The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-26
Little Workers.


Little Workers.
in the crowd of ladies and gentlemen
who were watching the laying of the
railroad track over which our wounded
president was to be borne to his cottage
by the sea, stood little boy. AS he
watched the work go on, the desire woke
in his heart to do something to help.
Suddenly he darted out toward the men
who were driving the spikes through the
rails into the sleepers, and said to one of
them:
/" Sir, would you please let me drive one
spike into that rail ?"
The man looked at him moment. 1t
was little arm that was stretched out for
purpose moving the arm, and the purpose
was born in big, true heart. All this
the laborer was wise enough to see, and he
gave him the hammer, saying
"I'm afraid, me boy, it's heavy job for
you; but go ahead and try"
And so he did. He struck with all his
might, and the workman helped him on
by striking every other blow, until at
last the spike was driven home, and the
little boy who had helped ran to his father,
saying:
"I've done something for the president;
haven't l, papa?"
Yes; he had done something for the
president, something for himself in the
building up of character, and something
for the boys and the girls of the land in
showing them that the children can help
along, if they only think they can.
God calls the children, as we'll as the
grown people, to help in the building of
his great kingdom. Indeed, there is work
to be done which none but they can do.
When God called Samuel he called all the
children. When Samuel answered, " Here
am l." and the Spirit caused it to be writ
ten in Gods book, it was that all the
world might see the way in which God
wants his children to answer to his call.
Are you listening, dear child, for his
voice? When you hear it, as you surely
will if you listen, do you reply, -" Here
am |, Lord ?" If not, there must be some
reason for it.
Once in children's meeting the boys
and girls were talking this matter over
with their leader. Several of them said
that they could not be workers with God,
and these are some of the reasons that
were given
"I don't know how to work for him."
said one.
"Nobody would listen to me-" said
another.
al have tried, and it hasn't done any
good" said third.
And all these who gave reasons for
leading idle lives were Christian children
Now listen, little people: there are no
idle Christians, big or little. Every one
who knows God-really knows him
works with him, and can't help it.
We hear great deal said about work.
ing for God, and that does certainly look
like hard work; but Paul talks, instead,
about our working with him, which must
be easy and delightful, because. though
we are so little and weak, he is 80 great
and strong, and his help is freely given to
all who ask for it,
1t is very easy to make mistakes about
this matter of work, and just here is the
place where we are very likely to fall into
error-in thinking we are to work for
him. Think how great and rich he is
what does he need of our little helpl He
makes nations to rise and fall. He speaks,
and a world is made. But-how good it
is of him he is so good as to make it
pOoolDlc LUZ ub W WOIh Will ulus huu
now we want to know some of the ways
in which we may do this.
The children we were talking Of a little
way back seemed to think it was some
hard outside work that they were called
upon to do, and they shrank from it I;
quite naturally. They did not see that
God only wanted them to do the most
natural thing in the world, which is just
to look up to him as our great Father,
and to let his divine life flow into them,
and then flow out toward others in all the
sweet ways of love and helpfulness which
in Jesus were 80 beautiful.
We are workers together with God
when we let him subdue in us our hot,
impatient tempers; when we come to him
to be made true, and kind, and patient ;
when we trust him to make us unselfish,
30 that we really love to have others first,
and it is joy to give up our own good
things that they may be made happy.
But some one may say:
ave want to really do something to
help along, as Willie did in driving the
spike"
Was it the doing in Willies case, or
the heart to do, that was worth most
He had the love in his heart that made
him want to work, and when he saw a
chance he sprang to it quickly. Just let
God see the love in your heart, and see
what chances he will give you
For "this is the work of God 4" to be-
leve him, and love him, and obey him.
All if we do that we shall be workers
indeed, and God will be glad, and the
world will be brighter and better for our
having lived in it, and our own hearts and
lives will be full of deep, sweet joy that
no words can tell.-Chrislian Union.