The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13
WRIT US FREELY

are not found in life of Incidence,
ease and self1shness. but in a life of
service.-Rev. A. l. Campbell, Chris
tian church, Chicago
INFLUENCE OF BOOKS.
It is of great Importance what we
read. A book is a companion, good or
bad. If bad, it may be a worse com
panion than even the worst IN the
riesh. It lays hold of the imagination
to an extent that the living person can
not. Books send some to sea, some to
the army. some to aescetic life, make
saints and make sc0undrels. Thus pro-
foundly do they influence Iffe.=Rev. S
G. Nelson, Baptist, Hampstead, N. 7.
BLESSINGS OF BEREAVEMENT.
If things went always smoothly with
US here, If no flowers ever faded. II
there were never any Interruptions in
our earthly joys we would not think
OF the enduring things of the invisible
world. It is when earthly good fails
US we learn to set our affection on
found his home in God till his human
nest was desolated by sorrow. be-
reavement in the household always
draws the family closer together Love
never reaches its sweetest and best till
Ii has suffered. Homes which nevef
have been broken may be very happy
in love and very bright with gladness,
but when sorrow has been a guest
there there Is q depth in the love which
was never experienced before. It is a
new marriage Wnen young parents
stand side by side by the CONN of their
f7rstborn. Grief is like a sacrament to
those who share it with Christ beside
them. Il brings them into holier fell
lowship than they have ever known in
loves uncl0uded days. Many homes
have been saved from harshness of
spirit and sharpness of speech, from
pride and GOODNESS, by a sorrow which
broke in upon thoughtless life. The
tones Were softer after than. There
q condolences in all the Hfa
Most o. US need the Christening OF pain
to bring out our best love.-Rev. DIR.
". II. McMurry, Methodist. Louisville.
Ky.
LIFE A RICH ESTATE.
Success and contentment begin with
the realizat ton that life represents a
valuable treasure. We may liken life
to a field. At first the owner values it
for wild berries: then. ceasing to be 2
wanderer he becomes an agricultur-
list and values it for its rich harvest.
Grown wiser still he discovers coal.
Amazed at the treasure he digs ana
| finds silver ana gold Astounded, he
goes deeper. and 10, the seam is full
OF diamonds. And every life holds all
The strata of underlying and unsuspect-
ed stores of treasure. The multirudes
go through life mere Bedouins. look
ing for chance flower of happiness or
the wild berries of prosperity. Only
now and then does a man dig into life
as one who has the hidden treasure.
And yet. no matter how modest the tai
ent or obscure the position life is an
estate holding every form of good. The
sweetness Of food depends upon the ap-
petite. The meaning of the song is in
the auditory nerve on which It trem-
bles on its way to the hearers intellect
Some foolish folk talk about killing
time. Many feel that life is too long
and by suicide cut It short. And yet
the world is overlooking with good
things. As for the wild flower and the
danodil, they were substance for a
song for Wordsworth AS for the field
mouse and pillow. they offered a theme
for immortal music to Robert Burns.
As for an old man coming home from
his Wanderings. welcomed by a dog
that could not forget him. that was an
inheritance that opened up the scope
for a world epic for Homer. The car
penter's shop offered Jesus career
that was divine. worthy of the Son Of
God. LIES greatness, therefore. be-
gins with a realization of it's latent
treasures.=Rev. Dr. Newell Dwight
Hills, ngregationalist. Brooklyn.