Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-02-05
PERFECTING.

"It seems to me" said JeDney Hart
| to her Sunday School teacher, that
good people get the worst OF every.
thing"
"What makes you think so?' said
Miss Bradley Il was thinking OF
Mrs. Clark; everybody knows she's
the very best woman that ever lived,
and see how much trouble she has;
after losing all her children and her
property, her husband must be taken
away; | don't see how it is; | think
good people ought to be happy"
"You are quite right; they ought
to be happy, and they are happy"
ooh, Miss Bradley, know lots OF
good people, and | don't think any
Of them are very happy; they have a
great deal more trouble than folks
that do just as they please
"Are YOU sure that your good folks
are goodl Christ said there was
none good but Cod
"Why, | s'pose they're not perfect;
but who expects to be pertect:'
Il think God expects Us to be per-
feet sooner or later; and until we are
perfect, He will keep us atour less ms.
Now tell me, Jenny, who has the
hardest lesson in your school, the
primary class, or the graduating
CLASP
"Why, the graduating class, of
course" :"
That is, the good scholars have
| the hardest lessons. But if they were
perfect scholars, if they knew all
there was to be taught in that school,
they would have no lessons at all.
They are good" as compared to the
primary class, but not good" when
compared with the ideal they are Ca
pable of reaching. Let us take an
other illsutration. In an orchard,
which trees does the farmer select
for pruning and grafting?"
"The best trees"
"Yes; those with most life and
health-the good" trees. The trees
with one or two vital branches are
left alone; they are not worth the
trouble of culture. If they were
pruned, there would be nothing lett.
you mean," said Jenny thought
fully after moment, that good folks
have trouble because they are good" ."
YES" said Miss Bradley, smiling
"that's a short way Of putting ii.
The best, the most valuable must
bear the most discipline, the hardest
tests, of whatever kind its nature re-
quires, in order that it may become
perfected. But who can tell what
the pupil needs for graduation in a
certain SCHOOL,"
The head teacher Of the school. ="
"And who knows what is lacking
to the tree;"
The owner of the tree
"And suppose the advanced pupil
should complain because his lessons
were harder than the primary
pupil; suppose the fullboughed tree
should murmur because it was prun-
ed more than the poor dying thing
at its side-suppose for this the pupil
and the tree should murmur and re
sist. an call the teacher and the
gardener cruel and unjust?'
THAT would be very foolish" said
Jenny, her young face bright with
comprehension.
"Eoolish to the last degree, for il
would delay the gracious process, and
perhaps make impossible the finaI
perfection. ! agree with you in youl
estimate of Mrs. Clark; comparative
lly she is good. She has left clas.
after class in Christ's school, and her
lessons are hard in proportion. But
the Teacher alone knows what Is stil
lacking, and as she has been confided
to His care, He must see that she i
perfect in what lie undertakes Il
teach. But if her lessons are har !
her power 10 learn is great, her faiti
in her Teacher is strong. y boy
generally sheds more tears over hl'
Ialphabet than over his geometry
Bv the time he reaches the higher
land the harder studies, he has learn
ed the JOY cf intellectual work, the
Ij,v of development; he has also risel
10 a joyful mental companionshil
with his teachcr-the master has be
come the friend.
Il can understand that, Mi
Brady. had horrid tire over IL!
multiplication table, but | like arith
metic now. | take solid cOmfor
working out problems with Mr.
| French" D"
In the same way, dear Jenny
YOU must conquer the beginning o
spiritual knowledge, 50 that YOU an'
Christ may be dear friends, workini
tog ,ther; then you will welcome tn
hard lessons as proofs that you beloni
to His High School, as proofs OF rapi
advancement toward perfect con
panionship with Him. = UOoda Hous'
hold Magazine.