The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22

EARTH to destroyed eternity! Spinola said to
Sir Horace Vere "Of what did your brother
die?" "Of having nothing to do" was the
answer. "Ah," said Spinola, "that's enough
to kill any general of us" Oh can it be pos
sible in this world, where there is so much
suffering to be aleyiated, so much darkness to
be enlightened, and so many burdens to be
carried, that there is any person who cannot
fluid anything to do?
Madame de Stael did world of work in her
time; and one day, while she was seated amid
instruments of music, all of which she had
mastered, and amid manuscript books which
she had written, some one said to her: "How
do you find time to attend to all these things?"
ooh" she replied, these are not the things I
am proud of. My chief boast is in the fact
that have seventeen trades, by any one of
which could make livelihood if necessary"
And if in secular spheres there is so much to
be done, in spiritual work how vast the field!
We want more Abigails, more Hannahs, more
Rebeccas, more Marys, more Deborahs conse-
crated-body, mind, soul-to the Lord who
bought them.
EVI. Once more 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 a straw? L can't get any
barley for myself or my mother-in-law out Of
these separate straws." Not so, said beautiful
Ruth. She gathered two straws, and she put
them together, and more straws, until she got
enough to make sheath Putting 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 gleaners
Elihu Burritt learned many things while
toiling in q blacksmith shop. Abercrombie,
tho world-renowned philosopher, was philos-
opher in Scotland, and he got his philosophy
or the chief part of it. while, physician, he
was waiting for the door of the sick-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 Improvement; tho great
duties Of life cross the field like strong reapers
and carry off all the hours, and there is only
here and there fragment left that is not
worth cleaning. All, my friends, you could
60 into the busiest day and busiest week Of
your life and find golden opportunities, which,
gathered, might at least make a whole sheaf
for the Lords garner. 1t is the stray opportu-
mites and the stray privileges which, taken up
and bound together and beaten out, will at last
fill you with Astounding joy.
There are 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 rela-
tive 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 doubtlesSscOme again with rejoicing
bringing his Sheaves with him" May the Lord
God OF Ruth and Naomi be our portion forever!