The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-03
THE FATTY THAT SA YES

~ - n ~ - a go - 49, -
In the Highlands of Scotland there is
mountain gorge twenty feet in width
and two hundred feet in depth. It's per-
pendicular walls are bare of vegetation
save in their crevices, in which grow
numerous wild flowers of rare beauty
DESTROYS of obtaining specimens of these
mountain beauties, some scientific tourist
offered Highland boy handsome gift
if he would consent to be lowered down
the cliff by rope, and would gather
little basket full of them. The boy
looked wishflly at the money, for his
parents were poor; but when he gazed
at the yawning chasm he shuddered,
shrunk back and declined. But iilial
love was strongin him, and after another
glance at the gift andthe terrible tissure,
his heart grew strong, his eyes flashed
and he said
"Pll 90, Il my father tCiR hold tke rope" ("
And then, with unshrinking nerves,
cheek unblanched. and heart frmly str
ong, he suffered his father to put the
rope about him, lower him into that
wild abyss, and to suspend him there
while he filled his little basket with the
coveted flowers. It was a daring deed,
but his faith in the strength of his fa-
theirs arm and in'the love of his fathers
heart gave him courage to attempt and
power to perform it,
This boys trust is beautiful illustra-
ton of the faith which saves the soul !;
for as he put himself into his fathers
hands to be bound with the rope and
lowered down the gorge to pluck the
coveted flowers, so must you put yourself
into Christs hands to be pardoned.
Binding yourself with the promises Of
Gods mercy, you must give yourself into
Christ's hands to be lowered into that
depth of establishment where grows in
peerless beauty the sweet flowers of for
giveness. And when your feet are re-
moved from all human grounds of hope,
when all consciousness of self-righteOus-
ness is gone from within you, then, as
that boy found courage, and peace, and
strength in thinking, My father knows
this rope is strong; my father is able to
hold it; my father loves me too well to
let me fall" so will you find pardon,
peace and power in thinking, my father
in heaven will not break this promise of
mercy with which have bound myself
to him. He holds it in his hands. He
loves me. He will not let his promise
90. He saves me for Christ's sake"
Try this faith, penitent youth, and it
will save thee as surely as that boys
father held him firmly and drew him
from the mountain gorge.
William Goblet, who afterward became
so distinguished, had to laborundereyen
greater disadvantages. He was a poor
soldier, living on sixpence u day, and the
most of his studying, he tells us, was
done with the edge of his guard bed for
seat, his knapsack for u book case, and
board lying across his lap for desk.
He could buy no oil or candles, and must
take his turn at reading by the camp fire.
To buy pen and a sheet of paper, he
was Obliged to go without portion of
food, though almost starving, and all his
studying was done in the midst of com
pany of thoughtless soldiers, forever talk
ing, singing or whistling, and that, too,
ut any odd minutes he could manage TO
pick up. Will you ever think again that
you have no advantages for improving
yourselves? If you wait for everything
to be smooth and easy before you, life
will slip away and you will never have
accomplished half your Creator designed
yeu should. He places difficulties before
you for the very purpose Of trying your
mettle, of teachingyou your own strength
or weakness He knows when you sue
cessfully battle with and overcome them,
and he also notes when you allow sloth
to bind his letters about you.
Robert Bloomfield, who occupies such
an honorable niche among the British
poets, was a poor shoemakers appren-
tice, and by improving all his spare min
utes became well stored with intellectual
riches, poor as he was in other respects.
1t did not seem very likely, as he used
to bend over his lowly bench, pegging
away at his humble occupation, that he
would ever be the companion Of the most
learned and respected men Of the land.
But if we only faithfully make the most
of our abilities, we do not know what the
Lord may have in store for us.