The Little Gleaner Part 73

There appears to be an allusion to its appropriation for gunpowder in Revelation ix. 17, 18. Many eminent expositors of the Revelation agree in supposing that the flashes of fire, attended by smoke and brimstone, "whereby men were killed," which seemed to proceed from the mouths of the horses, were really the flashes of artillery. The heads of the horses alone would be seen through the sulphureous smoke, while in reality the flashes and smoke proceeded from the cannon. The whole appears imagery of a battle scene, and is thought to refer to the Turks, who first turned to account the invention of gunpowder in carrying on their wars.

"The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire" (or burning brimstone). As these cities were situated in the vale of Siddim, which, as the sacred writer informs us, was full of bitumen pits, many learned men are of opinion that it does not detract from the supernatural character of this awful visitation to suppose that the wonder-working G.o.d saw fit to employ natural agencies in effecting the purposes of His will; and it is thought that, as sulphur exists in the neighbouring hills, it might have been ignited by lightning, and poured down like rain upon the vale below. The quant.i.ty of pitch already existing in the vale would be set on fire, and thus the cities would be destroyed, and the character of the valleys thereby changed.

Be this as it may, the statement of the sacred writer is clear, and we may safely interpret it as implying a shower of inflamed sulphur or nitre. At the same time, it is evident that the whole plain underwent a simultaneous convulsion, which seems referable to the consequences of bituminous explosion. In accordance with this view, we find the materials, as it were, of this awful visitation near at hand, for, at the present day, sulphur is found on the sh.o.r.es of the Dead Sea, which occupies the site of the cities of the plain; and the Arabs obtain enough from the cliffs to make their own gunpowder. Irby and Mangles collected on the southern coasts lumps of fine sulphur, from the size of a nutmeg up to that of a small hen's egg, which it was evident from their situation had been brought down from the neighbouring hills by the rain.

H. H.

A BIRTHDAY WISH.

Life is before you, friend of mine; What it may bring we cannot divine; The path outspread is all untrod; Unknown are its windings to all but G.o.d.

The sun will shine with its gladsome ray, And sometimes clouds overshadow the day; Your heart may be lifted with joy untold; But remember the same is not yours to hold.

At your bidding it comes not, nor does it stay; But when One speaks it flies away; And why is this? That One is Love, And seeks to lead your heart above.

Were earthly happiness all your own, You never would wish a heavenly throne; So joys are given, they come, and end, As seemeth best to our Lord and Friend.

Then let us entrust them to His care, And of thinking them ours to keep, beware; Let us seek in the gift the Giver to see, And trust to His love and wise decree.

Should sorrow and sadness our path attend, And dark seem the way to our journey's end, Let us look above to the Hand that guides, And trust His love whatever betides.

No sorrow is sent with purposeless aim, But each has its destined end to gain; He loves us so dearly, and shed His blood To lead us up to the throne of G.o.d.

And think you that He would afflict His child With needless pains in this desert wild?

No; though all that's sent we can't understand, Let us never distrust the guiding Hand.

His wisdom is perfect, His love divine, And changeth not with the flight of time; To the trustful heart that resteth in Him He has promised joys that never shall dim.

A quiet peace surrounds its path, Surpa.s.sing all that the worldling hath; May this be yours in that winding way; May it lead you up to the "perfect day."

LEWARN CLAYTON.

INSECURITY OF PALESTINE.

"_They that sow in tears shall reap in joy._"--PSALM cxxvi. 5.

The farmer in Palestine had frequently to sow with an armed man attending him, to prevent his being robbed of his seed. A similar state of danger appears still to prevail. Tristram, in his "Land of Israel,"

says:--

"In descending the hill from Bethany we saw an ill.u.s.tration of the wretched insecurity of the country, in a drove of donkeys laden with firewood for Jerusalem. Each a.s.s was attended by a man armed to the teeth with pistols, sword, and a long gun; and in one little valley--the only one beyond Bethany where there was any cultivation--each ploughman was holding his firelock in one hand while he guided the plough with the other."

A HEROIC SCOTCH STUDENT.

"A ship ash.o.r.e! A ship ash.o.r.e!" was the cry which rang through the streets of St. Andrew's, Scotland, one fearful winter's day some years ago. This thrilling cry roused every inhabitant. Citizens, University students, and sailors, rushed with pale faces and rapid steps along the street towards a bay to the eastward of the town. Standing on the sh.o.r.e, the crowd was terror-stricken and paralyzed through beholding a vessel stranded on a sand-bank but a few rods from the beach. She was shrouded in surfy mist; the waves dashed furiously against her, and broke over her decks with irresistible fury. Yet, through the thick air and the driving sleet, the people on the sh.o.r.e could now and then catch glimpses of the doomed crew clinging, with the clutch of despair, to the rigging of the wreck. There were many bold, brave men in that sympathizing crowd of spectators, but none who dared to venture through the mighty surges to save those ill-fated sailors. It seemed, indeed, to the stoutest heart, too mighty a task for mortal man to attempt. All could sympathize with the wretched ones; none but G.o.d, they thought, could save them.

