Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-07-12

had before the prophet, except one.
He seemed TO say: samuel, here are
my seven boys. Did you ever see a
finer lot Of young men? Any one OF
them Is fit TO be king" And as the
father speaks thus look of loving
pride spreads over his features. But
the prophet Is still not satisfied. He
keeps looking and looking. He Is
looking for some one else. Then he
says TO Jesse, Are here all thy chill
drenT With that n look of disdain
comes into the fathers face as he an
swers: "Ah. yes; there is still another:
but he is puny, understood STRIPPING
He does not amount TO much. You
surely do not want him. There yet
remaineth the youngest, and behold he
keepeth the Sheep Thus as Jesse
pushed David his son into the back
ground on account of parental favorit-
ism for the other children. some OF us
have lived through bitter childhood
We have angrily felt that our father
or mother did not care for us as they
cared for the rest. David well knew
what II was to weep during the long
nights Of his childhood. And yet to-
day he comes to all boys and says:
''My young friends, do not worry. God
Will yet scatter your gloom. There Is
bright dawn coming for you. Look
how God has led me out of my child
hood trials. Weeping may endure for
a night, but joy cometh in the morn
ing Boys and girls, young men and
young women, with your fresh young
cheeks wet with shower of tears,
will you believe it?"
But David had more dark nights
than those found in his childhood days
He also knew what the struggles of
young manhood mean. He knew what
it was to work for years to perfect
himself for an important task and then
TO be laughed and sneered at and de-
MED opportunity to do what he knew
he was fitted TO do. lie was just like
hundreds and thousands OF young peo-
pie adrift in our large cities, struggling
to get foothold In life when the world
will not recognize their physical and
mental capabilities.
A Revolutionary Story.
Perhaps I can illustrate my thought
by telling you the sad history of Cap
tain John Calender OF the Revolution
airy war. At Bunker Hill this young
American hero was in the command of
an artillery company. Something got
wrong with his cannon, and he ordered
the soldiers to drag them to the rear,
that they might not fall into the hands
OF the enemy. Just then General Is
rael Putnam rode along the lines, and
he saw what Calender was doing. He
charged the young man with being n
coward and ordered him back to the
line OF battle at the point of the pistol.
Immediately after the battle. upon the
testimony of General Putnam, young
Calender was degraded and in dis
grace retired from the service. I'm
daunted by the injustice which was
done him. young Calender enlisted i'm
the army as an ordinary private. He
gallantly fought through battle after
battle. At last the attention OF the
great commander in chief. George
Washington. was drawn to this young
soldier. And toward the close OF the
war General Washington investigated
the cause OF Callender's dismissal He
reversed the unjust sentence OF Put
nam. He restored Captain John Cal
lender TO his original position. making
his commission date from the degrade
ton Mt Bunker Hill. So we End our
young Captain John Callenders every
where. They are young men OF brain
and force and power. BY the injus-
tices and jealousies of their fellow men
they are kept in the background. and
younger men with half their capabili-
ties are pushed to the front. Was this
not young David's experience?
Read the story of his offer to fight the
giant. What do you now find? Young
David Is in the camp OF King Saul.
Before him stalks the great Goliath
defying the armies OF Israel. What
did David dog Why, he said. "If no
one else will 30 forth to meet this giant
1 will 60" Had he not earned the
right TO go? Was he not one of the
keenest If not the most expert marks
man with the sling I'm all the Hebrew
nation? Had not his bravery been
tested again and again? Alone with
the sheep. way of among the foot
hills, had lie not defied the wild beasts
and the BedOuin robbers? And vet
when young David said, ct will 60 and
fight the mighty Goliath" what hap
pened2 His elder brothers, who were
honored soldiers OF Saul's army, began
to sheer end IN laugh. aha" they
said. 'you had better go home and hang
on to your mothers apron strings! You
are pretty faced baby to come here
and talk Ike a braggartr' Listen;
let me read you the literal words:
And Eliab's anger was kindled
against David and he said, WHY
thou down hither, and with
whom hast thou left those few sheen
In the wilderness? / know thy pride
and the naughtiness of thy heart: for
thou art come down that thou mightest
see the battle" Thus young David
had to struggle TO get his foothold in
life Has not King David n right to
come to our young folks, battling and
struggling TO get fOothold in life.
md say: Young people, know |
your trials. l know how hard it ia
70 make the world recognize your
powers. But struggle on. God will |
see you through. The darkness and |
despair are sure to be followed by the
sunrise OF triumph. Weeping may en-
lure Tor night, but joy cometh in the
Yes, young folks, keep on in
your struggles; all will yet be we'll"
David's Second Goliath.
But today David comes to bring us
gospel comfort which he has found |
In the crises of his palace as well ne
In the trials and misrepresentatIonS
aud struggles of his early life. When
David was a mature, well developed |