Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-09-07

the tiny craft on the Nile seems to be
armed with all the guns of thunder
that bombarded Sinai at the lawgiving.
On how fragile craft sailed hom much
of historical Importance,
Early Struggle and Sacrifice.
There are said to be about hundred
and fifty thousand ministers of religion
in this country. About 10000, 1 war
rant, came from early homes which
had to struggle for the necessaries of
life. The sons of rich bankers and
merchants generally become bankers
and merchants The most of those
who become ministers are the sons of
those who had terrific struggle to get
their everyday bread. The collegiate
and theological education of that son
took every luxury from the parental
table for eight years. The other chill
dren were more scantily apparelled.
The son at college every little while
got a bundle from home. In it were
the socks that mother had knit sitting
up late at night, her sight not as good
once it was. And there also were
some delicacies from the sisters hand
for the voracious appetite of a hungry
student. The father swung the heavy
cradle through the wheat, the sweat
rolling from his chin bedewing every
step of the way, and then sitting down
under the cherry tree at noon thinking
to himself, ''T am fearfully tired, but
it will pay if I can once see that boy
through college, and If 1 can know
that he will be preaching the gospel
after 1 am dead" The younger chill
dren want to know why they can't
have this and that, as others do, and
the mother says, BE patient, my chill
dren, until your brother graduates, and
then you shall have more luxuries, but
we must see that boy through
The years go by, and the son has
been ordained and is preaching the
glorious gospel and a great revival
comes, and souls by scores and hun
dreds accept the gospel from the lips
of that young preacher, and father and
mother, quite old now, are visiting the
son at the village parsonage. and at
the close of a Sabbath of mighty bless
ing father and mother retire to their
room, the son lighting the way and
asking them if he can do anything to
make them more comfortable, saying
if they want anything in the night Just
to knock on the WALL and then all
alone, father and mother talk over the
gracious influences of the day and say:
well, it was worth all we went
through to educate that boy. 1t was
hard pull, but we held on till the work
was done. The world may not know
it, but, mother, we held the rope, didn't
we?" And the voice, tremulous with
joyful emotion, responds: "Yes, father,
we held the rope. 1 feel my work is
done. Now. Lord, 1ettest thou thy
servant depart in peace, for mine eyes
have seen thy salvation" "Pshaw!"
says the father. 'I never felt so much
like living in my life as now. want
to see what that fellow is going to
do, he has begun so we'll"
Something occurs to me quite per-
sonal. 1 was the youngest of a large
family of children. My parents were
neither rich nor poor. Four of the
sons wanted a college education, and
four obtained it, but not without great
home struggle. We never heard the
old people say once that they were de-
nying Themselves to effect this, but I
remember now that my parents always
| looked tired. I don't think they ever
got rested until they lay down in the
| Somerville cemetery. Mother would
sit down in the evening and say, "Well.
I don't know what makes me feel 50
tired" Father would fall Immediately
| to sleep, seated by the evening stand,
overcome with the days fatigues.
! About 35 years ago the one and about
| 81 years ago the other put down the
burdens of this life, but they still hold
the rope.
Recognition of Blessings.
o men and women, you brag some
times how you have fought your way
in the world, but think there have
never fully acknowledged. Has there
not been some influence in your early
or present home that the world cannot
see? Does there not reach you from
| among the New England hills or from
/ the western prairie or from southern
| plantation or from English or Scottish
or Irish home a cord of influence that
| has kept you right when you would
! have gone astray and which, after you
had made a crooked track, recalled
you? The rope may be as long as 80
1 years or 500 miles long or 5000 miles
| long, but hands that went out of NOR
tai sight long ago still hold the rope.
| You want a very swift horse, and you
| need to rowe1 him with sharpest spurs
and to let the reins lie loose upon the
neck anc to give a shout to the racer
if you are going to ride out of reach
of your mothers prayers Why, ship
| crcssipe the Atlantic in six days can't
| sail away from that sailor finds