The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-06-19

mayest deal in il thou wilt-civility." Al
ways be courteous, but ct the same time
| firm. Say NO as If you meant it. Have IL
understood In store and shop and street that
you will not stand in the companionship OF
| the skeptic, the idle, the pleasure seeker.
| Rather than enter the companionship OF
such, accept the invitation to better feast.
The promises Of God are the fruits. The
| harps OF Heaven are the music. Clusters
from the vineyards Of God have been pressed
into the tankards The sons and daughters
OF the Lord Almighty are the guests While
standing at the banquet to I'LL the cups, and
divide the clusters, and command the harps,
and welcome the guests, is q daughter OF
God on whose brow are the blossoms OF
paradise, and in whose cheek is the flush OF
celestial summer. Her name is Religion.
Her ways are ways OF pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
Decide this soon, oh, young man, what di-
rection will you take. There comes such
moment of final decision-why not thisi
One night saw young man at the street
corner evidently doubling as to which di-
rection he had better take, his hat lifted high
enough to see an intelligent forehead, and
he had stout chest and robust develop
ment Splendid young man. Cultured
young man. Honored young man. Why
did he stop there while so many were going
up and downl The fact is that every man
has q good angel and bad angel con
tending for the mastery Of his spirit,
and there was q good angel and q
bad angel struggling with that young
mans soul at the corner of the street.
"Come with me-" said the good angel; ~
will take you home; will spread my wing
over your pillow; will lovingly escort you
all through life under supernatural protec-
ton; l will bless every cup you drink out
Of; every couch you reston; every doorway
you enter; will consecrate your tears
when you will weep, your sweat when you
toll, and at the last I will hand over your
grave to the bright angel OF Christian
resurrection In answer to your faith
er's petition and your mothers prayer,
have been sent of the Lord out Of
heaven to be your guardian spirit. Come
with me-" said the good angel, in q
voice Of unearthly symphony. 1t was
music like that which drops from lutte Of
Heaven when seraph breathes on it. mo
no" said the bad angel, "come with me;
have something better to offer; the wine:
pour are from chalices Of bewitchine
carousal; the dance lead is over floor ties
selated with unrestrained indulgences; there
is no God to frown on the temples OF sil
where l worship. The skies are Italian
The paths tread are through meadows
daisied and primrosed. Come with me.
The Young man hesitated at time whe1
hesitation was ruin, and the bad angel smOt'
the good angel until it departed, spreading
wings through the starlight upward ant
away until door flashed open in the sky
and forever the wings vanished. That wa
the turning point in that young mani
history; for, the good angel flown, he hest
tated no longer, but started on pathwa.
which is beautiful at the opening, bu
blasted at the last. The bad angel, leadin!
the way, opened gate after gate, and at eacl
gate the road became rougher and the SIX.
more lurid, and what was peculiar, as tn
gate slammed shut it came to with jar tina
! indicated that it would never open. Passes
each portal, there was grinding of locks AM
a showing Of bolts; and the scenery on eithe
: side the road changed from gardens to des
erts, and the June air became cutting De
cember blast, and the bright wings of tn
, bad angel turned to sackcloth, and the eye
|. ! Of light became hollow with hopeless
: grief, and the fountains, that at the startha
|. tossed with wine, poured forth bubblin
tears and foaming blood, and on the RICH
side the road there was serpent, an
the man said to the bad angel: "Wha
is that serpent2'' and the answer was
!, 'sThat is the serpent of singing remorse.
On the left side the road there was
!, lion, and the man asked the bad angel
. "What is that lion2" and the answe
!, was: ''That is the lion of all devourin
despair" Avulture few through the sky
!, and the man asked the bad angel: "Wha
. is that vulture2" and the answer was
= 'That is the vulture waiting for the cal
!, cases of the slain" And then the man bt
- gan to try to pull of of him the folds {
!, something that had wound him round an
round, and he said to the bad angel: "Whf
is it that twists me in this awful convol,
tion!" and the answer was: "That is tn
:. worm that never dies!'' And then the ma
= said to the bad angel: "What does all TIL
= meant trusted in what you said at tt
. corner Of the street that night; truste
= it all, and why have you thus d.
ceived met" Then the last deceptio
= fell of the charmer, and It said: II We
sent forth from the pit to destroy yor
= soul; watched my chance for many Ion
a year; when you hesitsted that night on I'll
y street, gained my triumph; now you al
J, here. Ha! hal You are here. Come, nov
a let rs fill these two chalices of fire, an
= drink together to darkness and woe an
"a death. Hail Hail! o, Young man, will Il
- good angel sent forth by Christ or the bs
a angel sent forth by sin get the victory ov'
a your soull Their wings are interlocked tn
. moment above you, contending for 70,
= destiny, as above the Apprentices eagle ar
: condor fight in mid-sky. This hour may d
! eide your destiny. God help you. To hes
II tate is to diel