The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-28
ArrER.cHRIsrMAe SERMON.

A subject for a little human-interest
sermon came via the press wires fr-m
Missouri Christmas night. Two men
reared in the same nelghborhood with
equal advanisses furnished the topic
which. to The Leader, see'0s worth
passing notice
These two young men started in diff
ferent paths. One. handsome. dashing
and superficial. chose the route ira
versed by so many-the one which
seems filled with longlngs gratfied
and where boon companions cheer and
offer to the youth pleasures so numer-
Gus as 70 be exciting and appear worth
the cost.
The other was a plodder. To him
life was real lessons were learned by
hard study and bae climb up the hill
was hard indeed. Few seemed to aid,
and, slowly. day after day. week fol
lowing weeks into months, then on &
years Of hard effort before success re-
ccived due reward
Christmas night the one who sought
the flowered, easy way was stabbed In
an affray and fell dead at the foot oi
the Christmas tree In the little church
near by the hlme where he was born
and lived all Of his wayward lifel He
had some weeks before. insulted his
m6iheaSsnl friends AZ a little country
hox sumief, been reproyed by lad
and was nursing his resentment Filled
with bad whisky and mad because Of
being cStracized at iheafestal-day cels-
bfatlog he tried to roach his former
chastiSlf. and was stabbed 10 death
As this young man fell dead in the
chur-A atl sc communicates he had
wronged, the former playmate now In
the fun zenith OF a proud manhood.
was host of honor-Sa Claus-to
some thousands poor IN the cltS
to which his attainments had found
use for his presence-was proud 70 Of
fer JOY and comfort 20 the unfortunate
yonng f-lks-gaee freely and hounii
fully and reaped reward and inspira
tion THROUGH The great good kindness
of his honored self
How seemingly wide the gulf be
tween the two men on Christmas night,
He of the affray had gone down,
d wn and on and on I'm his sins He
haH0rcught SORROW, woe indescribab.C
misery 20 honorable PARENTS Grow
ing weaker and weaker through his
dissipaiions life fled on the eve OF taC
greatest joy-bringing fete day known
o. humankind. The other, unassuming.
but doing each task with his best
ability. each task mastered made HIN
more confident and acted as guide C
better, stronger ana higher achieve
ment, Loving and loved he has Wife
children. home-ih,$piness. In Glc
realization we owe some OF our hap
piness 10 tn sc over whom misfortun,
has cast its dark power, he celebrated
the holiday with thousands OF pack
ages for the poor wife. children ant
his proud parents. now grown aged
to assist him IN his noble purpose.
Hw different tAose other parents
their sorrow the keener, more uncor
solable because of the errlng on'
hurtled 10 eternity by a fellowbeing.
Thousands OF such instances occur
Each moment there rushes by sons
waywa-d ne; refusing to see tht
Shortcomings of a weaker spirit; has
iening toward shame, ruin and despair
Loving hand are outstretched 10 save
-mothers prayers ascend HEAVIER
ward, pleading for aid from N High
too often without avail. 'Iis but
measured by the cold scale OF cycles
an instant, Men. free agents. carv'
their own destinles; some becoming
Godlike in their deeds OF righteous
ness; others sink below the level G
bestiality aud mrak their C urse wit
rivers OF tears from parental mourI
ers Perhaps. all In all, We gain eaci
decade and the number lost pr1por
tionateiy decreases but when II hal
pens 70 come 70 rs with knowledge g
those who are l-si, We lament an'
protest. only 10 see some other ruined
hear the vail of a mothor over th
bier OF one whose soul has sped
answer the final cali