Connecticut western news., 1895-11-28
DAVID AND ABSALOM.
DR. TALMAGE BREACHES A GREAT
 SERMON TO YOUNG MEN.

pR. TALMAGe BREACHES A GREAT
 SERMON TO YOUNG MEN.
 The Parent and the wayward son-Lovs , of Home. Industry and the Christian
 Religion e the safeguards of Young
 Men-KsepinE 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, 2s, 'Is the young man Absalom safe9''
 The heart of David, tho father. was wrapped up in his boy Absalom. 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 a single blemish The Bible says that he had such luxuriant shock of hair that when once ayear it was shorn, what was cut off weighed over three pounds. But notwithstanding all his brilliancy of appearance he was a 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 tid- ings of the conflict. Oh, bow 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 CT 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 oot. 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, no! 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 battlefield-the question, Ills 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: 70 Absalom! my son my son! Would to God I had died for thee. o Absalom my son! my sonl'
 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 a great multitude of 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
 
 who have fallen in the path, and they are ready to hear me ask the question of my text, ''Is the young man Absalom safe?'' The fact is that this life is full of peril. He who undertakes it without the grace of God and proper under standing of the conflict into which he is going must certainly be defeated. Just look off upon society today. Look at the shipwreck of men for whom fair things were promised and who started life with every advantage. Look at those who have dropped from high so- cial position and from great fortune, disgrnced for time, disgraced for eter- nifty. All who sacrifice their integrity come to overthrow. Take dishonest dollar and bury it in the center of the earth, and keep all the rocks of the mountain on Sop of it; then cover these rocks with all the diamonds of Goloon- da, and all the silver of Nevada, and all 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 center of the earth will begin to heave and rock and upturn itself until it comes to the resurrection of damnation. "As the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not, so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be fool.''
 Home aA . Safeguard.
 Now, what are the safeguards of young men? The first safeguard of which want to speak is love of home. There are those who have no idea of the pleasures that concentrate around that word home. Perhaps your early abode was shadowed with vice or pov- erty. Harsh words and petulance and ,scowling may have destroyed all the sanctity of that spot. Love, kindness and self sacrifice, which have built their altars in so many abodes, were stran- gers in your fathers house. God pity you, young man; you never had a home. But multitude in this audience can look back to 8 spot that they can never forget. It may have been a lowly roof, but you cannot think of it now without dash of emotion. You have seen nothing on earth that so stirred your sonl A stranger passing along that place might see nothing remarkable about it; but, oh! how much it means to you. Fresco on palace wall does not mean so much to you as those rough hewn rafters. Parks and bowers and trees on fashion able watering place or country seat do not mean so much to you as that brook that ran in front of the plain farmhouse and singing under the weeping willows. The barred gate way swung open by porter in full dress does not mean as much to you as that swing gate, yonr sister on one side of it and you on the other, she gone 5 years ago into glory that scene com ling back to you today, as you swept