The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-03-28

ent toward hs Castor hs good work rebukc.
them for neglected opportunities
The %cripple's eagcrnes- o learn and rapid pro-
gress under the most limited advantages, becym.
ing generally known. "a gentleman. whose son had
been one Of Toms visitors. AID who had grown
% Dr. "A better hoy under his influence, offered u
send him IN his wagon every day - tine school
h1us-, which stood half "a mile distant. and have
him brought back in the afternoon
Ii was the hapIlest day IN Tom Ai" when DC
was helped down from the wagon and went hob
bling into the schOpi-rDJm-
Before leaving home on that morning, hc Lad
made his way mp To the sick-roum Of Mr.. Croft.
" owe II all ~ vou.- he said. a. he brought
the white. thin hand Of his b-netactpr % his iiIS.
1t was damp with more than a kiss when he laid
IL back gently ON the bed. ' And our Father III
heaven viii reward YOU"
=. You have done IA good work, ' said the neigh
Dor who had urged Mr.. Croft u improve his one
talent. a. ne saj talking with him Ola that even
Ing about the poor cripple and his opening pros
poets. which will not | trust be- forgotten IN
that day when the record 81 life J. opened. Not
because Of the work itself. bat for the true charity
which prompted the work. IL was begun, !
know. IN some ~elEdeuial, bat that selt-denial
was for another good and because You put
away love Of cI~e and Indifference and forced
yourself 10 DO kind Offices. because Our Heavenly
Father has commanded IL. God will send 4
heavenly love Of doing good into your soul,
which always includes a great reward.
- HAhAT lAAi4 AAN iA'A@N'H- ny -
few months ago. What can | do and spoke as
il man who felt that he was deprived Of all the
means Of accomplishing good and Yet you have.
with but little effort, lifted Il human soul out OF
the dark valley Of Ignorance where 1t was crop
ing in selEtOrture. and placed it on an ascending
mOuntain-rath The light Of hope has fallen.
through your aid, with sunny warmth upon a
heart that was cold and barren a little while ago.
but Is now green with v-rdure and blOssDning IN
sweet promise Of fruit. The infinite years 70 come
alone can reveal the blessings that will flow from
this one act Of a bcd-ridden man. who felt that
in him was NJ capacity for good deeds.
The advantages Of u school being placed within
the reach Of Tom Hicks. he gave up every thought
Of serious difficulty. His bent, stiff fingers could
not be made to hold either pen or pencil in the
right position, OF - use them in such a way a. 70
make Ineligible signs. But Tom WAS too much
in earnest To- give up or the first, 'r second, or
third effort. lie found, after a great many trials,
that he could hold = pencil more firmly than at
first. and guide his hand in some obedience To has
viii. This was sufficient u encourage him 20
daily lOng-cOuciuucd efforts. tine result vi which
was q gradual Welding Of the rigid muscles.
which became IN time - flexible that he could
make quite IaSsIbis figures. and write Il iaIr
hand. This did not satisfy him. however. He
was ambitious 10 do better and 80 kept on try
ing and trying, until few boys IL the school could
give a iairer copy.
=. Have YOU heard the news said a ucighhDr
to Mr.. Croft. the poor bcd-riddcn man. II was
five years from the day he gave the poor cripple,
Tom Hicks. his first lesson.
wv hat news2' the sick man asked, in "a fee
ble voice, not even turning his head towards the
speaker. LIES pulses were running very low.
The strong struggle with disease was nearly over.
Tom Hicks Ias received the appointment Of
teacher to our public school.
Are you IN elrncst?' There was I~ningling
of surprise and dJibt in the low tones that crept
out upon the AIR.
Yes; it j. true what | say. You know that
after Mr.. Wilson died. the directors got Tom.
VINO was 4 fIv,ritc with all the scholars, 10 keep
the school together Tor = few weeks until Il sue
cessor could De appointed. lie managed - well,
kept such good order and showed himself - caIa-
bic as an instructor. that. when tire election took
place to-day, ne received "a large majority of votes
over a number Of highly recommended teachers,
and this without his having made application for
the situation. or even dreaming of such - thing
At this moment the cripp!e's well-known shut
fling tread and the rattle of crutcEes was heard
on the stairs. He came up with more than his
usual hurry. Croft turned with an effort, 80 as
10 get a sight or him as he entered the room.
=" have heard tine good news" he said, as he
reached a hand feebly toward Tom, - and it has
made my heart glad
:" owe it all to you, replied the cripple ina
voice that trembled with feeling. Tod will re-
ward YOU
And he caught the shadowy arm. touched it
with his lips and wet it with grateful tears, as
once before. Even Is ne held that thin, whit.
hand. the low moving pulses took Il lower bea;-
lower and lower-until the long suffering heart
grew still and the freed spirit went up to its re-
ward.
My benefactor,' - sobbcd the cripple. as he
stood by tine wasted form shroEded in grave
and looked upon it for the last time ere
the cofin-lid closed over it. - What would |
have been except for you?'
Are your opportunities for doing good few OF
limited in range to all appearance. reader? Have
you often said, like thc bed-ridden man, Z" hat
can | do" Are You poor, weak, Ignorant. oh
,curc. or even sick rs he WAS. and shut out from
contact with the busy outside world? No mat
If you have u willing heart. good work will
surely come to your hands. Is there no poor,
unhappy. neglected one u whom you can speak
words Of Encouragement. or iIt 1Ut Of thu vale OF
Think east around You. You may,
by "a single sentence, spoken IN the right time and
in the right spirit. awaken thoughts in some dali
mind that may grow into giant powers IN after
time wicldel for the worlds good. While Won
nIy never DE- able % act directly on society 10
Iny great pUruu<.. in consequence uf mental or
physical disabilities. yuu may by instruction and
guidance, prepare some other mind for useful
work. which but for Your agency might have
its power, in ignorance or crime. All
around Us are human souls that may be iUtlu-
need. The nurse who ministers - You in sick
may b. hurt or helped by You the children
look into your face and read it daily-whO
listen To Your speech and r.Iuembcr what Won
grow better or wJr>.. according u the
.pirit Of YOUR life ~ IL flows into them thc neg
rytcd son of a n~rig.h0r may find IN yDu the wise
who hs!is him hack from vice. In
Iced. v1u cannot pass "a single day. whether YOUR
.pherc be large or small your place exalted or
Dwly, without abundant opportunities Tor doing
good. Only the willing heart i required. y
or the harvest. that J. n.]ding ripe for the
sickle. in every mans field. What Of that time
when the Lord og tine harvest comes. and you
lind up your shelyss and lay them at his feet?