The leader., 1898-12-14
HARD TIMES.

HARD TIMES.
There be many that say, Who viii
show us any good?" Psalms As.
In olden times there we're many who
could see no good in obeying God, or
in other words, they could see no good
in doing good. Human nature Is ever
the same. Since the day when Cain,
with one fell blow, brought his brother
to the ground, there has been no
human scheme that would improve
human nature. The only way that
this human nature can be improved is
for it to be brought into harmony with
God and his laws. and then our eyes
are opened and we can see good in
everything around us. God says" Thou
shalt not kill" Bring men into har
mony with this one precept, and the
cry of murder will be no longer heard
in our land. Had the young man Rut
land been in harmony with this pre-.
cept he would not have filled himself
with blind tiger whisky and sent a
ball tearing through the brain of Mr..
EllZeys son, who was the pride of his
father and mother. And yet there are
many that say, "Who will show us any
good?'
Thou shalt not steal" is another
holy precept of God. Bring every
human being into harmony with this
precept and there is not a dishonest
man or woman on the face of the earth
This would be quite an improvement
on the present situation. We see
costly jail houses and prisons erected
all over our country: we see great iron
safes in every business house, and
presuppose thieves and murderers.
Bring the people of this country into
harmony with the precepts of God and
you may pull down every Jail house in
the land, cast every iron safe into the
street, and tear every lock from your
doors. This would indeed be a great
saving. Still there are many that say
"Who will show us any good?"
1t would be of little consequence
then as to which political party we be-
long, or who is president under this
blessed state of affairs. All troubles
would be settled Including the school
troubles at Bogue Chittol, and every
one would greet his neighbor with a
smile and cordial shake of the hand.
In proportion as an individual grows
out of harmony with God, in the same
proportion does he grow morally worse
and everything becomes wrong end
foremost with him, and the times get
mighty hard: but the man with an
answering faith in God, bows to the
situation and says it could be worse
like the pious old woman who, it mat
tered not what happened, was always
accustomed to say, 1T could be worse.
One day, when this good old woman
was passing through what seemed to be
a great trial of affection, her spiritual
advisor called to see her and endeavor-
ed to pour in the oil and the wine.
Listening attentatively at what the
preacher had to say, she remarked
st could be worse" Madam" said
the divine in a rather serious tone, IF
the devil had you on his back going to
torment with you, believe you would
say, 1T could be worse" We'll, yes,
said the good old woman, lit would be
much easier on me for the devil to
carry me than for me to carry him"
well" says one, do you think any
good will come by these hard times we
are having?" Our reply is. yes These
times are putting men on their metal!
Every mans loyalty and fidelity to God
and the laws of his country are being
put to strong test, and blessed is he
who comes forth without the smell of
fire upon his garments. S.
White tIo