The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-23
RELIGIOUS READING.
LITTLE KIAuNESSES.


A dozen years ago 1 was driving over
Hampshire bills of range in which Blue
Job is the most prominent. I walked up
the long hill beside my horse and was glad
to find, part way up, roadside watering
tub, placed there under the humane New
Hampshire laws. 1t was under some trees,
and Il wooden pipe brought the coolest and
purest water out from under the rocky hill.
But there was something more. Resting
upside down upon two stakes driven into
the ground. were two cups, shaped like
childs silver mug. and made of the sweetest
and cleanest birch bark. No house was
near. do not know who made. those cups,
but the stitches showed the haudiwork OF
some girl who had made these cups for the
comfort Of unknown wayfarers like myself.
hope that girl has happy home. Her
thoughtfuIness, In this little kindness, makes
me bless Der memory.
Little things can add much to human hap
piness. Little things are sometimes heroic:
! have often wished that our Sunday school
literature could make much OF historic
stories like that of Sir Philip Sidney, who,
being mortal wounded under the walls OF
Zutphen, called for water, but who, when
they brought it. told them 70 give 1t untasted
to wistful private soldier suffering like
himself. sThy necessity" said the gallant
Christriau gentleman and true soldier, sis
yet greater than NINE" Our young: people
should be uurttlred upon food like this. One
such incident is worth 4 hundred ordinary
volumes.
The doctrine of human rights is altogether
oyerdoue. Ones rights are of far less conse-
quence than ones righteousness, and ones
Righteousness Is far less honorable than
ones sacrifice. HAZE you not noticed that
when ministers stand up for their rights
they begin to lose their privileges? II pas.
tor cannot trust to.the generous Kindness OF
people, it is better for him to 20 elsewhere.
Most people know, however, that little kind
nesses touch the minister's heart. But little
Kindnesses require thougbtfulness. IL Is
kind thing for person who has horses and
carriages to take q less fortunate neighoor,
yourself, and don't send your coachman. A
little thought will give happiness and com
fort to somebody, at little or no cost. A few
buds in sick room are gospel. They are
more than beauty, they are the expression
of Christian love. g..
, There Is deep principle in this matter OF
little kindnesses. They are duty. One may
say he is under no obligation. to give some
flowers Ito sick-room. but lie Is mistaken.
He owes the gift of those flowers, not to the
sick neighbor or the crippled child, hut be
owes IL 10 nmselI 10 uo it' AAS sh' VIZ
made the birch bark cups owed it to her
own unselfish nature. It was q duty to her,
self. When one says that the Lord Jesus
was under no obligation to redeem men BY
his suffering, it Is mistake. The Lord was
under obligation to do it, not under ol'liga-
tfon to the sinner, but under obligation to
bis own great soul. One has no right to
limit himself by his rights. Love makes du-
ties.
may as well parallel the case Of Sidney
with another. My friend, Wilder Dwight
we slept under the sam: blanket IN the
open night before AntietinI--lay morta!ly
wounded in that battle. The surgeon came
I to him as he lay suffering. The Christian
near, "Attend to them first: can bear it
better than they."-lRev. DR.. A. n. Quint,
in the Congregat:onalist.