The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-08-18
A Chat With the Boys.

are CQe greatest edTLQly DRESSINGS we
can have. Do you agree with me?
There is an old saying, "You
never miss the water until the water
runs dry just so we never fully
appreciate health until We lose it.
1t is easy enough to lose, boys, but
get it back if you can. We older ones,
who have already past many mile
stones on life's journey, know the
pitfalls and dangers ahead and when
we try to warn you, you should listen.
1t shows we are interested in you and
want you to get the very best of
life. You would think it very
foolish, would you not? if some one
we're to try to cross the trackless
ocean without chart and compass
to guide him. He would never drift
into the desired port. On our life's
Journey, we must have something to
guide us or we will be shipfrecked,
God and the Bible must be our chart
and compass if we wish to find true
happiness.
There are only two paths for you
to take-the path of duty and the
path of pleasure. You may be un-
conscious of it, but you are treading
one or the other. Now, stop mo-
ment and think, which way are you
travelling? The path Of duty though
rough at first grows brighter and
brighter and the end is eternal life;
the path of pleasure starts out full
of brightness. but the end is death.
Now, boys, think again, which way
are you going? One means success,
the other failure. You can know
positively what the result will be, by
the choice you make. It makes my
heart sick to hear men, big strong
men, say of themselves, "One more
failure" They started wrong, boys,
and you can't make right out of
wrong. So profit by their mistakes,
if you are in the wrong path, stop at
once, change your ways and you will
never regret it.
I find young folks respond to good
more readily than they do to evil.
They are then pure and innocent,
fresh from the hands of God, but they
come in contact with the older ones,
and l am grieved to say, instead of
being wisely led, too often it is the
other way.
Now, boys, you have a head of
your own, use it, and reason for
yourself. Is it wise to follow any
human being, even your own father;
no, because the Bible tells us there
is none perfect. Whom must we fol-
fow, then? Follow Christ, the only
perfect being that has ever lived,
"even His enemies could find no fault
in Him." How can you follow some
one you cannot see? By studying
the Bible, the most wonderful book
that has ever been or ever will be
written. Though written many years
ago, it suits US just as well as it did
the people then, because it is founded
on truth, and truth never changes.
1t is a strange thing to me that peo-
ple neglect this Book, when it tells
YOU how to live so as to get the best
of things in life. Study it, boys, 1t
is more wonderful than any fairy
tale you ever read; find the stories
of Joseph and David and notice how
God was with them, and after bring
ing them through rough places
crowned them with glory and honor.
Yes, He gave them earthly riches, too.
He gives His children the best of
everything. "No good thing will be
withheld from them that walk up
rightly" Is it not strange that so
many people go wrong?
An old painter, Of Selma, after
standing for long time in silent
meditation before his canvas, with
hands crossed meekly on his breast
and head bent reverently low, turned
away, saying, May God forgive me
that 1 did not do it better" We
may all say that of our past service;
not despondently, but hopefully, be-
lieving that he will not only forgive
us but enable us to do better the
things that remain to be done. he
calls US to no strange, impractlcable
tasks, but to the steady tread OF the
patient servant. Patient continuance
in well-doing,' that is all. That IS
not too much for any Of us. Let us
step out strongly, bravely, steadily.
Look no longer with sad eyes at the
failure to the past"
go, sin no more"-these are the
Savior's words.
The past is past. True life is here
and now,
u7;4h ,oo1 of Hod'c forgiveness on