The Brinkley argus., 1898-09-15
BE sure you are perfect before you point out your neighbours mistakes and shortcomings.
OUR BEST.

| "O NGG0 NOt uRSotcf O0W0cAtye 0os 1 Motive for Greater Exertion.
 "Our greatest need is somebody to makt ] uS do our best Did Emerson ever write truer line The poverty, weakness and want which we see all about us in the physicalsand spiritual realms are not the result oi mans lack of ability and talent, and they would quickly disappear if some l influence could induce each member of the human family to exercise fully and in the right directions the capacities which he already possesses. I am acquainted with young man who carried of the highest honors at school and college. but his father, when l; congratulated on his sons talent, re- i piled that the boy was, naturally no ! more of a scholar than most boys, but 1 that his mother was determined that he should excel, and that, stimulated i by her constant ambition, he had made the efforts necessary to success. Ben- jamin West said: My mothers kiss made me painter" An, mothers, what opportunities are yours! By example and persuasion, pa- tiently and perseveringly teach the dear children to be satisfied with nothing less than doing and being their best, to go on day by day,
 Without halting. without rest.
 Lifting better up to best"
 Sometimes it is the influence of a friend that brings out the best there is in 8 man. John B. Cough upon the lee ture platform, moving thousands to temperance and manhood and God by his matchless eloquence, was the stag gering. drunken John B. Cough at his best. and, haimanly speaking, it was the sympathetic touch and encouraging word of friend that brought him there.
 In ''The Changed Life" Henry Drum mond says: 'sThere are some men and some women in whose company we are always at our best While with them we cannot think mean thoughts or speak ungenerous words. All the best stops in our nature are drawn out by their intercourse. and we find music in our souls that was never there be- fore. Suppose even that influence pro- longed a month. a year. a lifetime, what might not life become? Here even on the common plane of life, talking our language, walking our streets, work ing side by side, are sanctifers of souls"
 "Sanetifers of souls;" how we'll the term describes Drummond himself. The possessor of such a blessed influence must ever be unconscious of it, vet we may well pause and ask ourselves if our friendship and intercourse brings out the best in our associates But do some sigh because their environment brings out their worst traits and the influence of their companions in life constantly tends to lower their ideals?
 Listen to Drummond again: "If to Eve with men, diluted to inc millionth degree with tie virtue of tine tlig'he st. can sxalt and purify the nature, what bounds can be set to the influence of Shrist?"
 And we can each one have Christ fer constant companion and nearest friend. Can there be any more powerful ircen- five to be ard do onr best tllar love for cEris' and tcs.rc to please Him: "ci.-!,t wants the best. IIc ia tie f2r-rr
 ages
 Oaes c.ai:ned inc firstiing Of he flock, ihe
 finest Of the wheat.
 And still he asks His own with gcntlest
 pleading
 To lay their highest hopes and brightest
 talents a His fect. dell not forget the feeblcst service. hum blcst love,
 He only asks that of our store we'll give to Him
 The best we have. Christ gives the best He takes the hearts VIC cfrer
 And fills them with His glorious beauty joy and peace. And In Iiis service, as we're growing stronger
 The calls 10 grand achievements still in. crease.
 Tie richcvt g:fts for us on earth, or in :he Heaven above, Are hid In Christ. In Jesus we receive The best we have. And is our best too much? Oh. friends let Us remember. How once our Lord poured out His sou | fer us,
 :, Ard In the prime of Iiis mysterious man. | Gayr pp His precious life upon the cross ; The Lord Of lords. hy whom the worlds were made.
 Through bitter grief ard tears gave us The best He had
 Helen 4, Mais, ir Chicago Interior.