Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-21
Make the Best of Yourself.

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Make the Best of Yourself.
The preachers voice rang out clear and
intense. the congregation almost held
its breath as it listened to that passionate
earnestness.
A woman sat listening-a weary wo-
man, to whom life was burden. At
those words, "Make the best of yourself, !"
flashed forth she felt as If they were hurl-
ed at her. She make the best use of her.
self whose life had been failure How
could she? The rest of the sermon was
unheard It was as if diamond had
been thrown into her lap. That was all
she needed. l said the sermon was I'M
heard, yet there did enter into her con-
sciousness another flashing sentence,
"Every man has right to make the best
of HIMSELF
That meant women as we'll as men.
If you had been looking at the woman
you would have seen new and strange
expression come into her face, just such
change as might come into the face of
dying man if suddenly he should find
the fabulous elixir of life.
She leaned her head forward on the
back of the pew before her and sat very
still, but from her heart went up cry,
'Lord, help me to make the best of my
self, with thy help
At last came the benediction and she
rose up. Then as the congregation
poured out she followed with the crowd.
Near the door stood an old, decrepit wo-
man, in worn and shabby garments. Her
hands were wrinkled and large ointed.
She was shy, half-frightened woman,
who had strayed into this large church,
and now stood back, half-awed by its
grandeur and the immense mass of
people.
Gail Bruce liked dainty people and
dainty things of all kinds, and she shrunk
with kind of horror from anything that
was uncomely. But as her eye fell upon
the old woman lshe suddenly sent up
prayer, "Lord, help me to make the most
of myself in all humanities, in love and
tenderness. And Lord bless that old
woman"
When Gail reached her she stretched
out her own well-glovej hand and touch
ed the old woman's arm with tenderness
that thrilled her frame; then slipping her
hand in hers, said:
you will come again"
The old lady looked up with pleased
smile, and said it was s'fine church and
she liked the minister"
When Gail passed out there was on her
face reflex gladness. Seeing it several
people unconsciously held out their
hands to her, who as rule, only bowed.
She went home and kneeling, said,
"Help me to help others. Help me to do
some kind deed every day. Help me to
be like Christ, so that may be my best.
Amen"
That was the beginning of a great
change in Gail Bruce. Every morning
she took up the day with the prayer,
"Lord, help me this day to make some
one happier. Help me to do something
for others. Help me this day to make the
best of myself Many gentle answer
she returned when her nervous tempera-
ment would have prompted quick
word.
One little thing she tried to do especi-
ally-that was to carry bright and
CHEEKY face; to give a pleasant word
whenever she could. This was hard for
her to do at first, for she possessed by
inheritance an inclination to morbidness
and melancholy. But she shook it off as
best she could and gave her s'good-morn-
ing" or .sgood- evening" in as bright a
way as possible At church, instead of
waiting to be spoken to, she took the IN
itiative and spoke to the others, and if
possible, said some pretty or pleasant
thing. Then, greatly to her surprise,
friends began to gather round her. She
found herself called upon for little help
full deeds that some women seem always
to do and others never. She got in the
way of giving a flower to this old lady, or
picture to that little child, or perhaps
of making friendly call on sick girl.
She grew into way Of touching gently
or caressingly all things Her life grew
as sweet-scented as rose, and as people
loved roses they loved her.
So, making the best of her moral and
affeetionate nature, she grew year after
year into sweet, perfect and rounded
womanhood.
But these were not all the ways in
which she made the best of herself.
1t had been her habit, when feeling
sad and melancholy, Ito forget herself in a
novel-to live in another world for time
until the fit of sadness was gone. Now,
instead of that she took up the best works
in literature, and gradually found herself
acquiring finer taste than before, and
an ability to talk ON many subjects. This
gift she used with great tact in helping
others. Her music she had taken up
with new zeal. And so when one Sunday
in Sabbath school the pianist was absent,
she filled the vacancy, and thereafter the
pianist, who was delicate, felt that she
could rely on Miss Bruce to fill her place
when absent.
Gradually life grew very good to this
woman, to whom once it had been
WEAKNESS. Looking back, the past
heartlessness appeared as dream. Life
was so full, so filed up with gentle deeds
and words and charities, that she had no
time to think of and pity herself.
At last-no, not at last-there came to
her the best of Gods good gifts, good
man and true, who, looking down upon
her, said: -
evil you be my wife?'' f5s
She came his wife, knowing that as a
wife-and perhaps mother-she could
grow and develop into her best, noblest
womanhood.- Christian Weekly.
The Surety. Ia
Thomas Nolan had been turned out of
Sahbath-schOOl He had become So had