The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-11-23

stroking my cheek. so / couldn't
get angry. insisted upon knowing why
didn't have family prayers" There
are grandparents who have been
brought to Christ BY their little grand
children. There are hundreds of Chris
tan mothers who had their attention
first called to Jesus by their little chill
dren.
Years ago the astronomers calculated
that there must be world hanging at
certain point in the heavens. and a
large prize was offered for some one
who could discover that world. The
telescopes from the great observatories
were pointed in vain: but a girl at
Nantucket. Mass. fashioned a tele-
scope. and. looking through it. discoy-
cred that star. and won the
prize. and the admiration of
all the astronomical world. that
stood amazed at her genius And so it
is often the case that grown people can
not see the light. while some little
child beholds the star of pardon. the
star of hope. the star of consolation
the star of Bethlehem-the morning star
of Jesus. Not many mighty men, not
many wise men are called; but God
hath chosen the weak things of the
world to confound the mighty: and base
things. and things that are not. to
bring to nought things that are" Oh.
do not despise the prattle of little chill
dren when they are speaking about God
and Christ. and Heaven Blessed be
God that the little Hebrew captive
pointed in the right direction Blessed
be God for the saving ministry of Chris
tian children.
No wonder the advice of this little
Hebrew captive threw all Naaman's
mansion and Ben-hadad's palace into
excitement Good-by. Naaman, With
face searified. and ridged, and in
famed by the pestilence, and aid
ed by those who supported him on
either side. he staggers out to the
chariot Hold fast the fiery cOursers
of the royal stables while the poor sick
man lifts his swollen feet and pain
struck limbs into the vehicle. Bolster
him up with the pillows and let him
take lingering look at his bright
apartment. for perhaps the Hebrew
captive may be mistaken, and the next
time Naaman comes to that place he
may be a dead weight on the shoulders
of those who carry him-an expired
chieftain seeking sepulture, amid the
lamentations of an admiring nation
Good-by. Naaman! Let the chariOteer
drive gently over the hills of Hermon.
lest he jolt the invalid. Here goes the
bravest man of all his day captive of
a horrible disease. As the ambulance
winds through the streets of Damascus
the tears and prayers of all the people
go after the world-renowned invalid
Perhaps you have had an invalid go
out from your house on a health ex-
cursion. You know how the neighbors
stood around and said: ''Ah. he will
never come back alive" Oh. it was
solemn moment, | tell you. when the
invalid had departed and you went in
to the room to make the bed. and to re-
move the medicine phials from the
shelf, and to throw open the shutters.
so that the fresh air might rush into
the long-closed room. GoOd-by. Naa-
man, There is only one cheerful face
looking at him. and that is the face of
the little Hebrew captive, who is sure
he will get cured. and who is so glad
she helped him As the chariot
winds out, and the escort of
mounted courtiers, and the mules,
laden with sacks Of gold and sill
yer. and embroidered suits of apparel
went through the gates of Damascus
and out on the long way, the hills of
Naphtali and Ephriam look down on
the procession, and the retinue goes
right past the battlefelds where
Naaman. in the days of his health,
used to rally his troops for fearful on
set. and then the procession stops and
reclines awhile in the groves of olive
and oleander; and Gen. Naaman is sick
so very, very sick.
How the countrymen gaped as the
procession passed. They had seen
Naaman go past like whirlwind in
DAYS gone by. and had stood aghast at
the clank of his war equipments: but
now they commiserate him They say:
Poor man, he will never get home
alive; poor man.
Gen. Naaman wakes up from rest
less sleep in the chariot and says to
the charioteer: How long before we
shall reach the Prophet Elisha?- The
charioteer says to waysider: How
far is it to Elisha's house?- He says:
Two miles. Two miles," Then they
whip up the lathered and fagged-out
horses The whole procession bright
ems up at the prospect of speedy ar
rival They drive up to the door OF the
prophet The characters shout
Whoa to the horses, and tramping
hoofs and grinding wheels cease shak-
ing the earth Come out. Elisha. come
out you have company: the grandest
company that ever came to your house
has come to it now. No stir inside
Elisha's house. The fact was the Lord
had informed Elisha that the sick
was coming and Just how to
treat him Come out, Elisha, and at
tend to your business Gen Naaman
and his retinue waited and waited. and
waited The fact was Naaman had two
diseases. pride and leprosy: the one was
as hard TO get rid of as the other
Elisha sits quietly in mis- house. and
does not go out After awhile, when
he thinks he has humbled this proud
man. he says TO a servant: Go out
and tell Gen Naaman to battle seven
times in the river Jord an. out yonder
five miles. and he will get entirely
well" The message comes out:
What says the commander-in-chief
OF the Syrian forces his eye kindling
with animation which it had not known
for weeks. and his swollen foot stamp
ing on the bottom Of the chariot re-
cariless of pain. What, isn't he COM