Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-09-12


people generally--but as spoken now,
and TO each one Of us in particular; just
as particular as il you were the only
being alive on the earth. | never thought
of it Just that way before. II made Gods
love and care a real thing Jacob. The
text was. "Come unto Nc all ye that la
Dor and arc heavy ladened, and | will
give you rest" 0 Jacob !! | do wish you
could have heard it. | know that it
would have helped and conforted you SO
much"
Maybe it would" he answered in a
thoughtful way.
"Oh, / am sure it would !" his wife said
with a flash OF delight in her counte.
nance.
Jacob look cd up al that moment, and
saw the radiant expression that made her
plain face look beautiful in his eyes.
"Aud | will give you rest" Even SO.
The promise is made for all. In just the
degree we turn to the Lord, If il ia only
in revercnt thought of some passage
from His Word, will lie give us rest from
worldly anxiety; for the thought brings
Him nearer. and His presence is peace.
And will give you rest" Even So
Jacob had already entered in some small
degree into the promised rest. How long
he would abide therein was with himself
al one. He could turn away from the
light-would do so no doubt-and sit
again in darkness. But the memory of
this hour, with its rest and peace, would
remain with him, and he would know by
experience from whence cometh our help.
The week he had looked with fear for.
went by. The dreaded reduction of time
was made, and on Saturday evening
Jacob Long received ten dollars instead
Of fifteen. He tried to keep down the
tr oubled feelings that were rising in his
heart. ms he walked home, and tried in a
way he had never tried before. How ?
Tic did now from purpose what he had
done spontaneously, rs it were, on the
previous Sunday morning; he called up
from his memory Gods promise TO weak,
| doubling ones. who are in lear least they
should not be fed or clothed-and it Is
wonderful how much they helped him.
There it is. Molly" he said as he put
his weeks wages into her hand. "Only
ten dollars" And his voice shook lit
| tie.
Five loaves and two small fishes once
fed large multitude" she answered,
with sweet confidence in her manner;
land he who fed them is our Saviour and
friend. 1t will be enough. Jacob. Let
us not be faithless. but believing All
day long this verse of hymn that was
sung in church last Sunday, has been
running in my mind:
''Who fed thee last will feed thee still;
BE calm, aud sink into his wil.'
You seem 10 get good deal oi com
fort in church, said Jacob, u new thought
coming into his mind.
"mdccd, you may well say that. | al
ways hear something that helps and com.
forts me through the next week. I'm II
better wife to you than ever could have
been, Jacob, if had not gone to church" "
"It's poor rule that don't work both
WAYS" answered the husband. He look
ed tenderly into Molly's face. - "'You
have been good WIFE," he added with
signs of feeling-"a better wife than |
have been husband"
"Oh no. no Don't say thai Jacob, "
quickly replied Mrs. Long mo woman
that know has better husband than
mine"
There is large room for improve
meni, Molly" said Jacob Long, quietly.
al ought to bring home more sunshine"
then faint smile fitted about his lips, RS
he continued. IL wonder if going to
church would help me any?"
Molly stared; her eyes grew brighter,
and her cheeks warmer. She looked
steadily into Jacobs face and answered ::
1.-The Lord is n sun and shield. If we
try 10 get near to him. we shall get into
the sunshine"
On the next morning. he had been
awake several times through the night,
worrying himself because his wages had
been reduced But when day broke, and
the cheerful sunlight pouredinto his room.
the shadows fell away.
"Thc Lord God is sun and shield"
1t came into his thoughts as the day
dawned, and kept repeating itself for o
long time. And the divine sentence was
to him sun and shield. Tor it dispersed
the darkness OF doubt, and shielded him
from the arrows of spiritual enemies who
| shot at his soul.
at seemed to Jacob Long that the
minister was preaching just for him. His
text was-"Lct not your heart be troub.
led"
Poor heart! How full Of trouble and
doubt and fear it had been, for SO many
years There had been none to care for
the humble, hard, toiling mechanic, go
Jacob had thought. Selfshness, greed
of gain, dishonesty and wrong were all
about him. In man there was no pity
| and no shield. But now, like new rev.
elation, it was shown how God cares low
ingly and always for the poorest and
humblest of his children. How their
ways are in his hands and how, no mat.
ter what their condition, "He, the Great