Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-09-26

Now, As j have already suggested, rs
there are obstacles in all our paths, we
will he happier II we consent to have our
life "a struggle do not know any one to
whom IL Is not n struggle. Louis XIV
thought hc had everything fixed just right
and fixed TO stay, and so he had the great
clock at Bordeaux made. Tho hours Of
that clock were struck by figures In bronze
representing tho kings Of Europe, and at a
certain time Of day William Ill Of Eng
land and other kings were made to come
out and bow to Louis XIV. But the clock
got out of order one day, and just the oppo-
site Of what WAS expected occurred-as the
clock struck n certain hour Louis XIV was
thrown TO the feet Of William III And
So the clock Of destiny brings many sur
priscs, and those go down that you expected
10 stand, and ut the foot of disaster most
regal conditions tumble. In all styles Of
life there come disappointment and struR-
gle. God has for some good reason ar
ranged IL So II 1t is not poverty, It Is
sickness II Il IL not sickness, II Is perse-
cution. II 1t Is not persecution, 1t is con
test with some evil appetite. II 1t Is not
some evil appetite, 1t is bereavement II
it is no: one thing. IL Is another. Do not
get soured and cross and think your case
us. You will have TO take the bitter draft,
whether IL be handed to you In golden
chnlice or pewter mug A man who has
81 600 year income sleeps sounder and
has IA better appetite than the man who
has s., 600, 900. II our life were not "a
struggle, wo would never consent TO get
out Of this world, and we would want to
stay here, and 80 block up tho way OF the
advancing generations. BY the time that
man gets TO bc 20 years OF age, and some
times by the time he gets TO be 30 years OF
age, he says, II have had enough Of this,
and when the Lord wills 1t am ready TO
emigrate to country where there are no
taxes and the silver Of the trumpet put TO
ones lips has no quarrel with tho gold Of
the pavement under his feet. We have In
this world more opportunity to cultivate
patience than to cultivate any other grace.
Let that grace be Strengthened In the royal
gymnasium OF obstacle and opposition, and
by the help Of God, having overcome our
own hindrances and worriments. let us
go forth to help others whose struggle Is
greater than our own.
The Feet Of Christ.
A friend told me the other day of a shoe
maker In Russian city whose bench was
in the basement Of building and so far
underground that he could see only the
feet Of those who went by on the sidewalk.
Seated ON his bench, he often looked up,
and there went the swift and skipping feet
Of children, and then the slow and uni
form step OF the aged. and then crippled
feet. and he resolved he would do kind
ness To each one who needed IL. So when
the foot with the old and wornout shoe
was passing he would hail It and make
for 1t a comfortable covering, for he had
the hammer, and the pegs, and the shoe
lasts, and the lapstone, and the leather TO
do IL. And when he saw the invalid foot
pass no would hail II and go out and offer
medicine and crutch and helpfulness. And
when he saw tho aged foot pass he hailed
IL and told the old man OF heaven where
he would be young again. When he saw
the foot Of childhood pass on the sidewalk
he would go out with good advice and
laugh that seemed like an echo of the
child's laugh. Well, time went on, and as
the shoemaker's wants We're very few he
worked but little for himself and most Of
the time for others. and In the long even
ings, when he could not 30 well see the
feet passing ON the sidewalk he would
make shoes II all sizes and stand them on
"a ~iriis HtHNs itNt tAidt NUutu pass III
the daytime OF course MS the years went
on. under this process the shoemaker be-
came more and more Christian, until ono
day he said 10 himself II wish among all
thosc feet passing up there on the sidewalk
/ could sec the feet Of the dear Christ pass
ing. Oh, II ] could only see his feet go by,
| would know them. because they are scar
rid feet. :" That night the shoemaker
dreamed, and In the dream he saw the glo-
rious Christ. and he said, 20 Christ, /
have been waiting for thee 10 pass on the
sidewalk, and have seen lame feet, and
wounded feet. and aged feet, and poor feet,
but in vain have looked for thy SCARED
feet. - And Christ said to the shoemaker:
MAN. did pass on the sidewalk, and you
did sec my feet and you did come out and
hail me and bless me and help me- You
thought it was the foot OF n poor old man
that went shuffling by; that was my foot.
You thought II was the foot Of n soldier
that went limpirg past; that was my foot.
You Thought that shocless foot was the foot
Of bcggar; that was my foot. The shoes,
the clothing. the medicines, tho cheering
words TINT you gave to them. you gave to
your Lord. 'lnasmuch as 20 have done IL
unto one Of the least of these, ye have done
II unto me
SO Forth and Help Others.
My hearers, with the humble spirit OF