Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-05-07

ourselves is to look over the fence and
admire the flowers. The next best
thing to ridi2g in fine equipage is to
stand on the streets and admire the
prancing span. The next best thing tc
having a banquet given to ourselves
is having a banquet given to our
prodigal brother that has come home
to his fathers house.
Besides that, if we do not get as
much honor and as much attention as
others we ought to congratulate our
selves on what we escape in the way Of
assault. The French general riding
on horseback at the head of his troops
heard a soldier complain and say, "It
is very easy for the general to COM
mand us forward while he rides and
we walk" Then the general dismount-
ed and compelled the complaining sol
der to get on the horse. Coming
through a ravine, a bullet from
sharpshooter struck the rider, and he
fell dead. Then the general said, 'How
much safer it is to walk than to ride"
Once more I have to tell you that
this senior brother of my text stands
for the pouting Christian. While there
is so much congratulation within doors
the hero of my text stands outside, the
corners of his mouth drawn down,
looking as he felt-miserable. 1 am
glad his lugubrious physiognOmy did
not spoil the festivity within. How
many pouting Christians there are in
our day-Christians who do not like
the music of the churches, Christians
who do not like the hilarities of the
young-pouting, pouting, pOuting at
society, pouting at the fashions, pout-
ing at the newspapers, pouting at the
church, pouting at the government,
pouting at high heaven. Their spleen
is too large, their liver does not work,
their digestion is broken down. There
are two cruets in their caster always
sure to be we'll supplied-vinegar and
red pepper. Oh, come away from that
mood! Stir a little saccharine into
your disposition. While you avoid the
dissoluteness of the younger son avoid
also the Feasibility and the petulance
and the pouting spirit of the elder son
and initiate the father, who had en-
braces for the returning prodigal and
coaxing words for the splenetic NAL
content.
Faces COntrasted.
All, the face of this pouting elder
son is put before US in order that we
might better see the radiant and for
giving face of the Father. Contrasts
are mighty. The artist in sketching
the field of Waterloo years after the
battle put a dove in the mouth of the
cannon. Raphael in one Of his car
toons beside the face of a wretch put
the face of a happy and innocent child.
And so the sour face of this irascible
and Disguised elder brother is brought
out in order that in the contrast we
might better understand the fOrgiving
and radiant face of God. That is the
meaning of it-that God is ready to
take back anybody that is sorry, to
take him clear back, to take him back
forever and forever and forever, to
take him back with a loving hug, to
put kiss on his parched lip, a ring on
his blOated hand, an easy shoe on his
chafed foot, q garland on his bleeding
temples and heaven in his soul. oh, 1
fall fiat on that mercy! Come, my
brother, and let us get down into the
dust, resolved never to rise until the
Fathers forgiving hand shall lift us.
Oh, what a God we have! Bring !
your doxologies. Come, earth and |
heaven, and join in the worship. Cry
aloud. Lift the palm branches. Do |
you not feel the Fathers arm around !
your neck? Do you not feel the warm |
breath Of your Father against your
cheek? Surrender, younger son! Sur |
render, elder son! Surrender, all! Go |
in today and sit down at the banquet. |
Take a slice Of the fatted calf, and |
when you are seated, with |
one hand in the hand Of the returned |
brother and the other hand in the hand |
of the rejoicing father, let your heart
beat time to the clapping of the cymbal
and the mellow voice of the flute. 1t |
is meet that we should make merry
and be glad, for this, thy brother, was
dead and is alive again. He was lost
and is found.
copyright, 1900 by Louis Klopsch.l