Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-12-19

I to his picture OF "Cotopaxi" or his Heart
OF the AndesS' suppose about 80, 600
touches. l hear the canvas saying: "Why
do you keep me trembling with that pencil
80 longi Why don't you put it on In ono
dashf' "No," says Mr.. Church, "I know
how to make painting. 1t will take 60,-
600 Of these touches. Z" And l want you,
my friends, TO understand that 1t is these
10000 anpoyances which, under God, are
making up tho picture of your life, to be
hung ut last in the galleries of heaven, fit
for angels to look at. God knows how to
make picture.
Little Strokes Only.
go into sculptor's studio and see him
shaping statue. He has chisel in one
hand and mallet in the other, and he
lives a very gentle stroke-cliek, click,
clickl / say, "Why don't you strike hard
err" "Oh," he replies, 'that would shat
ter the statue. l can't do it that way. /
must do it this way" So he works on,
and after awhile the features come out,
and everybody that enters the studio is
charmed and fascinated. Well, God has
your soul under process of development,
and it is the little annoyances and voxa-
tions of life that are chiseling out your
immortal nature. 1t is click, click, click
wonder 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 aslarge fortune may be
spentin small change. and alvast amount
of moral character may go away insmall
depletions. 1t is'the little troubles of life
that are having,moree eeffectiuponyou. than
great ones. A swarm Off locusts willlSill
a,grainfeld sooner thanlthe incursionlo of
threeo four CATTLE. xau say, Since i lost
my child, since lost improperly; Iihave
| BEEN different man." Butt you do not
recognize the architecture of little annoy
anoes, that are hewing, digging, quitting;
shaping, splitting and interjoinings your
| moral qualities. Rats may sink; a. ship!
One luoifer match may sendl destruction
| throughlasblock offstorehousess Catherine
| de- Medioit got her death from smellingsa
| poisonous, rose. Columbus by stopping
and asking, for n, piece of bread andla
drink. of water at a Franciscan convent
was led to,the discovery, Of a new world.
| And, there is an intimate connection be-
tween trif1es and immensities, between
nothings andIeverythings.
| Now, be careful to let none of these an
noyances go through your soul unarraignA
| ed. Compel them to administer to your
I spiritualwealth. The scratch of a sixpenny
nail sometimes produces lock jaw, and the
clip ofamost innntesimal annoyance may
damage YOU forever. Do not let any an
noyance' or perpleXity come across your
soul without its making you better.
Our government does not think 1t bo-
| littling to put a. tax on small articles.
| The individual taxes do not amount to
much, but in the aggregate to millions and
millions,of dollars. And L would have
] you, o. Christian man, put a, high tariff
| on every annoyance and voxation that
comes through your SOUL This might not
amount 10 much in single cases, but in
tho aggregate ii would be a great revenue
/ Of spiritual strength and satisfaction. A
bee can suck honey even out Of a nettle,
| and if you have the grace of God in your
heart you can get sweetness out Of that
| which would otherwise irritate and annoy.
| Faithful I'm Littie Things.
| A returned missionary told me that q
| company Of Adventures rowing up the
Ganges were stung to death by flies that
infest that region at certain seasons. I
/ havo seen the earth strewn with the car
easses of men slain by insect annoyances
The only way to get prepared for the great
troubles of life is to conquer these small
/ troubles, What would you say of a SOL
dier who refused to load his gun or to 60
into the conflict because it was only a
| skirmish, saying: II am not going to ex-
/ pend my ammunition ON a skirmish. Wait
until there comes general engagement,
and then you will see how courageous I
am and what battling l will do" The
general would say to such man, "If you
are not faithful in a skirmish, you would
be nothing in general engagement.
And 1 have to tell you, o Christian men,
If you cannot apply the principles of
Christ's religion on d small scale you will
never be able to apply them on large
SCALE
If had my way with you, would have
you possess all possible worldly prosperity.
would have you each one garden, a
river flowing through 1t, geraniums and
shrubs on the sides, and the grass and
flowers as beautiful as though tho rain
bow had fallen. I would have you q
house, splendid mansion and the bed
should be covered with upholstery dipped
in the setting sun. I would have every
hall in your house set with statues and
statuettes, and then Iwould have the four
quarters Of the globe pour in all their lux
uries on your table, and you should have
forks of silver and knives of gold, inlaid
with diamonds and amethysts. Then you
should each one Of you havo the finest
horses, and your pick Of the equipages OF
the world. Then would have you live
150 years, and you should not have pain
or ache until the last breath.
Wisdom In 1t All.
J ''Not each one of us?" you say. Yes
} Each one of you. "Not to your enemiesf'
; Yes. Tho only difference 1 would make
!; with them would be that would put q
} little extra gilt on their walls and little
extra embroidery ON their slippers. But
: you say, "Why does not God give us all
these thingsf" All, l bethink myself
! he Is wiser. 1t would make fools anG
: sluggards Of us if we had our way. Nc
. man puts his best picture in tho portico ol
vestibule of his house. God meant this
world to be only tho vestibule of heaven
/ that great gallery Of tho universe TOWARD
0 which we are aspiring. We must not have
it too good in this world, or we would
+ want no heaven.
, Polyoarp was condemned to be burned
i to death. The stake was planted. He was
fastened to it. The fagots were placed
/ around him, the fires kindled, but his
i tory tells us that the flames bent outward
l like the canvas Of ship in stout breeze
20 that the flames, instead Of destroying
Polycarp, were only wall between hin
l and his enemies. They had actually tt
: destroy him with tho poniard. The flames
would not touch him. Well, my hearer
4 want you to understand that by God'I
grace the flames of trial, instead Of con