The Forrest City times., 1891-09-04
THEGAMBLERS IN GRAIN.
DR. TALMACE POURS SOME HOT
 SHOT AT THEM.
The Present Prosperity Might Be spoiled by the Spccu United states ls Others-ise Like the Egypt of old.

cabled reports of meagre harvests in Europe, and the memory of the vast crops of ripening grain which Dr. Tal- mage saw during his recent tour in tho West, have combined to turn his thoughts back to that patriarchal time when all the world sent to Egypt to buy corn and to suggest gospel les son. His text is Genesis 43:3, "Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you"
 This summer, having crossed cigh- teen of the United States, North. South, East and West, have to report the mightiest harvests that this coun- try, or any other country, ever reaped. If the grain gamblers do not somehow wreck these harvests, we arc about to enter upon the grandest scene of prosperity that America has ever witnessed. But while this is so in our own country, on the other side of the Atlantic there are nations threatened with famine, and the most dismal cry that IS ever heard will I fear bo uttered-the cry for bread. I pray God that tho contrast between our prosperity and their want may not be as sharp as in the lands referred to by my text. There was nothing to eat. Plenty of corn in Egypt, but ghastly famine in Canaan. The cattle moaning in the stall. Men. women and children awfully white with hunger. Not the failing of one cror for one summer, but the failing of all the crops for seven years. A nation dying for lack of that which is so com mon on your table, and so little ap- preciated; the product of harvest field, and grist-mill, and oven; the price of sweat, and anxiety, and S uggle -breadl Jacob the father, hl, the last report from the flour bIu, and ht finds that everything is out and he say, to his sons Boys, hook up the wag. ons and start for Egypt, and get us something to eat The fact was, there was great corn crib in Egypt The people of Egypt have been largely taxed in all ages, at the present time paying between seventy and eighty per cent of their products to the gov ernmcnt. No wonder in that time they had q large corn-crib, and it was full. To that crib they came from the regions around about-those who were famished some paying for corn iu money, when the money was exausted paying for the corn in sheep and cattle and horses and camcls; and when they were exaustel, then selling their own bodies and their families into slavery
 The morning for starting out o the crusade has arrived. Ja ob gets his family up very early. But before the elder sons start they say something that makes him tremble with emotion from head to foot, and burst to tears C., ha al q bod once before been in Egygt to get corn. and they had been treated somewhat roughly. the lord of the corn-crib sup plying them with corn. but saying a the close Of the interview: Now, vor need not come back here for any more corn unless you bring sonnet thing better than monev-even your younger broth CT Benjamin" Ah. Benjamin a name suggestive of all tenderness. The mother had died at the birth of tha, son a spirit coming and another spirit going and the very thought of parting with Benjamin must have been heart break, The keeper of this corn crib, nevertheless, says to these older sons "There is no need of your coming her, any more for corn unless you bring Benjamin, your father darlirg" Now Jacob and his family very much needed bread; but what Il struggle il would be to give up this son The Orientals are very demonstrative il their grief, and hear the outwailinl of the father as these older sons Seey reltcrating in his ears the announce ment of the Egyptian lord, "le shall not see my ia c unless your brother be with you" "Why did you tell then you had brother?' said the olt man. complaining and chiding them Why. father" they said, he asked us all about our family, ano we had no idea he would make any such demand upon us as he has made, ' No use of asking me, said the father 'I can not, will not, give up Benja min The fact was that the old man had lost children; and when there has been bereavement in household, and . child taken. it makes the other chil. dren Tn the household more precious So the day for departure was ad journed, and adjourned. and ad journ d. Still the horrors oi the famine increased. and louder moanei the cattle and wider open cracked the earth. ane more pallid became the checks until Jacob, in despair. cried out to hi sons, Take Benjamin and be of :" Tn, older sons tried to cheer up thei father. They said "We have stronr arms and stout heart. and no harm will come to Benjamin. We'll see tha' he gets back again" ''Farewelll' saic the young men to the father. in tont of assumed good cheer. "F-a-r-e we'll !" said the old man; for that word has more quavcrs in it when pro nounced by the aged than by tho young.
 We'll. the bread party-the bread embassy--drives up in front of tho eorn-crib of Egypt, These corn-cribs are filled with wheat, and barley, and corn in the husk, for those who have travelled in Canaan and Egypt know that there is corn there correspond ding with our Indian maize. Huxza, the journey IS ended. The lord of the eorncrib. who is n so the Prime Min ister. comes down to these arrived travellers, and says: Dine with me to day. How Is your father? Is thi Benjamin, the younger brother whose presence 1 demanded?" The travelers are introduced into the palace. They are worn and hedusted of the way; and servan come in with basin of water in one hanu and n towel in the other, and kneel down before these newly arrived travellers. washing off the dust of the way. The butchers, and poulterers, and caterers of the prsme Minister pre- pare the rcpast. The guest n C seated in small groups, two or three at a table, the food on trav. all the luxuries from imperial gardens, and orchards, and aquariums, and aviaries are brought there, and are