Democratic messenger., 1889-06-15

on the low ground, and was swine.
herd; God called him up To wave u
scepter, Ferguson spent his early
days in looking after tho sheep; God
called him up 10 look after stars, and
be a shepherd watching the nocks Of
light on the hillsides Of heaven. Ho-
garth began by engraving pewter pots;
God raised him to stand in the en-
chanted realm Of painter. The shoe
makers bench held Bloomfield for a
little while; but God called him to sit
in the chair Of philosopher and
Christian scholar. The soap boiler OF
London could not keep his son in that
business, for God had decided that
Hawlcy was 10 DO ono Of the greatest
astronomers OF England. On the other
hand, we may DO born in n sphere
little higher than that for which God
intends us. We may be born in
castle, and play in q costly con-
servatory. aud feed high bred point
crs, aud anglo for gold fish in
artificial ponds, and be familiar
with princes; yet God may have
fitted us for carpenters shop, or dent
lists forceps. ora wcaver's shuttle, or a
blacksmith's forge. The great thing
is to find just the sphere for which
God intended us. and then TO occupy
that sphere and occupy il forever.
Here is man God fashioned
10 make plow. There is q man
God fashioned 10 make constitution.
The man who makes the plow is
just as honorable as the man who
makes the constitution, provided hc
makes the plow as we'll as the other
man makes the constitution. There
is woman who was made TO
fashion robe. and yondcr is
one intended to be queen and
wear IL. Il seems TO me that in the
one case as in the other, God appoints
the sphere; and the needle is Just rs
respectable in his sight ns the scepter.
do not know but that the world
would long ago have been saved il
some Of the men out Of the ministry
were in il. and some Of those who are
in il were out Of il. really think
that onc-half Of the world may DO di.
vidcd into two.quarters-those who
have not found their sphere. and those
who. having found il, are not willing
TO stay there. How many are strug-
Cling for a position little higher than
that for which God intended them. The
bondswoman wants 10 bc mistress.
Hagar keeps crowding Sarah. The
small wheel Of n watch. which beauti.
fully went trcading its golden path
way, wants to bc the balance wheel,
and the sparrow, with chagrin, drops
into the brook, because il cannot, like
the eagle, cut circle under the sun.
In the Lords army we all want 10 he
brigadicr generals. The sloop says:
More mast; more tonnagc; more
canvas. U. that were topsail
schooner. or II full rugged brig,
or cunarl steamer And so
the world is filled with cries
Of discomfort. because we are not
willing TO stay in the place where God
put us and intended us to be. Ny
friends, be not too proud Ia do any
thing God tells you To do. For the
lack Of right disposition in .his re-
spect the world is strewn with wander
ing Iiagars and lsllmaels. God has
given each one Of us work 10 do.
You carry u scuttlc Of coal up that
dark alley. You distribute that Chris
tian tract. You give ten thousand dol
lars 10 the missionary cause. You. for
fifteen years. sit with chronic rheuma-
tism. displaying the beauty Of Chris.
tian submission. Whatever God calls
you To. whether il win kissing or
huzza; whether To walk under trium.
phal arch or lift the sot out Of the
ditch; whether il bc 10 preach on
a Pentecost, or tell some wantlcrer Of
the street Of the mercy Of the Christ Of
Mary Magdalcne; whether il DO TO
weave u garland for a laughing child
on spring morning. and call her
May queen. or to comb out the tangled
locks of a waif of the street aud cut up
one of your old dresses 10 iii her out
for the sanctuary do il, and do il
right away. Whether il he u crown or
u yoke. do not iidgct Everlasting
honoIri upon those who do their work,
and lo their Whole work. and are con.
tented in tie sphere in which God has
put them; Will. there is only wander
ing. and exile. and dcSolation. and
wilderness. for discontentcd Hagar
and lslin,acl
SYMPATHY WITH WOMAN.
Again: | find in this Oriental scene
q lesson Of sympathy with woman
when she cocs forth tridging in the
desert. What great change it was
for this IIagar. There was the tent
aud all the surroundings Of Abraham's
house. beautiful and Luxurious no
doubt. Now she is going out into the
hot sands of the desert. y, what n
change il wasl And in our day we
often see the wheel Of fortune turn.
Here is some ono who lived in the
very bright home Of her father.
She had everything possible TO
administer 10 her happiness. Plen-
~ at tho table. Music i'm the
drawing room. Welcome at the
door. She is led forth into life by
some one who cannot appreciate her.
4 dissipated soul comes and takes her
out in the desert. lniquities blot out
all the lights Of that home circle.
Harsh words wear out herspirits. The
high hope That shone out over tho
marriage altar while the ring was be-
ing set and the vows given and the
bencdiction pronounced, have all
faded with the orange blossoms, and
thcro she is today, broken hearted,
thinking OF past joy and present desc.
latIon aud coming anguish. Hagar in
the wildcrncSsi
Here is a beautiful home. You can.
not think Of anything that can 10
added 10 il. For years there has not
been the suggestion Of a single trou-
bic. Bright and happy children fill
the house with laughter and song.
Books to read. Pictures to look at.
Lounges To rest on. Cup Of domestic
JOY full and running over. Dark
night drops. Pillow hot. Pulses fiut-
ter. Eyes close. And the foot whose
well known steps on the door sill
brought the whole household out at
evcntide. crying: Fathers coming"
will never sound on the door sill
again. A long, deep grief plowed
through all that lightness Of domestic
life. Paradise lost! Widowhoodl
Hagar in the wilderness!
Vtnkw affar n II xt,s. sas. Nl.a ,a.aaL apu.