The Washington weekly post., 1900-08-14

mage found a lesson teaching humility
and trust IN God alone IN the swift de-
stuetipa of H8man's powers. honors,
and lfs lie warned his hearers against
worrying over TIE small nOthiugs Of IIic
and had them bend their hopes on eter-
nifty. and direct their efforts only 70 claim
ing the final reward. For his text Dr.
Talmage took Esther. WHO. 80 they
hanged faman on the gsllows that he had
prepared FOR Mordecai."
Here Is an Oriental coUrticr about tie
most offensive man in Hebrew history
Hamau by name. He plotted for the de-
struction Of the Isracliush nation, and
wonder not that In some of the Hebrew
syuagogGcs 20 this day when Haman's
name is mentioned, the congregation
cicnCh their fists and stamp their feet and
cry. Ie; HIS name De b,0ued oUtH Haman
was prime minister IN the magnificent
court Of Persia. Thoroughly appreciauve
ar The honor conferred, ne expects every
body that he passes TO be ObsequiOuS.
Coming in one day at the gate Of the pal
ace. the servants drop their heads ia
honor Of kis Office; but Hebrew, named
Mordccai gazcs upon the passing disni-
tary without bending his head or taking
OF his hat He was a good man, and
Girary Courtesics Of lie. but he felt no re-
svcct either f0r Haman or the nation from
which ne had come So he could not be
hyVOCritiCal. and while others made OTien-
tai salaam. getting clear down before this
prime minister when he passed Mordecai,
the Hebrew, relaxed not a muscle Of MS
neck. and kept his chin clear up. Because
Of that affrOnt Hanan gets a decree from
Ahasuerus. the dastardly king, for the
massacre Of all the Israelitcs. and that, OF
course. will include MOrdcCai.
ITO make a long story short, through
Queen Esther this whole plot was reveal
Cd 10 her husband, AhaSUerUs. one night
Ahasuerus. who was afflicted with insOm-
MIA, in his sleepless hours calls for his
secretary 20 read him "A few passages of
Persian history, and so while away the
night. In the book read that night 10 tire
King an account was given of a conspir-
aCy. from which Mordecai, the Hebrew,
had saved the Kings life, and for which
Kindness MOrdecai had never received any
reward. Haman, who had been fixing up
q nice gallows to hang Mordecai on, was
walking outside the door of the Kings
sleeping apartment and was called in. The
King told him that he had just had read
10 him the account Of some one who had
what reward ought 10 be given TO such
one. Self-conceited Haman, supposng
that he himself was to get the honor, and
not imaglng for moment that the de-
lIVerer of the Kings life was NIOrdecai
says: Why, your majesty ought TO make
d triumph for him, and put a crown on
him and set him on a splendid horse,
housekeeping and full-blooded, and then
nave one Of your princes lead the horse
through the streets, crying. Bow the
knee, here comes a man who has saved
the Kings lifer'' Then said AhasueTus
in severe tones 10 Haman: I know all
about your scOundrelism. Now you so out
and make a triumph for MOrdecai, the
Hebrew, whom you hate. Put the best
saddle on the finest horse, and you, the
prince, hold the stirrup while Mordecai
gets on. and then lead his horse through
The street. Make haste"
The Fate of Haman.
What a spectacle! A comedy and
tragedy at one and the same time. There
they go! Mordecai, who had been de-
spised, now starred and robed, in the stir
TUps Haman. the chancellor, afoOt hold
ing the prancing, rearing, champing stall
lion. Mordecai bends his neck at last,
but il is 10 look down at the degraded
prime minister walking beneath him.
Huzza for Mordecai. Alas for Haman!
But what a pity to have the gallows, re-
Gently built, entirely wasted 1t is fifty
Cublts high, and built with care. And
Haman had erected Ii for NOTdecai by
whose stirTups ne now walks as groom.
Stranger and more startling than any ro-
nance, there go up the steps of the scat
folding, side by side, the hangman and
Haman the ex-chancellor. SO they hang
ed Haman on the gallows that he had pre-
pared for MordecaL
Although so many years have passed
since Cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, and
the beautiful Esther answered 10 his
whims and Persia perished, yet from the
life and death of Haman we may draw
living lessons OF warning and instruction.
And, first, We come to the practical suE-
EeStion that. when the heart is wrong,
things very insignificant will destroy our
comfort Who would have thought that
a great prime minister admired and ap-
plauded by countless Persians, would
have been 80 nettled and harassed by any
thing trivial? What more could the great
dignitary have wanted than his chariotS
and attendants. and palaces and banquets2
II afuence Of circumstances can make
a man cOntented and happy, surely Ha-
man should have been cOntented and hap
py No. MordecaTs refusal OF a bow
takes the glitter from the gold, and the
richness from the purple, and the speeI
from the chariOts With a heart puffed
up with every imitation Of vanity and
revenge, 81 was impossible for him 10 be
happy. The silence Of Mordecai at tie
gate was louder than the braying OF trum-
pets in the palace. Thus shall II always
be II the heart is not right. Circum-
stances the most trivial Will disturb The
spirit.
Little Things Worry Is Most.
II IS not the great calamities OF life that
create the most worriment. / have sean
men. feIled by repeated blows of mlsfor-
tune, arising from the dust never de-
spending. But the most Of the disqlict
which men suffer Is from insignificant
causes: as a lion attacked by some beast
o. prey turns easily around and slays him,
Vet runs roaring through the forests AZ
the allghting on his brawny neck OF few
insects You meet some great loss IN
business with comparative comp psura:
but you can think or petty trickcrics IN
flcted upon you which arouse al your
capacity Tor wrath and remain I'm your
heart am unhearabIe annoyance. II y5U
look back upon your life YOU will find
that the most of the veN8tions and dis
turbauccs Of spirit which you felt we're
produced by circumstances that were not
worthy OF notice. II you want 10 be
hapGy. YOU must not care Tor iriaes. Do
not De TOO minute in your inspection OF
the treatment YOU receive from others
Who cares whether MordeCai bows WIN n
YOU pass or stands erect and stin
as a cedar? That w00dmau would not
make much clearing In the forest who
should stop 90 bind up every little OruiSe
and scratch he received Ia the ;hicket
nor viii that man accomplish much fpT
thr world or the church who is too watch
,ll and appreciaUye OF petty aHHoydHc ?
There are multitudes Of people IN the
world constantly narrowed because they
par~ their lives not in searching out those
things which are attractive and Iessrv-
ing. but in spying out with all their pow
ers of vision 20 see whether they cannot
Ind a Mordecal
Again. ] learn from the lie of the man