Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-08-07

.uoht No thev say - Just happened
"a alioht OH that field OF BOazy Yet
ali ares ali generations, have an interest IN
tha fact that she was to become an ancestress
of the Lord Jesus Christ, andail nations AMI
KINGDOMS must look at that one Itt1e inci,
dent with thrill of unspeakable and eternal
satisfaction. SO it is In your history anu IN
m ne: events that you thought OF no inpor'
tauce at all have been OF very great ino-
ment. That casual conversation, Ihas "
cidental neeting-you did not think Oh IL
again for long while; but no" " '""i'9S'
al the current Of your iife!
II seemed TO be of no importance 'hss
JuhaI invented rude instruments OF must,
calling them harp and organ, ous eney
were the introduction OF all the worlu nm, =,
straiev And as you hear the Vibration Oh
. stringed instrument, even after the fingers
nave been taken away from 1t, 50 all music
now o. Lutte and drum and cornet is
only tho long continued strains of
Jubars harp and Juoars organ. IL seemed
to be a matter of very little Importance that
Tubal Cain learned the uses OF copper and
iron. but that rule foundry of ancient days
has its echo in the rattle of Birmingham ma
chinery and the roar and bang OF factories
on tie Merrmac.
Again, | see in my subject an illustration
OF the beauty of female industry. Behold
Ruth toiling in the harvest field under the
hot sun, or at roon taking plain bread with
the reapers, or eating the parched corn
which Bolz handed to her. The customs OF
society of course have change !. and without
the hardships and exposure to which Ruth
was subjected. every intelligent woman
will find something to do know
there Is a sckly sentimentality on this
subject. In some families there are
Of, ,~.aoffool 20 ha bostzu
hold or community, and though there are
so many woes all around about them in the
world they spend their time lanquishing
over a new pattern or bursting into tears at
midnight over the story Of some lover who
shot HIMSELF They would not deign to look
at Ruth carrying back the barley on her
way home to her mother-in-law. Naomi.
Madame de Stael did a world Of work in
her time; and one day, while she was
seated amid instruments of music, all OF
which she had mastered. aud 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 oh" she
replied, these are not the things [ am
proud Of My chief boast is in the fact that
| have seventeen trades, by any ono OF
which | could make a livelihood If neces-
sary." And if in secular spheres there is 80
much to be done, in spiritual work how vast
the field How many dying all arouni
about us without one word OF comfort!
We want more Abigails, more Hannahs,
more Rebeccas, more Marys, more Do5orahs
consecrated-5ody, mind, soul-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
straw and there is 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 to-
gether, and more straws until she got
enough to make sheaf Putting that down
she went and gathered moro straws until
she had another sheaf, and another and an.
other and another, and then she brought
them altogether and she threshed them out.
and she had an ephah of barley, nigh a
busheI. Oh, that we all might be gleanersl
Eihu Burritt learned many things while
toling in blacksmith's shop. Abercromole,
the world renowned philosopher, was ply
stefan i'm Scotland, aud he got his philosophy,
or the chief part OF it, while as a 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 I'M
provement; the great duties OF life cross
the field like strong reapers and carry on
ali 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 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 few moments left worth the
cleaning. Now, Ruth, TO the field May
each one have a measure full and running
over On, you cleaners, to the field. And
il there be in your household an agei or
sick relative that is not strong enough 10
come forth aud toll in the field,t en- let Ruth
take home 10 fceb, 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 20 OIL
Ruth AMI Naomi be our portion forever!