The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-05-30

| ice or snowbank, they import their
cargoes of food. They brin.. in their
caravan of provisions; they haul in
| their long train of wheat or corn or
| oats. The farmers are not more
| busy'in in July and August in reaping
| their harvest than are the ants busy
| in July and August reaping their
| harvest. They stack them away;
they pile them up. They question
when they have enough. They aggre-
| gate a sufficient amount to last them
until the next warm season. When
winter opens, they are ready. Blow,
ye wintry blasts! Hang your icicles
from the tree branches. Imbed all
the highways under snowdrifts!
Enough for all the denizens of the
hills. Hunger shut out, and plenty
sits within. God, who feedeth every
living thing, has blessed the ant hill.
| In contrast with that insectile be-
havior, what do you think of that
large number of prosperous men
and women who live up to every dol
lar that they make, raising their
familie in luxurious habits and at
death expecting some kind friend to
give their daughters employment as
music teachers or tyrewriters or gov
ernment employees? Such parents
have no right to children. Every
neighborhood has specimens of such
improvidence. The two words that
most strik, me in the text are "sum-
mer" and winter" Some people
have no summer in their lives. From
the rocking cradle to the still grave
it is relentless January. Invalid in
fancy followed by some crippling ac-
cident or dimness of eyesight or dull
ness of hearing or privation or disas-
ter or unfortunate environment make
life a perpetual winter. But in most
lives there is a period OF summer, al
though it may be a short summer,
and that is the time to provide for
the future. -.
One of the best ways of insuring
the future is to put aside all you can
for charitable provision. You put a
crumhbling stone in the foundation
of your fortune if you do not in your
plans, regard the sufferings that you
may alleviate. You will have the
pledge of the high heavens for your
temporal welfare when you help the
helpless, for the promise is: BLESSED
is he that considereth the poor. The
Lord will deliver him in time of
trouble" Then there is another way
of providing for the future. If you
have $1,000 a year income, save s1o0;
or $4,000 a year, save $500; or $4,000,
save 81 1000. Do you say such econ
omy is meanness? I say it is vast
er meanness for you to make no pro-
vision for the future and compel
your friends or the world to take
care of you or yours in case of be-
reavement or calamity. s"
But my subject reaches higher than
temporalities - foresight for the
soul, provision for eternal expert
ences, preparation for the far be-
yond. Ant hills, speak out and teach
US larger and mightier lesson of
preparing food for the more impor-
tant part of us! Do you realize that
man may be a millionaire or a
multimillionaire for time and a
bankrupt for eternity, prince for
a few years and a pauper forever?
The ant would not be satisfied with
gathering enough food for half a
winter or quarter of winter. But
how many of us seem content,
though not having prepared for the
tenmillionth part of what will be
our existence! Put yourself in right
relations to the Christ of the ages,
through Him seek pardon for all you
have ever done wrong and strength
for all you will be called to endure,
and there will be no force in life
or death or eternity to discomfit
you. I declare it! There is enough
of transforming and Strengthening
power in Christ for. both hemi-
spheres.
Furthermore, go to the ant and
consider that it does not decline
. work because it is insignificant. The
fragment of seed it hauls into it's
habitation may be 80 small that the
unaided eye cannot see it, but the in
sectile work goes on, the carpenter
ant at work above ground the ma
: son ant at work underground. Some
of these creatures mix the leaves OF
the fir and the catkins of the pine
for the roof or wall of their tiny
abode, and others go out as hunters
looking for food, while others in do
mestic duties stay at home. Twenty
specks of the food they are moving
toward their granary put on bal
ance would hardly make the scales
:. CULVER. All of it work on a small
) scale. There is no use in our refus-
, ing a mission because it is insignif-
cant. Anything that God in His prov
, idence puts before us to do is impor-
tant. The needle mas it's office as
certainly as the telescope and the
; spade as a parliamentarian scroll
5 Furthermore, go to the ant and con-
slider it's indefatigableness If by thu
/ accidental stroke of your foot or the
2 removal of timber the cities of the
: insectile world are destroyed, instant
ly they go to rebuilding. They do not
: sit around moping. At it again in q
eaoond Tboir frio TO 1y rivos