The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-03

rinds OF carousal and rs in the delrium
of their awful death they clutch the COB
let and press II TO their lips, the dregs OF
the cup falling upon their tongue will be-
gin to hiss and uncoil with the adders Of
an eternal poison.
Cast out these men from your company.
Do not DO intimate with them. Always
be polite. There is no demand that you
ever sacrifice politeness. A young man
accosted Christian Quaker with: cold
chap, how did you make all your money!
The Quaker replied: "By dealing in an
article that thou mayst deal in II thou wilt
--civility." Always DO courteous, but at
the same time firm. Say no as II you
meant it. Have il understood in store,
and shop, and street, that you will not
stand in the companionship of the skep-
tic, the idle, the pleasure seeker.
Rather than enter the companionship OF
such, accept the invitation TO a better feast.
The promises of God are the fruits. The
harps OF heaven are the music. The clus-
tens from the vineyards OF God have been
pressed into the tankards. Tho sons and
daughters OF the Lord Almighty are the
guests. While, standing at the banquet.
10 fill the cups and divide the clusters and
command the harps and welcome the
guests Is daughter OF God on whose
brow are the blossoms OF paradise, AMI in
whose check Is the flush Of celestial sum
mer. Her name is Religion.
Her ways are ways Of plcasantuess
And all her paths are peace.
Decide this soon, oh, young man, what
direction you will take. There comes
such n moment Of final decision-why not
this2 One night ! saw a young man at
the street corner evidently doubling rs to
which direction he had better take, his
hat lifted high enough so you could see no
had an intelligent forehead, and he had a
stout chest and robust development.
Splendid young man. Cultured young
man. llonored young man. Why did he
stop there while 80 many were going up
and down. Tho fact is, that every man
has good angel and n bad angel contend
ing for the mastery OF his spirit, and there
WIS good angel and bad angel strug.
Cling with that young mans soul at the
corner Of the street. Come with me, I"
said tho good angel al will take you
home; will spread my wing over your
pillow; ! will lovingly escort you all
! through liio under supernatural protec-
! tion will bless every cup you drink out
Of, every couch you rest on, every door
way you enter; | will consecrate your
tears when you weep your sweat when
you toll, and at the last | will hand over
your grave TO the bright angel OF Chris
tian resurrection. In answer 10 your
/ fathers petition and your mothers prayer,
, | have been sent Of the Lord out OF heaven
10 DO your guardian spirit Como with
me, said the good angel, in voice ol
unearthly symphony. II WIS music like
that which drops from Lutte OF heaven
. | ssfhn a
, no" said the bad angel, "come with me,
( | have something better 10 offer; the wines
pour arc from chalices OF bewitching ca
rousal; the dance lead is over floor tessel-
lated with unrestrainod indugenccs; there
Is no God 10 frown on tho temples OF sin
where ! worship. Tho skies are Italian.
The paths | tread are through meadows
dnsiod aud primTOsed. Come with me. "
The young man hesltated at time when
hesitation was ruin, aud the bad angel
smoto the good angel until II departed,
spreading wings through the starlight up
ward and away. until a door flashed op',n
in tho sky aud forever the wings VANISHED
That was the turning point in thy Jung
mans history; Tor, the goaa .sol hoMn,
he hcsiialcd no longc. Ju' s,iI1eu on
pathway which a.. iaa, III ~ Wy Jl',n,ns ;
IT,. ,,ic way, opened gate after gate,
4 aud at each gate the road became rougher
and tho sky mere lurid, and what was pc-
culiar, as the gate slammed shut IL came
90 with a Jar that indicated that II would
never open. Passed each portal there
was a grinding OF locks and a showing OF
bolts; aud the scenery on either side the
road changed from gardens 10 deserts, and
the juno air became cutting December
blast, aud the bright wings Of the bad an
gel turned 10 sackcloth, and the eyes Of
light became hollow with hopeless grief,
aud tho fountains that nj the start had
tossed with wine, poured forth bubbling
tears aud ioaming blood, aud on the right
side the road there was u serpent, aud the
man said 10 the bad angel: "What il that
scrpcnt2' aud the answer was THAT Is
the serpent OF singing rcmorse." On the
left side the road there was a lion aud tho
man asked tho bad angel: "What Is that
liong' aud the answer was THAT IL tho
lion Of all dcyouring despair" A vulturc
llrw through the sky, aud the man asked
the bad angel "Whai is that yullurc2'
aud the answer was THAT is the vulturc
waiting Tor the carcasscs OF tho slain. "
And then the man began 10 try TO pull of
OF him tho folds OF something that had
wound him round and round. aud he
. ! eniu 10 INC nau anger WI nat ~ u
tina, twists mo In this awful conyoluiion2
aud the answer was THAT is the worm
that never dicsl" Aud then the man
said to the bad angel: "what does all This
meant trusted In what YOU said nj the
corner Of the street that night | trusted Il
all, and why have you thus deceived mc2''
Then the last deception fell OF the
charmcr. and Il said. 81 was sent forth
from tho pit TO destroy your soul;
! watched my chance for many long year
when YOU hcsi,atcd that night ON the
street, | gained my triumph; nov you arr
here. Hal hal You arc hero. Come,
, now, Jet NJ lll these two chaliccs OF fire,
and drink together TO darkness and W.,
and death. HALL hail" Oil young man.
will tho good angel sent forth by Christ
OF tho bad angel sent forth by sin got Oh,
! victory over your souli Thor wings or,
? intefockc6 this moment above you con
I, tending Tor your destiny, ~ above th,
Apprentices eagle and condor iight mid
|, sky. This hour may decide your destiny
: God help YOU. To hesitate i to dicl
/