The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-10-18


about CooSman-that whether it was iceberg
or confederation midsea or collision he had
more sarlands on his ocean tomb than IT, ex
2iring on land, each Of his million friends
had put bouquet on hiI casket. In the
midst OF the garden was his sepulcher.
But that brings me to notice tho misnomel
in this Jonahitic expression OF the text. The
prophet not only made mistake by trying
10 60 to Tarshish when God told him to 50
to Ninevah, but he made q mistake when he
STYLED as weeds these growths that enwrapped
him on the day he sank. A weed Is some
ching that is useless. 1t Is something you
throw out from the garden. 1t IS something
that chokes the wheat. 1t Is something 20
be grubbed out from among the cotton. II
Is something unsightly to the eye. 1t Is en-
invader OF the vegetable or floral world.
But this growth that sprang up from the
depth OF the Mediterranean or foated on its
surface was among the most beautiful things
that God ever makes, 1t WAS water plant
known az the red colored alga and no weed
at all. It comes from the loom OF infinite
beauty. It is planted by heavenly love. 1t
Is the star of sunken armament. 1t is a
lamp which the Lord kndled. 1t Is cord
by which to bind whole sheaves Of practical
suggestion. 1t is q poem all whose cantos
are rung by Divine goodness. Yet we all
make the mistake that Jonah made in regard
TO 1t and call 1t weed.
"The weeds were wrapped about my head. "
All, that is the trouble on the land as on the
sea-! We call those weeds that are flowers.
Pitched up on the beach OF society are chill
dren without home, without opportunity for
anything but sin, seemingly without God.
They are washed up helpless. They are called
ragamuff1ns. They are spoken OF as the
- &ho ,uorId Tha1, watfq Thav
are street arabs. They are aotsam and jet
sam of the social sea. They are something
to be left alone, or something to be trod on,
Or something to give up to decay. Nothing
but weeds. They are up the r1ckety stairs of
that garret. They are down In the cellar OF
that tenement house. They swelter in sum-
mers when they see not one blade OF green
grass, and shiver in winters that allow them
not one warm coat or shawl or shoe.
Such the city missionary found In one OF
cur city rookertes, and when the poor woman
was asked If she sent her children to school
she replied: mo, sir, never did send EN-
10 school know 1t, they ought to learn,
but + couldn't. I try to shame him some
and then beats me-iook at that bruise on
my face-and tell him to see what is comm
10 his children. There's Peggy goes selltn'
fruit every night In those cellars in Water
street, and they're hels, sir. Shes learnin'
all sorts Of bad words there and don't get
back till 12 o'clock at night. II It wasn't for
her earnin' shillin' or two In them places.
should starve. Oh, I wish they was out OF
the city. Yes, 1t Is the truth. I would rather
have oil my children dead than onthe street,
but 7 can't help it,"
Another one of those poor women found
by reformatory association recited her
story of want and woe and looked up and
said, 'T felt so hard to lose the children
when they died, but now I'm glad they're
gone" Ask any one OF thousand such
children on the streets, ''Whers do you llve?"
and they will answer, 81 don't Live no
where" They will sleep tonight In ash bar
rels, or under outdoor stairs, or on the
wharf, kicked and bruised and hungry. Who
cares for them2 Once in while city mis-
sionary, or tract distributor, or teacher
of ragged schools will rescue one OF them,
but for most people they are only weeds.
Yet Jonah did not more completely mis-
the red slga about his head In the
Mediterranean than most people misjudge
these poor and forlorn and dying children OF
the street. They ara not weeds. They are
immortal flowers. Down In the deep sea OF
woe, but flowers. When society and the
church Of God come to appreciate their eter-
and more Van Meters and more angels OF
mercy spending their fortunes and their lives
In the rescue.
Hear it, o ye philanthropic and Christian
and msrciful souls-not weeds, but flowers.
I abjure you as the friends OF all newsboys'
lodging houses, of all industrial schools, OF
all homes for friendless girls, and for the
many reformatories and humane associa-
tians now on foot. how much they have al
ready accomplished Out OF what wretch
edness, into what good homes! or 600 OF
these picked up out of the streets and sent
into country homes only tweleve children
turned out badly.
In the last thirty years number that no
man can number OF the vagrsnts have been
lifted into responsibility and usefulness and
a Christian life. Many OF them have homes
of their own. Though ragged boys once and
street girls, now at the head OF prosperous
families, honored on earth and to be glorious
in heaven. Some of them have been Govern
ors of States. Some of them are ministers OF
the gospel. In all departments Of life those
who were thought to be weeds have turned
out to be flowers. One Of those rescued lads
from the streets Of our cities wrote to another,
saying. II have heard you are studying for
the ministry. So am I.
My hearers, implead you for the news
boys of the streets, many ofthem the bright
est children of the city, but with no chance.
Do not step on their bare feet. Do not,
when they steal ride, cut behind. When
the paper IS three cents, once In while give
them five cent piece and tell them to keep
the change. like the ring OF the letter the
newsboy sent back from Indiana, where he
had been sent 70 q good home, to New
York newsboy's lodging house: "Boyss, we
,ba hot N
that we can become as respectable as any Of
the countrymen, for Franklin and Webster
and Clay were poor boys once, and even
George Law and Vanderbilt and Astor. And
now, boys, stand up and let them see you
have got the real stuff In you. Come out
here and make respectable and honorable
men, so they can say. There, that boy was
once a newsboy.'" My hearers, join the
Christian philanthropists who are changing
organ grinders and bootblacks and news
boys and street arabs and cigar girls into
those who shall be kings and queens unto
God forever. 1t is high time that Jonah
finds out that that which Is about him is not
weeds. but flowers.
AS I examine this red alga which was
about the recreant prophet down in the
depths, when. in the words
Of my text, he cried out. "The weeds were
about my head" and I ON led
thereby to further examine this submarine
world, am compelled to eIclaim. What
wonderful God we have am glad that, by
diving bell. and Crooks deep sea sounding
and ever improving machinery,
We are permitted to walk the floor Of the
ocean and report the wonders wrought by
the great God.
Study these gardens OF the sea. Easier and
easier shall the profounds Of the ocean be-
come to US, and more and more its opulence
Of color and plant unroll, especially as evil
leroys submarine boat" has been construct
cd, making 1t possible to navigate under the
sea almost as we'll as On the surface OF the
sea, and unless God In His mercy banishes
war from the earth whole fleets Of, armed