Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-10-14
ACCOMAc c. H. VA SATURDAY, OCTOBER H. 1900.

burn out of US the clinker and the Stag.
1 have formed this theory in regard to
small annoyances and vexations. 1t
takes just so much trouble to fit us for
usefulness and for heaven. The only
question is whether we shall take 1t In
the bulk or pulverized and granuiated.
Here Is one man who takes 1t In the
bulk. His back Is broken or his eye
sight put out. or some other awful ca
lamlty befalls him, while the vast ma
jority of people take the thing piece
meal Which way would you rather
have it? OF course, In piecemeal.
Better have five aching teeth than
one broken jaw. better 10 fly blisters
than an amputation, better 20 squalls
than one cyclone. There may be q
difference of opinion as to allopathy
and homeopathy, but In this matter OF
trouble l like homeopathic doses. small
pellets of annoyance rather than some
knockdown dose Of calamity. Instead
Of the thurderbolt give us the hornet.
If you have q bank. you would great
deal rather that so men would come In
with checks less than 500 than to
have two depositors come in the same
day, each wanting his $4,000. In this
latter case you cough and look down
to the floor and you look up to the cell
ing before you look into the safe. Now,
my friends, would you not rather have
these small drafts Of annoyance on
your bank of faith than some all stag
gering demand upon your endurancef
But remember that little as well as
great annoyances equally require you
to trust in Christ for SuccOr and for
dellverance from impatience and irrita-
bility "Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace whose mind is staid on thee"
In the village OF Hamelin. tradition
says. there was IN invasion Of rats. and
these small creatures almost devoured
the town and threatened the lives Of
the population. and the story is that
piper came out one day and played q
very sweet tune, and all the vermin
followed him. followed him to the
banks of the Weser, and then he blew
blast, and they dropped in and dis
appeared forever. OF course this Is
fable; but wish could on the sweet
flute OF the gospel draw forth all the
nibbling and burrowlng annoyanccs OF
your life and play them down into the
depths forever.
Aids to Spiritual Wealth.
How many touches did Mr.. Church
give to his picture Of "COtopaxP' or his
Heart of the Andes?" suppose about
$4,000 touches hear the canvas say
Ing: "Why do you keep me trembling
with that pencil so long? Why don't
you put it on in one dash?" NO" says
MI Church; 81 know how to make @
painting. 1t will take $4,000 Of these
touches" And want you. my friends,
to understand that It is these ten thou
sand annoyances which under God are
making up the picture of your life, to
be hung at last in the galleries of heay-
en-. fit for angels to look at. God knows
how to make picture.
go into sculptor's studio and see
him shaping a statue. He has chlsel
in one hand and mallet in the other,
and he gives very gentle stroke
click, click. click! say. "Why don't
you strike harder? "Oh," he replies.
"that would SKATER the statue. 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
cinated. Well. God has your soul under
process Of development. and 1t Is the
little annoyances and vexatlons OF life
that are chiseling out your immortal
nature 1t is click. click, click! won
der why some great providence does
no. 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 yexations until at last
you shall be q glad spectacle for angels
and for men.
You know that large fortune may
be spent in small change. and q vast
amount of moral character may go
away in small depletions. 1t Is the lit
tie troubles of life that are having
more effect upon you than great ones.
A swarm Of locusts will kill grain
field sooner than the lncursiOn Of three
or four cattle. You say. "Since l lost
my child since lost my property l
have been a different man. But you
do not recognize the architecture OF HIT
tie annoyances that are hewing, dig
ging, cutting, shaping, splitting and In
terjoining your moral qualities. Rats
may sink ship. One lucifer match
may send destruction through a block
of storehouses. Catherine de- Medici
| got her death from smelling poison
Gus rose. Columbus. by stopping and
asking for piece Of bread and drink
of water at a Franciscan convent was
led to the discovery of new world.
And there is an intimate connection be-
tween trifles and immenSities, between
nothings and everythings.
Now, be careful to let none Of those
annoyances go through your soul unar-
raigned Compel them to administer to
your spiritual wealth The scratch Of
sxpenny nail sometimes produces
lockjaw. and the clip If a most in.
nnlIeslmal annoyance MY damage you
forever. Do not let any annoyance or
perplexity come across your soul with
out it's making you better.
Conquer smnlI Troub1sa.
Our national government when 1t
wanted money did not think it BELT.
thing to put tax on pins and tax on
buckles and a tax on shoes. The indi-
vidual taxes do not amount to much,
but in the aggregate to millions and
millions of dollars. And would have
you, O Christian man. put high tariff
on every annoyance and vexation that
comes through your soul. This might
not amount to much in single cases.
| b,,f In fha anrroOatp II would he q