Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-07-13
Neglect Of Home Dates.

Again remark tflht many Oh our DUST
ness men arc tempted to neglect their
home duties. How often IL Is that the
store and the home seem 10 clash. but
there ought not TO he any collision. IL is
often the case that the father Is the mere
treasurer of the family, sort Of agent To
sec that they have dry goods and groceries
The work Of family government he does
not touch. Once or twice In n year no
calls tho children up ON "a Sabbath after
noon when he has "a half hour he does not
exactly know what to do with, and In that
half hour he disciplincs the children and
chidcs them and corrccts their faults and
gives them great deal of good advice, and
then wonders all the rest Of the year that
his children do not do better when they
have tho wonderful advantage of that
scmiannual castigation.
The family table, which ought to he the
place for pleasant discussion and cheerful
ness, often becomes the place Of pcrilous
expedition. II there be any blessing asked
at all, IL Is cut of ut both ends and with
the hand on the carving knife. He counts
on his fingers. making estimates in the in
terstices OF the rcpast. The work done,
tho hat goes to the head and he starts
down the street, and before tho family have
arisen from the table he has bound up an
other bundle Of goods and says To the GUS
toner, Anything more l can do for you
today, sirs' 4 man has more responsible
tiles than those which are discharged by
putting competent instructors over his
children and giving them n drawing mas
ter and music teacher. The physical cul-
ture Of the child will not be attended to
unless tho father looks to II. He must
sometimes lose his dignity. He must I'M
timber his joints. He must sometimes
lead them out TO their sports and games.
The parent who cannot forget the severe
duties OF life sometimes. 10 fly the kite, and
trundle the hoop, and chase the ball, and
jump the rope with his children, ought
never TO have been tempted out Of u crusty
and unredeemabie solitariness. IL you
want to keep your children away from
places of sin, you can only do 1t by max
ing your homo attractive. You may preach
sermons and advocate reforms and de-
nouncc wickciness, and yet your children
will he captiyatcd by the glittering saloon
of sin unless you can make your home n
brighter place than any other place ON
earth to them. Oh, gather all charms into
your housed IL you can afford 1t, bring
books and pictures and cheerful entertain
ments 10 the household. But, above all,
teach those children, not by half an hour
twice year ON the Sabbath day, but day
after day and every day teach them that
religion Is n great gladncss, that Ii throws
chains OF gold about the neck, that IL takes
no spring from the foot, no blithencss
from tho heart no sparkle from the eye
no ring from the laughter. but that cher
ways are ways Of p!easantncss, and all her
paths are peace. l sympathizc with the
work being done In many of our cities, by
which beautiful rooms are set apart by our
Young Mems Christian associations, and l
pray God to prosper them In all things
But tell you there Is something back Of
that and before that-we need more happy,
consecratcd. cheerful Christian homes ev-
erywhere.
Value Of the Soul.
Again I remark that n great many OF
our business men arc tempted 10 put the
attainment of money above the value Of
the soul. II Is grand thing TO have
plenty of money. The more you get Of
It the better IL II como honestly and go
usefuily. For the lack Of Ii sickness dies
without medicine, and hunger finds its
coffin In the empty bread tray, and naked
ness shiycrs for lack of clothes and fire
When l hear u man I'm canting TRADE
against money! Christian man-as
though IL had no possible use on earth
and he had no interest in II nj all, come
almost TO think that the heaven that would
be appropriate for him would be an ever
lasting poorhouse While, my friends. We
do admit there Is such n thing as the law
full use Of money--a profitable use Of
money-lct us recognize also the fact that
money cannot satisfy mans soul; that
1t cannot glitter In the dark valley; that
IL cannot pay our fare across the Jordan Of
death; that it cannot unlock the gate of
heaven. There are men In all occupat ions
who seem to net as though they thought
that pack OF bonds and mortgages could
be traded off for n title To heaven, and as
though gold would he lawful tender in
that place where II Is SO common that they
make paycmcnts ont OF IT, salvation by
Christ Is the only salvation. Treasures in
heaven are the only incorruptible treas
ures.
Have you ever ciphered out In the rule
Of loss and gain the sum. What shall 1t
profit man he gain tia wlrels world
and lose his own soul:" However fine
your apparel, the winds Of death will 1ut-
ter 1t like rags. Homespun and thread
bare coat have sometimes been the shadow
of coming robes made white in tho blood
Of the Lamb. The pearl of great price Is
worth more than any gem you can bring
from the ocean, than Australian or Bra
lillian mines strung in orc earcanct. Seek
after God. find his righteousness, and all
shall be well here; all shall he well here
after.
shipwreck.
Some Of you remember the shipwrcck Of
h..
had, think, about 500 passengers aboard.
Suddenly the storm came, and the surges
trampled the decks and swung into the
matches. and there went up hundred
voiced death shrek The foam ON the jaw
Of the wave. Tho pitching of the steamer
as though II were leaping mountain.
The dismal flare Of the signal rockets The
long cough OF the steam pipes The hiss
OF extingulshcd furnaces. The walking Of
God on the wave, The steamer went not
down without n struggle. As the passcn-
gers stationed themselves In rows TO bale
out the vessel, bark 10 the thump of the
buckets, as men unused 10 toll. with Bills
tered hands and strained muscle, tug for
their lives. There Is sail stvn against the
sky. The flash OF the distress gun Is mo-
ticcd; Its yoSe heard not, for IL is chokcd
in the louder booming Of the sea. 4 few
passengers escaped. but the steamer gave
one great lurch and was goncl - there
are some men who sail ON prospcrously In
life. AIS well; alfs well But at last
some financial disaster comcs-a curocly-
don. Down they 60! The bottom OF tho
commercial sea is sircwn with shattered
hulks. But because your property goes do
not let your soul GO Though all else per
ish, save that; for have Ia tell yun Of
more stupcndous shipwrcck than that
which / just mentioned. God launched
this world q, 600 years ago II has been go
ing on nnder freight Of mountains and i'm
mortals, but one day IL will stagger NJ the
cry OF fire. The timbers II rock will burn,
the mountains fame like ma>ts and the
clouds like sails In the Judgment hurri-
cane. Then God shall take tho passengers
Of the deck, and from the bcrths those
who have long been asleep In Jesus, and
he will set them far beyond the reach Of
storm and peril. But how many shall go
down will never b. known until IL shall
be announced one day In heaven: the ship
wreck of world 50 many millions
saved So many millions drowned! oh,
my dear hearers, whatever you lose, though
your houses 60 though your lands go,
though nil your earthly possessions perish,
may God Almighty, through the blood Of
the everlasting covenant, save all your
souls
Novels Are Growing shorter.