Connecticut western news., 1902-05-15
TALMAGE SERMON ... By Rev. FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE, DID,, Pastor of Jefferson Park Presby-
 terian Church, Chicago

Chicago, May 11.-In this sermon the Rev Frank De Witt Talmage paints a picture which will be recognized as fla miliar in many homes throughout the land. His text was Luke XIV, 13, "The younger son gathered all together and took his journey into far country"
 The old homestead is turned upside down. One of the two boys, the youn- ger, is about to leave the parental roof The eaglet is tired of being warmed by the protecting breasts of the old birds. With ruffled feathers he stands upon the edge of the eyrie ready to fly off. Sad is the disruption of home. When the children say "Goodby," the fami- lies talk and laugh and joke. But they are only laughing to sustain their cour- age. The wedding bells weep as well as sing. At the marriage the guests may congratulate the parents of the bride upon having gained a son. But the daughter is never the same after the wedding. On that day the bride goes forth to make her own home, build her own nest, rear her own young and live her own life. Instead of belonging to the parent she becomes another's. In- stead of the mother being first now she is second.
 Some years ago attended the we'd ding of very dear friend. The slipper had been thrown, the rice tossed, the farewells shouted. I followed the old gray haired father down to the garden gate. While we stood there in the moonlight he turned to me and said: Frank, know she has married good man. do hope she will be happy. But 1t Is hard, awfully hard, to give her up. She was my baby girl. She is my youngest. 1t breaks the heart. It breaks the heart" Children are born. They pass boyhood and girlhood days under the parental roof. They grow up into manhood and womanhood. They begin to scatter. Death knocks at the front door and summons some. Love hovers among the spring flowers and breathes through the orange blossoms and wooes others. Business and profes- sional duties beckon to others. At last the old nursery is vacant. Father and mother sit again alone at the dining table as they once did when they them selves were bride and groom. The old homestead is deserted save by the old folks. The text is tragedy.
 The mother did not sleep much last night Though she tries to look cheer ful, her eyes are red from weeping. Every little while she disappears into the pantry or goes up stairs. She makes an excuse as though she was looking for something. We know she leaves the room for one purpose. She wants to have good cry.
 Into . Far Country.
 The father is giving his last instruc lions. He is handing the young tray eler some letters of introduction to prominent merchant with whom the son will lodge in the next town. A noise is at the gate. Servants are bringing out the horses and strapping the baggage upon the pack mules. They talk in subdued whispers. Even they feel sorry. The young master" was a happy, jolly go lucky boy. He always had a kind word for the hos tiers. The only happy creature this morning is the dog. He frisks and barks about, expecting to follow the sportsmen for a weeks hunt. His hi- larity is stopped. Some one shies a stone at the brute and shouts, Go back to the barn." Slowly the dog turns. His lowered head and tail arc the canine signs of abjecf woe. He stops now and then, expecting to hear the familiar huntsman's halloo. Per haps he realizes for the first time he Is taking a last look of farewell. I al- ways did think that a bright dog was smarter than a stupid man.
 The farewell words are now being said. The father gives his benedic- ton. We must turn our heads away. The mother is having her last convul- sive clasp. These are the snapping of the heartstrings. A mother rarely re- alizes that the baby she once rocked in a cradle can grow into a man. He Is always her boy. Suddenly the young man breaks away. He leaps into the saddle. The spurs cut deep. Parents and friends shout their farewell to the cavalcade. Then they wave and throw kisses. The old father wipes his face vigorously with handkerchief. He scolds the servants. He bids them to be off. He does not want them to see him cry. The mother has no such pride. AS the horses disappear over the last hill the aged wife buries her head upon her husbands breast. She sobs as though her heart would break. The husband tenderly puts his arm about the sad heart. He draws her toward the house.
 Slowly they walk up the tree arched path. They stop moment on the porch to glance down the road. Slowly the signing father opens the front door The men go back to the fields the female servants to the kitchen. The domestic machinery is started. The neighbors, returning to their homes, say, 'Is it not too bad that the younger son should gather all together and take his Journey into far country?
 The Land of Sin.
 The far country of my text is the land of sin. Where it Is we do not geographically know. The far country may be in the rural regions, among the farmhouses. People make a great mistake in supposing that the only place in which sin thrives is large city. Sin loves to smell the wild flow ITS and lie down in the haymow as we'll as to tramp the streets of busy metropolis. I have preached in the country and know of what I speak. There is loathsome drunkenness in a crossroad tavern as well as in a corner saloon. Many young country girl has disgraced the family. Farmers boys and girls do not all attend the country reyivals in order to hear the preaching. The far country of sin can be located in the city. Sin is not pro- portionally more prevalent in the city than in the village, but it Is better able to conceal it's tracks in a wilder ness of rock than in country town Many letter have I received which fn T