Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-23

e .Sn, auu ne sees the nresideS
oI Christendom and the loved ones
gathered around those ficesides. These
are the camnfires which we warm our
selves at the close of the day. and
taik over the battles of life we have
iought II b battles that are vet 10
come. God grant that when at last
THESE nres begin TO 90 out and contiu-
ue 10 lower until finally they are ex-
tlhgulshed, and the ;shes OF consumed
hopes strew the hearth of the old
homestead, it may be because we have
-Gone TO sleep That last long sleep.
! rom which none ever wake 10 weep"
Now, We are an army OH the march
of lie. Then, we will lie an army Div.
ouacked II the tent of the rave
once more. | want you TO look at
Nashti, the silent. You do not hear
any cutlery from this as she
goes forth from the palace gate. From
the very dignity of her nature. you
know there will be no vociferitioi..
Sometimes in life il is necessary 10
make a retort; sometimes in life il is
necessary TO resist; but there ere crises
when the most triumphant thing Ia do
is 10 keep silence. The philosopher.
confident of his newly discovered prin-
ciple. waiting for the coming of a more
Intelligent generation, willing that men
should laugh at the lightning-rud and
cotton-gin ard misunderstanding for
long years through the soothing of phi
ioSophical schools. IN grand and mag
nificeBt silence. Calico, condemned by
themathematicians and scientists, car
ricatured everywhere. yet waiting and
watching with his telescope 10 see the
coming up of stellar achievements.
when the stars in their courses would
fight for the Copernican system: b
sitting down In complete blindness and
deafness to wait for the coming on of
the generations who would build his
monument and bow at his .rave.
The Reformer. nXecrated by his con-
te~mporaries. fastened in a pillory. the
slow fires of public contempt burning
under him, ground under the cylinders
of the printing press, yet calmly wait
ing for the day when purity of soul
and heroism of character will get the
sanction of earth AMI the plaudits of
heaven. Affection. endured without
any complaint. the sharpness OF the
pang and the violence of the storm and
the heft of the chain and the darkness
of the night. Waiting until a divine
hand shall be put forth 10 soothe the
pang and hush the storm release
the captive. A wife. abused. perSecut
ed, and a perpetual exile from every
earthly comfort-waiting, waiting, I'M
til theLord shall gather all his dear
children to a heavenly home, and no
poor Nashti will ever be thrust out
from the palace gate. Jesus. in silence
aud answering not a word. drinking
the gall. bearing the cross. in prospect
of the rapturous conSummation when
Angels thronged his chariot wheel,
And bore him 10 his throne;
Then swept their golden harps and
sung
/ The glorious work is done.
o. woman. does not this story of
Vashti the queen Nashti the yelled,
Nashti the sacrifice Vashti the silent,
move your soul? My sermsn conyerges
into the one absorbing hope that nom
Of YOU may be shut out of the palace
gate of heaven. You can endure the
hardships and the p~rivatiGns and the
cruelties and the misfortunes of this
life if you can only gain admission
there. Through the blood Of the ever
lasting covenant, you go through these
gates, or never go al all. God forbid
that You should AZ last be banished
from the companionship Of your glori.
fed kindred, and banished forever.
Through the rich grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, may YOU be enabled TO
initiate the example of Rachel and
Hannah and Abigail end Deborah and
Mary and Esther and Vashti. Amen