St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-12-24
GODS SECOND GIFT.
Dr.. Talmage Says It Is Better Than
This World.
Spiritual Blessings ana the GloFies
81 the World to Come Compared
with the aSouth Lanan
Of This Life.
Copyright. 1881


Washington, Nov. 20.-Taking for his
text an oriental scene seldom noticed
DR.. Talmage discusses the supernatu
raj advantages Of religion for this
world and the next; text, Joshua, XIV
10: Thou hast given me south land;
give me also springs Of water. And he
gave her the upper springs and the
neither springs"
The city of Debir was the Boston OF
antiquity-a great place for brain and
books. Caleb wanted it, and he offered
his daughter Achsah as prize to any
one who would capture that city. II
was a strange thing for Caleb to do,
and yet the man that could take the
city would have, at any rate, two ele-
ments Of manhood-bravery and pa
triotism. Besides, 1 do not think that
Caleb was as foolish in Offering his
daughter to the conqueror of Debir as
thousands in this city who seek alli-
ances for their children with those who
have large means without any refer
ence to moral or mental requirements.
OF two evils would rather measure
happiness by the length Of the sword
than by the length of the pocketbook.
In one case there is sure to be one good
element of character; in the other there
may be none at all. With Caleb's
daughter as a prize to fight for, Gen.
Othniel rode into the battle. The gates
of Debir were Numbered into the dust,
and the city of books lay at We feet of
the conquerors. The work done. 9th
MEL comes back to claim his bride.
Having conquered the city, it is no
great job to conquer the girls heart,
for however faint hearted q woman her
self may be she always loves courage
In q man. never saw an exception to
that.
The wedding festivity having gone
by, Othniel and Achsah are about to go
to their new home. However loudly the
cymbals may clash and the laughter
ring, parents are always sad when
fondly cherished daughter goes of to
stay. and Achsah, the daughter OF Ca
leb. knows that now is the time to ask
almost anything she wants OF her
father. 1t seems that Caleb. the good
old man, had given as wedding pres
emit to his daughter piece of land that
was mountainous, and, sloping south
ward toward the deserts of Arabia,
swept with some very hot winds. 1t
was called "a south land" But Ach-
sab wants an addition of property; she
wants q piece of land that is well
watered and fertile. Now it is no won
der that Caleb. standing amid the
bridal party, his eyes so full of tears
because she was going away that he
could hardly see her at all, gives her
more than she asks. She said to him:
"Thou has given me south land; give
me also spyings Of water. And he gave
her the upper springs and the neither
springs"
The fact is that as Caleb. the father.
gave Achsah, the daughter, south
land, SO God gives to us his world. |
am very thankful He has given it to us.
But I am like Achsah in the fact that
am not satisfied with the portion.
Trees and flowers and grass and blue
skies are very well in their places, but
he who has nothing but this world for
\ portion has no portion at all. II is
land, sloping of toward
the desert of sorrow. swept by fiery
siroccos; it is "a south land" poor
portion for any man that tries to pu:
his trust in it. What has been your
What has been the expert
ence OF every man, of every woman,
that has tried this world for portion?
Queen Elizabeth, amid the surround
ings Of pomp, is unhappy because the
painter sketches too infinitely the
wrinkles on her face. and she indig-
nantly cries out: "You must strike
off my likeness without any shadows"
Hogarth, at the very height of his
artistic triumph. is stung almost to
leath with chagrin because the paint
ing he had dedicated to the king docs
not seem to be acceptable. for George
Il. cries out: "Who Is this Hogarth? |
Take his trumpery out of my presence
Brinsley Sheridan thrilled the earth |
with his eloquence. but had for his last |
words: 81 am absolutely undone."
Walter Scott. fumbling around the ink
stand. trying to write, says to his
laughter: "Oh, take me back to my
DOM! There is no rest for Sir Walter
out in the gravel" Stephen Girard. the
vealthiest man in his day, or at any
ate only second in wealth, says: ~
i've the life of galley slave. When
rise in the morning, my one effort is
o work SO hard that can sleep when il
.ets to be night" Charles Lamb, ap-
,lauded of all the world. in the very
midst Of his literary triumph says: do
-ou remember. Bridget, when we used
0 laugh from the shilling gallery at the
lay? There are now no good plays to
augh at from the boxes" But why go
o far as that? need to 60 no farther
han your street to find an illustration
what I am saying.
Pick me out ten successful worldlings
and you know what mean by
successful worldlings-pick
ne out ten successful worldlings ard
on cannot find more than one that
,oks happy. Care drags him to bust
ess; care drags him back. Take your
tand at two o'clock Mt the corner Of tho
treets and see the agonized physiogo-
lies. Your high officials, your bank
rs, your insurance men. your import
RS, your wholesalers and your retail
n as a class-as a class, are they
Apply? No. Care dogs their steps, and
laling no appeal to God for help or
omfort many Of them are tossed every
hither. How has it been with you, my
carer? Are you more contented in
ne house Of IA rooms than you were in
,e two rooms you had in house when
on started? Have you not had more
ire and worriment since you won that
q, 900 than you did before? Some Of ,
le poorest men have ever known have
zen those Of great fortune. A man Of ,
nall means may be put in great BUSH
.ss straits, but the ghastliest of all ;
nbarrassments is that of the man who
III large estates. The men who com
it suicide because Of monetary losses ,
. those who cannot bear the burden /:
" more because they have only $751;
O left