why," said the man. ''what makes
you think any body will come and take
care Of you:"
Oh" she said, "my mother died last
week and j was crying very much, and
she said: Don't cry, my dear; though
AM gone and your father is gone, the Lord
will send somebody to take care of you.'
My mother never told a lie; she said
some one would come and take care of
me, and l am waiting for them to come"
o, yes, they are waiting for you. Men
Of great hearts, gather them in, gather
them in. 1t is not the will of our Heaven
ly Father that one of these little ones
should perish.
Lastly, the street impresses me with
the fact that all the people are looking
forward. L see expectancy written on
almost every face l meet between here
and Brooklyn bridge, or walking the