Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-01-27

the reward afterward Have you not
enough enthusiasm to cry ont: "We are
the menl We are the men!"
learn also from this subject the
danger Of worldly elevation. This Eglon
was what the world called great man.
There were hundreds Of people who
would have considered it the greatest
honor of their life just to have him
speak to them, yet although he Is SO
high up in worldly position he is not
beyond the reach of Ehud's dagger.
see a great many people trying to climb
up in social position, having an idea
that there is a safe place somewhere far
above. not knowing that the mountain
Of fame has a top like Mont Blanc, GOV.
cred with perpetual snow.
We laugh at the children Of Shinar
for trying to build tower that could
reach to the heavens but think if our
eyesight were only good enough we
could see a Babel in many dooryard
Oh. the struggle is fiercel IL is store
against store, house against house,
street againt street, nation against ma
tion. The goal for which men are run
ming is chairs and chandeliers and mir
rors and houses and lands and presiden-
tial equipments. If they get what they
anticipate, what have theyl Men are
not safe from calumny while they live,
and worse than that, they are not safe
after they are dead, for | have seen
swine root up graveyards. One day
man goes up into publicity, and the
world does him honor, and people climb
up into sycamore trees 70 watch him as
he passes, and as he goes along on the
shoulders Of the people there is "A way
ing Of hats and wild huzZa. Tomor-
row the same man is caught between
the jaws of the printing press and man
gled and bruised. and the very same
persons who applauded him before cry;
"Down with the traitor Down with
him"
Belshazzar sits at the feast, the
mighty men of Babylon sitting all
around him Wit sparkles like the wine,
and the wine like the wit. Music rolls
up among the chandeliers; the chande-
liers fash down on the dccanters. The
breath Of hanging gardens floats in on
the night air; the voice Of revelry floats
ont. Amid wreaths, and tapestry, and
folded banners. a finger writes. The
march Of host is heard on the stairs.
Laughter catches in the throat A thou
sand hearts stop beating. The blow Is
struck. The blood on the floor is richer
hued than the wine on the table The
kingdom has departed Belshazzar was
no worse, perhaps, than hundreds of
people in Babylon, but his position slew
him. Oh, be content with just such a
position as God has placed you in. 1t
NAV not be said of us, HE was a great
general" or "He was an honored chief
tain, or "He was mighty in worldly
attainments. but this thing may be
said Of you and Of me, He was good
citizen. a faithful Christian. a friend
Of Jesus" And that in the last day
will be the highest Of all eulogiums
learn further from this subject that
death comes to the summer house Eg'
Ion did not expect to die in that fine
place. Amid all the flower leaves that
drifted ike summer snow into the win
dow in the tinkle and dash Of the
fountains; in the sound Of a thousand
leaves futing on one tree branch; in
the cool breeze that came mp to shake
feyerish trouble out Of the king S locks
there was nothing that spake OF
death, but there he died In the winter
when the snow is shroud. and when
the wind is dirge it is easy to think
of our mortality; but when the weather
is pleasant and all our surroundings
are agreeable, how difficult it Is for us
to appreciate the truth that we are
mortal And yet my text teaches that
death does sometimes come TO the sum-
mer house. He is blind, and cannot see
the leaves. He is deaf. and cannot hear
the fountains. Oh. if death would ask
rs for victims, we could point him to
hundreds Of people who would rejoice
TO have him come. Push back the door
of that howell Look at that little child
cold. and sick, and hungry II has
nerer heard the name Of God but in
blasphemy. Parents intoxicated. stag
gering around its straw bed. Oh. death.
there is mark for theel Upwith 1t into
the light! Before those little feet STUN
bic on life's pathway, give them rest
Here is an aged man He has dcne
his work. He has done it gloriously
The companions of his youth all gone.
his children dead. he longs to be at rest,
and YEARLY the days and the nights
pass He says. Come, Lord Jesus
come quickly" Oh, death, there Is a
mark for thee Take from him the stan
and give him the scepter- Upwith him
into the light, where eyes never grow
dim. and the hair whitens not through
the long years of eternity Ah death
will not DO that Death turns back IRON
the straw bed, and from the aged man
ready for the skies, and comes TO the
summer house. What doest thou here
thou bony, ghastly monster amid TINS
waving grass and under this sunlight
sitting through the tree branchesl Ohil'
dren are at play. How quickly then
feet 90 and their locks toss i'll the WIND.
Father and mother stand at the side ol
the room looking on, enjoying theii
glee. Ii does not seem possible that tn'
wolf should ever break into that fold
and carry off a lamb Meanwhile al
old archer stands looking through th'
thicket. He points his arrow at tn'
brightest of the group. He Is SURF
marksman. The bow bends, the arrow
speeds. Hush now. The quick feet have
stopped, and the locks toss no more II
the wind. Laughter has gone ont OK In'
hall. Death In the summer housei
Here Is father In midlife. His com
ing home at night is the signal TO
mirth. The children rush to the door
and there are books on the evening
stand. and the hours pass away on gla'
feet There is nothing wantiig IN ina
home. Religion is there and sacriice
ON the altar morning and night Io'
look in that household and say "lcan
not think Of anything happier. do, no
L..