The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-11-22
serpent and stingeth like An ad-'

. serpent and stingeth like Aa sd-
der"
My subject also impresses me with
the beauty of youthful character re-
naming incorrupt away from home.
IT Daniel had plunged into every wick
edness of the city of Babylon, the old
folks at home would never have
heard of it. If he had gone through
all the rounds of iniquity, it would
have cast no shadow on his early home.
There were no telegraphs; there were
no railroads. But Daniel knew that
Gods eye was on him. That was
enough. There are young men not 10
good away from home as at home.
Frederick tending his fathers sheep
among the hills or thrashing rye in the
barn is different perhaps from Fred
erick on the stock exchange. Instead
of the retiring disposition there is bold
effrontery; instead of an obliging spirit
there is perhaps oppressive selfishness;
instead OF open handed charity there II
tight-fisted stinginess; instead of rea.
sonable hours there is midnight revel.
| speak to many young men on this
matter-you who may have left your
fathers house and others who, though
still under the parental roof, are look.
ing forward to the time when you will
60 forth to conflict, alone in this world,
with its temptations and its sorrows,
and when you will build up your own
character. Oh, that the God Of Daniel
might be with you in Babylonl
I think the most thrilling passage
OF a young mans life is when hs
leaves home to make his fortune. The
novelty and the romance Of the thing
may keep him from any keen sorrow,
but. the old people who have seen the
destruction of so many who started
with high hope cannot help but bs
anxious. AS long as he was in his
fathers house his waywardness was
kindly chided, and although some
times he thought the restraint rather
bitter and rather severe in his calmer
moments he acknowledged it was sal
utary and righteous. Through the In
fiuence of metropolitan friends the
father has obtained a situation for
his son in the city. The comrades Of
the young man come the night before
his departure to bid farewell to the
adventurer. The morning of his go-
ing away he walks around the place
to take last look at things-perhaps
comes upon some object that starts
a tear, some old familiar place, but
no one sees the tear. The trunk II
put upon the wagon, the young man
is of for the city. He Is set down
amid excitements and amid associates
who are not overcareful about their
words and thoughts and actions.
Morning comes. No family altar.
Sabbath comes. No rural quiet. The
sanctuary comes. but all the faces are
strange, and no one cares whether he
comes to church or does not come.
On his way home from the store he
sees placard announcing rare and
vivacious amusement. He has no
greeting at the door Of the boarding
house. He has no appetite for the
food. No one cares whether he eats
or does not eat-rather he would not
eat-it is cheaper! After the tea he
goes into the parlor, takes up book,
finds it dull, no sister to look over It
with him. Goes upstairs to his room
in the third story, finds 1t cold and
uninviting, and in despair he rushes
out, caring for nothing but to get
something to make him stop thinking.
He is caught in the first whirl Of sin.
He has started out on the dark sea
where the CLEAN Of the Joy is tho
flashing Of the pit and the laughter
is the creaking of the gate Of the lost.
Oh, how many graves there are In the
country churchyard which, II they
could speak. would tell of young men
who went of with high hopes and
came back blasted and crushed to dis
grace the sepulcher Of their fathersl
And yet this exodus must 60 on.
As from distant hills the rivers are
poured down through tunnels to slake
the Thirst Of our great cities, 30 from
distant country places the streams
Of incorrupt population must pour
down to purify our great cities. To-
morrow morning on all the thorough-
fares, in every steamboat and in every
rail car will be young men going forth
to seek their fortunes in our great
towns. o Lord God Of Daniel, help
them to be as faithful in Babylon q
they were in Jerusalem! Forget not,
O my young friend, in the great sea-
ports the moral and religious prin-
ciples inculcated by parental solici.
tude, and If to-day seated in the house
of God you feel the advantage Of early
Christian culture forget mot those te
whom you are most indebted and
pray God that as old age comes upor
them and the shadow Of death th,
hope of Heaven may beam through
the darkness. God forbid that an1
OF NJ through our misconduct SHOULD
bring disgrace upon fathers nam,
or prove recreant to the love Of ,
mother. The dramatist made no ex
, aggeration when he exclaimed: "Hov
sharper than serpent's tooth It
2 to have thankless child!" Oh, tha
! God would help you a. parents and q