Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-10-29

you ScOunurel. My Office is no reform
atory.' Trying to be honest. who will
give him Il chance! Pray God he may
not give up. Tomorrow you may see
him. What. then. will your sympathy
be worth:
what Ia Your sympathy WORTH
Here is Il poor. weak sewing girl
struggling on to make an honest living
and to live right. But. try on hard as
she will. in her weakened physical con-
diticn she can make but s., IL week.
and that is just 80 cents less than she
can live upon. Oh. what an awful
life. No sounds are heard in that
room save the continual scratchings of
her needle. the signs of crushed heart
or the low. hectic cough of Il diseased
lung. Sewing for others while she has
hardly rag of her own. All well
enough for you to talk about the Holt
ness of virtue You have your three
good meals day. But tomorrow, Wien
you ask her to make you new dress
or You see her going down the street
in her faded shawl, what will your
sympathy be worth:
Here is street urchin, Just as good
boy as yours. and if he had any
chance he would make just as good Il
man. But what chance has he? The
kindest word he ever received was
curse. No mother save a drunkard;
no father save felon; no school save
sin; no literature save an obscene pic
torial. Where did he spend last night?
In low Bowery theatcr. the ticket
bought by pitching pennies.
Last winter when one of these boys
was shivering upon street corner of
one of the eastern cities such Il little
newsboy turned to another street arab
and said: Jim, dey say der is u God.
I'm hungry. Jim. I'm cold. l don't
know where to go. And, jim, / don't
care for any God dat don't care for
me-" Tomorrow such n boy will try
to sell you morning newspaper.
What will then your gospel sympathy
be worth? oh, my friends. Christ
came into the world to ''weep with
those that weep" He came to save
the lost sheep. not those safe within
the fold. BE We like Christ. Go out
into the highways and the hedges and
compel them to come in. Fine churches
will not do it. Missionary subscrip-
tons will not do 1t. But by the help
of the Holy Spirit Christian men and
women can do it. who in plain. prac-
teal way will share the joys and the
suferings of others and thereby, by
the help of God. bring those sinners
back with them to the Masters feet.
There is no picture on earth more
beautiful than that of n Christian. by
the Holy Spirit inspired love of Chris
tan sympathy. trying tn bring lost
souls to Jesus Christ There is a beau
tiful legend told of Zacchaeus when he
had become old and feeble. He still
lived in the outskirts of Jericho. Ev-
cry morning he would 90 Off alone for
walk and remain away two or three
hours and then would come back smil-
ing and happy. lie would never tell
any one where he went But one
morning his wife followed him. Then
she saw her old husband 30 to the old
sycamore tree made memorable by his
history. lie kissed it. He caressed it.
He watered 1t. He plucked up the
weeds about it. When his wife asked
him why he was doing this the old man
answered: why. do you not know. my
dear? This is where / first saw Him.
This Is where He called to me. Fac
chaeus. make haste and come down."
All. that is beautiful legend. But
it is not to me the most beautiful story
l have heard about Zacchaeus. The
most beautiful fact | know about the
publican is not that he caresSed and
kissed tree. but that after his con-
version he was ready to do anything
and everything to serve Christ among
sinful men. When Zacchaeus said
"Behold. Lord. the half of my goods l
give to the poor" l know that Zac-
chaeus ut once went forth to weep
with those that weep" | know that
at once he had an unquenchable de
sire burning within him to bring all
classes to the feet of him whom he
called Saviour.
Oh. my friends. will not you and I
have this holy desire burning within
us? Will we not live to bring the hap