The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-12

/ AA~hiASIS ~ SldISS at us WlCl
It's maddened, glistening eyes. Sin
is and has been the greatest epi.
uemlc that has ever cursed any land
or any city.
| Inc bottle may be marked "col-
ogne," but we will do as the little
! waif instructed the other one to do,
| Pull out de cork and den I'll tell
you wedder it's perfumery or not"
| The Bible Reference.
| The captain of the Syrian host was
a man of mighty valor, and one who
! mad found favor in the eyes of the
| King, but we learn he was a leper.
! A maid, who had been taken captive
by one of his raiding parties. and
working for his wife, told the mis-
tress of prophet in her own country
that could. in all probability, cure her
husband of this loathsome disease.
The king gave his consent and the
general started southwark, in search
OF some elixir that would make him
again whole. After meeting disap-
pointment at the hands of the king, hc
was hidden to 60 to Elisha, prophet.
The command from the prophet was
SO simple the afflicted one hesitated,
and even rebelled, but on the sugges.
ton of his servants, he acquiesced,
and behold. his skin was again as
| clean as a babes. How delighted he
was. Back he came to the prophet
who had so marvelously caused his
cure, willing to give him anything he
possessed in recompense, but his
Ibenefactor sent him homeward, receiv-
Ing his richest benediction. Here Is
where my story begins.
Gehazt, the prophets servant, had
come in contact with far more loatl-
some disease than the one which at
flicted the general from the north.
He had become contaminated with
sin. He heard the request of Naaman,
to unload his precious gifts at the
feet OF Elisha, and had heard his
master refuse them. Like sweet
morsel he rolled between his lips a
scheme that would bring gain to him
self by deceit. When the caravan that
had brought Naaman had receded be-
hind the hills. Gehazi the servant of
the prophet, started in pursuit When
he was a long way behind, Naaman,
with heart full Of gratitude and JOY.
noticed the messenger approaching
and dismounted. rs 1t well?" he ex-
claimed. Then Gehazi unfolded his
heart. asked for talent Of silver and
two changes OF raiment for his lord.
Elisha. Only too glad to serve, the
captain OF the hosts gave him twice
what he asked, and babe two of his
servants to bear the gifts whereso-
ever Gehazi might desire.
Contact with sin breeds sinful
action. Whether intentional or unin-
territorial, the contact is often the
same in results. We often get In
wrong" when our motives at first may
have been the highest.
A young man one evening, on as
pertaining the fact that his lady friend
was to have a birthday, said he
would send her some roses the follow
ing day. He asked her. the age, so he
could have the right number sent, a
rose sweet and fair for each year. She
told him to guess her age, and send
the number he thought was right.
The next day an order came to the
florist to send twenty-four roses to
specified home. The owner OF the es-
tablishment, seeing the order said to
his assistant: II see here is an order
from Mr. Blank. He is a mighty fine
customer, he asks for twenty-four
roses. Just put in an extra dozen for
the same price" Imagine the young
mans surprise when he found the
young lady did not appreciate the lit
tie gift.
Lay down with dogs, and you will
get up with fees. Get too near the
buzz saw and you will get cut. Young
people, l shudder for some OF you
when see you going back with the
same gang you used to love, and at
tending the same functions that for
merly, interested you. Paul said we
should come out from among them,
and l think he saw certain conditions
that warranted his remark as truly
as we see them today. You love what
YOU used to love and hate what you
used to hate, instead of reversing the
desire of your heart. Like Lots wife,
you are looking back, you are coming
in contact with a disease that Is in
fectious and dangerous, one that will
leave marks or scars to brand you as
long as God gives you breath.
The Stencil Of Sin.
The flowers, they claim. near the
battle front, have lost their frGg;
rance because of the stencil of the
dying and dead lying upon the battle
field, because Of the sweat of men and
horses, and the blood of the unfor-
tunate martyrs of war. You too, get
too near the border line, and the
stencil of sin will pollute you to such
an extent that no matter how fragrant
you were for Christ and the kingdom,
you will become as a sodden vessel.
A mother asked her son why he took
his bathing suit along with him since
she had told him he must not go near
the water. He replied: Il was afraid
| was going to be tempted and so
thought / would be prepared / sup
pose he believed in preparedness also.
At the source of the st. Johns rfv-
er a large eagle used to come for
its food The low water would wash
In small fish, and here the eagle would
stand and wait for his spoil. One day
it noticed large stone near the spot
where it used to catch its meal. Very