The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-23

was the subject Of the discourse o. DR..
T. De Witt Talmage yesterday, his text
being from Prov, iv:2s. Ponder the path
OF thy feet" Dr. Talmage said:
IL Is Monday. September -, az a coun-
Try depot Two young men are TO take
the cars for the city. Father brought
tkta In a wagon with two trunks. The
evening before, at the old home. was
rather a sad time The neighbors had
gathered in to say gOOd-by Indeed, all
the Sunday afternoon there had been
strolllng that WY from adjoining farms.
for II was generally known that the two
boys the next morning we're going 10 the
city 10 live, and the whole neighboThOod
was Interested, some hoping they would
do well and others, without saying any
thing. hoping for them city failure. Sit
ting on the fence talking over the mat
ter the neighbOrs would interlard their
conversation about the wheat crop Of
last summer and the apple crop yet 10 be
gathered with remarks about the city
prospects OF Edward and Nicholas. for
those we're the names OF the two young
men-Edward, seventeen. and Nicholas
niReteen-but Edward. although two years
younger being a little quicker to learn.
knew as much as Nicholas.
Father and mother on Monday morn
inR had both resolved tc 20 10 the depot
with the boys, but the mother at the last
moment backed out and she said that
somehow she felt quite weak that morn
irg, and bad no appetite for a day or two.
and so concluded 10 say good-by at the
front door Of the old place Where she
went and what she did after the wagon
left / leave other mothers 10 guess. The
breakfast things stood almost till noon be-
fore they were cleared away. But little
vas said on the way TO the railroad sta
ton. AS the locomotive whistle was heard
coming around the curve, the father put
cat his hand-somewhat l.nOtted at the
knuckles. and one OF the joints stifrened
years ago by Wound from scythe-and
said 'Good-by, Edward: gOod-by, Nicho-
last Take good care OF yourselves. and
write as soon as you get there and let us
know how they treat you. Your mother
viii be anxious TO hear"
Far Apart in same City.
ARRIVED in the city. they sought out.
with considerable inquiry Of policemen on
street corners and questioning of car
drivers. the two commercial establish
ments 20 which they were destined so
far apart that thereafter they seldom
saw each other; for il is astonishing how
far apart two persons can dwell in a
large city, especially n their habits are
different. Practically a hundred miles
from Bowling Green TO Canal street, or
from X street 20 Capitol HILL
Edward. being the youngest. we must
look after hin first. He never was in so
large store in all his life. Such inter
minable shelves. such skillful imitation
Of real men and women 10 display goods
on. such agility Of cash boys such inn
mense stock OF goods, and whole COM
munity OF employees His head is con-
fused, as he seems dropped like n pebble
in the great ocean Of business life. Have
YOU seen that greenhoTn from the coun-
tFy?' whispers young man 10 young man.
He Is in such and such a department.
We will have 10 break him In some night
Edward stuck at his new place all day,
so homesiek that any moment he could
have cried aloud II his PRIZE hal rot
suppressed everything Here and there ne
carelessly dashed of a tear as though II
were from influenza or a cold in the head.
But some Of you know how a Young man
feels when set down in a city OF stran-
gers thereafter 10 fight his own battles,
and no one near by seeming to care
whether he lives or dies But that even
there are two or three young men who
sidle up to Edward and ask him how he
likes the city and where he expects 10 go
that night, and II he would like them 10
show him the sights. He thanks them.
and says he shall have to take some even
ings for uRpacking and making arrange
ments. as he had just arrived, but says
that after awhile he will be glad 10 ac-
cept their company.
After spending two or three evenings
In his clearinghouse room. walking Up
and down, looking at the bare wall. or an
old chrome hung there at the time that
religious newspapers by such prizes adj
yaneed their subscription lists, and after
an hour toying with the matchbox, and
ever and anon examining his watch to
see II Il Is time TO retire. and II seems
that 10 O'Clock at night, or even o'clock,
will never come. he resolves to accept the
chaperonage OF his new friends at the
store,
sin Ia Attractive Gulse.
although HIS salary is not large, he is
quite flush with pocket-money, which the
old folks gave him after saving up for
some time. He cannot be mean, and these
friends are doing all this for his pleasure
aud so he pays the bills. At the doors OF
places OF entertainment his companions
cannot find the change. and they accitlen-
tally fan behind just as the tiekeJ-oiiice Is
approached or they say they will make il
all right, and will themselves pay the next
time, Edward, accustomed 10 farm life or
village life. is dazed and enchanted with
the glitter OF spectacular sin. Plain and
blunt iniquity Edward would have imme-
diately repulsed. but sin, accompanied by
ira sir mn oil "a nil
lars and gorgeous upholstery. sin arrayed
IN all the attractions that the powers of
darkness, In combination, can arrange to
magnetic young man, Is very different
from sin in its loathsome and disgusting
shape,
"But after few nights being late out.
he says: I must stop My purse won't
stand this. My health won't stand this
My reputation won't stand this Indeed.
one OF the business firm. one night from
his private box. In which ne applauded a
play In which attitudes and phraseology
occurred which, II taken or uttered in his
own parlor, would have tempted him 10
shoot the actor on the spot-from this
high-prieed box this member OF the firm
sees In a cheaper place the new clerk OF
IFS store. and is led 10 ask questions about
his habits. and wonders how. on the sal
airy the house pays him. he can do as he
does. Edward. 10 recover his physical
vigor and his finances, stopped while.
and spent few more evenings examining
The chrome on the wall and counting the
matches in the match box.
The Gambling Table Next.
"'Conf0uHd II" cried the young man, 4
cannot stand this lie any longer and
must so cut and see the world The same
young men. and others OF a now larger
acquaintance. are ready 10 escort him.
There Il never any lack OF such guidance
II man wants 70 so the whole round OF
slu.' he can find plenty TO take him; a
whole regiment who know the way But
after a while Edwards money Is al gone
fte has received his salary again and
again. but IL was spent before he got it.
borrowing a little here and a little there.