The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-11-27
CLlNGING LlMPETS.
A Little Marine Organism That
Teaches n Valuable Lesson.

u hthHohs
The hmpets may belong TO quite a
low order of animal life, and may be
very inconspicuous as they hide along
the sea beaches, but one thing Is true of
them, ut all events, and that is that
they know how 10 cling. They can take
hold OF something that Is stronger than
they. They join their own weakness TO
the strength of the rocks. Then where
the tides play back and forth over the
mud-stretches the little limpet strikes
down It's foot, which acts as a sucker
on the immovable stones, and while
the waves flow In and the waves flow
out, while pillows roll upon the beach
and the baclSwash recedes from 1t, the
limpet bravely and doggedly clings to
the rocky base which no surges can
move. We may make light of the little
marine organism, we may call 1t a
"docoglossate gastropod," or poke fun
nj II i'm other ways, but the fact remains
that the limpet while all is in commo-
ton and unrest about IL, endures un-
moved, because 10 understands the sin
gle art of clinging.
The limpet, therefore, may serve as
n useful instructor for human souls.
Life largely If not wholly consists OF
clinping to some higher power. The
world is n seething ocean, almost 1t
would seem at times whirlpool OF un-
rest. The tides Of human opinion and
/ custom come and the tides go; tempta-
tions rush upon us and storms at times
heat down. but the soul that knows
how TO cling survives unmoved amid
floods, because IL partakes OF strength
| that is not it's own, because ii POUNDS
on the eternal rock.
But II the limpet survives because II
clings. IL keeps its position only by
cHnping hard. II Is no light touch, no
hnsty pat or stamping OF its sucker
like foot, which holds IL in place, but
n steady, strong pull upon the rock.
The wanderer along the sea beach may
take the limpet In his hand, or try TO
loosen IL with cane, but he will eX-
perience difficulty in moving IL from its
secure position, because. like the huke
Of IN anchor, IL links and locks it's TIM
mess I'm with the immovablc might oil
the deep-founded rock.
Firth and love are now the powers 10y
which we take hold OF the strength OF
Cod and make that might in a way ouI
own. The limpet would never profit
by the stability OF the rocks II IL were
simply lying upon them as n lifeles'
pebble might be rolling along over the
grnvelly beaches. IL is only because
the limpet has a living hand, or as the
naturalists call IL, n foot" which car
glue itself tenaclously 20 the rock tina
IL has any advantage, when the back
wash sucks away the surrounding sands
over the pebbles or the drift, those In
stable rootless things which come nn'
go upon the tides. Faith is the hand, o
the foot" which with living power
loving tenacity, fastens upon tn
promises OF Jehovah. feeds upon tn
sustaining grace OF the Lord. IL W
would have such hope and contidenc
OF heart, we must have the faith whicl
naturally gives them. IL we wish 7
help we must cling 10 the Helper.
we would have the limpets safety, W
must have the limpet's hold on IN
things that are stronger than We,
: A. &. Dwight, in N. Y. Observer.