The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1882-10-06
Burlington Hawkeye.
THE LITTLE FOXES.
A Lay Sermon.

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that
spoil tie vines; for our vines have tender
grapes."-solomou's Song, 2sl5.
DEARLY BELovED-It is the lit.
tie things in this life tha, make mp
our tappinessor misery. II We had
to deal only with great things we
could get along. Ifthere were only
lions in the way, life would be
pleasanter than it is. II We were
only expected to be heroes, we could
accomplish our warfare and work
out our mission with less trouble
than now encompasses us. But
alas, it is not against lions and
great dangers that the voice Of in-
spiration warns us. 1t is only the
"little foxes' we are to take. Aud
the man who despiseth the day of
small things is even AZ he who lift
eth up his head in the air aud
vaunteth himself, even while he
sitteth his foot upon the humble
banana peel. Fallcth he over man
by treading upon dry goods box,
or doth he stumble over "a two.story
housei "Take us the foxes, the
little foxes, that spoil the vine.n
Brethren, it is easier to kill Hon
than to Catch a fox. 1t is easier to
build a wagon than it is to make n
watch. Great is the warrior who
taketh a city, but he is better than
the mighty, that is slow to anger,
and better is "he that ruleth his
spirit than he that taketh a city.
Why sec, how much OF human
misery is based upon the merest
tnaes. The man who makes him.
self supremely wretchcd because
he wants something his neighbor
has, and can't get it; the man who
swears when he loses his collar but.
ton; the man who breaks the furpi.
ture because lie can't find his hat
on the rack when he lett it out in
the back yard; the man who wants
to die when he wakes ut night to
hear it raining in perfect torrents
aud remembers that he left all the
kindling wood out doors on the
cistern box the man who is nm.
happy because his boots are tight ;
the young man, or old man either,
who tries TO make forty.dollar
salary support fifty.dollar coat,
and is miserable because there Is a
misft somewhere |; the man who is
cross and savage all through house.
cleaning week /; the man who is
always sick and miserable after the
picnic; the man who is cross be-
cause it is hot, and gruff because
It's cold, and irritable because IT'S
wet-what are these men but the
tormcnted victims of "the little
foxes that-spoil the vines." These
men have no heavy burdens, no
grave trials. They are miserable
because they make themselves so,
and they remain miserable because
they are too lazy to set a fox trap.
Ii the old world had no heavier
sorrows than these, we would be so
happy down here some Of wouldn't
care to 60 to Heaven. Lay this
paper down light here, dearly be.
loved, and count up all your own
trials and sorrows and tribulations;
strike out all the little, petty every.
day annoyances sou are ashamed to
call tribulations, aud see how little
you have to make lite unhappy.
Honestly, now, what trouble have
youi You need not tell me; just
give yourself an honest answer.
If we allowed the great wrongs
of life to move us as deeply as do
the petty trials; II we endured our
light afRicti0ns more patiently, and
more valiautly combatted the great
evils, how soon would we reform
this old world. Ii one-half tue in.
dignation that IS poured out upon
the insensate collar buttons that
roll away under the shadowy con.
cealment of impass,ve lounges
and bureaus were as taithless poll.
ticians who betray their trusts and
barter their principles for place
and profit, there would he no mourn.
ing over any lack OF honest men in
public places. If society broke the
furniture aud foamed at the mouth