Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-10-20

life? "Oh." you answer with pride. ct
started myself. When l came 10 this
city l did not have friend here.
worked my own way through college.
L was poor farmers boy L am a self
made man." Are you? Oh. you miser-
able bOaster. You are a contemplate
butler OF Pharaoh's court. You nave
forgotten your Joseph You are no
more OF a self made man than 1 am.
Away back on your fathers farm you
had an older sister. She was the pack
horse OF the family. She wanted to
get an education and go to college, but
she could not. She did, however. edu-
cate herself enough to become a eoun-
try schoolteacher. But what she could
not do herself she set her heart on
your doing. You were her only BROTH
err. When you We're a little fellow run
ming barefooted about your fathers
farm, caring more for fishing and play
ing baseball with the boys than for
work. she would call you in and say:
Now, Samuel. you must come and get
your lessons. Remember, some day you
are going TO college. You must study
hard. You are to be great. rich law
yer for sister to be proud or"
You finished your course at the coun-
try school. Your father said you must
90 to work on the farm. mo, father"
said she; Samuel must 20 to college"
But l cannot afford It." We'll" she
said, II can do extra work after the
school Is over. I am saving up my
school money for SamueIs college
bills Your mother did not have much
to say. Your sister did II all. Her
money helped pay your way. Her grit
pushed you through. What have you
ever done for herr "Oh," you answer.
II paid her back her money, with in
terest." The few dollars you gave her
did not cost you anything. l tell you,
1t cost your sister her very blood. Don't
leave her up there I'm the country as
though you We're ashamed OF her. Don't
tell me that she Is not fitted to move
in your wifes social circle. tell YOU.
she is queen: tell you, the best room
in your house is not too good for her.
o butler. what have you done for the
Joseph who gave you your educational
| start I'm life?
Then what have you done for that
man who helped you in time of great
persecution? 1 do not know what that
time was, but you do. The whole
world became black before you. Ev-
erybody was turning toward you a look
OF suspicion. Even your best friends
seemed to be wavering. Then that
man came forward and with pen or
voice or check book tlded you over the
difficult place. You told him then YOU
would never forget him. You told him
IL he was ever In trouble half Of what
you hive would be his. Is Il? Have
you ever divided with him? He has
had his troubles since your day of trou-
6les. Have you gone to him with help?
You say, HE has not come and asked
me for help" Did you ask him for
help when I'm that darkest day Of your
life he sprang to your slider No. He
came because you needed him. o man.
how have you treated your Joseph. en-
jailed today In the Egyptian dungeon?
The butler OF my text was an in.
CRATE. He was more to be condemned
than that. He turned his back upon his
friend-for what? For false friends.
No sooner did he get back to the pal.
ace than one after another OF the cour.
tiers in all probability came up to him
and congratulated him. "Ah," they
said, 1--WE are SO glad TO see you backl
We missed you so much. Nothing
went right at the royal banQuets while
you were away" Especially were the
underbutlers and the walters profuse
in their praise and laudations 10 his
face. Then smile of satisfaction
steals over the chief buffers countc-
nance as he says: "Ah, i am glad I
have such good friends herel I am
glad 1 do not have to associate any
longer with those criminals down In
the Jail. These are my friends. INV
true friendsr
Not Real Friends.
But Were all the courtiers who came
forward and congratulated the chief
butler on his restoration to Office his
friends? Five hundred men OF Pha-
raoh's court already had been plotting
Tor his Office and wished he might new
er come back. In all probability the
second cupbearer, who congratulated
him, was biting his lips with anger I'M
I'll the blood came. Course hIm!' hear
him say. Curse him! Why did he not
die and make way for my promotion?
Curse him, curse himv' All through
the palace could be heard the words.
Curse him, curse hlmr' from those
who wanted his place. Now, nv
friends, can you and i AFFORD 10 turn
our backs upon old friends and trus
friends for those who are merely hon.
oring us Ia our success for what they
get out or us?
But l cannot close without just one
more, thought suggested by my text.
The greatest opportunities or gospel
service may come to a man through his
past experience IL he renounces his sins
and remembers his faults. have alb
solutely no more respect for this selfish
character or the butter than 1 have for
Judas or an Iago or for Lady Mac
beth or JezebeL He was miserable.
contemplate, despicable hirelIng. with
heart or stone He would forget
any one who had served him. But no
sooner did Pharaoh dream his dream
ana no one could interpret 1t than ut
once the butler thought OF Joseph. You
can see him, with flushed cheek and
CLASSY eye. pushing his way into the
throne room. You can see him with
reverence and sorrow written upon his
face. "Ah," he says. master, have
done wrong. have forgotten my
friend Joseph, who IL now In prison.
Send for him, and he will Interpret thy
dream" Pharaoh sent for Joseph. JoJ
seph came. The chief butler ut the
last moment was able and willing TO
open the way for the future prime min
lister to save a nation from disease and
hunger and death. Ny friends, at this
the sixth hour, the ninth hour, the tenth
hour, the eleventh hour, or your refusal
to do your duty to the King OF kings
and Lord Of lords will you not speak
the right wordl VIII you come to
Christ and bying your sinful frlends to
Christ as the ungratefui butler brought
Joseph and Pharaoh face to face?
You are the father or a home. You
have no nursery far vOur howS ora OF