IN DEMAND.


ONE day Tommy had been asked to do several "chores" about the house. He was wanted to bring in wood, hunt eggs, run errands, etc. He grew tired of it at last, and upon some new request he said, half-impatiently, half-jokingly, "Well, I think here's a boy that's in pretty good demand today."

"Good articles are always in demand," replied one who heard him.

"O, yes, I s'pose so!" said Tommy, as he marched off to do this favor also, evidently thinking it was a little tiresome. 

The "demand" seemed to press a little hardly upon the "supply."

Yes, Tommy, "good articles are always in demand." This is true the world over. People like to choose the best they can find, not only the best things, but the best men. Good lawyers, good doctors, good teachers, good merchants, good mechanics, good farmers, good editors, good preachers, will all find that the great world has plenty for them to do. They are in demand.  But worthless things have poor sale. 

They may go a-begging. Men don't want them. The lazy, the disobliging, and the careless are not often asked to do much when better hands may be had.

If you would succeed in life and be considered a useful member of society, strive to be obliging, helpful, and careful. Learn to do with your might what your hands find to do. And this must be done not merely for the sake of being praised or receiving ready pay, but because it is right, and manly, and Christ-like. Do it bravely and "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Men will often be thankless, but the Lord's reward is sure. The pay will be all right at just the right time; God will remember all.

He who serves most shall be accounted greatest. But only he who loves much can serve much, without growing weary and "giving up." But if we love Christ, we shall be strong to do all duties and endure all things. 

Era.



THE SIN OF LYING


DID you ever think, dear children, what a dreadful sin it is to tell an untruth? A story illustrating how God looks at a lie has been preserved and handed down to us that we may know how sinful it is, and what a dreadful punishment befell those who lied to him. There was a man and his wife who lived in an ancient city where the apostles of the Lord Jesus preached his word, and where God worked many miracles. There were many true disciples there who would rather die than deny that Jesus was their Saviour. These people loved each other and the Lord so much that they sold their farms, and brought the money and placed it in a common fund for the support of all, both rich and poor.

The man and his wife just mentioned thought it would be a great honor to thus appropriate a large sum of money. But while they wished the honor of doing much, they really wished to do but little. So they sold a possession, and brought only a part of the money to devote to this sacred use. A very good man was present, and he knew their motives and the wickedness of their hearts, so he said, Why do you keep back part of the price? Before it was sold was it not yours, and afterward was it not in your own power? You have not lied to men, but to God.

Soon both this wicked man and his wife fell down dead before the people assembled, who were much frightened at this visible manifestation of God's wrath. They were then taken out and buried, where they must rest till God calls them forth to share the fate of all liars in the lake of fire.

If after hearing this story you wish to read the original account, just take your Bible and turn to the fifth chapter of Acts, and read the account of Annanias and Sapphira.

It was written for you and I, dear reader, that we may shun this sin, and escape the terrible fate awaiting the liar. In stating a matter let us be careful not to step over the bounds of truth, but in plain language tell the matter just as it is whether it condemns us or not. We should be careful not to tell a falsehood to shield ourselves from punishment, nor should we speak an untruth when speaking of others. God's word gives many warnings to liars, and praises the virtue of speaking the truth.


The poet beautifully remarks in a hymn found in your new "Song Anchor": 


"Be the matter what it may, 

Always speak the truth; 

Whether work or whether play,

Always speak the truth. 

Never from this rule depart, 

Grave it deeply on your heart; 

Written 'tis in Virtue's chart, 

Always speak the truth."



VESTA  J. OLSEN


Belmont, Wit. 



OF our gold and our silver, most of us are careful; but of time, which, once lost, can never be recalled or regained, we lavish a large portion, even while we are uttering complaints of the quantity allotted to us.