The Nicodemus cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Graham County, Kan.) 1887-1888, 1888-06-08


this subject. In some families there are per
sons of no practical service to the HOUSEHOLDS
or community; and though there are so many
woes all around about them in the world, they
spend their time languishing over new
pattern, or bursting into tears at midnight
over the story of some lover who shot him
self They would not deign to look at Ruth
carving back the barley on her way home to
her mother-in-law, Naomi. All this tastldl'
business may seem to do very well while they
are under the shelter of their fathers house!
but when the sharp winter of misfortune
comes, what of these buttertiiesl Persona
under indulgent parentage may get upon
themselves habits of Incidence; bnt when
they come out into practical life their soul
will recoi with disgust and chagrin. They
will feel in their hearts what the poet so Sc
verely satirized when he said:
Folks are so awkward. things so impolite.
They re elegantly panied from morning untn night
Through that gate of Incidence how many
men and women have marched, useless on
earth, to a destroyed eternity! Spinola said
to Sir Horace We're; ''Of what did your broth
er diep' 'Of shaving nothing TO do" was
the answer. -"Ah," said Spinola, that's
enotigh to kill any general of u.s." Oha can
it be possible in this world; where there
is so much suffering to be alleviated; so
much darkness to be enlightened, and so
many burdens to be carried, that there is any
persons who cannot find anything TO do!
Madame de Stael did world of work in her
time; and one day, while she was seated amid
in struments of music all of which she had
mastered, and amid manuscript books which
she had written, some one said to her: Glow
do you find time TO attend TO all these
thingsE' "Oh," she replied, ''these are
not the things l am proud of. My chief
boast is In the fact that | have seventeen
trades, by any one of which | could make a
spheres there is so much to be done, in spir-
itual work how vast the field We want more
Abigails, more Hannahs, more Rebeeccas,
more Marys, more DebOrahs, cOnsecrated-
body, mind, soul-tothe Lord who bought
them.
VI Once more l learn from my subject
the value of cleaning.
Ruth going into that harvest field might
have said: There is straw, and there is a
straw, but what is q straws | can't get any
barley for myself or my mOtherin-law out of
these separate straws." Not so, said beaut-
full Ruth. She gathered two straws, and
she put them together, and more straws,
until she got enough to make sheaf. Put
ting that down she went and gathered more
straws, until she had another sheaf, and
another, and another, and another, and then
she brought them all together, and she
threshed them out, and she had an ephah Of
barley, nigh busheL Oh, that we might all
be gleanersl
Elihu Burritt learned many things while
tCiling in q blacksmith's shop. AbercrOmbie
the world-renowned philosopher, was a
philosopher in Scotland, and he got his
philosophy, or the chief part of it, while, as .
physician, he was waiting for the door of tho
sck-room to open. Yet how many there are
in this day who say they are so busy they
have no time for mental or spiritual improve
ment; the great duties of life cross the field
like strong reapers, and carry off all the
hours, and there is only here and there frag-
ment left that is not worth cleaning. All, my
friends, you could 90 into the busiest day
and busiest week of your life and find golden
opportunities, VIII CHI gathered, might at least
make whole shcaf for the Lords garner 1t
is the stray opportunities and the stray
privileges which, taken up and bound to-
gether and beaten out, will at last fill you
with Astounding JOY.
There are a few moments left worth the
cleaning. Now, Ruth, to the field! May each
one have a measure full and running over!
Oh, you cleaners, to the field And if there
be in your household an aged one or a sick
relative that is not strong enough to come
forth and toll in this field, then let Ruth take
home to feeble Naomi this sheaf of cleaning:
''He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with
rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him"
May the Lord God of Ruth and Naomi be our
portion forever