The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-25

OItDo Gays Oh prosperity tnev LIuuh arc co1"
ing. and in many departments they have al-i
in all departments, but those dull
times through which we have
passed have destroyed great many men.
The question Of q livelihood is with vast
multitude the great question. There are
young men who expected before this to set
up their household, but they have been dis,
appointed In the gains they have made,
They cannot support themselves, how can;
they support others2 And, to the curse OF
modern society, etheory Is abroad that a.
man must not marry until he has achieved a
fortune, when the twain ought to start
at the foot Of the hill and together climb to
the top. b!
That is the old fashioned way, and that
will be the new fashioned way 10 society is
ever redeemed. But during the hard times,
the dull times, SO many men were discourReG,
so many men had nothing to do-they could
get nothing to do-a pirate bore down on
the ship when the sails we're down and the
vessel was makingno headway. People say
they want more time to think. The trouble
Is, too many people hav We had too much time
to think, and il our merchants had not had
their mirds diverted many Of them would
long before this have been within the four
walls OF an insane asylum. These long win
ter evenings. b0 careful where you spend
them. This winter will decide the temporal
and eternal destiny OF hundreds OF men In
this audience.
Then the winter has especial temptations
In the fact that many homes are peculiarly
unattractive at this season. In the summer
months the young man can sit out on the
steps, or he can have a bouquet in the vase
on the mantel, or, the evenings being so
short, soon after gaslight he wants to retire
anyhow. Butthe are many parents who
do not understand how to make the long
winter evenings attractive to tleir children.
1t is amazing to me that 30 many old people
do not understand young people. To hear
some OF these parents talk you would think
they had never themselves been young and
had been born with spectscles on. Oh, 1t Is
dolorous for young people to sit In the house,
from 7 to IL o'clock at night and to hear par
ents groan about their ailments and the;
nothingness ofthis world. The nothingness
of this world How dare you talk such
bIasphemy? 1t took God six days to make
this world, and He has allowed It 5000 years
to hang upon His holy heart, and this world
has shone on you and blessed you and ca
and yet you dare talk about the nothingness
of this world! Why, 1t is q magnificent
world. I do not believe In the whole uni
verse there is world equal to It, except 1t
be heaven. You cannot expect your chill
dren to stay in the house these long winter
evenings to hear you denounce this star,
lighted, sun warmed, shower baptised,
flower strewn, angel watched, God inhabit-.
ed planet.
oh, make your home bright! Bring In the
violin or the picture. 1t does not require o
great salary, or big house, or chased sill
yer, or gorgeous upholstery to make happy
l. N q koI 60 fofh 10 ay%
a mothers heart, in sympathy with young,
ary, and he had no other income, but he had
home 80 happy and bright that, though
the sons had gone out and won large for
tunes and the daughters have gone out into
splendid spheres and become princesses OF So
ciety. they can never think of that early.
home without tears Of emotion. It was them
the vestibule Of heaven, and oil their man
sions now and all their palaces now cannot
make them forget that early place. Make
your homes happy. You 20 around your:
house growing about your rheumatism and:
acting the lugubrious. and your sons Will go.
into the world and plunge into dissipation.
They will have their own rheumatisms after
awhile. Do not forestall their misfortunes.
Alas, that old people SO much misunder-
stand young folks! There was great Sun
day-sohool anniversary, and there were
thousands Of children present-indeed all
the Sunday-schools of the town were in the
building, and 1t was very uproarious and
full OF disturbance. and the presiding officer
on the occasion came forward and in very
loud tone shouted, "Silence!" and the more
noise the presiding officer made, the more
noise the children made. Some one else rose
on the platform and came forward and with
moro stentorian voice shouted, "Silence!"
and the uproar rose to greater height, andit
did seem as II there would
be almost a riot and the police
have to be called In when old DR.. Bea-
man, his hair white as the driven snow. said.
"Let me try my hand" SO he came for
ward with slow step to the front Of the
platform, and when the children saw the,
venerable man and the white hair. they
thought they would hush up that instant
and hear what the old man had to say. He
said: "Boys, want to make a bargain with
you. II you will be still now, while speak,
when you get to be as old as am I will
be as still as q mouse" There was not
another whisper that afternoon. he was
as much boy as any Of them. Oh, In
these approaching holidays, let US turn
back our natures to what they were
years ago and be boys again and girls
again and make all our homes happy. God
will hold you responsible for the influence
you now exert, and 1t will be very bright
and very plea1ant II some winter night
when we are sleeping under the blankets OF
snow, our children shall ride along in the
solemnity. look of and say, "There sleep
tho best father and mother that ever made 9
happy new year." Arm yourself against
these temptations Of December, January and
February. Temptation will come to you In
the form Of an angel OF light. I'd.
Oh, what q beautiful thing 1t is to see
young man standing up smid these temp
tations of city life tncorrupt while hundreds
are fallingI will tell your history. You
will move In respectable circles all your
days, and some day friend Of your father
will meet you and say: ''Good morning.
Glad TO see you, You seem to be prosper.
world. I thought you would turn out
well when I used to hold you on my
knee. II you ever want any help or any,
advice, come to me. As long as remember
your father I'll remember you. Good
morning." That will be the history OF
hundreds Of these young men. How do
know II? I know 1t by the way you
start. But here's a young man who takes
the opposite route. Voices of sin charm him
away. He reads bad books, mingles in bad
society. The glow has gone from his cheek,
and the sparkle from bis eve. and the purity
from his soul. Down he goes little by little.
The people who saw him when he came to
town while yet lowered over his head the
blessing of pure mothers prayer and there
was on his lips the dew OF pure sisters
kiss, now as they see him pass cry, what
an awful wreck" Cheek bruised In grog-
shop flght. Eye bleared with dissipation.
Lip swollen with indulgences. Be careful
what you say to him; for trife he would
take your life.
Lower down, lower down until, outcast Of
God und man, he lies In the asylum, blotch
Of loathsomeness and pain. One moment he
calls for God and then he calls for rum. He
prays, he curses. he laughs as fiend laughs.
H., :,ko kl,o