The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-02-08
The Pearl Oyst 3r.
BY REV. JOHN TODD, d. d.

Far down In the uecp waters. ucitf the
island OF Ceylon. i'm the bright sand, lay Il
pearl oyster. 1t was surro unded by a
large family Of brothers and sisters, and
was happy and joyous rs an oyster could
be, The beams Of light came glancing
down upon him from the upper world.
just as bright as his eyes could bear. The
dark waves rolled over his head and beat
up pn the island with a. laundering roar.
but they never troubled him. Ships
sometimes scudded across his vision un-
der their torm-sais but whether wrecked
or safe, gave him little or no anxiety. II
the hungry fish came prowliny round he
nestled deeper in the sand, and was safe.
So full of life was he that, had he feet, he
doubtless would have danced for joy. SO
he lived and grew the very pride of his
family.
But one day he suddenly felt a sharp
pain dart through him.
80 what is that?" cried he. 81 never
felt anything like it! Has some young
sword fish stuck his sharp sword into
me -
Alas! nv child" said his mother. 81
know we'll what it means. You have an
incuaable disease growing upon yon. @,
that the angel Of tho waters would pity
you and spare you
"Shall I feel it again, mother?"
"Yes, again and again. But you will
learn to bear it, and the trouble will come
upon YOU so gradually that you will learn
! to su:fer.'
From that day the poor oyster never had
, an hour free from pain. Gradually these
pains came, but with increasing power
but he soon learned to bear them, and
even to smile and speak cheerfully. Ten
darly the poor mo- her minister Il to him
and colnforted him. But it was soon
found that there was something growing
near his heart, that was very hard. 1t
seemed like a small. round stone at first,
but it was covered up that nobody could
see il. All the doctors far and near came
i,Ht could afford no relief. 1t was noticed
too. that the angel of the waters came Of
tc7 and looked upon the poor sufferer, and
every time he did so the pain increased. 1t
seensc9 a. if he wanted to increase them
aas no doubt he did! Sometimes he would
touch him will, his finger. sometimes turn
him orer. and sometimes hint to the phys
ician to give the very medicine that made
the suffering greater! Poor helpless on", !,
there he lay year after year growing lar
ger, and the lump aear his heart growing
larger and harder, and the pains ever in
creasing. ..- ..... p. I'd.
At last the poor oyster was worn q I by
pains, and died; and as he breathed his
last, a pearl diver came down aud seized
him and put him into his little bag. Soon
he shot mp again to the world above the
waters, and entered the boat that was wait
ing for him. Ard row they opened the
shell and 10! all was explained! Within
the shell was Il nrgrifcent pearl-bright
asa silver rainbow. 1t was the largest
ever found i'm those waters. Carefully
they carried it away And now it was
know that it cost all those sulferings and
agonies to make that pearl. The angel OF
the waters had made ri!eni' all Ia go into
that pearl. and not an agony could have
been less and have che Jewel so perfect. 1t
was carried at once tn the crown jeweler.
and now ari"rrs tlIe' head of the queen. M
other pearl cam compare with it. ....
o, the wisdoiq, goodness and mercy Of
God! fIe cain t:fite the pains and the
agonies ~ ;f-e' sicle one, and work them all
into jewels wl!idh will sparkle in the
crown OF Christ forever! All our sorrows
and sutferngs, and our very tears. will
thus become II part of his own glorious
Drown. We wonder often that the good,
| the meek, are made, to suffer SO long and
40 feariully; but when we look upon tire
jewels which he thus makes up we shall
cease the wonder. Not one pang of sor-
row could be spared and have the jewels
| in his crown what they are.
o. sufferer on the bed of pain! / have
told thee the simple story of the way our
Lord makes pearls for the crowns of earth
| ly monarchs and i'm the same way he is
fitting thee to be glory in his own dia-
dem. Patiently, patiently suffer his will,
and thou wilt hereafter see that il was all
to make thee more glorious in the eternal
kingdom.
The novelty at Woods Theatre in New
York, this week, is the Enchanted Foun-
tain !" "Golden waters. silver waters,
crimson, blue, emerald-tinted waters, fall
from romantic picturesque basins, which
are upheld by living nymphs."
1t is said there are 8, $50 Sunday Schools
in New York city.