The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-06-12
SANDING THE AXLES.

A person who can help but little is
sometimes able to hinder great deal.
1t requires but very little talent to stand
in the way of each others usefulness
It would require but small ability for a
roguish boy standing by a machine, to
sprinkle little sand upon the oiled and
polished axles on which the wheels re-
volved 1t might be done easily, and
quickly, and remain unobserved; but thai
sand, mingled with the lubricating Oil,
and being carried around on the aNlcH,
would decrease the speed, consume the
power, cut the axles, injure the box,
hinder the work, and derange ami ruin
the machine If the boy was trying to
introduce pebbles OF rocks into the ma
chine. he would do less damage, for they
would be observed and could be easily
removed; but the mischief would come
from introducing the sand, SO fine that 1t
makes its way every where, 50 small that
no one would notice it.
There are men in the church of Christ
who never have shown great ability to
plan OF execute anything Of Importance.
Their main forte seems to be sanding
axles. They can get in the way of 9th
ers; they can hinder, find fault, pervcrt
and SOW jealousy, dissension and suspi-
cion. as invisibly and as ettectually as
a boy can sand the journals OF machine.
No one suspects what they are dong;
nor can any one fasten their misdeeds
upon them, but the air grows thick with
distrust, and work is hindered by secret
contriyances and combinations: good
men are burdened, disheartencd, and
worn out. noble enterprises falter, fail, |
and are abandoned. Every one notice |
that things go hard, and that something
hinders their progress but no one seems
to know what the trouble is, until that
day comes for Il general clearing up, andA
then. 10, and behold, the aXles are found
covered with sand.
1t requires very little ability i'll a mai
to fill the position of sand throwcr.-
Neither intelligence, talent, grace, moi
godlincss are absolutely necessary fol
this work. Conceit, envy, jealousy, sour
ness and meddesomeness are suiiicientf
qualifications under ordinary circum-
stances. 1t does not take much religionI
for n man to find fault; some men have
been know to find fault who did not have
any. 1t requires no long apprenticeship
OF great skill to throw sand on aNles: n
man who does not know enough to OIL N
machine properly could sand it quito
eifectually. y
Here, for instance, is Il church. whcH
there are few people who try to do somd
thing. and 4 number who succeed iii ID
ing nothing except grumblc because Wild !
is done is not done in a different wal 5
Here is 4 person who from love 10 Il
cause of God desires 10 labor earnestl g
theoretically and ehectually in Il
| Masters work; but by the the time hcf
under way, others who have not succeed
ed in accomplishing anything of import
ance are ready to throw sand on his axle
| and neutralize his efforts until the 0the
workers are discouraged and the woH
Abandoned; after which the sand-throu
ers relapse into conditioA.of quietut
They have done what they could, whA
was simply TO hinder others from doc
anything, and now their song is, Il tss
you so; knew that nothing would
done" Most churches have s--;,JW}
(coNrrSUEp rRoS