But there was one heroic soul in that eager, wistful crowd who thought that man, with G.o.d's help, might s.n.a.t.c.h those perishing men from the door of doom. He was a young man--a University student--strong in body, but still stronger in spirit. "Bring me a rope," he cried; "I will try to save them." A strong rope was brought, and fastened about his waist.

Followed by the prayers of many and the good wishes of all, this chivalric youth struggled, with desperate courage, through the terrific surf into the deep water beyond. Then, with the strength of a young giant, guided by the skill of the experienced swimmer, he slowly worked his way towards the vessel's side. He had nearly reached it when his friends, alarmed by the length of time and slowness of his progress, began pulling him back. Then his courage rose to the sublimest height of self-sacrifice. He forgot himself. He would save the men clinging in desperation to yon vessel's shrouds, or perish in the attempt. Grasping the knife that he carried between his teeth, he cut the rope by which his kind-hearted friends were drawing him to sh.o.r.e and safety. He buffeted the rough waves successfully. He reached the breaker-swept deck of the stranded sloop. After a word of cheer to the crew, he took a fresh rope, plunged anew into the surging waters, and swam back to the beach. But four days of starvation, unrest, and exposure had robbed those poor creatures on board the wreck of both courage and strength.

Not one of them dared attempt to escape by means of the rope. What! then must they perish? Nay, not yet. The brave student will risk his life again in their behalf. Many speak harshly of their lack of pluck. He pities their weakness; he rushes into the surf once more, struggles through the crested waves, boards the sloop, and brings off a man to the sh.o.r.e. Six times he makes the perilous trip, and saves a human life each time. The seventh time his charge is a boy, so weak and helpless that he loses his hold upon him twice, and twice he dives for him into the seething depths and brings him up. Finally, he reaches the beach with a limp, corpselike lad--the last of the rescued crew.

The crowd, which had hitherto watched the gallant young hero's movements with breathless stillness, now break forth into a loud, triumphal cheer, which neither the roar of the wind nor the thunder of the waves can drown--they recognize the presence of a genuine hero.

The name of this n.o.ble young scion of true chivalry was John Honey, one of the college friends of the celebrated Dr. Chalmers. His efforts on that memorable day cost him his life--not directly, however, for he lived a few years, but the seeds of a mortal malady were sown by his humane exertions on that grandest day of his life.--_Great Thoughts._

DUTIES OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

It is the duty of brothers and sisters to take a delight in each others'

society, and readily to share their comforts with each other. The kindness of the heart beams in a sister's smile, and speaks in a brother's praise. The heart must be sadly corrupted, if the remembrance of the scenes that pa.s.sed under a father's roof ceases to interest. It is the duty of brothers and sisters to admonish one another for their faults. There are failings in the temper and defects in the manners which are concealed with care from the eyes of the world, but which are apparent amidst the freedom of domestic life. If follies are not checked at home, or by strangers, they will grow into habits. The indolence from which the young were never roused has kept them all their after days in poverty, and the pride which was never repressed has rendered them odious. Never let affection make you blind to the deformity of sin.

It is the duty of brothers and sisters to sympathize tenderly with each other. The heart is so framed that it requires the aid and comfort of sympathy. How soothing to a sufferer's heart are the attentions of a sister, and the word spoken by a brother in season! Let sisters consider how much the persuasive language of mildness and affection is adapted to transform the roughest and most impetuous temper into meekness and wisdom, and that their remarks may direct a brother's attention to sentiments full of beauty and feeling, which he has overlooked.

Brothers and sisters should vie with each other in promoting the comfort of their parents. Every one should cultivate respect for their parents'

authority, compa.s.sion for their infirmities, attention to their wishes, and be solicitous to give them all necessary aid, and reverence, and love, undiminished as they witness the decline of their faculties. How delightful it is to hear parents say of their children, "I cannot tell which is the kindest to me." What peace such children are preparing for themselves when their parents shall have pa.s.sed away!--_Portia._

THE CHILD AND THE EMPEROR.

It is related of the late Emperor of Germany that, when pa.s.sing through a pretty country village once, he stopped to visit the village school.

Taking up an orange, he said to the children--

"To what kingdom does this belong?"

"To the vegetable kingdom," answered a little girl.

"And this?" continued the Emperor, holding out a gold coin, which he had taken from his pocket.

"To the mineral kingdom," was the answer.

"And to what kingdom do I belong?" he said, expecting the little girl would answer with her former prompt.i.tude, "To the animal kingdom." But after a pause and many blushes, she replied--

"To G.o.d's kingdom, sire."