The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-09

The giant habit, regaled by the cup OF
many temptations. came out strong and
defiant. They clinched. There were
the writings ard distortions OF fearful
struggle. But the old giant began 10
waver. and at last, in the midnight alone
with none but God 10 witness, by the
book Jabbok, the giant fell, and the
triumphant wrestler broke the darkness
with: the cry, "Thanks he unto God,
who giveth US the victory, through our
Lord Jesus Christ"
There is a Widows hear:, that tirst
was desolated by bereavement, ard since
by tie au4ieties and trials that came II
the support ofa family. It is sad thing
to see q man contendlng for livelihood
under disadvantages, but to see G. deli
cate woman, with helpless little ones al
her back, fighting The gi2nts Of proVertl
and sorrow, is more affecting. II was
humble home. and passersby knew moi
that within those four walls we're displays
of courage more admirable than that oi
Hannibal crossing the Alps, or the pass
OF Thermopyl8, Or Baiaklava, where,
into the jaws Of death rode the si1
hundred"
These heroes had the whole world to
cheer them on, but there were none 10
applaud the struggle in the humble
home. She fought for bread, for CLOTH
ing, ior fire, for shelter, with aching
head and weak side and exhausted
strength through the long night by the
brook JabboS. Could it be that none
would give her help! Had God forgot
ten TO be gracious? No. contending Sc ul!
The midnight air is full Of Wings coming g
to the rescue. She hears 1t now, In the
sough of the night wind, In the ripple Of
the brook Jabbok the promise made so
long ago ringing down the sky, Thy
fatherless children L will preserve them
alive, and let thy widows trust in men'
Some one said to very poor woman,
"HoW is it that IL such distress you keep
cheerful" She said: 81 do it by what I
call cross prayers. When had nv rent
to pay, and nothing to pay it with, aad
bread to buy, and nothing to buy it with
used to sit down and cry. But now l
do not get discouraged. If go along
the street, when I come to a corner OF
the street, I say The Lord help me- 1
then 90 on until I come to another
crossing of the street, and again | say,
The Lord help me- And SO utter q
prayer at every crossing and since have
got into that babit of saying these cross
prayers I have been able TO keep up
courage"
Learn again from This subject that
people sometimes are surprised to find
out that what they have been struggling
with in the darkness Is really sn ''apgel
of blessing" Jacob found IN the morn
ing that this strange parsonage was not
an enemy. but God dispatched mes
sepger to promise prosperity for him
and for his CHILDREN. Aud so many 8
man at tie close Of his trial has found
out that he has been trying 10 throw
down his own blessing. If you are
Christian man, I will go back in Your
history and find that the grandest thlng gs
that have ever happened to you have
been your trials. Nothing short OF
sccurgine, imprisonment aud shipWreck
c ,uld have made Paul what he was.
When David was fleeing through the
wilderness, pursued By his own son, he
was being prepared to become the sweet
singer of Isreal. The pit and the dun
geon we're tie best schools at which JOS
eph ever graduated. The hurricane that
upset tie Ienr and killed Jobs children
prepared the man of Uz to write the
magnificent poem that has astonishsd
the ages. There is no way 10 get the
wheat out of the straw but to thrash it.
There is no way to purify tee gold but to
burn It. Look at the people who have
always had it their own way. They are
proud, dlscontested, useles aRd unhappy
If you want to find cheerful folks, go
among those who have oeen purified by
the fire.
After Rossini had rendered william
Tell' the five hundredth time company
of musicians came under his window in
Paris and serenaded him. They put
upon his brow crown OF laurel leaves!
But amid all the applause and enthusi-
aSuDUSS1HI Lul LEU W llIGAC s@A1 S8AO.
would give all this brilliant scene for g.
few days OF youth and love.". Contrast
the melancholy feeling Of Rossiui, who
had everything that this world could
give him, to the joyful experience of
Isaac Watts, whose nisfortunes were
innumerable when he says:
The Hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heavenly fields
Or walk the golden streets.
Then let our songs abound
And every tear be dry.
We are marching through ImmanueFs
ground
To fairer worlds on high.
It is prosperity that kills and trouble
that saves. While the Irealites were OF
the march amid great prlvatlons and
hardships they behaved well. After
awhile they prayed for meat, and the
sky darkened with great flock of qualls
and these quails fell in large multitudes
all about them, and the Isrealites ste
and ate and stuffed themselves until
thew died. Oh, my friends, 1t Is not