Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-09-30
A LIPE LESSON.

Wilies mother sat shelling the peas, while he, il
childish glee made boats and cradles from the empty
pods, as she threw them into basket beside her,
Presently be picked up one that had been over ruI
and crushed by its companions, denied the sunlight
and the air, till it was nothing but defoFmei
gnarled, ronDd knot of pod, containing only &
single pea. 'You poor little thing.' said the child
'what do you say to me? You say plant me! plant
me- | am too young to be cooked" His mother
smiled at the boys eonceit, while he ran off e
plant his seed Brushing away the earth under
the shade Of the raspberry bushes be laid down his
little pod, and covering it so ghtly that the next
tread of his careless foot exposed it again left If
there with just enough sun and shade to assist its
termination. By-and-by the pod .shriveed up
and shrank away'from the lonely pea which falling
on the moist ground, began to perceive within it
self new life unfelt before.
First it stretched out little white arm, by which
it might cling closer to the bosom of this neyfound
mother earth; and thenit spread upwards two ting
wings to WOO to its embrace the coy zephyrs play
ing hide-andseek among the vines, aud the stray
bits of sunshine glancing ever and anon between
the leaves. As it gained confidence, and became
better acquainted with the zephyrs, and the sun
light, and the dew, it began to climb up higher,
caspng loving tendrils around its protectors, the
raspberry bushes, till late in the season, overtOr-
ping them all, it put ont some modest white fow-
ers in token of its gratitude and its success Then
Willie coaxed his mother into the garden to look
at the "poor little pea that whispered plant me.
plant me.' "See what it is to encourage the un-
fortunate" said his mother.
The boy grew up towards manhood-a right no
ole mauhood-when in endeavOring to avert peril
from another he became himself the victim. After
long weary months of distress, health returned once
more, but the poor body, SCARED, and scanned, and
distorted could never again regain its former man
ly vgor and beauty To the sufferer therefore, all
the world looked dark. He shraDk from meB, be
cause he imagined that no longer assimiated to
them'in comliness of form, they must necessarily
shrink from him Heaven itself seemed too far
away, and his troubled spirit chained down to earth
by bodily discomfort alone, folled its ssdly drOop
ing wing, and looked no more towards that home,
for which, in other happier days, it bad so longed
and painted.
"My SOM" said his mother at length, 1.-The man
may learn anew the lessons Of the boy, Have you
forgotten the deformed pod, tEat contained never
theless the germ Of perfect life! Who recognized
in the luxurant vigorous vine any trace of tie
gnarleG covering that had once enclosed it all!--
We may regret the marring of the casket, but sure
ly not repire while the jewel it enshrined retains
its worth. Still greater folly to throw away the
gem because its setting is awry! j. has been fan
cied by some authors that when to oar redeemed
spirits new bodies are given, gorifed, yet distinct
" individual, as when on earth, that ,heE, they
who have passed throagn the furnace Of physical
suffering shall find from every scar and woUad aud
deformty that agonized them here, such glorious
radiance emanate ss will make them trophies of
victory above, conquerer's tokens, unfadng, to be
worn forever. Be this as it may, we know our
Savior still bears the glorious marks of triumph
over death and the, grave and weknow, for he has
told us, that soul and body shall re gnogether in
painless undying happiness. Is it fitting, then, to
waste in selfish signing life which is only the cou-
dy night before perfect day? the broken, imper-
feet prelude of triumphant cong resounding
through eternity"
Encouraged by his mothers words, reused by
her hopeful tone his sinking heart began to gather
courage; and seeking strength where it is never
sought in vain, he went out again among his iel
lows, resolved that in treading patiently the path
allotted him, his inner life, No longer neglected,
should be wrought out in self denying action for
the good of others. His daily prayerful strife with
daily cares and trials. resulted as prays ful strife
ever will in victory The Saviors gentle words
fell in tones so cheering from his Eps-"Come unto
me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and
will give yon rest'that the poor and the despond-
ing, the sorrowful and the despairing, crowded to
his presence, and "sat at his feet to learn anew
the love and the compa ssiOn of Jesus. Never re-
fusng the cup of cold water for his Masters sake,
men bless cd him as he came and learned to love The
form that contained so beautiful spirit. Thus
the teachings of his thoughtless childhood found
their fullest exposition in the life of the Christian
man
MAUD.