Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-08

duties Of life IN this the darkest hour
Of her earthly existence.
Not n miserable. contemplate, un-
grateful character was Ruth. She was
not one Of those deceitfui women who
have smiles and affectionate words and
loving caresses only for those she is
using for a mercenary object. She
was not like the ungratcful elder
daughters of King Lear, who had rap.
turous terms of cndearment for their
father only while their parent sat upon
his throne. But she was one Of those
noble women who, II a friend had been
good and true to her, never forgot that
goodness. That friend might live in a
palace or in hut; she might be hon.
0red or despscd by the world; she
might be old or young. but Ruth would
love her and cling TO her just the same.
She had all the characteristics Of
stanchness to her friends as had the
great and noble Emperor William I. OF
Germany, who was never known to
turn his back upon true friend. So
true was his heart that when the Ger
man army started forth on the Franco
Prussian war it Is said that he left the
there knelt at the tomb Of his mother,
Queen Louise, who had been humblcd
by Napoleon 7. And when he returned
as conqueror. while all the capital Of
Berlin was ready TO give him the well
come Of triumphal entry. he again left
the ranks and went to that same tomb
apd knclt to thank God that her dis
grace had been avenged. SO with
Ruth. She never forgot those who had
been true to her Naomi might he de-
spised by the Yorld. but Naomi had
been her friend. And because Naomi
had been true to her Ruth would never
leave her side.
A Crisis In Ruth's Life.
Can you picture this beautiful young
girl at this critical moment? The
mothcr-in-law comes to her and says:
Ruth. my dear. l must 20 away.
cannot make living here. MY hus-
band is dead. My two boys are dead.
And all these people are preiudiced
against me because am foreigner
and not Of their blood. You stay my
child. Your parents will take you
home and all will be well. Don't ruin
your life for my sake" Then I be-
licve I read the thoughts that rapidly
pass through Ruths brain. At first
she soliloquizes. shall l stay" But
the noble part Of her soul says: Nay,
Naomi has been a mother to me. For
over score Of years she put her whole
life into the developing Of her two
boys. Then she gave to me one OF her
sons. She said: Take him. Ruth. He
is thine. Then she took me into her
great loving heart as her own daugh-
ter All that she had was mine. And
now. after she has given to mo her all.
shall | desert her in the dark hours Of
distress?" Nay, Naomi" she says. II
will not turn my back upon thee.
Whittier thou goest will go. and
where thou lodgest. I will lodge; thy
people shall be my people. and thy God
my Cod Could Ruth the true, Ruth
the noble. speak otherwise: MY
friends. have you these noble charac-
| teristics Of gratitude! After per
son has been true and self sacrificing
for you, after that person has given to
you practically the whole Of her life,
are you going to turn that person adrift
as soon as the dark clouds Of adversely
gather about her head? Are you 60
ing to use the word Friendship" as a
synonym for convenience" As soon
as you think it is for your own best
interests, are you going to turn your
back upon your true friends as the de
! ceitful Duke Of Alva sent Admiral
Hoorn and Egmont to the block and as
Napoleon I. exiled Josephine, the best
| friend he ever had?
oh. the contemplate actions Of which
! some of us are guilty toward those who
have blessed us in the past, The story
! is told that many years ago in the is
land of Mauritius n poor old black wo
man, who was Il slave, worked and
| struggled at odd hours and saved until
! after awhile she got together enough
money TO purchase the freedom of her
/
for the old black woman. She went to
her child's house with the good news
and said: My child. YOU are free. You
! are free" With that she seated her
self by her daughter. But the story
goes that the daughter drew herself ur
and said: woman. how dare you sit
, in my presence! Do you not know that
! ! am now n free woman and you are
! still n slave! Rise at once and leave the
! room The story at first seemed tC
| me to be farfetched one. and yet
after much consideration, doubt IL i,
! is. Almost every day we can see I'm
grateful children acting thus to theiI
parents and ungrateful men and WON
en- turning their backs upon those who
have lifted them to their thrones OF
started them on the road to success
and happiness. Not thus was Ruth
In Naomi's adversely she remembered
Naomi's past love. May God help III
10 he true to those who have been true
10 us in the troublesome years that arc
gone.
True to Marriage Vows.
Ruth measures up to the full stand
ard of the test of human gratitude
She does more. She measures UP Il
the full test Of her marriage vows
And when speak thus | am placing
that standard very high. The marriage
| law of tho east ia a far moro a m cul,