Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-07-11

AVE cdNiuS SOuAS you nave not Yet Deen
blessed with the hottest joy of which
the human heart can conceive.
Another precious sheaf that Is gar
ncred by the Christian reaper is the
gratitude OF those whose immortal souls
he has been able. by the power OF the
Holy Spirit. to win 10 Christ. No true
Christian has right TO swerve one
inch from the path OF rectitude i'm or
der TO win the appreciation of his fell
low men. He should be willing TO do
his full duty under all conditions. No
matter what obstacles may confront
him. he should be willing TO draw
the plumb line OF principle and so
straight ahead whether he is praised or
blamed. loved or hated. honored or
deSpised.
But when a Christian worker can
SOW the good seed and not only gather
for Christ a harvest of immortal souls,
but gather also the gratitude and love
OF those whom be has been able. by
the power OF the Holy Ghost, to lead
to salvation, the reward of that love
is very sweet. 1t is as sweet as the
attention which Mr.. ID. l.. Moody used
TO shower upon little old woman.
popularity called Mother Cook, whose
prayers were the means of giving to
Mr.. Moody a spirit filed life-a little
old woman whom perhaps you have
never heard of. yet woman whom the
whole Christian world ought to love
on account OF the work she has done
1t is as sweet as the affection which a
Sunday school scholar gives 20 his
teacher because that teacher has led
him to Christ. 1t is as sweet as the
look of gratitude which the dying man
turns upon one who has pointed him to
the cross and TO divine pardon. it is
as sweet as the affection which child
showers upon a mothers life, an ar
lection which is developed not alone
from the temporal care which she de-
votes 60 the child, but also from the
spiritual care. whereby she has been
hand Of loving Christ.
The Heart Like N Gem.
Like the sensitive opal when it comes
into contact with the living hand, the
heart of the believer is made TO glow
when it feels the warm love and graf
itude of those whom il has led into the
| spiritual newness of life. The story
is told that a celebrated New York jew
eieT purchased in Europe a magnificent
collection of gems. When he returned
home, he arranged these stones in a
cabinet and invited some of his closest
friends TO inspect them. When his
the cabinet and said: There. gentle
| .,..l
believe, i'm all this land. There is
nothing like it in value anywhere
The friends We're I'm raptures over the
sight. In the cabinet were pearls and
amethysts and diamonds and rare
stones OF all sorts. 1t seemed as though
the richest treasures of the noted peal
cock throne of India, which was worth
over SEQ, 000, 900. had been selected for
this collection. But i'm the midst OF ali
these beautiful jewels was one which
looked like an unsightly pebble. "Why
Go you place such dull. hideous look
ing, pebblelike stone as that among
those costly gemsy asked one Of the
visitors. The host answered not a word.
He unlocked the cabinet, lookout the
pcbblclike stone and held Il IN the palm
OF his closed hand. Just as the guests
were about TO leave, the host said: LET
me show you the richest and rarest
stone OF all my treasures" He opened
his hand, and there upon the palm was
n stone which glowed like q live coal.
1t was such n brilliant stone that every
| guest uttered an exclamation of sur
prise. where did you get it?'' they cried.
I'VE have never seen the like OF IL be-
! fore" THAT stone is the rarest
have" answered the jeweler. THAT
is the unsightly pebble you saw few
moments ago In the cabinet. That is
sensitive opal. which has been
warmed into what looks like a live
coal by the heat OF my blood"
The true Christian sower ought to
be ready 10 SOW the good seed under all
conditions, no matter whether he be
praised or blamed, honored or despised.
but when he does begin TO gather his
harvcsts he will not only reap the
heaf OF Joy which comes from the
realization that he has won some soul,
but he will also reap the gratitude
and the love OF those who were brought
TO Christ through his fundamentally.
This love and gratitude will transform
the jewel OF his heart into a glowing
gem, afiame with life, which shall
glow like the richest jewel that ever
flashed in the crown OF king.
The sheaf of Contentment.
Another precious sheaf which is gar
nered by the Christian reaper is the
sheaf OF contcntment, the willingness
10 live happily in that field of life in
which he has been placed by God. III
a man does not mingle with the poor
and the troubled. the sick and the suf-
fering, he never fully realizes how
good and kind and loving God has been
TO him. II man does not visit the
sickroom and try 10 carry there COM
fort and good cheer To the wan invalid,
he never fully appreciates the bless
ings of health unless perhaps he him.
self has been carried into a hospital.
Then, while recovering from a serious
sickness, he has seen intense sufferings
and aSonies such rs may be Witnessed
In almost every ward of large hos
pital. II n man has never entered n
home where diphtheria has played
havoc with the nursery or where con-
sumption has made the young mother
cough her life away, he never fully APP
preciates the blessings OF having his
children and wife by his side. If
man has not tried 10 carry the gospel
TO the outcasts and the vile, he has
never yet realized the blessing of being
born In n Christian cradle and sur
rounded by a Christian childhood. All,
the Christian sower who scatters the
good seed upon the troubled sea OF
restless humanity, while he may be
carrying blessing to others he is also
planting in his own heart the seeds of
gratitude to God and OF contentment
with his own sphere Of life.
My brother, you are unhappy VIII
You let me end your dependency?
Well, then. go first and buy few flow
ers at the nearest florists. "Oh," you
answer. Il cannot afford to buy any
flowers" Yes. you can, my brother
You can buy all the flowers ! want for