The Newtown bee., 1897-03-12

and ravels into shreds. Do not worry. Do not fret.''
 Now, it is sometimes just as import ant to learn what text does not mean as 1t is to learn what it does mean. Our text, then, does not mean, conduct life on the principle of 'Eat, drink and be merry for to morrow we die." It does not mean, be as careless about the fu- ture as many of our Southern negroes are, who earn fifty cents today, and give themselves no concern as to where the next fifty cents is coming from until their generouscapitali is exhausted on the things that satisfy the material wants of the man. It does not mean, let the fu- ture take care of itself in the sense that we are to have no thought about it, make no forecast for it. If that were so, then the Bible would put it's stamp of disapproval on thrift and providence, di- rectly encouraging idleness and shittless- ness; if that were 80, then there would be no planting in the spring and culti- vating in the summer, that there might be harvest sheaYes gathered in; if that were so, then there would be no laying by of the little for the rainy day if that were so, then there would be no savings banks, in which the great middle class, neither rich nor poor, may deposit the small accumulations which constitute their wealth; if that were so, then insur- ance companies would be unknown, and the right arm.of the family ,palsied in the sleep of death, no longer procuring sus- tenance for the home, wife and children would be cast upon the cold charity of the world if that were so, then no dan- ger signals on our coast would warn the mariner against the coming storm. In fact if we come into such an uncalcula- ting state, the future might as we'll not be at all; it need have no influence upon us; We are no better than the cat tie which browse on the herbage to-day that tomorrow Is withered by the sun. In the winter, all through it's cold and storm, the leaves of the scrub oak cling to the dry branches; but these dead leaves, when alive, made provision for the summer surely coming on. Within the axil of each leaf tiny bud was formed; and when the swelling sap pressed the leaves from the stem, other fresh leaves were ready to take the places of the dead ones and to do their work. Nature teaches thrift even with the leaves. The Bible encourages thrift
 I have heard Joseph called the president of the first insurance company, for in the seven years of plenty he insured the land of Egypt against the seven years of drouth. David, though not permitted himself to erect the house of the Lord, yet gathered together 80 great store of treasure and laid his plans so we'll that when Solomon came to build, he had & comparatively easy task. The wise man sends us to the ant that we may learn lessons of frugality and thrift.
 OUR LORD TEACHES ECONOMY,
 when on one occasion He commands that the fragments be gathered up, seven basketfuls, and on another occasion twelve basketfuls. The disciples carried a treasure bag, that they might collect the littles that were given by the women
 who ministered unto them and by others in the villages through which they went. Thrift, worthy provision for the fu- ture, Is Christian virtue. What makes the famine in India so terrible now, so terrible that an idea can be given of 1t when I say that mothers are selling their own babes for ten cents each that they themselves: may be Kept from starving ! The reason Is that in heather Indias the vast majority of the people live from hand to mouth; having something to- day, they use it, earning some money to- day, they spend it, having good crop this year, they eat 1t, 50 that when the