Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-05-20

scepter over his fellows. Many an EDUCATION
which is now considered complete is made up
of a suattering of newspapers and the last
page of fashion magazine.
The parlor and the drawing room cannot
educate US. They may give US outward
adornments of man-but getting valuable
knowledge is like sweltering at a forge be-
lows in one hand and hammer in the other
like digging in mines with crowbars, pry
ing under the ledge and the constant bang OF
blasted rocks Especially Is it true that no
growth in grace Is possible unless, like
Daniel. we are willing TO take up the cross.
however heavy it may be and rough with
nails Moses chose affliction with the people
Of God rather than the pleasures OF SIM and
If we would be anything ike him we must
be willing sometimes to choose the hard
bread of self denial rather than the Imperial
clusters from royal vineyards.
To get strength and depth enough In
rivers for turning mill wheels and manufac-
tories, dams are built across tneul, and then
through the mill race the quick floods leap
on the water wheel to turn it with tremend-
Gus power. So natures thai would other
wise have been powerless and insufficient by
self-restraint have been damned back and
deepened, until with consecrated power they
rush into the world, turning its ponderous
machinery of important interests. Unre-
strained men may have much good in them,
but it is so scattered that you see no positive
effects. Electricity 10 the air does not
strike, but gathered in the cloud with its
bare red arm it cleaves the mountain.
Passions harnessed and yoked make excel.
tent beasts Of burden. However attractive
may be the sinful offers of the world, though
rich and luxurious as the provision of the
king table, we must be willing to refuse
them if nothing be left us but plain pulse.
Oh, how we want the faith and courage of a
Daniel and Paul, but how we dread the
hot atmosphere of trial, in which their
graces ripened. The richest fruits of re-
hglon grow in the sutry tropics of trial If
you want pearls, you must dive for them. If
you want gold, you must dig for it. The
richest parts of California and Australia are
under ground. Depend upon it, if no prun-
ing. no fruit; no climbing, no elevation; no
battle. no victoryf no cross. no crown. Haa
there been overwhelmingly, there would
have been no Daniel Even so it has been In
all ages. The flames that have flashed up
from the stake have been so many illumina-
tons of Chrstia triumph.
When God would make a great light OF
truth and holiness in the world he often
takes great prosecutions and with them
strikes fire. The DEVILS hate is Gods glory.
Had it not been for the prosecutions of EN-
peror Valerian, the world would not have
known Of the courage of a Cyprian, and if
the tyranny OF Diecletian had never been
known, the triumphant grace would not have
been seen which made Maximilian when
sentenced to death. exclaim: God be
praised" Had not the bandits of Piedmont
pursued the Waldenses through the valley
of the Alps, and the infuriate decree put to
massacre the Albigenses Of France the world
would have had fewer illustrations of Chris
tian heroism. Be Joseph before Pharaoh.
Be Paul before Felix. Be Daniel before
Darius.
Again let the story of Daniel teach US the
beauty of that youthful character which re-
mains unblemished and upright when away
from home. Had Daniel, on arriving in
Babylon, plunged into every excess, his
friends in Jerusalem would never have heard
OF it. His dissipation and renuncia ton of
religion would not have cast one sorrow on
the family hearth where he had lived or the
old family Bible which he used to read. But
though far away from home, he knew that
Gods eye watched him and that was
enough: 1t Is not every young man who
maintains the same character when absent
that was maintained at home.
Frederick watching his fathers sheep
among the hills or thrashing rye in the barn
is far different from Frederick on the Stock
Exchange. How often does the kind, retir-
ing spirit become bold effrontery and the
accommodating, self sacrificing disposition
once exhibited among brothers and sisters
becomes a colo ana uuresoCnsve seIfshnesS,
and economy, wastefulness and open handed
charity, tight listed stinginess, and the
keeping of good hours is changed to mid
night revelry.
tant from their fathers house, and others
who, still under the parental roof, look for
ward to time when they will depart alone
to conflict with the world and among str, u
gers be called to build up characters for
themselves. Happy for you oh, young
man. if you shall, like Joseph be the same
when living with wicked Pharaoh as with
pious jacob. or Daniel as pure in Babylon as
in Jerusalem. There is no passage in a mans
life of more thrilling interest than the day
in which he leaves home and goes off to seek
his fortune. The novelty and romance con-
nected with the departure may keep the
young man from any poignant sorrow, but
parents, who have seen the destruction
among strangers Of those who were con-
sldered promising youths. cannot help feel
ing that this step is full of momentous i'm
portance. Before the youth left home all his
conduct was under affectionate guardian
ship.
Outbursts of folly, careIessness and in
propriety of manner and looseness of speech
were kindly reprove1, and although the re-
straint seemed sometimes too severe, yet
hours of sober reflection have convinced
him that 1t was salutary and righteous. But
behold how the scene changes The father,
through the interceeding of metropolitan
friends has secured the sou place in some
bank or store or Office. Schooimates, on the
night before his departure, como to take
their farewell of the young adventurer.
That morning he takes a last walk around
the old place, and going past some loved spot
SLY tear may start, but no one sees it. The
trunk is on the carriage, and after warm
goodby away they speed over the hills. Set
down amid excitements and among COM
panions not overscrupulous as to their words
or deeds, temptations troop around the
stranger. The morning comes, but no fami-
ly altar, and the Sabbath, but no real quiet,
and perhaps at the sanctuary the faces are
all strange and no one cares VINE Their he
goes to church or whather he does not CO.