Newspaper Page Text
Poll?er In Little Things—" Lilting Like Christ"
%Ls Seen by One of "Our Old Confederates ” at the Soldier ’s Home
IFE made up of little things, little
thoughts, little words and little deeds;
and it is said if they be kind and pure
and good, they can never die; and how
truly, if they have been prompted and
hallowed by the Holy one; vitalized and
sweetened by divine touch. What an in
centive to every Christian in every
sphere of life! Opportunity all around,
jj 1 !
ff '
— j
everywhere; even the spirit power is given in little
things that are lovely. Allow a brief digression to
give the origin of this little essay: Once the writer
was sick, far from home, all alone, in a dreary
room. A good lady hearing of it sent him a. little
bunch of flowers, which was placed before him in
the glimmering sunlight. After he became con
valescent, having no other way to show his grati
tude, or prove his appreciation of her tender mercy
and kindness, he returned the flowers with this
little note: ‘‘These sweet flowers have been
peculiarly dear and helpful to me in a sad and
lonely and trying hour. Their beauty and purity —
so refining and elevating —have really been refresh
ing, and have awakened many happy thoughts of
a happier long ago. They are withered now, but
in my affections they are buried as they were.
Please take them home and do with them as you
will. Their little mission is complete; but it may
be that at some time —somewhere, perchance be
yond the stars, sweet memories of them may be
revived again by the angels singing praises to our
God for the utility of flowers, and for the inspira
tion these have been to one of his humblest follow
ers.” Oh, my reader, how we should appreciate
the possibilities of power in little things that are
lovely! But how common the ambition to say or
to do some great thing. Yes, we all seek glory,
unmindful of the fact that human selfishness always
kills it. We forget the commendable selfishness
of Jesus, and that he sought glory too —commend-
able glory. He loved us so He required all of our
heart. He paid for it all an infinite price; all was
written in the bond with the soul’s volition and
consent, and He justly demands all, because in no
other way could our debt be cancelled, and thus
only could he obtain for us the greatest good, and
for His Father the greatest glory. Then there is
a selfishness admissible and commendable, and
there is a glory which may be sought which is
enduring. This seeking with such selfishness goes
hand in hand with life in the little things that are
lovely all about us. Not with spasmodic effort or
virtues, but habitually, all the life long, obeying,
trusting, watching and saying, giving or doing
some little thing for something or somebody, with
out a thought of reward or punishment, of praise
"The Limit of of the Line.”
“I hope that the gulf is wide,” she murmured,
‘‘and bridgeless!”
“So do I, Mrs. Bryan, and I know something of
science. ’ ’
Mrs. Bryan counted her stitches. The little clock
of sterling silver, on a corner of the white mantel,
struck five slow, mellow strokes.
Gregory saw his hostess shudder, faintly, as the
musical sound died away. Then, quickly, she put
both hands to her eyes, her work streaming in col
ored confusion to the floor.
“Relax,” commanded Ford. “Force the blood
to your feet. Don’t be afraid.”
A soft moan escaped Mrs. Bryan’s lips, and the
high bred face, beneath the crown of white hair,
paled.
Ford took out a wine-colored note book, and poised
a yellow, octagonal pencil above it.
“Time 5:00 p. m.” he penciled.
“Do you see anything, Mrs. Bryan?”
“Not clearly,” she replied.
After ,a moment or two, she rallied, and, picking
up her dainty work, sat with her hands clasped over
it, staring out into the gray, down-dropping gloom
of the winter day.
The Golden Age for January 28, 1909.
or censure, of favor or of policy, but simply because
it is right and for Christ’s sake only. These are
little border plants, and may be trodden under the
feet of men, but they will live when the sower is
forgotten, and the reaper will garner them, for
they grow close up to the little things that are
lovely. They indicate sincerity and testify of
consistency; they harmonize with the teachings of
the Holy Spirit, and accord with reconciliation to
God; they line up with the promises in all their con
ditions, establish loyalty to »ur King, and prove
faithfulness to the surrendered life. Herein are
some of the legitimate fruits of the Christ life;
some of the precious evidences of commanded
brotherly love; some of the pure gold whose
scintilations awake urgent demands on practical
Christianity for the century. The ylead in the way
foretold by the inspired prophets; travelled by the
woman who did what she could; illustrated by the
ministrations of the <pod Samaritan, and illumined
as with a flashlight by the perfect life of the lowly
Nazarene, whose footprints along the narrow path
way have been visible through all the world’s
darkness, and will grow brighter until the perfect
day. In His appreciation of power in little things
that are lovely he calls us little children, and says
we must become as little children; and of our
possibilities for power under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, he says we shall do even greater
- things than he did. After his resurrection He came
in such power and gentleness that the door opened
unseen and unheard. After doing many little
things that yet were great, He gave evidence of
his power by going away in a little cloud. But He
left word He would come again; He surely will.
