St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-11-11
covINGToN "A NovEMBER H. 1899

Ia, A.,seATURDAYsN(
- =
/ 70 into .sculptos's studio and -
him shaping statue. he has chisei
In one hand and . mallet In the Other,
and he gives q very gentle stroke-cliek.
click, click! say: "Why don't yoa
strike harder?" "Oh." he replies, ''that
would shatter the statue. can't do il
that way. must do it this way" So
he works ON, and after awhile the fea-
tures come ont, and everybody that en-
tiers the studio II charmed and fas-
cinAted. Wen, God has your soulunder
process of Development, and 1t n the
little annoyances and vexations Of ffe
that are schiseling out your immortal
nature. It is click, click, click! won
der why some great Providence does
mot come and with one stroke prepare
You for Heaven. All, no! God says that
is not the way, and 50 He keeps on by
strokes of little vexations until At last
you shall be a glad spectacle for angels
and for men.
You know that large fortune may
be spent in small change, and vast
amount of moral character may go
away in small depletions. tits the little
troubles of life that are having more
effect upon you than great ones A
swarm of locusts will kill grain held
sooner than the incursion Of three or
four cattle. You say: "Since I lost
my child, since I lost my property. I
have been . different man." But you
do not recognize the architecture Of lit
tie annoyances that are hewing, dig
ging, cutting, shaping, splitting and
interjoining your moral qualities. Rats
may sink a ship. One lucifer match may
send destruction through block Of
storehouses. Catherine de Nedici got
her death from smelling = poisonous
rose. Columbus, by stopping and ask
ing for q piece Of bread and drink
of water at Franciscan convent. was
led 10 the discovery Of q new world.
And there il an intimate connection be-
tween trifles and immensities, between
nothings and everythings.
Now, be careful to let none Of these
annoynnces go through your soul unar-
raigned. Compel them to administer to
your spiritual wealth. The scratch of .
sixpenny nail sometimes produces lock-
jaw, and the clip Of most infnitesimal
annoyance may damage you forever.
Do not let any annoyance or perplexity
come across your soul without its max
ing you better.
Our national government when It
wanted money did not think It belit-
thing to put q tax on pins and Q tax
on buckles and q tax on shoes. The in
dividual taxes did not amount to much,
but in the aggregate 70 millions and
millions of dollars. And would have
yon, o Christian man, put high tarih
on every annoyance and vexation that
comes through your soul. This might
not amount to much In single cases,
but in the aggregate it would be . great
revenue Of spiritual strength and sat
isfaction. A bee can suck honey even
out Of nettle, and If you have the grace
of God in your heart you can get sweet
ness out Of that which would other
wise irritate and annoy.
A returned missionary told me that
a company Of adventurers rowing up
the Ganges were stung to death by
flies that infest that region at certain
seasons. The earth has been strewn
with the carcasses Of men slain by i'm
sect annoyances. The only way to get
prepared for the great troubles Of life
is to conquer these small troubles.
What would you say Of . soldier who
refused to load His gun or 70 60 into
the conflict because it was only skir-
mish, saying: II am not going to ex-
pend my ammunition on q skirmish.
Wait until there comes . general en-
gagement, and then you will see how
courageous am and what battling ]
will do?" The general would say to
speh . man: IF you are not faithful
| in = skirmish, you would be nothing
in general engagement" And have
10 tell you, O Christian men. II you
cannot apply the principles Of Christ'a
religion on small scale You will never
be able to apply them ON larger scale.
II l had my way with you, would
have you possess all possible worldly
prosperity. I would have you each one
garden. . river flowing through 1t,
geraniums and shrubs on the sides and
the grass and flowers ~ beautiful Al
though the rainbow had fallen. Iwould
have you = house, . asplendid mansion,
and the beds should be covered with
upholstery dipped in the setting sun.
1 would have every hall in your house
set with statues and statuettes. and
then would have the four quarters
of the globe pour in all their luxuriea
ON your table, and you should have
forks Of silver and knives Of gold, in
laid with diamonds and amethysts.
Then you should each one Of you have
the finest horses and your pick Of the
quipages of the world. Then I would
| have you live $50 years, and you should
not have pain or an ache until thu
last breath.
.Not each one Of us?" you say. Yes,
each one Of you. ~Not to your enc.
mies?" Yes. The only difference
would make with them would be that
l would put little extra gilt ON theil
walls and little extra embroidery
on their slippers. But, you say: "Why
does not God give MS NIL these things?' 2
All! bethink myself. He il wiser. II
would make fools and sluggards Of nj
if We had our way. No man puts hi,
iesttpleture in the portieo or vestibuls
o: his house. God meant this world tc
lie only the vestibule Of Heaven. that
great gallery Of the universe toward
which we are aspiring. We must mol
have it too good in this world, or NJ
would want no Heaven.
Folycarp was condemned to be burned
to death. The stake was planted. Hl
was fastened to it. The fagots werl
placed around him, the fires kindled
but history tells rs that the hames
bent outward like the canvas Of a shiF
! IN stout breeze, 20 that the flames
+, instead Of DESTROYING Polycarp, were