The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1898-01-08
1sev. DR.. Talmage breaches Upon q
Homely Subject.
Words OF Cheer for Wives and Mothers
from Ono Who Understands Thclr
Troubles They Do
servo and Will Got.

PutuS, tuu KlVcS WOFO6 Oh Cucc1 10 al
wives, mothers, daugh ters and sisters.
The text is:
Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath
left me to serve alone? bid her, therefore, tina,
she help ne.-Luke x, 40
Yonder is a beautiful village home
stead. The man of the house is dead, and
his widow is taking charge of the
premises. This is the widow, Martha
of bethany. Yes, will show you also
the pet of the household. This is
Mary, the younger sister, with q book
under her arm, and her face having no
appearance of anxiety or care. Com
pany has come. Christ stands outside
the door. and, OF course. there is =
good deal OF excitement inside ths
door. The disarranged furniture il
hastily put aside, and the hair il
brushed back, and the dresses are adj
justed Us well as in so short a time
Mary and Martha can attend to these
matters. They did not keep Christ
standing at the door until they were
newly appareled. Or until they had
'elaborately arranged their tresses,
then coming out with their affected
surprise as though they had not
heard the two or three previous
knockinRs. saying: "Why, is that
yOu" No. They were ladies, and were
always presentable, although they
may not have always had on their best,
Tor nons of us always has on our best;
II we did, our best would not be worth
having on. They throw open the door
and greet Christ. They say: Good
morning, Master; come in and be
seated" Christ did not come alone; He
had group Of friends with Him. and
such an influx of city visitors would
throw any country home into pertur-
baton. l suppose also the walk from
the city had been a good appetizer.
The kitchen department that day was
. very important department., aud I |
suppose that Martha had no sooner
greeted the guests than she fed to that
room. Mary had no worriment about
household affairs. She had full con-
Adence that Martha could get up the
best dinner in bethany. She seems to
say: Nov let MS have division OF
labor. Martha, you cook, and Ill sit /
down and be good" So you have often
seen . great difference between two
sisters.
There IL Martha, Woodworking.
Painstaking. good manager. ever in
ventive OF some new pastry, or dis
covering something in the art of cook
Fry and housekeeping. There is Mary,
Also fond OF conversation, literary, so
Engaged In deep questions of ethics
The has no time TO attend to the ques-
ions OF household welfare. It is noon.
Nary 10 in the parlor with Christ.
Martha IL In the kitchen. It would
lave been better if they had divided
he work, and then they could have,
livided the opportunity of listening to
[esus; but Mary monopolizes Christ ,
vhile Martha swelters ut the fire. 1t !
vas very important thing that they ,
hould have good dinner that day. I
;hrist was hungry. and He did not 1
ften have luxurious entertainments, !
Mas me! If the duty had devolved upon ,
iary, what a repast that would have I
eenl But something went wrong in t
he kitchen. Perhaps the fire would g
OF burn, or the bread would not /
AXE, or Martha scalded her q
and. or something was burned | /
lack that ought only to c
ave been made brown; and Martha /
)St her M thence md foroett;,o fh, ! =