The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-09-11
TALMAGE AT THE FAIR
A CALL TO THE WELL OF ETER
NAL SALVATION.

borutou rtcsVheu W t"o h'ooNy" Dsvsno
at Eimira. N. ", Whore an Intsr,'ate
Fair IL In Progress = An Interesting
and Appropriate Discourse.
ELMIRA, Sept, 8, The Rev. Dr. Tai
mage preached here today to the i'm
mense multitude who had come to at
tend the New York and Pennsylvania
exposition, which Is being held here
Sept. to Sept. 9 1t is a combined
exposition Of cattle, sheep, horses and
valuable stock Of all kinds from the
two states. The sermon was preached
on the fair grounds to great audience
OF farmers, horsemeh, drovers and
stockraisers from near and far. as well
Rs citizens from the adjacent cities
Secretary Stanley, of the Young Mems
Christian Association Of Elinira, pre-
sided. DR.. Talmage's text was Genesis
XIX, 8, "And they said, we cannot
until all the Hocks be gathered together,
and till they roll the stone from the
wells mouth, then we water the
sheep"
sPEAKINa TO rHE SHEPHERDS.
There are some reasons why it Is ap-
propriate that should accept the in.
vitation to preach at this great inter
state fair, and to these throngs of
countymen and acknowledgements
Just come from their fine chargers, the
king of beasts, for ] take the crown
from the lion and put it on the brow
of the horse, which is in every way
nobler--and speak to these shepherds
Just come from their fiocks the Lord
himself in one place called Shepherd,
and In another place called Lamb,
and all the good are sheep and preach
to you cattlelnen come up from the
herds, your occupation honored by the
fact that God himself thinks it worthy
of immortal record that he owns 1.-The
cattle on thousand hills"
1t Is appropriate that come, be
cause ! was a farmers boy and never
saw a city until was nearly grown,
and having been born in the country
never got over it, and would not
dwell in cities day if my work was
not appointed there. My love to you
now, and when | get through | will
give you my hand, for though | have
this summer shaken hands with per-
haps forty thousand people In twenty
one states of the Union, all the way
through to Colorado and north and
pouth, will not conclude my summer
vacation till have shaken hands with
you You old farmer out therel How
you make ne think of my fatherl You
elderly woman out there, with cap and
spectacles How you make me think
OF my motherl
And now, while the air of these fair
grounds is filled with the bleating of
sheep, and the neighing of horses, and
the lowing of cattle, cannot find
more appropriate text than the one /
read. 1t is scene in Mesopotamia,
beautifully pastoral. A well of water,
OF great value In that region. The fields
around about it white with three focks
of sheep lying down waiting for the
watering. hear their bleating coming
on the bright air. and the laughter OF
young men and maidens indulging in
rustic repartee. l look off, and l see
other flocks of sheep coming Mean
while, Jacob, a stranger, on the inter
esting errand of looking for a wife,
comes to the well. A beautiful shep.
herdess comes to the same well. see
her approaching, followed by her faith
er's flock of sheep. 1t was a mem
orable meeting. Jacob married that
shepherdess. The Bible account of it
Is, Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up
his voice and wept." 1t has always
been mystery to me what he found
to cry about
But before that scene occurred, ia
cob accosts the shepherds and asks
them why they postpone the shaking Of
the thirst of these sheep, and why they
did not Immediately proceed to water
them. The shepherds reply to the effect
I'VE are all good neighbors, and as a
matter OF courtesy we wait until all the
sheep of the neighborhood come up
Besides that, this stone on the wells
mouth is somewhat heavy, and several
of us take hold OF it and push it aside,
and then the buckets and the troughs
are filled and the sheep are satisfied.
We cannot, until all the flocks be gath
cred together, and till they roll the
stone from the wells mouth; then we
water the sheep"
THE WORLDS GREAT WANT.
Oh, this is thirsty world Hot for
the head, and blistering for the feet,
and parching for the tongue. The
worlds great want is cool, refreshing,
satisfying draft. We wander around
and find the cistern empty. Long and
tedious drought has dried up the world,
fountains, but nearly nineteen centuries
ago a Shepherd, with crook in the
shape of q cross, and feet cut to the
bleeding, explored the desert passage
Of this world and one day came across
well thousand feet deep bubblins
and bright and opaleseent, and looked
to the north, and the south, and thu
east, and the west, and cried out with {
voice strong and musical that ranG
through the ages; ''Ho, every one tina
thirsteth, come ye to the watersw
Now, great flock of sheep toda.
gather around this Gospel well. Their
are great many thirsty souls l won
der why the fiocks of all nations do no
gather-why so many stay thirsty, ant
while | am wondering about 1t, m
text breaks forth in the explanation
saying: I'VE cannot, until all the flock
be gathered together, and till they rol
the stone from the wells mouth; ther
We water the sheep"
If herd Of swine come to a wei
they anprjly iostie each other for thf