The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-12-29
GODS SECOND GIFT.
Dr.. Talmage Says It Is Better Than
This World.
Spiritual blessings and the Giortes
of the World to Come Compared
with the "SOutla Land"
Of This Life.
copyright, 1895. ]

1al advantages OF religion for this
wor.S aud 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. 1t
was 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
ariotism. Besides, | do not think that
Caleb was as foolish in Offering his
daughter to the conqueror of Debir as
thousands in this city who seek alIi-
nnces for their children with those who
have large means without any refer
ence to neral 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 thundered into the dust,
and the city of books lay at the 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 4 woman her
self may be she always loves courage
in 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 a
fondly cherished daughter goes off to
stay, and Achsah, the daughter of Ca
le5, 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
ent to his daughter piece of land that
was mountainous. and. sloping south
ward toward the deserts of Arabia
swept with some very hot winds. IT
was called "a south land" But Ach-
sab wants an addition of property; she
wants 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
moro than she asks. She said to him:
"Thou has given me south land; give
me also springs of water. And he gave
her the upper springs and the nethe:
springs"
The fact is that as Caleb. the father
gave Achsah. the daughter. south
land, so God gives to us his world.
i'm 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 blu:
skies are very well in their places, hu
he who has nothing but this world fo'
portion has no portion at all. 1t is
mountainous land, sloping off towart
the desert of sorrow, swept by fiery
siroccos: it is "a south land" pool
portion for any man that tries to pu'
his trust in it. What has been you1
experience? What has been the expert
ence of every non. of every woman
that has tried this world for a portion
Queen Elizabeth, amid the surround
ings of polnp is unhappy because Thu
painter sketches too minutely th'
wrinkles on her face. and she indig
nantly cries out: "You must strik,
off my likeness without any shadows!
Hogarth, at the very height of Ri
artistic triumph, is stung almost t'
death with chagrin because the paint
ing he had dedicated to the king doc;
not seem to be acceptable. for Georg'
III. cries out: "Who is this Hogarth
Take his trumpery out of my presence.
Brinsley Sheridan thrilled the eartl
with his eIoduence, but had for his las
words: II am absolutely undone.
Walter Scott, fumbiing around the ink
stand. trying to write, says to hi
daughter: "Oh, take me back to IN,
room! There is no rest for Sir Waite
but in the gravel" Stephen Girard. tn
wealthiest man in his day, or at an.
rate only second in wealth. says: -
live the life of galley slave. When
arise in the morning. my one effort i
10 work so hard that can sleep when j
gets to be night" Charles Lamb, ap
plauded of all the world. in the yer,
midst of his literary triumph says: ID
you remember. Bridget, when we use'
to laugh from the shilling gallery at tn
play? There are now no good plays +
laugh al from the boxes" But why g
so far as that? need to 60 no farthe
than your street to find an ILLUSTRATION
of what am saying.
Pick me out ten successful wording
-and you know what mean b
thoroughly successful worldiin gs-pic
me out ten successful worid!ings al