Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-14

- Va UNoi0C0 tuO
father and mother. The father was a
powerful swimmer. First he took his
wife In his arms and swan toward
shore. Then he came back FIVE differ.
cnt times and took Off a child each
time. But now his strength was al.
most gone. Only one child remained.
Only one, and yet the question was,
Could lie save him? The father swan
out to the ship and called to his young
est boy: Jimmie, jump! 1t Is papa,
jump" Tho boy jumped into the sea.
All that the father then could do was
to clasp his last child IN his arms. and
both sank together into watery grave.
You say "a sad story" Yes, but to
Inc Il beautiful story. 1t IL the story
Of family devotion. 1t is the story of
a father loving his way into the hearts
Of his children and of children giving
back their love TO the father. Such Is
Joscph's life to mo. Wherever turn
he seems TO be loving his way into the
hearts Of his associates. His heart
seems to be so big that 1t can forgive
every enemy and love every one, and
almost every one was compelled to
love him. My friends, are you like Jo-
seph, rich In the worlds affections :
Do you love people! DO people love
you?
Rut Joseph was rich also in his op-
portunities Of doing good to others.
When child he dreamed strange
dreams. lie had his brothers shcaves
lowing down 70 worship his sheaf and
his brothers stars doing obeisancc to
his star. When he became man those
dreams were literally fulfilled. What
happened when he became prosperous
Did he strut around the room and say
think of what | have accomplished
Think Of how men are cringing the
knee to me.' Nay. He practically
made the same prayer Of thanksgiving
which Jenny Lind, the Swedish night
ingale. made when she first found out
she had throat filled with golden
notes Of perfect musical harmonies. He
said: ooh, God, I thank thee for the
prosperity with which thou hast bless
ed me. With my talents may I honor
thee by serving my fellow men" And
did he not honor God by noble, self
sacrificing service?
Picture him down in Egypt as the
prime minister of Pharaoh. He could
have made millions upon millions of
dollars for himself during the seven
years of plenty. Did he do it? Nay.
He gathered together the corn. He
stacked it up in granaries. Then when
the seven years of want came and the
starving people began to cry, Bread.
bread. Give us bread" Joseph opened
the granares and said: Here. friends,
come and buy corn. Here is enough
bread for all and TO spare" Out Of
your seven years Of plenty are You
helping TO care for any who are strug-
Cling in the seven years Of want? You
told nc only the other day that you
made more money last year than any
three years Of your previous life. An
swer me now this question: During all
the months Of last year how many hun-
CRY mouths did you feed which did
not belong to your own family: Fiji.
teen: Ten: Five: Two? Not one.
not one. My God! Can it be that we
are the selfish Dives. caring not for
the poor ..azaruscs starving upon our
very doorsteps.
JOscph's Sacrifice.
Then picture the great prime minister
Of Pharaoh taking his old father and
brothers into the royal court and intro
ducing them there as his relatives. ia
cob, the father. and Reuben and ST.
neon and Judah and the other brothers
We're nothing but shepherds. With
their focks they were nomads. OF all
classes In Egypt the shepherd life was
despiscd the most. Yet when Joseph
went mp in the world and made sue
cause they were living humble life.
He said. re | prosper my family must
prosper" He brought Jacob down to
Memphis Just as he was. lie said to
the king: Pharaoh. my father has
come. If YOU honor me know You will
honor hin also and let him share with
mo my prosperity" All. it is n noble
sight for Il successful lawyer or doctor
or merchant prince not to be ashamed
of his father and mother because they
are country folks. When Joseph went
up in life lie used his success as a glo-
rious means to lift all Of his family.
NV friends, are you and l willing to do
the same:
But the trouble is with many that
when we begin to get much then we
are apt to draw away from those we
ought to help. There Is n powerful.
beautiful Norwegian legend told in ref
erence to this law. Many years ago,
when Christ was upon earth, he was
supposed to have been wandering over
the Norwegian hills in the garb Of Il
peasant. He came to the hut Of poor
woman who was kneading bread.
"Give US Of your bread for the love Of
Christ" said the traveller. With that
tho poor woman took a small piece Of
dough and was about to hand it forth
to Jesus and his companion when the
dough grew .arger and larger and lar
ger. At once the woman put it down as
she said: Not this loaf 1t is too
large" Again she took of another
small piece, and again the small piece
grew larger and larger, and she put it
down. She did thus thrice. Then she
turned and said stranger, cannot
give you bread today. Go your way.
and God prosper You, but l cannot help
YOU" With that the Lord Jesus Christ
revealed himself to her and said: 1T