The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-25
DO WHAT. YOU CAN.
ALL MAY NOT BE GREAT,
All May Do Good.

She hath done what she could.-Aark xiv. 8.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Mar
tha, whose home was in Bethany, Of
fered to Jesus q token of her personal |
affection and confidence. It was a
small thing to do, and yet the Master
seems to have regarded it ~ of some
importance.
She had an alabaster box of costly
ointment made from the roots of the !
East Indian nard, and according to the
usage in Oriental lands sho poured it |
on the head OF Jesus. Its perfume fill
ed the house, and some of the disciples
were indignant at what they called the
waste of q precious substance which
might have been sold for three hun
dred pence for the benefit of the poor.
Jesus rebuked their complaints by
saying that Mary had "done what she
could" It was not within her power
to assist Him in any great way, but
she improved her narrow opportunity
and extended to Him a most gracious
courtesy.
The lesson is very significant. We
may not be able to do large things, but
we can all do something. Not every
life can be conspicuous, but every life
can be beautiful. We are working for
the approval of God, not for the praise
or applause of men, and though the
world takes no note of our little acts OF
benevolence He sees them, and that
should be satisfaction enough. No
man ever lived in 90 small sphere
that he conld not be helpful to some
body at some time either by word or
deed, and these scattered words and
deeds are the seed corn whence springs
the heavenly harvest.
Great men and women are doubtless
needful to the progress of society, but
not more SO than little men and wom-
en- who perform their humble tasks
with serene faith and answering fidel-
ity. A general directs the battle, and
when the strategy OF his genius has
wrought victory we place his statue
in our parks, but after we have given
him all due credit We must not forget
that the victory was nearly won by
the courage of the common soldiers
whose names are never mentioned.
When we travel over the country
road we look with awestruck wonder at
the range of hills on the horizon line,
their tops empurpled by the setting
sun. The clouds rest on their brows
like crowns filled with diamonds, whose
facets flash with many colored lights.
But need we be unmindful OF the
graceful ferns, the thousand wild flow
ers which Nature has woven into car
net for our feet? While admiring the
| one shall we ignore the other? The
same creative force which lifted the
hills from the valley has fashioned also
the pimpernel which peeps from the
sod to give us cheer. What are bills
without verdure? Every tree and
bramble, every weed and blossoming
bud, serves to make the picture perfect !;
and who is rash enough to say that the
moss on fallen trunk has not mis-
sion as we'll as the stately pine, the
pride and glory of the forest?
We need not be discouraged because
we live near the ground rather than
near the sky. Our prime duty is
to recognize our limitations, and not
fret ourselves into restlessness through
envy of those who can do easily what
we can not do at all. Aspiration and am
bition are we'll enough in their way,
and we should always be prepared Tor
a larger opportunity when it presents
Itself; but it is fatal mistake not to
do the little things of to-day because
we expect todo great things tomorrow
The logic of happiness teaches US to be
content with what we have and to make
the most of ourselves in our present
surroundings. Then, if wider chance
happens to come our way, we shall be
equipped to make good use OF 1t.
1t is a great pity that the popular