The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-06-17


nest, cheeriest little body, but lately
her mother noticed that she was dis
posed to fret over the little cares she
used to bear so bravely. | must be
patient with her, she thought after
this passionate outburst of feeling
She is beginning to realize that hel
life is shorn of many of the elegan
cies that other girls regard as essen
tials. l must pray to God to make
her strong to bear these little trials
also.
Are you going to the teachers
meeting, Susan7 inquired Annie, as
they cleared away the dishes
OF course, | always go. And then
sarcastically: The poor have the
gospel preached to them, you know
Oh, Susan! exclaimed Annie.
hope you may hnl something in il
that will hold you to night. | know
we are having hard times just now,
but we will not come forth out o.
them refined, as gold when it is
tried, If We let our hearts grow cold
and selfish
Perhaps Susan was beginning tc
feel some twinge of conscience. Al
any rate she made no reply, and
shortly afe er the two were on their
way to the church.
The lesson was the miracle Of
Christ's healing the woman who had
bean bowed down with an intirmity
eighteen years. They were soon
deeply interested in the discussion
which the several points of the
incident provoked.
Susan listened attentively to al
that was said, and ju 3ging from the
brig htened expression her face wore,
was beginning to forget her per.
plexities.
Are people ever bound by Satan
now? some one asked.
Yes, replied the superintendent
| think they are, only not in the
same way. There are great many
people who let some great afflictior
that has come into their lives over.
shadow them and they never smile
or rejoice. Such people are indeed
bowed down, and they can in nc
wise lift themselves. 1t is only Jesus
who can help US bear these heavy
trials.
Are there not others, said the pas
tor, gazing, as Susan thought
directly at her, who allow themselves
to be bowed down beneath the petty
anxieties and cares of everyday life
until their hearts contract, and they
are unable to look up into the face
of the loving Master, just as thi:
woman was? | think that Satan has
indeed bound such a soul.
Susan almost started as she drop
ped her eyes to her hook again.
wonder if he knows how we'll he ha:
described me. Here l have beer
getting cross and selfish, and think.
ing | couldn't help it, when all tht
time | have been letting Satan binc
| me. But he shall not any longer
and she involuntarily Strengthened
up, as though she felt an actua
pressure on her physical frame.
She had got her lessons. think
she said aloud, eager to confess il
some way new hope that had com,
to her, that there is a beautiful sig
nihcance, this lesson following 81
closely after Christ's admonition t.
his disciples to take no thought
think we can see that this woman
could only be released from he
bond by Jesus, SO we cannot keel
from being bowed down beneath ou
burdens, without fully trusting hin
who knows we have need of all thes
things.
Annie, she said, linking her arm
in that OF her sister as they walke'
homeward, | did find something il
the gospel to help me to night.
am thoroughly ashamed to thinl
how selfish and unkind | have seer
| am Sc glad to hear you say sc
| think we both have learned tha
there is deceitfulness in povert
and that we were letting our nature
grow cold by fretting and worrying
You mean that l have learned it
You never were such a hatefu
doubtful, skeptical creature as l hav
been. | mean to do better now
Why, | really believe that l wa
getting round shouldered. Don
you think so, Annier
Yes, laughingly, but we hav
awakened to sense of your dange
in time.
Mamma, said Susan, going imme
!. diately to her mother when the
entered the house, | want you to fol
give me for speaking so unkindl
. this afternoon. l have learned tc
night that | was letting Satan bin
me just as he did that woman whol
. Christ healed, was getting crosse
) every day, and