The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-11-11

| new Oue1 no" CHAR lueu tney are az
his independence of the English gram:
mar! How long he hangs on! Seventy
years and not gone yet! Seventy
five years and not gone yet! Eighty
years and not gone yet! Will
he ever go? They think it is of no use
to have a doctor in his last sickness,
and go up to the drug store and get
something that makes him worse, and
| economic on a coffin, and beat the un.
dertaker down to the last point, giving
a note for the reduced amount, which
they never pay! l have otficiated at
obsequies Of aged people where the
family have been SO Unfortunately re-
signed to Providence that l felt like
taking my text from Proverbs: 81 he
eye that mocketh at his father, and
refuseth to obey it's mother, the ravens
of the valley shall pick it out, and the
young eagles shall eat it," In other
words, such an migrate ought to have
flock of crows for pall-bearers! l con-
graduate you if you have the honor Of
providing for aged parents. The bless
ing of the Lord God of Joseph and
Jacob will be on you.
And here l would like to sing the
praises of the sisterhood who remained
unmarried that they might administer
to aged parents. The brutal world
calls these self-sacrifcing ones peculiar
or angular; but if you had had as many
annoyances as they have had, Xantippe
would have been an angel compared
with you. 1t is easier to take care of
five rollicking, romping children than
of one childish old man. Among
the best women of our land are
those who allowed the bloom of life to
pass away while they we're caring for
their parents. While other maidens
were asleep, they We're soaking the old
mans feet, or tucking up the covers
around the invalid mother. While other
maidens were in the cotillion, they were
dancing attendance upon rheumatism,
and spreading plasters for the lame
back Of the septenarian, and heating
catnip tea for insomnia.
AS if to disgust us with unfilial con-
duct, the Bible presents US with the
story of Micah, who stole the LOO
shekels from his mother, and the story
of Absolom, who tried to dethrone his
father But all history is beautiful
with stories of tilial fidelity. Epami-
nondas, the warrior, found his chief
delight in reciting to his parents his
victories. There goes Aeneas from
burning Troy, on his shoulders An
chises, his father. The Athenians pun
ished with death any unfilial conduct.
There goes beautiful Ruth escorting
venerable Naomi across the desert amid
the bowling of the wolves and the
barking of the jackals. John Law
renee, burned at the stake in Colches-
ter, was cheered in the flames by his
children, who said: 80 God, strength
en- thy servant and keek Thy promise.'
And Christ, in the hour ofexcruciation,
provided for His old mother Jacob
kept his resolution, II will go and see
him before l die" and little while
after we find them walking the tes-
seated floor of the palace, Jacob and
Joseph, the prime minister proud of
the shepherd.
l may say in regard to the most Of
you that your parents have probably
visited you for the last time, or will
soon pay you such a visit, and have
wondered if they will ever visit you in
the Kings palace. Oh" you say, Il
am in the pit of sim" Joseph was in
the pit. Oh" you say, Il am
in the prison of mine iniq uityr'
Joseph was once in prison. oh"
you say, II didn't have a fair
chance: | was denied maternal
kindness" Joseph was denied meter
nal attendance. Oh" you say, Il am
far away from the land of my nativi-
ty" Joseph was far from home ''Oh, y
you say, Il have been betrayed and
exasperated!" Did not Joseph's broth
rem sell him to passing Ishmaelitsh
caravan Yet God brought him to
that emblazoned residence; and if you
will trust his grace in Jesus Christ,
you, too, will be emplaced.
Oh, what "a day that will be when
the old folks come from an adjoining
mansion in Heaven and fluid you amid
the alabaster pillars of the throne
room aud living with the King! They
are coming up the steps now, and the
epauletted guard of the palace rushes
i'll and says: Your fathers coming,
your mothers coming" And when
under the arches of precious stones
and on the pavement OF porphyry you
greet each other, the scene will eclipse
the meeting on the Goshen Highly way,
when Joseph and Jacob fell on each
others neck and wept good while.
But, oh, how changed the old folks
will be! Their cheeks smoothed into
the flesh of a little child. Their
stopped posture lifted into immortal
symmetry. Their foot now so feeble,
then with the sprightiness of bound
ing roe, as they shall say to you: "a
spirit passed this way from earth and
told us that you were wavward
and dissipated after we left the
world; but you have repented,
our prayer has been answered and
you are here; and as we used to visit
you on earth before we died, now we
visit you in your new home after our
| ASCENSION And father will COW.