The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-03-23
VOL. XXXIX---NO. y.
WHEN PM A MAN,

| When I'm man. said little Nor
man Gilroy, stretching himself to his
fullest height, and using a favorite
expression. when I'm man [ will
build great churches and libraries,
and give money to help the poor, and
to send Bibles and missionaries to the
heather, and do a great many other
things"
'Oh. [ expect to do such things, too
when Pm a woman" chimed in Nan
Merton, his little summer acquaintance
at the sea shore.
And so do |. l shouldn't wonder
if I'd be missionary myself, when
I'm a man." said Sidney Merton, roll
ing over in the sand, and then sitting
straight up.
Il heard somebody say that every
body ought to live so that the world
would be better for his life," continued
Norman, who, as the eldest of the par
ty, felt his responsibility accordingly.
And that's the kind of life mean to
lead when I'm a man. | mean that
the world shall be great deal better
for such man as Norman Gilroy."
Miss Lettie Fisher was a pretty
young lady, who was stopping at the
same cottage where the children were.
She had overheard all their plans for
doing good when they were grown
up men and women, and was very
much interested in them. So now
she put on the sun hat and went down
to where they had been playing in
the sand.
They hailed her coming with joy,
for they had already learned to love
her, though she was but summers
acquaintance. She sat down on the
warm, white sand, and emptied the
contents of Mans bucket right into
her lap. 1t was clean, and white and
dry, it could not soil even her pretty,
lawn dress.
Just look at this sand" she said,
as she picked it up in her hands, and
let it drop back slowly into her lap
See how little and fine each particle
is. 1t is so light that l can blow it off
my fingers with my breath. 1t doesn't
look as if it had much strength in it,
or could be used to do anything that
would require much force, does it?''
mo, indeed,n said Sidney. ut
isn't strong at all-it isn't worth any
thing"
do you know what the Bible says
about the sand?'' asked Miss Lettie
very soberly.
'Why, does the Bible say anything
about the sand? | believe it talks
about most everything doesn't ity''
asked Norman.
well, about good many things.
This is what it says about these little
particles that the little breeze can
blow off my hand God has placed
the sand for the bound of the sea by
a perpetual decree, that it cannot
pass it; and though the waves thereof
toss themselves, yet can they not pre-
vail; though they roar, yet can they
not pass over it,
'That's so,n said Nan, wisely, as
she looked down the long stretch of
beach, against which the waves were
breaking.
Suppose God had said, "I'll have to
fence this big ocean in with great big
rocks,n suggested Miss Lettie.
''Oh but God don't have to do things
he can use anything he wants to-"
said Norman quickly.
That's what | think, too. He can
use little, weak grains of sand to keep
the ocean in its place just as we'll as
he could great rocks. So he can use
little, weak but loving and obedient
children in his service just as well as
he can use great grown up men and
women. If | were you | would not
wait to grow up to be men and women
before l did anything for the Lord
I'd let him use HE as little child"
Just then the tea bell rang, and
Miss Lettie had to go in, but she left
some very sober looking children, who
said: Il believe We'll try it; who'd
think God could do so much with SO
little?''