The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-11-29
DAVID AND ABSAL0M.
DR.. TAlMAGE breaches A GREAT
SERMON TO YOUNG MEN.

The Parent AID the Maynard Sou-Lovo
of Home. Industry and the Christian
Religion - the Safeguards of Young
housekeeping the Lords Day.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.--In his SER
mon today Rev, DR.. Talmage, preaching
to the usual crowded audience, took up
a subject of universal interest to young
men. His text was selected from ii
Samuel xviii, 80, SIS the young man
Absalom safer"
The heart of David, the father, was
wrapped up in his boy Ab6lom, He
was splendid boy, judged by the rules
of worldly criticism. From the crown OF
his head to the sole Of his foot there was
not single blemish. The Bible says
that he had such luxuriant shock Of
hair that when once year it was shorn,
what was cut off weighed over three
pounds. But Notwithstanding all his
brilliancy of appearance he was bad
boy, and broke his fathers heart. He
was plotting to get the throne of Israel.
He had marshaled an army to overthrow
his fathers government. The day of
battle had come. The conflict was be-
gun. David, the father, sat between the
gates of the palace waiting for the It'd
ings of the conflict Oh, how rapidly
his heart beat with emotion.
The two great questions were to be
decided-the safety of his boy and the
continuance of the throne of Israel. Aft
er awhile servant, standing on the top
of the house, looks off and sees some one
running He is coming with great
speed, and the man on top of the house
announces the coming of the messenger,
and the father watches and waits, and
as soon as the messenger from the field
of battle comes within hailing distance
the father cries out. Is it question in
regard to the establishment of his
throne? Does he say: Have the armies
of Israel been victorious? Am to con
tinue in my imperial authority? Have !
overthrown my enemies!" Oh, mol
There is one question that springs from
his heart to the lip, and springs from
the lip into the ear of the besweated
and bedusted messenger flying from the
battlefeld-the question, Is the young
man Absalom safe?" When it was told
to David, the king, that, though his ar
mics had been victorious, his son had
been slain, the father turned his back
upon the congratulations Of the nation
and went up the stairs Of his palace, his
Heart breaking as he went, wringing his
hands sometimes and then again press.
ing them against his temples as though
he would press them in, crying: &c
Absalom my son my sonl Would to
God l had died for thee. o Absalom
my son my son''
The Shipwreck of Men.
My friends, the question which Da.
vid, the king, asked in regard to his
son is the question that resounds today
in the hearts Of hundreds Of parents.
Yea, there are great multitude o.
young men who know that the question
of the text is appropriate when asked
in regard to them. They know the
temptations by which they are surround
ed. They see so many who started life
with as good resolutions as they have
who have fallen in the path, and they
are ready to hear me ask the question
of my text, SIS the young man Absalon
safe?" The fact is that this life is ful
of peril. He who undertakes 1t without
the grace of God and a proper under
standing Of the conflict into which be
is going must certainly be defeated
Just look off upon society today. Loci
at the shipwreck Of men for whom fail
things were promised and who started
life with every advantage. Look al
those who have dropped from high so
cial position and from great fortune
disgraced for time, disgraced for eter
nifty. All who sacrifice their integrity
come to overthrow. Take dishones
dollar and hurry it in the center of thu
earth, and keep all the rocks Of thu
mountain on top Of it; then cover thest
rocks with all the diamonds Of Golcon
| da, and all the silver of Nevada, and al
the gold of California and Australia
and put on the top Of these all banking
and moneyed institutions, and they can
not keep down that one dishonest dollar
That one dishonest dollar in the cente
of the earth will begin to heave ant
rock and upturn itself until it comes t.
the resurrection of damnation "As th,
partridge stitch on eggs and hatchetl
them not, SO he that getteth riches ant
not by right shall leave them in tn
midst of his days, and at his end shall
be fool. F."
Home as a Safeguard.
Now, what are the safeguards 0
young men? The first safeguard O
which I want to speak is love of home
There are those who have no idea of tn
pleasures that concentrate around tina
word 'home. Perhaps your earl,
| oh 10 pl,