The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-09-04
THETABERN ACLEPULPIT
Or. TALMAoE DRAWS A LESSON FROM
THE FAMINE IN EGYPT.


Calls to Mind the Similar Case In Jo-
seph's Time-The Religious Lesson.
BROOKLYN, Aug. 80. The cabled re-
ports OF meager harvests In Europe and
the memory Of the vast crops of ripen-
Ing grain which DR.. Talmage saw during
his recent tour In the west, have com
bined to turn his thoughts back to that
patriarchal time when all the world
sent to Egypt to buy corn, and to sug-
gest a Gospel lesson. His text is Gen.
Kill, 8, eye shall not see my face eI-
cept your brother be with you"
This summer, having crossed eighteen
of the United States, north, south, east
and west, have to report the might
est harvests that this country or any
other country ever reaped, II the grain
gamblers do not somehow wreck these
harvests we are about to enter upon
the grandest scene Of prosperity that
America has ever witnessed. But while
this Is 30 In our own country, on the
other side of the Atlantic there are ma
lions threatened with famine, and the
most dismal cry that Is ever heard will
fear be uttered, the cry for bread.
pray God that the 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 CHASTITY
famine In Canaan. The cattle moan
Ing in the stall. Men, women and
children awfully white with hunger.
Not the failing of one crop for one
summer, but the failing of all the crops
for seven years. A nation dying for
lack of that which Is so common on
your table, and so little appreciated;
the product of harvest field and grlst
mill and oven; the price of sweat and
anxiety and struggle-breadl Jacob
the father has the last report from the
flour bin, and he finds that everything
is out, and he says to his sons, Boys,
hook up the wagons and start for Egypt
and get 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 70 and
80 per cent. of their products to the
government. No wonder in that time
they had large corncrib and it was
full. To that crib they came from the
regions round about-those who were
famished-some paying for corn in
money; when the money was exhaust
ed, paying for the corn in sheep and
when they were exhausted, then sell
| ing their own bodies and their fam
lilies into slavery.
THE JOURNEY TO EGYPT.
The morning for starting out on the
crusade for bread has arrived. Jacob
gets his family up very early. But be-
fore the elder sons start they say some
thing that makes him tremble with
emotion from head to foot and burst
into tears. The fact was that these
elder sons had once before been in
Egypt to get corn, and they had been
treated somewhat roughly, the lord of
the corncrib supplying them with corn,
but saying at the close Of the inter
view, "Now, you need not come back
here for any more corn unless you
bring something better than money
even your younger brother Benjamin"
Ali Benjamin-that very name was
suggestive of all tenderness The
mother had died at the birth of that
soma spirit coming and another spirit
going--and the very thought of part,
Ing with Benjamin must have been a
heart break. The keeper of this corn
crib, nevertheless, says to these older
sons, "There is no need of your COM
ing here any more for corn unless you
bring Benjamin, your fathers darling"
Now Jacob and his family very much
needed bread; but what a struggle it
would be to give up this son.
The orientals are very demonstrative
In their grief, and hear the outwailing
of the father as these older SONS keep
reiterating in his ears the announce
ment of the Egyptian lord, I'VE shall
not see my face unless your brother be
with you" why did you tell them
you had brother9' said the old man,
complaining and Gliding them. why,
father" they said, che asked us all
about our family, and we had no idea
he would make any such demand upon
us as he has made" mo use of ask
ing me- said the father, II cannot, |
will not give up Benjamin"
The fact was that the old man had
lost children; and when there has been
bereavement in a household, and a
child taken, it makes the other children
In the household more precious. So
the day for departure was adjourned
and adjourned and adjourned. Still
the horrors of the famine increased, and
louder moaned the cattle, and wider
open cracked the earth, and more pal
lid became the cheeks, until Jacob, in
despair, cried out to his sons, Take
BENJAMIN and be off" The older sons
tried to cheer up their father They
said: 1--WE have strong arms and a
stout heart, and no harm will come to
Benjamin. Well see that he gets back
again FAREWELL said the young
men to the father, in tone of assumed
good cheer. FAREWELL" said the
old man; for that word has more quav-
ers in it when pronounced by the aged
than by the young.
THE DEMAND FOR BENJAMIN.
Well. the bread party-the bread EN-
bassy drives up in front of the corn
crib of Egypt. These corncribs are
filed with wheat, barley and corn in
the husk, for those who have Travelled
in Canaan aud H.,ypt know that there
is corn there responding with oul
Indian maize. Huzza the journey is
ended. The lord of the corncrib, who
Is also the prime minister. comes down
to these arrived travellers and says
''Dine with me today How is your
father9 Is this Benjamin, the younger
brother whose presence dpmandedY'