The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-04-25

IOr any edrIlly loss.
When Morton had gone, Barbara
slipped up to her room. Her happi-
ness was too great to be talked about.
The thought of what her lover, her
''lover," she repeated, had said about
service, about the image of herself
daily in that kitchen, made her trem-
BILE. She had tried to accustom herself
|, to the thought of Christ's teaching
about service. Her study of the diff
ferent passages in the Bible referring
to servants had given her new life on
the subject. 1t had all grown sweeter
and more noble as she went on. And,
now that her life had been caught
up into this other life, newer and
clearer revelation of labor and min
istry had come to her. Never had Bar
giving than the one that flowed out
of her heart to God tonight. Never
had the depth and beauty of human
service meant so much to her as now,
when human love, the love sanctioned
by Jesus and made holy by His bene-
diction, had begun to translate COM
mon things into divine terms.
In her Bible-reading that night she
found passage in the sixth chapter
of Second Corinthians that pleased
her very much. It did not belong
first of all to the service of house
servant; yet Barbara felt quite sure,
as she read, that, if. Paul had been
| questioned about it, he would have
said that the teaching applied just as
well to~house-ministrati as to min
icfr = h.
passage which she read: "Giving no
occasion of stumbling in anything,
that our ministration be not blamed;
but in everything commencing our
selves, as ministers of God, in much
patience, in Affections, in necessities,
in distresses, in strifes, in imprison-
ments, in tumults, in labors, in
watchings, in HASTINGS; in pureness,
in knowledge, in long-suffering, in
kindness, in the Holy Ghost, in love
unfeigned, in the word of truth, in
the power of God; by the armor of
righteousness on the right hand and
on the left, by glory and dishonor, by
evil report and good report; as de-
ceivers, and yet true; as unknown,
and yet well known; as dying, and
behold we live; as chastened, and not
killed; as sorrowful, yet always re-
joicing; as poor, yet making many
rich; as having nothing, and yet pos
sessing all things"
"Haye I been minister of God?'
How often I have complained and
shed tears over little things as I
have tried to minister to the needs
of this house! Surely at it's very
worst have not endured the hard
ships that Paul, speaks of. I know
he is speaking of preachers, probably,
of missionaries of the cross, But l
am sure he means that anyone who
ministers to the real needs of life
is minister of God And, if have
really been a minister of God, how
little have realized it's meaning!"
Help me, my Father" Barbara
breathed her prayer, "help me in the
thankfulness for the great joy of my
life to live as a servant of Thine.
Through all these possible hardships
may learn to keep close to Thee.
Help me to bless other lives and give
them encouragement and a true
thought of ministry. It is all so
wonderful, my Father! Thou hast
led me in ways so unforeseen by my
poor selfishness. It is all too won
derful to me. Oh Thou Great but Low
ing God, I thank Thee. In the name
of Him who has redeemed me.
Amen"
1t was the next day that barbara
had call from Mrs. Vane.
The old lady had met Mr.. Morton;
and, reading his happiness in his
whole person, she asked him bluntly
to tell her all about it.
"My DEAR" she cried as she kissed
Barbara on both cheeks and shed a
tear out of her sharp eyes, softened
by her love for Barbara, 81 congratu-
late you both! 1t is .wonderful; but
I knew all the time that he loved you
| and would have you and knew that
you would give yourself to him. It
is all as it should be. The Marble
| Square church is a great institution,
but it is not SO great as love. want
you to be married at my house. Nor
ton is one of my boys. I knew him
as child, and L love him as son."
81 don't think mother would allow
me to go away from her, even to
you," Barbara answered, smiling and
blushing until she looked like pic
ture, Mrs. Vane and Mrs. Ward both
thought as they stood looking at her.
1--WE have arranged to be married at
| mothers"
That's best; yes, that's best!"