Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-08-08

nave been taken away from it, 50 all music
now OF lutte and drum and cornet i
only the long continued strains Of
Juoal's harp and Juhars organ. 1t seemed
% be matter of very little Importance that
Tubal Cain learned the uses of copper and
IRON: but that rude foundry of ancient DAYS
has its echo in the rattle of Birmingham ma
chinery and the roar and bang Of factories
on the Merrimac
Again, | see in my subject an Illustration
OF the beauty of female industry. Behold
Ruth toiiing IN the harvest field under the
hot sun, or at noon taking plain bread with
the reapers, or eating the parched corn
which Boaz handed to her The customs of
society Of course have changed and without
the hardships and exposure to which Ruth
was subjected, every intelligent woman
VIII md something to do l know
there IS a sickly seatimentalitv on this
subject. In soma families there arr
persons OF no practical services to the house
hoid or community, AMI though there are
50 many woes all around about them in the
world they spend their time lanquishing
over new pattern or bursting into tears at
midnight over the story OF some lover who
shot himself They would not deign to look
az huth carrying back the barley on her
way home to her mother-in-law, Naomi.
Madame de Stael Gid a world OF work in
her time; AMI one day, while she was
@iht2 AilStA Oh MUSIC. all OF
which she had mastered, and amid manu-
script books which she had written some
one said to her, How do you find time to
attend to all of these things?r oh She
replied, these are not the things | ani
proud OF. My chief boast is in the fact that
L have seventeen trades, by any one of
which | could make a livelihood il neces-
sary." And il in secular spheres there is 50
much to be done, in spiritual work how vast
the field How many dying all around
about us without one word Of comfort
We want more Abigails, more Hannahs,
more Rebeccas, more Marys more Doborahs
consscrated-body, mind, soui-to the Lord
who bought them.
Once more learn from my subject the
value of cleaning. Ruth going into that
harvest field might have said; There is a
straw and there is straw, but what is a
straw | can't get any barley for myself
or my mother-in-iaw out OF these separate
straws.n Not 50 slil beautiful Ruth. She
gathered two straws and sac put them to-
gether, and more strawS until she got
enough to make sheaf Putting that down
she went and gathered mora straws until
she had another sheaf, and another and an
other and another, and then she brought
them together and she threshed them out.
ana she had an ephah OF barley, nigh a
bushel Oh, that we all might be gleanersl
Eahu Burritt learned many things while
toiling in a blac5smith's shop. Abercrombie,
the world renowned philosopher, was ply
stefan in Scotland, and he got his philosophy,
or the chief part of it, while as physician
he was waiting for the door of the sick
room to open. Yet how many there are
iu this day VINO say they are so busy they
have no time for mental or spiritual i'm
provement; the great duties Of life cross
the field like strong reapers and carry off
all the hours, and there is only
here and there a fragment 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,
which gathered might at last make p whole
sheaf for the lords garner. 1t is the stray
opportunities and the stray privileges which
taken up and bound together and beaten out
will at last fill you with much joy.
There are a few moments left worth the
cleaning. Now, Ruth, to the deld May
each one have a measure full and running
over! Oh, you cleaners, to the field! And
il there be in your household an aged or a
sick relative that is not strong enough to
come forth and toll in the field, t en- let Ruth
take home to feeble Naomi this sheaf of
cleaning. He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubt
less come again with rejoicing, bringing his
sheaves with him" May the Lord Col of
Ruth and Naomi be our portion foreverl