The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-12-20
sight put out, or some other awful ca
Iamity befalls him, while the vast ma

sight put out, or some other awful ca
lamity befalls him, while the vast ma
iority of people take the thing piece7
meal. Which way would you rather
have it? OF course in piecemeal. Better
have five aching teeth than one broken
jaw; better ten fly blisters than an am
putation; better 20 squalls than one cy-
clone. There may be a difference of
opinion as to allopathy and homeopathy,
but in this matter of trouble l like
homeopathic doses-small pillets of an
noyance rather than some knock down
dose of calamity. Instead Of the thun-
derbolt gives us the hornet If you
have bank, you would great deal
rather that so men would come in with
checks less than 500 than to have two
depositors come in the same day each
wanting his $4,000. In this latter case
you cough and look down to the floor,
and you look up at the ceiling before
you look into the safe. Now, my
friends, would you not rather have these
small drafts of annoyance on your bank
of faith than some all staggering de-
mand upon your endurance? But re-
member that little as we'll as great an
noyances equally require you to trust in
Christ for succor and for deliverance
from impotence and irritability. 'Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose
mind is staid on thee" In the village
Of Hamelin, tradition says, there was
an invasion of rats, and these small
creatures almost devoured the town and
threatened the lives of the population,
and the story is that piper came out
one day and played very sweet tune,
and all the vermin followed him-fol-
lowed him to the banks of the Weser.
Then he blew blast, and then they
dropped in and disappeared forever. OF
course this is fable, but wish could,
on the sweet flute Of the gospel, draw
/ forth all the nibbling and burrowlng
annoyances Of your life and play them
down into the depths forever.
How many touches did Mr.. Church
give to his picture of "Cotopaxi" or his
"Heart Of the Andes?" l suppose about
so, 900 touches. 1 hear the canvas say
ing "Why do you keep me trembling
with that pencil so long? Why don't
you put it on in one dash?" "No, says
Mr. Church, II know how to make
painting. 1t will take $4,000 of these
touches. " And I want you, my friends,
to understand that it is these 10000 an
noyances which under God are making
up the picture of your life to be hung
at last in the galleries of heaven, fit for
angels to look at. God knows how to
make picture.
Little Strokes.
I 20 into sculptor's studio and see
him shaping statue. He has a chisel
in one hand and mallet in the other,
and he gives very gentle stroke-click.
click, click 1 say, "Why don't you
strike harder?'' ooh, " he replies, "that
would shatter the statuel can't do it
that way. I must do it this way. So
he works on, and after awhile the fea-
lures come out, and everybody that en-
tiers the studio is charmed and fasci-
mated. Well, God has your soul under
process of development, and it is the lit
tie annoyances and vexations OF life
that are chiseling out your immutal
nature. 1t is click, click, click! Won
der why some great providence does not
come and with one stroke prepare you
for heaven All, no! God says that is
not the way. And SO he keeps on by
strokes of little vexations until at last
you shall be glad spectacle for angels
and for men.
You know that a large fortune may
be spent in small change, and vast
amount of moral character may go away
in small depletions. 1t is the little trou-
bles of life that are having more effect
upon you than great ones. A swarm of
locusts will kill grainfield sooner than
the incursion of three or four cattle You
say, 'Since 1 lost my child, since l lost
my property, have been a different
man." But you do not recognize the
architecture of little annoyances that
are hewing, digging, cutting, shaping,
splitting and interjoining your moral
qualities. Rats may sink ship One
lucifer match may send destruction
through block of storehouses. Gather
inc de Medicis got her death from smell
ing a poisonous rose. Columbus, by
stopping and asking for piece of bread
and drink of water at a Franciscan
convent, was led to the discovery of a
new world And there is an intimate
connection between trifles and immen-
sites, between nothings and every
things
Now, be careful to let none of those
annoyances go through your soul unar-
raigned. Compel them to administer to
your spiritual wealth. The scratch of a
sixpenny nail sometimes produces lock-
jaw. and the clip of a most infnitesimal
annoyance may damage you forever. Do
not let any annoyance or perplexity
come across your soul without its max
ing you better.
Our government does not think it be-
littling to put tax ON small articles.
The individual taxes do not amount to
much, but i'll the aggregate to millions
and millions of dollars. And l would
have you, o Christian man, put high
tariff on every annoyance and vexation
that comes through your soul This
might not amount to much in single
cases, but in the aggregate it would be
a great revenue of spiritual strength and