Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-19
Those Squirrels.
CThe Observations Of a Philosophical
Eriend OF Onrsl

The Observations Of a Philosophical
Friend of Ours)
The schools and schoolmasters that ac-
xv,pllsh our education are far more than
We can note or number. The whole Of
life has lie digtty in being great pre-
paratory school for eternity. The wise
and mighty Schoolmaster has thoroughly
furnished His primary department His
high school and college and university to
send forth the full and complete man.
Those that are brought up nearest 10
Natures heart who are most docile TO
her teachings, that grow up under her
they. Ike the lilies and the heavens, most
faithfully praise Him and declare His
glory and show His handiwork.
Our teachers. great and small, are all
around US. John Bunyan tells OF the
chickens who sip their drop of water and
raise their eyes to Heaven and thank
God. Our squirrels that amuse US have
many a lesson for us We are none Of
Us the worse for having simple. innocent
little things on which TO bestow unselfsh
and gentle kindness. Pets Of any sort
dogs, kittens, squirrels, horses flowers
anything may be a valuable teacher and
cultivator OF genteress tenderness, af-
lection. the divinest parts of our nature.
our Lord had great meaning in telling
us 10 consider the lilies and behold the
fowls of the air. We can get the divin-
est graces and the largest wisdom in
their study. There Is no one who feeds
the squirrels and plays with them that
Is not the better for It. We feel better
I'm our hearts. and kinolier towards other
people. We are better for the kindness
we have done and the company we have
kept. A thoughtful man will find many
a lesson in his little playmates.
One thing has always impressed us in
squirrel life--that is his way OF hiding
his acquisitions, and laying up his trea-
sures for rainy day. That prudence
he shares with the ants. He wastes and
throws away nothing: he allows nothing
to be lost His instructive prudence may
be very selfish. yet he Is commendable,
like the unjust steward, because he acts
wisely. And yet there Is another view
to be taken of what some call his selfish
proceeding. A good, wise soul may gather
honey from the weed and make a moral
of the plain devil. As a dear old lady
said of him: My children, / wish We
could initiate his industry.
1t Is pleasant when we think OF the
squirrel hiding nuts to know that many
a squirrels hiding has grown up into a
great oak or hickory. The squirrel sug-
gests. too. the way Of hiding good things.
II we expose them to the glare OF the
sun they pretty soon dry up and wither
and come to nothing. Thou, when thou
doest thine aims, let not thy left hand
know what thy right hand doeth. and
thy Father who seeth in secret. will rel
ward thee openly. good man is care
full to plant his good deeds below the
surface and wait for results. And not
only aims. but thoughts, affections. feel
ings, courteses, must be covered up.
Orchids are pretty, but fill only passing
office. And who knows how long after
a kindness, done in the most natural
and instructive way. may bring about a
most important result? In the morning
sow thy seed and in the evening v>lh-
draw not thy hand. for thou canst not
tell which shall prosper.
Habitual, instructive. unpretending good
works are the fruitbearers-have the
promise of the harvest; for TO him that
soweth righteousness shall be a sure re-
ward On the other hand: He that SOW
eth iniquity shall reap vanity.