The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-02-08
Grinding the Diamond.

The poor sufferer lay in severe pain
on her bed. 1t was really twenty years
since she had known a well day, more
than half that time since she had
walked step and nearly two years since
she had sat up. Her limbs were jerked
by spasms; her back had deep sores on it
from lying so long, and whenever one
was relieved by new position of the
body another would be made. She
never complained, and the cheerfulness
with which she endured all this from
day to day, and from year to year, was
matter of amazement to all. Her
friends, who saw the Bible always lying
near her, knew well from what spring
she drew water. They all said it was
one of the darkest providences they
ever witnessed. One night, as the suf-
ferer lay sleepless from terrible pain,
she began to look back upon the past.
What wreck life. seemed, dating from
her bright school-days! What mystery
that she must be so helpless and such
a sufferer, while her school companions
could walk and move and enjoy life!
What was the object of her Heavenly
Father in putting her into this slow,
hot, long-continued furnace? AS she lay
there thus cOmmuning with herself the
room seemed to fill with light and
beautiful form seemed to bend over her.
Daughter of sorrow" said he, in
voice soft as the zephyr that first rocks
the rose on its stem, :" art thou impa-
tient?" "No; but / am full of pain,
and | have been so long sufferer that
| see no end to it-nor can l see why |
must suffer thus l know that l am
sinner, but l have hoped that Christ's
sufferings, and not mine, would save
me. Oh, why does God deal thus with
me?" "Come with me, daughter, and
l will show thee" "But | can not
walk" True, true! There, gently,
gentlyw He tenderly took her up in
his arms and carried her far away, over
land and water, till he set her down in
far-off city and in the midst of large
workshop. The room was full of win
dows and the workmen seemed to be
near the light, each with his own tools,
and all so intent upon their work they
neither noticed the newcomer nor
spoke to one another. They seem ed
to have small, brown pebbles which
they were grinding, shaping and polish
ing. Her guide pointed her to one
who seemed to be most earnestly at
work. He held half-polshed pebble,
which was now seen to be diamond,
in pair of strong iron pinchers. He
seemed to grasp the little thing as if he
would crush it, and to hold it on the
rough stone without mercy. The stone
whirled and the dust flew, and the
jewel grew smaller and lighter. Ever
and anon he would stop, hold it up to
the light and examine it carefully.
Workman" said the sufferer, " will
you please tell me why you bear on and
grind the jewel so hard?" want to
grind off every flaw and crack in it,
But doesn't it waste it?" eyes; but
what is left is worth so much the more.
The fact is this diamond, if it will bear
the wheel enough, is to occupy very
important place in the crown we are
making up for our king. We take much
more pains with such. We have to
grind and polish them a great while,
but when they are done they are very
beautiful. The king was here yester
day and was much pleased with ouI
work, but wanted that this jewel il
particular should be ground and pol
ished great deal. So you see how
hard l hold it down on this stone. AnC
seel There is not crack or flaw in it
What beauty it will bel" Gently,
gently the guide lifted the poor suf-
ferer, and again laid her ON her bed o
pain. Daughter of sorrow, dost thou
understand the vision?n ooh, yes
But may / ask you one question:
Certainly" "Were you sent to show
me all this?" Assuredly." ooh
may l take to myself the consolation
that am diamond, and am now il
the hands of the strong man who i
polishing it for the King?" "Daugh
ter of sorrow, thou mayest have tina
consolation; and every pang of suffer
ing shall be like flash of lightning il