The Van Buren press., 1868-04-17
Grinding the Diamond.

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The poor sufferer lay in severe pain %
her bed, 1t had been nearly twenty yesls
sincs she saw well day, more than half
that time since she had sat up. Her limbs
were jcrked by spasrns. her back had dssp
sores on IL from lying 20 long. and when.
ever one was'relisved by anew position Of
the body. another would b. made. She
never complained and the, chscrfulpsss
with which she endured this from day 20
lday. and from year to year. Was matter II
amszement to all, Her friends Who ssR
the Bible always lying near her knew wsll
from what springs she drew, water. They
all said it was one Of the darkest ptovidss.
ces they ever witnessed, vsaT .,rsbls,rg
One night, as, the sufferer lay helplsss
from teriGle pain. she began to look back
upon the past. What q wreck life kssmsd.
dating from her bright schools daysl What
a mystery that she must be 50, helpless and
such sufferer. while her school cop psniens
could walk and move, and act, and enjoy
life! What was the object Of her heavenly
Father in putting her into this slow. hot.
long continued furnace :? As she Law there
thus communipg with herself. the room
seemed suddenly to fill with light, andla
beautiful form seemed to bend over her.
His face was calm and gentle. hut full Of
| pity, She was not at all frightened,, nor
deemed it strange that he was there, though
she was aware that she never saw, him be.
fore. .... .......f.,.,, u. ~. ..,,,..,,.,,,,.
Daughter Of sorrowp said he in .
voice soft as the zephyr that rocks tho ross
on its stem, :. art thou impatient Z" ,le1u
"No but | am full Of pain and disease.
and | have so long been sufferer that, Isee
no end 10 it. mol, can | see why I mus, sui.
fer thus. / know that l am sippsr. ,bpt
hoped that Christs .sulferings. and not
mine, would save me, Oh. why does God
deal thus with me y ,.a, .la, I'd, h.sod
! Come with me, daughter. and I viii
But Icannot walkisglhea "a, .,,bIod
=" True, tue! There. gently, geptlyp
lie tendcrly took her up in bis arms, and
carried her away, far away. oyet land And
water, till he set her down ina far Of city.
and in the midst Of . large workshop, the
room was full of windows and the work.
men seemed to be near the light. and each
with his own tools. and all seemed SO in
tent upon their work. thrt they neither no.
ticed the new corners, nor spoke to one On.
other They seemed to have small, brown
pebbles, which they were grinding, aud
shaping. and polishing. Her guide point.
cd her to one who sccmedto be most earn
estlv at work Tie had half.polished
pebble, which was now seen to Be dia-
mond in pair OF isyfoig iron pincers., Ho
seemed 10 grasp theglittls thing AS h bs
would crush it,.and to hold on 70 the roaeh
stone without mercy omIhe stone whiflsd,
and the dust flew, and the jewel grew smsn.
er and lighter. Ever and anon he wotiid
stop, hold it upto the lishr, and examine
lit carefully 's7a bah h'o ne a u 'f''"p
Workman said The sutcret, dwll
yon pss.s e, 70 ,el ne WY Sssr A .Ad
"I want 10 gtihtf on cvsfy CAV md
crack in it.''e sd' Toi siiAH $40 II 'sT"T
70 "Bm don't YOU waste ite" I'd l'i~ Sa'd'
7"Yes; but what s left Il worth so initch
the more. The fact is, this diainohd, 'ifit
will bear the wheel long enough, i~to, ,oc.
cupy a very important place in the crown
we are are making for our king, We take
much more pains with such, we have 10
grind and polish them a great while !; but,
when they are done they are very beautiful.
The king was here yesterday, and was much
pleased with our work, but, wanted this
Jewel, in iparticulor. should be ground anil
polished great deal So you see how
hard I hold il down on ttis stone. Ana.
see there is not a crack nor a Aaw, in il
What beauty it will be p d "a ,a,a ga:
Gently. gently tho guide lifted up tho
poor sufferer, aHd again laid her down. on
her own bed oi oipaia. {" Daughter aof sor-
row dost thou understand the, vision ~
Oh, yes but may | ssk'you one ques.
ton Eio nalllT ,.aib l,trtH lu Jph1 .lla m9a1
Certainly" l,rd sld 90 lsSnom dlit
Were you sent to msito show ma oil
this?" IA .sil7 ,l iemluE Y,,,dslaH.
30 "AssuredlyM ~ l3sd 10 30 tsaaoni ssi'f
'"Ohi may Itakc 20 myself the consols.
tion that I am i diamond, and an now in
the hands Of the strong man. .lwholisi pol.
ishing 10 tor che crown Of the @ Grsat King?'
"DAghter Of sorrow thou mayst haye
that consolation aud every psng Of snfIsr.
ing shall be like fash Oflightniug ina
dark night, revealing eternity to thee; aud
hereafter thou shall run without wesriuess
and walk without faintness. and sing with
those who have 'come out Of great sribula.
tion, "--7ract your,sal.~---
| ..sfWsa in.itaG "a 30 t11ns9 a ~ ~&s
IYp FIk n N -TT~'TiT IA 7f1iGflaeI pdl