Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-12-09

and moan and wrIIg his hands ana cry:
"Oh. AbsalInI. my soli, my son. my poor
dead boy. Oh. Absalom.my son. my son,
my poor boy" lie kept this crying and
wailing up for hours and days. At last
Joab heard of the kings ingratitude.
lie walked into the royal chamber and
said: My king. have you any hearty
Can you not realize the sacrifices We
have made for you: Can you not come
forth and thank us for shedding our
blood. instcad of weeping over that H.
ccntious. unl.lIai child who tried TO
murder your" And today, . man,
ask. cannot you stop weeping over the
lives of soinc people who have been I'M
truc 10 you and open your eyes TO the
sacrifices of those who have been de-
voting themselves to your comfort and
happiness for the last ten or perhaps
twenty years!
You have lost child. lie died as
the result of his sins. and you know II.
Yet you weep and cry for that child as
though he had been 10 you saint.
What about the other children? What
about those lovely daughters and that
fine young son who are growing up by
your side: Are you just TO them? Do
you try 10 make home happy for them
Are you true 10 them. You have dis
solutc father. OH" you keep COM
planning. I'll my father were only what
lie ought 10 be- Well. he is not. You
cannot help that. But what about your
mother: Have you ever thanked God
that you have such mother: Have
not her noble example and her tender
sacrifices been enough 10 start out II
dozen boys like you right, even though
your father has not been what he ought
Is this: Most ol our modern King Da-
vids VIII 20 oil whining aud grooming
and complaining about one person who
has done them Il wrun. and neglect to
show gratitude to the scores of noble
souls about them who are doing all In
Their power 10 make them happy and
blessed.
4 iiravc Girl.
Ca. the ncJIiIi,'sS Of not trying to do
all We can ibr those who are doing ev-
crytliing for Us. Some years ago there
joined my church one of the bravest
young women ever knew. Her father
died when -Ic WAS II young girl. Then
tie cXccut, rs rohllcd the widowed
mother of her ali. The young girl. who
WAS brought Lp In luxury. went forth
10 cara her daily bread. The mother
never seemed 10 care or 10 realize what
that daughter WAS doing. From morn.
Ing until night she kept up her never
ending series of complaints. She com
planned about being left widow: she
compl ined about loss Of money; she
comrinined because she had TO live
where she did and that her daughter
had 10 h. away all day long. But"
said one day. ''ma,ian. you surely
shouid he tiIankful Tor that girl OF
yours. \ nobcr girl never knew. OF
course You have 10 hc alone. but think
of her down ut the Office working. II
Is not very pleasant for her" Yes
said The complaining old lady IL sup.
pose | Ought 10 he thankful and not
complain. hut IL is my disposition. and
| cant help IT," All. me. How many
of us are like that dissatisfied old lady!
How many of Us are like King David!
W. brood over our misfortunes so long
that we not only make life miserable
for ourselves. hut add To the burdens
of those who are striving 10 make our
lives happy and blessed.
l,ut King David was awakened to
more than II sentimental realization OF
his blessings. General Joab gave 10
him II moral aud spiritual galvanic
shock. which startled his hands. his
ears. his eyes. as never before. lie
made the king leap To his feet and stop
his foolishncss. General Ioab practi.
cally said Ia King David: 1t il not
only mean AMI comlemptible for you &c
ignore the sacrifices your people have
made for you. but IL Is more. This
foolish crying proves To the world that
you are unit longer TO bc king. II
you do not stop IL your best friends
will turn against yOu Within few
weeks you will have another insurrec.
ton upon your hands. compared 10
which the late uprising will seem only
playihing You will he hurled from
your throne. and another will take
your place. and that rightly. for II n
man doe; not do as he ought TO do the
world will throw him aside. and he will
have no one to blame but himself
All. that was brave net of General
Joah. II was one Of the bravest acts
OF his life. lie was willing. II neces.
sary. TO sacrifice his own life In order
that his friend AMI king might see the
error of his ways and guard against
the danger lurking M his feet Are
you and | willing 10 be- as true TO our
friends MS Ioab was Ia his kingi
An Easy Task.
II Is easy Ia praise our friends when
they do right or 10 defend them when
they have injustice pcrpetraied against
them The story i told that many
years ago the officers Of the army OF
the king Of Hanover refused 10 have
anythn. 10 do with u young lieutenant
who had been promoted on the field Of
battle for gallantry They claimed