Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-05
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

ployees and friends Is made by Rev.
Il. De Witt Talmage In this sermon on
the text Proverbs Xxx. II. 1T Is naught
n Is naught. saith the buyer. but when
he Is gone his way then he boasteth."
Do you see that Jerusalem gentleman
vending his way in and out among the
crowded booths and stores? DO you
see him stop and pretend to be examin-
ing some article as though he were
making up his mind whether or not TO
buy? He is, in truth, stopping to hear
a conversation which is taking place
between an old Hebrew merchant and
a young man who has just arrived, per-
haps from the far east. with camels
laden with u large assortment Of ex-
penslve shawls. We'll" says the young
man to the old merchant, "hOw much
will you give? l have put every cent
into this enterprise. must sell those
shawls right away. My creditors are
beginning to crowd me hard. Ny men
want their pay right away. Those
shawls are the best | could get in the
east. They cost me $4,000 cash. |
have come u long distance with them,
and you certainly ought to give me
enough to meet my expenses" The old
man shrugs his shoulders. He says:
"AIy young friend. | co not care what
those shawlS have cost you. They are
utterly valuelCss to me. DO not want
them at any price. The moths have
got into some Of them. For my pur-
pC-es they ire ruined. Besides that,
those shawls are all cut of style. They
would Be a perfect drug upon the mar
ket. | wish you would leave the shop.
/ have Il lot Of business to attend to,
and have 10 time to waste"
The young inexperienced seller bites
his lip until the blood almost comes.
Then he thinks of his wife and little
babies. He reels he is staring ruin in
the face. lie knows he must make a
sale right a ay. else he will become
bankrupt. lie again says. Cant you
give re ANYTHING for those shawls"
Tie old mcr~ Kant at first says nothing.
Then he al wCrs: We'll young man,
you seem 70 be in hard luck. | will
give you $4,000 If you want me to
take the CImaged goods off your
hands" The tears begin to start from
the young mans eyes. He is too brave
to show them. He goes TO the corner of
the street AID stands there for awhile
to think While he is there the old
merchants eyes sharply follow him.
Then tie young man comes back at
last ard says: II guess | will take your
offer That means | must lose all the
money | ever made In my life. That
means | will not only throw away six
months hard work. but that now am
utterly ruined. Here is a receipt for
the money. Give me the money and let
me go to my tent and tell my wife we
are both ruined" Hardly has the
young man left when King Solomon,
for he Is the listener. sees the old He
brew merchant begin to rub together
his hands In glee. A broad, sardOnic
smile overspreads his merciless face.
He calls to his partner and says:
"Isaac. come here and see these goods
Did you ever see such beauties? Why,
those shawls are worth at least $4,000
clean profit. never struck a better
bargain. That young man simply gave
them away to me. Just look at them
Isaac. | bought them for $4,000, al
least $4,000 less than they cost.
must 60 and tell Rebecca how much
we have made this morning. Forty
AL oil ho hf
would ever have thought that young
man could be such fool?" Is this mo-
4 rational Interpretation Of my text
1T Is naught, II Is naught, saith thu
buyer, but when he is gone his wa!
then he boastethY'
The Meaning of Solomon.
While this conversation takes plac
between the deceitful old merchant ant
his partner. methinks can see a trou
bled look come over the face Of the dis
guised king who is standing near by
Methinks can hear him soliloquize
"How contemplate and despicable
this wholesale system Of swindling de
precautions! How deceitful and damn
ing II was for that old merchant to de
spoil that young merchant. ! must Ell
body among my proverbs for the benz
ct OF all my people warning agains
mis- almost universal and sinful habit.
That night, while the great king is ST
ting alone in his palace study. he take
up his pen and adds another sparklin
gem to his casket OF scintillating jew
els of wisdom. | would interpret ID
lesson of this text not only in the me-
chants parlance. but also in refeTenC
TO the wicked depreciations of ever
walk In life. no matter where the sniff
practice may be found.
Discouraging depreciations are foun
IN the home ms well as in the street.
the domestic fireside as well as in IL
Jerusalem stores. in the nursery {
well as In the public market place.
China II is never considered gent
manly or polite for n man TO speak we
nf hiS rplDtiypS In America In is al,