Not content to leave us cheered only by visions of
Him beyond the distant hills, He has promised
to whomsoever believeth on him to abide with
them forever. God help our unbelief. Experience,
from association with this Holy one, is absolutely
convincing that He is all Jesus said He was. He
is the inspiration and the power in every little
thing that is lovely. God wants those who seek
"glory through the guidance of His Holy Spirit; and
he wants selfish souls too; those who think so much
of the little temple, in which they dwell, that they
will strive to keep it clean and bright, so that only
things that are lovely and lovable may be im
printed thereon, and the image of His Son may be
reflected therefrom. He wants thoughtful and
prudent traders also, and would have them receive
full return for every little talent given; otherwise
he receives not his own, our blessings are His
glory. Those who have experienced that it is more
blessed to give than to receive may sometimes
through excessive zeal or commendable selfishness
“Don’t talk, please,” he said. “You will feel
very much better, ill a second. You must exert your
will power, here and now. Whatever you have seen,
remember that psychic photography does not neces
sarily mean tragedy to the witness.”
She turned her eyes away from the gloom.
“I saw a train on a bridge,” she confessed. “I
heard people laughing, hysterically, as if they had
just escaped a great accident. It was all so strange,
so sudden. Then I heard your voice. That is all, I
believe.”
Young Ford rose, and stood, quietly, on the hearth.
“We have got to be disembodied spirits, some
day,” he mused. “We’ll see worlds in motion, then,
I presume.”
“With the worm and the dust I wi'l not remain,”
declared Mrs. Bryan, “if I can possibly help it.”
“I heard a story the other day,” Ford replied,
thinking it best to divert her mind, “which illus
trates the commercialism of the average business
man. It seems that an average business man,” with
a slight ironical emphasis, “had the misfortune to
die. His affairs were in a complex condition, and,
of course, he carried to the upper spheres, the two
thoughts that business had most deeply engraved on
his money-wanting soul.”
try to do all the giving, but such should be
admonished to have zeal according to knowledge,
and learn to sometimes feast upon crumbs that
fall from poverty’s table; thus, thoughfulness for
others’ happiness would be displayed and the
power of little things that are lovely would be
magnified. A tiny wilted wild flower from the
hand of a poor dying girl on her little pallet of
straw, all she could give to prove her gratitude for
long-continued giving to her, was a treasure un
purchasable from her’ wise and noble benefactor.
He lived and let live, and learned that an im
portant secret in the blessedness of giving is
putting into activity one of the sweetest little
graces, in opening the way for others to give, so
that there may be more than a double blessing.
What a thoughtful provision of the Father in fixing
it so that every heaven-born gift or charity can
be repaid; if in no other way, by loving gratitude.
Sometimes due credit may not be given or known,
and, it may be that sometimes the tenderest ap
preciation is criticised or misunderstood, but there
is always an unseen monitor, true and accurate, to
give the record into the hands of One who never
slumbers nor sleeps; one who forgets not a cup
of water, or a little falling sparrow, but will in
emergencies credit the will for the deed. So that
a dying soldier on a far away battlefield, or a hel]>-
less, suffering, sorrowing one in the valley of
poverty, with no earthly friend to whom to un
bosom the wants and wishes of a grateful heart,
may rest in peace, knowing (hat somewhere, some
how, all that is kind, and pure, and good, shall
live again. No one who says, or does, or gives
properly need ever find cause for regret, for though
it be consumed by flame, destroyed by flood or
cyclone, or received ungratefully, it will leave its
impress with God, and some of the sweetest notes
in heaven may sound praises to the redeemed who
cast pearls in this life before heartless ones in
efforts to win them to the kingdom by utlizing the
power in little things that are lovely. There is
nothing in such a life to make our pleasures less,
but much to vastly magnify and greatly increase
them; nothing conflicting with being diligent in
business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, but
much that is uplifting and powerfully helpfid;
keeping self subjugated, the heart warm and tender
and pure, and our soul in harmony with the Holy
Spirit, endued with inspiration and power in little
things that are lovely. Then we can grow in grace,
and be loyal to our King—true to our surrendered
life; then we will be in a proper attitude to
commune with our God in all his richness and full
ness —ready to wake in His likeness and to be
satisfied. S. T. Jenkins.
Ford dropped his hand on the mantel, spreading
out the fingers of his hand like a fan.
“St. Peter allowed the gentleman to enter the
Golden Gate, and for his clemency was assailed, im
mediately, with a question.”
Mrs. Bryan began to sew, quietly.
“ ‘Of what value is a moment here?’ asked the
Average Business Man. ‘Well,’ said Saint Peter,
‘it foots up to a million years.’
“ ‘And how mucji is a million dollars worth?’
asked the Average Busines Man. ‘A penny,’ said
Saint Peter, with a slight smile.
“ ‘Then, lend me a penny,’ said the Average Bus
iness Man, impulsively. Saint Peter looked him
over. ‘Wait ... a moment,’ he said, gently.”
“Good!” she said, smiling brightly. She re
moved her rimles glasses, with a deft touch.
“Pretty hard on our American Hustler,” com
mented Ford, “don’t you think?”
“No,” said Mrs. Bryan, “served him just exactly
right. I hope that the whole tribe of hustlers will
find Saint Peter in just such a mood, when they ap
proach the Gate, as this man from . . . where
did you say he came from, Mr. Ford?”
“Memphis,” replied Ford, with a sparkle of gen
uine delight in his blue eyes, “though I didn’t say,
just now.”
3
