The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-06-07
SHORT LAY SERMON.
LITTLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
LITTLE LIVES.
You see Them Every Day and
Know Who They Are---The
Modest Violet and the 1mperi-
GUS Oak---God Has Plan and q
Purpose in Creating Every
Thing.
New York Herald. /

New York Herald
When thou vast little in thine own sight.
Il Samuel, XVIII.
If you happen to be strolling through
the fields at this time of year you are
more than likely to run upon bed of
wild violets at the foot of maple tree
in some obscure corner. No other
eyes than yours have ever seen them,
ard no other eyes, perhaps, will ever
see them again, for in few days their
little lives will be ended and they will
have withered.
They have their mission, neverthe-
less, and who shall say that it it un-
important They are fashioned in
beauty their slender stems bend with
grace to the passing breeze the conical
leaves are of an exquisite shade of
green, and the purple petals are painted
with a skill which no artist can borrow.
He who was at the pains to create
them was not without purpose IN
that act. He had plan FOR this wild
violet, on which He bestowed no per-
fume. as we'll as for the honeysuckle,
which fills the air with fragrance.
And if it blossoms with fidelity and
dies with resignation, as much credit
may be accorded to it as will be given
to the imperious oak, or the stately
elm, which attracts the attention of
every traveller.
If you were learned in the language
of flowers you might kneel on the sod
and hear the complaint of some dis
contented violet. "I am of no conse-
quence," it might say in despair, &" and
wonder why l was made. No one
knows or cares that am here. live,
| die ; that is all the storyI have to
relate. No one is better for my COM
ing and no one will miss me when l
go.'
And yet it is possible that that bed
of violets, blossoming and whitening
under the maple, and upon which you
have chanced in your aimless stroll,
has set you upon serious thoughts. 1t is
an epitome Of the universe, as far
beyond the reach of your power to
make as blazing Arc,urus in the even
ing sky. 1t is a clew to thousand
mysteries, and all unconsciously to
itself it may lead you up the spiral
staircase of logic until you lie reverent
and PROSTATE in the awful presence Of
Deity.
The violet is a type of humanity.
We, too, wonder why we are here.
We are SO small, so insignificant we
can do so little we are SO slenderly
gifted we live such narrow lives and
have such meagre influence that we are
overwhelmed with disappointment.
What does it mean and what does it
all amount to? A thousand times we
ask the question and get no answer.
If we had conspicuous ability, could
sing some song that would be remem-
| bered, or paint some picture that
would be hung in the galleries of the
future, or do some deed that would
leave our name as heritage, our lot
would be plainly desirable. Or if,
with lower ambition, we could affect
the lives of those within the circle Of
our acquaintance, make them think
and see more clearly, temper their
souls for nobler tasks, contribute to
their comfort and happiness in some
essential way, we should feel that there
was a purpose in our birth and an
object to our lives. But to be simply
| commonplace - an odorless violet
under.a maple in an obscure corner
it gives US a sinking at the heart and
we grow weary and respondent.
How many of US have passed
through this experience and reached
the conclusion that we are of no value
How many Of US have thoughtfully
summed up our lives and painfully
declared that we count for nothing
But such sights are based on a mis-
take. We misinterpret God, aid are
therefore led astray. We have plan
of our own and wonder why the
Almighty does not make His world 10
conform to it, instead of seeking His
plan and persuading our wills to con-
form to that.
In the universe as constituted by
Him the humble positions are vastly
in the majority. We are neither ex-
pected nor asked to do much, but to
do little and do it WELL Ii is not
demanded OF us that we shall stamp
our characters on a generation, since
the ability to do SO has not been given,
but if We keep our narrow house in
order, greet the small duties of each
coming day with cheerfulness, throw a
kind word to the passerby, drop a
penny into tine beggar's hat and main
tain the calm serenity of contented
heart, the eveningshadows will not
fail to bring US our reward.
There is but one Niagara, but on
every hillside is rippling rill. AS
much credit is due to the rivulet that
sings as to the cataract that roars-
neither more nor less. Each was
made for a specific purpose. The
rivulet has no right to complain, the
catarac. no right to be proud. No,
ability, but excellence, determines the
measure of merit.
Only Richard could WELD sword
six feet long, but victory in the battle
did not depend SO much on Richards
sword as on the arrows of his brave
army. He could work miracles oi
valor in single combat, and loud
huzzahs greeted his deeds OF prowess,
but after all it was the rank and file
Of stalwart yeomen twanging the