Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-11
new contained some text from scripture.

knew contained some text from scripture.
The young missionary's face flushed
slightly. She had come into the room with
an "All-ward Observation-Disclosures sort
of air, but now she looked a trife startled
"Of course" replied she, a little haughtily
you are not compelled to read the text il
you do not wish, but it is my duty to give
1t to you"
"Well," responded l, 'if you regard it as
your duty I'll forgive you, but as l have
more flowers in my private room than I can
use l divide them among the other patients;
therefore 1 think you would better bestow
this rose on some one less fortunate in that
respect"
The young woman went on her way.
Dollie looked at me with wide eyes.
That's just it, Mrs. c.; she comes here
every week and throws me a flower as though
1 were a beggar-just-just as she would
throw a bone to a dog. Boo-hoo-hoo!"
Don't cry, Dollie dear" said I, soothingly.
Let me see what kind of a selection she
made in your CASE
Dollie handed over the text; it ran thus:
Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt
thou dwell in the land, and verify thou shalt
be fed"
1 looked at Dollie; her eyes were still
swimming.
ITS always something of that kind" said
she; always something to remind me thA
| I'm dependent-and l think she's-she's a
funny Christian"
l had a number of such experiences, and
the truth was borne in upon me that the
beautiful work which could accomplish so
much good is mismanaged. Flowers are
beautiful, cheering and helpful, but so are
smiles and kind words. A moments cheer
fi1 ahnttin1 1YtI nnIa,a, tl, al, 80
gifts which should be offered as Jesus in
tended they should. Too often the spirit
seems to be: 81 have this duty to perform.
| belong to the Flower Mission. | must take
some tlowers to the sick, but I'll get
through with 1t as soon as possible.
I've got shopping to do, and some
calls to make. Dear Lord, / hope
you'll remember what great sacrifices /
make when I go to so much bother for these
sick people. And they're so ungrateful, dear
Lord. Help me TO be patient with them.
Amen"
Thus the Flower Mission girl at night.
Why pin some text to these offerings?
Is not God able to speak through his mes
sengers? The flowers are His and He made
them. They have voices of their own. If
God could make the scriptural selections it
would be different, hut they are made by
DObl UNA CItdluItb WHO KNOW llltle,
usually, of the spiritual wants of the sick.
Where one of these texts is appropriate
n~inety-nine are entirely out OF place. 1
have seen patients look amused, scornful.
angry or simply tolerant, according to their
several tempers, over these useless scraps
Of writing. / cannot imagine the Master
going through the sick wards Of a hospital
with the bored, sanctimonious expression
some Of the flower missionaries wear. Let
us be more practical, Unbend a little. None
of these poor patients expect to be invited
to your swell receptions. There is not a
particle OF danger that any of them will
even insist upon speaking to you in the
street. My dear little flower missionary
friend, just walk into the ward with a
smlle-eyen a broad smile is cheap. Don't
pin any useless bit of scriptural advice or
warning to these little, fragment heralds
OF His love, but give them a chance to tell
their own story. You might try an occa-
sional joke. If you have no jokes in your
soul just 90 to the funny columns of any
daily paper. You can find them in abund-
ance. Here is a good recipe: One flower
Gf you can spare no more), one sweet smile
and one cheerful, amusing remark. Mix
and distribute judiciously. Try it. Xxx.