The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-16
For the Central Presbyterian.
The Wall Overthrown.

street, noticed that portion of a wall
had toppled over and lay an immense
pile OF brick extending across the side
walk and even farther into the street.
On closer examination l found that the
wall enclosed a garden, and that there
was tree standing just where the wall
was thrown down. 1 at once perceived
how the mischief was done. The level
of the garden was considerably higher
than the street, and the tree growing near
the wall had spread out its roots on every
side, and by insensible degrees had pushed
out the base of the wall until at last a
breach had been made, and the bricks
preclpltated into the street formed an
impeachment to passers by.
stood while and began to think
somewhat after this fashion: This tree,
although it is so great and has caused SO
much damage, was once a little seed.
The owner of the garden, when he saw
its tiny shoot appear above the ground,
did not think that in few years it would
overthrow the wall. Yet so it has hap
pened; and now the cattle may go into
the garden and trample down the beau
tiful flowers and ruin the shrubbery.
Now the heart of each one of us may
be hkened to a garden which the kind
Master has intrusted to our care. To
plant in it he gave US seed which ger
minating in the soil would spring up into
plants beautiful and graceful, would BIOS
som forth into fragrant flowers and bring
forth as fruits. love, joy, peace, long-suf-
fering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek
ness, temperance. But he warned us to
beware of certain seed which might be
sown by an enemy or indeed might be
found in the garden itself This seed was
called sin, and we were told to pluck it
up by the roots as soon as it appeared,
for if it was allowed to grow, it would
become great tree, which overshadow-
ing the goodly plants and deprlving them
of the sun, would caused them to droop
and die. And, moreover, sending out its
roots on every side it would throw down
the wall.
One morning, it does not seem long
since, when we walked in the garden we
noticed small green shoot. Although
1t was just beginning to show itself we
recognized it at once as the forbidden
plant. We trembled at first, remember
ing what the Master had told us, but in
stead OF pluoking it up, we said: "Wait
bit, 1T may not be so bad after all.
The next day we became more interested
IN 1T, and the day after still more SO, and
each succeeding day our pleasure in
watching it increased to such an extent
that after while we spent more time
in that corner of the garden than any
where else, and SO far from plucking it
up were we, that we began to water and
dig about it, although it did not seem to
need any attention, for it grew of itself,
and so fast that we were surprised, and
would have been alarmed had we not
been so enamored of it. At length even
when the Master came and warned of
the danger, our ear seemed dulled to his
kindly accents.
One day when visiting us we heard him
say, as though speaking to himself, "Eph-
riam Is joined to idols; let HIM alone.
Stunned, we threw ourselves at his feet
and begged him to forgive us. "Ohl
Master" we said, "at once, at once, we
will go and pluck up this plant, only
forgive us" and Immediately we went
to tear it up by the roots. But alas, as
we approached, it seemed SO beautiful in
our eyes and the odor it exhaled was so
intoxicating to our senses that we could
do nothing but gaze upon it. Since this
plant had begun to grow, those that were
to adorn our garden and whose fruit
would make us strong and healthy, had
received little attention from US, and be-
ing thus neglected they grew sickly, and
the gigantic weed, spreading out its
branches, kept out the sunlight from
them. Before, the Master had found it
pleasant to walk in the garden, and we
delighted to meet him, for his face was
lit up by smile; now he came seldom,
but we did not wish to see him for there
was frown upon his brow.
Soon the plant began to approach ma.
turity; then growing holder we said to
ourselves, After all the Master was mis-
taken. This will not throw down the
wall" The history of each day now was
the same. One day when we were re.
clining under the boughs of this great
tree and with eachabreath drawing in its
poisonous, intoxicating exhalations, glory
ing in our pride and wisdom, there was
crash-the wall had fallen. We could
only sit dumbfoundered as we looked
upon the ruin; our garden open to the
incursions of wild beasts, who entering
trampled down what beauty there was
left; the world looking upon a scene Of
desolation and decay where it had i'm
I