Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-01-03
An AIlegory-For the FIRST Sabbath In the
New Year.

In a peaceful valley there lived
number of people whose leader dwelt
on hill and guided the tillers of the
soil, weaving into their lives many
lessons of truth. They were supplied
with water from the mountain, which
was sent them every morning by a
carrier. 1t was the masters rule that
each should have his urn clean, that
the fresh supply might not be mingled
with the old. For q time all were
faithful; as each days supply was
used, the urn was made clean for the
new. But alas, for human weak.
ness so prone to fall from the line of
duty-soon IA murmur was heard
among the people. ~, atg taI.
"I have had no fresh water for
days. said one of group standing
idly by the roadside.
"Neither have ~ said another.
ats no use for the master to expect
us to labor" remarked third, "if we
are not supplied with water. Life is
hard enough to bear with all we can
have to help us. Now there's our
neighbor, Cheerful, over the way-his
urn is full of pure, sparkling water
each morning" ..-..... q...r.....
"And why ?" broke in voice in
tones of remOnstrance.
The idlers looked at each other, and
then at the face of Old Faithful, who
was just returning from his evening
walk and had heard their words of
complaint, rt7r- .s.f..
"Let me assure you, my neighbour"
he said mildly, yet with force, otis
all your own fault that your urns are
not filled. You each know the mas
ter's command that they should be
kept clean and ready for the fresh sup
ply. Have you all been faithful to the
commando"
They thought among themselves and
answered with but partial truth, say
ing, awe may not always have had
our urns clean, but why should they
be untitled for that?"
Because the new water would be
made unclean and useless by being
mixed with the old. Our master loves
| us all alike; but he cannot supply us
with fresh waters and new life if we
have not used the old and prepared for
the new"
~ suppose if we had them ever SO
clean now the carrier would pass us
by,n remarked one of the group.
'"Try and see," said Faithful. 1--WE
may always rest assured that if our
part is done the master will do his; for
no one, however kind and merciful,
can benefit us if we do not put our
selves in a state to be blessed. If the
master sends us fresh water each day
and our urns are impure, is it the fault
of the benefactOr that they are so? We
must prepare to receive" wt.-r
Faithful went on his way. The sun
sank in his bed of fieecy clouds; the
evening dew fell on the earth, and all
was still. The lesson must have pen
etrated the hearts of the listeners, for
on the morrow their urns, white and
clean, were full Of pure, sparkling
water.
Shall we from the beginning of this
new year, as each day comes to US fresh
and pure from the hands of the Great
Master, shall we look into our hearts
and see that the life from thence has
gone forth for good and made ready
for new, or are we idly murmuring
that we have no life waters? Can the
Fathers life inflow if we do not give!
Our souls are sacred urns which He
longs to fill to overlooking with pure
and heavenly truths If we are willing
to receive and faithful to extend His
mercies. MRS. I. S. ADAMS.