St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-07-18

NJ IA ways interested,
]. !: I ! !" ] !:
MIN and deeply influ-
@@A enced, by the sto-
>a11G.v1N> ries of child life.
(RA GM IRA This is the reason
VANSEH HH% that the Bible is
l&kM hS Il 1W such fascinating
@H8 HIM book to them,
-L X LYNN where the parents
,@1 or teacher under
o~ stand howto bring
49, out and unfold
the stories of children and child life
contained therein. The presence q
the gentle babes lends its charm 10
the sacred pages. The sound OF chill
dren's feet is heard, and their voices
make sweet music. The story OF the
baby Isaac, who came to gladden. the
home of that aged couple; OF Moses
resting in his little ark OF bulrusnes
amidst the reeds fringing the banks OF
the Nile. and being found and adopted
by the daughter of the powerful KING,
of Samuel, the gentle child who serve"
in the temple and heard God speak,
Of David, the brave shepherd ladlo1
the Summarizes son, gift from uo'
in answer to the prayer OF the prom
ct: of the little Hebrew slave at the
court of Naaman the leper, pointing
the way to the true God and cleansing
az Jesus at Bethlehem, with the an
gels singing over His cradle, and wise
men from the east coming to worship
and offer their rich gifts; OF Jesus IN
the temple, when He first went up
with His parents to Jerusalem, At the
passover feast; of all the beautiful IN
c;dents in which the Lord during his
ministry recognized children, blessed
them, healed them, and paid the eAai'-
ed tribute to them OF declaring 1nat
those who entered the kingdom which
He came to establish must become as
a little child. And speaking OF that
time which is yet to come, when the
.swolf also shall dwell with the iamb'
and the leopard shall lie down with
the kid; and the calf and the young
lion, and the failing together, SCRIP
ture goes on to declare that "a little
child Shall lead them" Let us antlcl-
pate that day which seems so far IN
the future, and let little child lead us
to-day. yes, and teach us, too.
TO-DAY is being celebrated IN the
Sunday schools all over this land as
Children's Day. The. tread OF chill
dren's feet is heard. and their story
is told in song and verse. songblrds
and flowers lend their music and ira
GRANGE to the day. Everything speaks
of that charming freshness ana beau
ty which is inseparable from chlldho od.
And because it is Children's Day it is
hut fitting that we should speak for
the children and of the children. We
want to tell the story OF little lad
whose pathway crossed that which
Jesus wasitraveling, and whose simple
deed has lived in tie sacred pages OF
Gods word to this day. Only one little
verse is devoted to his biography. We
do not know his name. Scripture does
not tell US anything about his home OF
his parents. We have only thirteen lit
lie words. most Of them Of one syllable,
to tell us about this lad, and they simply
state that he was near Jesus, and had
In his bag, or pouch, five little round
cakes and two small dried fishes. And
vet by reading between the lines we
NAV know much concerning him, and
learn many lessons.
EIRST OF all, we want to learn all we
can about the incidents and circdm-
stances connected with the lad as he
is introduced to us by our text.
Jesus has been performing many mir
acles at Capernaum, and in the region
round about. All, how many homes He
frightened, sobs were turned o1songs
of JOY, tears were wiped away, and
smiles brought to faces that were dis
torted with pain and trouble. Into
every home where Jesus went there a
change was wrought. And tits so even
to-day The homes where Jesus is
invited in as guest, and where He
rules in the hearts of those dwelling
there, discord, and unhappiness, and
trouble have to flee away. And be
cause Jesus. did so much good, as
He travelled through Galilec and Caper-
naum great crowds followed Him
But it panied Jesus to know that il
was curiosity, and not faith, which
brought most of the people to Him
and SO He withdrew with His disciples
| into a moutnain on the other side OF
the lake across from Capernaum. But
the eager, expectant crowds sought
Him out, travelling the long, weary
way around the shore of the lake. And
when Jesus saw them He began to
question the disciples as to how
| they were to be fed In that viii.
| derness place, "for He Himself
| knew what He would do" It il
at this point that Andrew speaks uI
| and directs attention to this lad, who
| has the five barley loaves and two
small fishes. Some day when I reach
my eternal home in the Heavenly City
| expect to meet this lad, and hear
from his own Lips all this wonderful
story. It may be your privilege, al
well as mine, il you are, trusting il
/ Jesus for salvation. But let us not be
| content to watt until then to learn
some of the lessons which he may
teach us.
e .CRIPTURE does not give us thu
| y name OF the boy. It may have beer
known to the disciples. It certainly
was to Jesus. It is known and record
ed in Heaven. But when the Holy