The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-14

TO control the interests OF other people,
make them fashion their lives according
to our own plan. il we are good simply
that We may escape punishment, such a
The difficulty is not in our surroundings. but
in ourselves. Joy is not in things, it is
in u.s."
met young woman this winter in the
South who told me that she was the pos
sessor of $4,000 violin, aad with shin.
ing face she said. you should hear the
music OF that instrument and yet in the
hands of very many people it would have
been just a producer OF unharmonious
sounds, while in the hands of this gifted
Young woman it was truly marvellous and
all because the music was in her. and the
violin was the best movement OF the ex.
preston of that music.
When Ole Bull. the great violinist. played
in Princeton, one OF the professors asked
him il the secret OF his success was in the
violin or in the bow or in himself. and he
said. "The violin and the bow amount to
but little. I never play until feel that
there is music in me that must be ex.
pressed. and then any instrument touch
becomes remarkable" Many Of US are un.
fitted for life because we have become too
artificial, have had wrong ideals and have
tried to be what we never can be. ,
A friend recently sent me that wonder
full little book, "The Simple Life" by
Charles Wagner. which every one would
do we'll to read. To the author OF this
book I am indebted for some of the ex.
pressions used above, but in one OF the
chapters he tells US in speaking OF the
home life, "In the time of the Second EN-.
pire. in one Of our pleasantest sub-prefec.
lures OF the provinces. little way from
some baths frequented by the Emperor,
there was a mayor, a very worthy man,
and intelligent. too, whose head was sud
denly turned by the thought that his SOW
ereisn might one dav descend upon his
home. Up to this time he had lived in
the house OF his fathers, son respectful
OF the slightest family traditions. But
when once the all.absorbins idea Of receiv.
ing the Emperor had taken possession Of
his brain he became another man. In this
new light what had before seemed sufi.
cient for bis needs, even enjoyable, all this
simplicity that his ancestors had loved. ap.
peared poor, ugly, ridiculous. Out Of the
question to ask an Emperor to climb this
wooden staircase, sit in these old arm.
pets. So the mayor called architect and
masons, pickaxes attacked walls and de.
molished partitions. and a drawing.room
was made out Of all proportion to
the rest of the house in size and splen-
dor. He and his family retired into close
quarters, where people and furniture in.
commoded each other generally. Then,
having emptied his purse and upset his
household BY this stroke OF genius, he
awaited the royal guest. Alas, he soor
saw the end of the empire arrive. but the
Emperor never. The folly Of this poor
man is not so rare. As scottish as be are
al those who sacrifce their home life to
the demands Of the world"
II.
What was the difficulty with Elijah?
First his physical strength had been over.
taxed. He had been iaborinS under the
highest tension, his nerves were unstrung,
and he was just in the position where
Satan could tempt him the worst. There
are many like him to-day. They are in
despair. and they need not so much spir.
itual physician as the presence OF a doctor
have rest, their nerves must be built up,
and they themselves must remember that
their bodies are the temples Of the Holy
Ghost, and that they may sin against God
just as truly when they break commands
touching the body as when they commit
sins touching the soul. Elijah needed rest,
and instead Of taking it he prayed that be
might die.
Second, he looked away from Cod to his
circumstances. Up to that time he en-.
dured as seeing Him who was invisible.
then like Peter when he saw the wind that
was boisterous he began to sink. do not
think that any minister could preach to.
day il he realized the iaiquity that sur.
hearts, the awful sins in many lives; he
,,..ufJ f,,ok and a;ol. az hoark and
all because he looked down, while it Is
possible. on the other hand. for ANYBODY
to preach in the midst OF all this deso!a:
ton ii he keeps his eyes turned up, and
the difficulty with you is not that your
power is dead. but that your eyes are fast.
enei upon the ground instead OF turned
onward to heaven, and the cause Of your
distress is not that your mother has gone
away from yarr home, but that you are
standing like Mary looking in at the tomb.
when you ought to be standing with up
turned face looking by faith into the very
midst of the angel company in heaven.
What il the difficulties are great, let Us
look to God in it all.
The other day in my mail came q little
piece OF poetry from friend in England:
of paradise through my soul all the week
"Wher the way seems dark and dreary,
Think of Him.
Lest thy heart grow faint and weary,
Think Of Him.
For He knoweth all the way,
And His strength will be thy stay;
BE can cheer the darkest day,
Think OF Him.
when some sorrow sorely presses,
Think OF Him.
For through trials Of: He blesses,
Think OF Him.
He alone can understand,
Leave it all in His dear hand;
In His love for thee He planned,
Think OF Him.
When some anxious care perplexes,
Think OF Him.
Lest thy inmost soul 1t vexes,
Think OF Him.
Bring thy care and thou shalt see,
He will bear it all for thee;
He would have thee peaceful be,
Think OF Him"
But there was still! another difficulty
with Elijah. First. ne was alone. In
verse 8 we read tha; ne left his servant
ut Beersheba, and he himself went into
the wilderness. IL is 4 great mistake to
be alone when trouble comes. Bear ye
one another's burdens, and so fulfill the
law OF God" gives Us picture OF human
iaIlowsbi, while the verse Take my