The Redwood gazette., 1902-05-21
BEARS IN THE sANDPIT.

IN Jle mlnQS OF ner hearers. lQe
W. G. L. U. had previously invited
all the women they could reach to
this service, and the audience al
most filled the church. Luke 12--
verses % to 81 formed the lesson.
Miss Downey commenced with the
assertion that women could make o1
their lives whatever they chose, Il
woman resolves to live to some
special purpose, she nearly always
achieves it. Well drawn sketches
were given of one whose highest
aim was to be a queen OF society
also of one who chose for her pas
sion immaculate housekeeping, who
armed herself with duster and
broom and spent her life in fighting
dust and disorder
Miss Downey urged her hearers
to make righteousness, peace and
Joy the absorbing guest of their
lives. She spoke of the untruthful-
ness, selfishness and viciousness
Fthat obtained in the world, and as
serted that woman S mission was to
leaven the mass, and lift it up. She
deeply deplored the fact that many
mothers were themselves thought
lessly teaching their children to be
untrue. An instance was given OF
a young mother who told her little
boy that there were bears in the
sandpit and be must not go there;
he believed her, and warned other
boys from there. They told him
there were no bears there. He
stoutly asserted there were re-Mamma
had said so. The minister came
came along and he stated the case
and appealed to him to sustain him,
but the minister said, "Your mamma
is mistaken" Then the child ran
to his mamma, partly doubling, but
earnestly hoping that she was cor
rect: 20 mama, there are bears in
the sandpit, are there not. You
said there were BEARS Then in
shame and sorrow the mother had
to confess that she had lied to him,
as she feared that he would be hurt
if he played there. She saw his
trust il her dying, and in the hope
that she might not lose all influence
over him, she confessed her fault
and asked him to kneel down with
her and pray that her sin be forglv-
en-
The mother who constantly threat
ems to punish, seldom ever doing
SO. and the one who undermlnes the.
reverence of her boys, by mimlck-
ing what was said at prayer meet
ing, were censured. Mothers were
besought to acquaint their children
with Jesus early. Miss Downey
herself gave her heart to God and
ioined the church when seven years
of age, and some ought to be re-
ceived earlier than that, if they
wish to. as if refused when young
they may never come at all.
The danger of card playing, or
that has in it the element
of chance, was dilated upon at
length, as leading to gambling,
which Miss Downey characterized
as most prevalent disease, laying
hold of the nerves and running the
will power in very short time.
A minister had told her that be
PLAYED cards for three years, from
IS to q, then he saw that he would
be ruined unless he gave 1T up.
With great effort he did so. and
some time afterwards was convert
ed. and then trained for the minis
try, and has been preaching for q
wears. Yet he assured Miss Dow
ney that even now the sight OF {
deck OF cards set all his nerves
ouivering. The case of lady was
related. who only played for three
months, and that was 25 years ago
/ vet she still finds her interest il
cards most intense. Miss Downe.
besought her hearers, if they wer'
in the habit of card playing, to fint
some more harmless amusement t
| pass the evening hours.