St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-06-20
$50 Little that I can Do"

ten longs to fill, and, because of some
limit put to its activity, overlooking
the calls that are at its very door II
matters not what the adverse ciIcum-
stances may be-weak health, or many
and various home duties, or lot cast
in some quiet nook of our land, far
away from any of our great centres, OF
even home amongst people OF an
alien and hostile creed. Any or all OF
these may be appointed to those to
whom the Master still says, "WOrk to-
day in my vineyard. eff we had
health, or time, or wealth, OF position, u
we say, we could do something, but
now-HOw often, when we dare not re-
bel against God in plain words, we yet,
with hardly a sense of our SHIT is so
common--lift our complaints against
the Providences which are but the ex-
pressons of His will. Let us fix it in
our minds that discontinued thoughts
do not and cannot come from that Holy
Spirit who is the Comforter. Do not
let us parley with them they must be
driven out at once as unworthy of any
heart which He deigns to make His
dwelling place. Ours may be no place
upon the open plain, OF mountain top,
visible to all around, but very obscure
spot amongst the hedges-we may only
be seen Just by those travelling upon
the same line of road, and yet we may
be with the King, and under His APP
pOintment. Il Chron. iv. 23.) Where
He is-where IUOrk is-shOuld we not
be we'll content to stay? Let us open
our napkin and look at our one talent
He, who ''knew what was in man,"
spoke truth, and taught lesson for
all time, when he represented the SER
want with one talent as hiding his
Lords money. 1t is so easy and pleas
ant to work with ten talents-tO do
things well-to give much; but where
there is very little we can do, we need
the solemn warning not to leave that
little undOne.
The following sketch of quiet service,
overlooked because it lUas so near home,
may be a word in season to some.
Our village is a quiet country place,
full of pleasant homes, pretty stores,
and a fair share of the common business
of the day, surrounded by high reach
ing ranges of mountains, grassy slopes
everything wearing a comfortable,
prosperous aspect, and every one look
ing as if well fed, well clothed, well
warmed and well housed.
One day, said to friend in all con-
fidence, eve are saved great deal in
living in so prosperous village, where
all can get work who need it; but |
fear we may get to be careless and sell
fish, and lose the satisfaction of minis
tering to Others"
"Have you ever looked about you, or
tried to seek out the poor in our midst ?"
answered my friend. "You are mistak-
en- in thinking that they are not to be
found. | assure you that though there
are comparatively few who really are
in absolute want, still there are great
many who require daily help, and
whom you could relieve with very little
trouble, believe, if you have the will
to do sou
"Tell me where to find them, where
to begin" l replied, "and l will do
what | can only tell me where to go.
Of course, it will be up the new road
where all the cottages are"
"There is much need of help up there
L know" was the answer, "but the case
L refer to is very near you-you can see
the house from your window ; family
who are sOrely in need of help. And
you can find many others in the same
sad state if you will seek them out.n
So saying but little more, my friend
pointed to me small building down a
street just opposite my window, and
told me if l wanted to help poor suf-
ferers, to seek them there.
So in due time l went out to find
these poor people. IcrOssed the street,
passing one or two large buildings, and
came to little tumble-down house,
which had been once used for an office
to coal yard. knocked at the door,
and hearing faint call, "Come in"
entered the squalid room, so very near
my own home, and yet of which had
never dreamed. A low, comfortless
apartment, rough, unexpected floor,
which might have been little more
decent, if it could only have seen a
scrubbing brush and water; a cracked
stove, in which a little green wood
Missed and steamed, one or two shabby
chairs, shabbier bedstead and rough
looking bed; but, saddest of all, on a
low made lounge against the partition.
sitting up, with his head resting against
the wall and his limbs half covered by
a battered blanket, sat a man, sadly
worn and emaciated, evidently in the
last stages of consumption. He could
scarcely answer my inquiries for the
troublesome cough which was wearing
him out. Beside him stood little girl
about eight years of age, who was hold
ing saucer full of very uninviting-
looking tea to her fathers lips; his
hand was so tremulous he could not
hold it.
That will make you feel better, ia
ther," she said, as she smoothed the
hard pillow against which his head
rested. "See, here is Mrs. p. who
lives where those flowers grew last
summer
| found the poor man too weak To
talk, and from the little girl elected
the sad story.
when father was well, he worked in
the stone quarry, but he got hard cold
10 the spring, and has been laid mn
slnee-has not done a whole DAYS work
Mother has to work, and goes every day
to the house on the hill. Half she earns
goes for the house rent, and when she
gets any pay she buys things for us.
and neighbors send in victuals. Broth.
er goes to school, and when mother can