Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-02-08
A HUMBLE LIFE.
Man f. judged by HIS FaIthfuiness
Rather Than ny the Conspicu-
business Of His Position.

NY friend and i were looking at
bit of exquisite tapestry. 1t was the
product Of loom that had brains and
a soul. Generations had gazed upon
ii with admiration. but i doubt If any
one had done so with more reverence
than my friend and /. He called my
attention 10 the coIoring of the CEN
tral figure, TO the>dignity of its pose,
as though ii were half-conscious that
ii represented the nobility of thought
and deed which has always been the
worlds ideal.
Then, having assented to his criti-
cism, ventured to remark that three
quarters of the threads in the picture
constituted a background at which
no one looked a second time. Still,
each separate thread was necessary TO
the perfection of the whole. The dull
gray was as truly a component part of
that whole as the brilliant colors in
face or robe. What nobody ever saw
was as important as what everybody
looked at. The unnoticed thread on
the farthest edge had its mission, and
who shall judge its worth by it's failure
to excite admiration? / said TO my
II
chief factor. and thought TO myself
that perhaps the dullest thread in the
entire fabric. were It endowed with
consciousness, might be as happy with
its humble task as its brother thread
which was woven into the halo above
the head.
That bit of tapestry is a somewhat
sad and pathetic symbol Of humanity.
There are some among us of whom
it may be said that they have been de-
creed to be successful in worldly affairs
without any special merit on their part,
and our crime is that they excite jeal-
ousy and envy in us, which is not only
discouraging, but gives as a feeling
that injustice has been done. Their
work has a blaze of light on IT, and be-
comes historical. Our work. on the
contrary, is done in a corner, and
though we -be honest and faithful, we
live without observation, and die un-
known and. therefore, unregretted.
We are the threads in the background.
demoralized because we are not con-.
spicuous.
But whether our task is great or
little. 1t is the task that God has set
us. and that fact should give us good
cheer. What matter is il whether we
are in the worlds eye if what we do
IS done well and with true heart? Is
anything small in the judgment OF the
Almighty? is a man of no account
in Heaven because he is of no account
on the earth? Are riches, or fame. or
great deeds, in peace or war. any foun-
dalton for happiness? If we do our
best with what He has set us TO do,
need we. worry because men do not
look at us as we pass by? is ii APP
plause or is IL faithfulness that we
seek?
~ am so little.' moaned one the
other day; Gin the great aggreg gate I
am so insignificant that am quite in
visible" That may be true. and yet
one may build great character out
of honest though humble work as well
as in the midst Of great opportunities.
Tt is not what you do, but how you do
St. which decides your fate. Once get
rid of desiring a high place. and be sat
isfed to do an honest days work, the
whole of il Gods work and you viii,
make little world for yourself, in
which the spirit Of Christ and con-
tentment will dwell. Instead Of COM
pairing your condition with that of
others. and so disturbing your soul,
if you would think il enough to have
the approval Of God and conscience,
and to labor cheerily, making the best
of what you have, you would find YOUR
self stronger, healthier and happier.
The Christ is our example in this as
in all other things. He had no jealousy
of the good fortune of others, but
lived His own life amid the surround
ings which God ordained. He found
pleasure in the friendship of those who
were loyal, and when sorrow came the
companionship of the other world sus-
tanned him. What this world could not
supply He drew from the upper realms.
He and the Father worked together,
and a peace which passe tn understand
ing was the consequence.
Be yourself, therefore. Measure your
worth by the standard of duty well
done, not by the opinion of others.
What they think of you is a matter
of small concern, but what your con-
science thinks of you is important
BE strong enough and Independent
enough to care for nothing except the
right and true. You will not then need
to seek for happiness, because II will
come as sunshine comes to chase away
the darkness. The smallest soul is
great in the judgment of God; there
fore keep that soul pure and manly,
with Heaven always in sight.-George
I'll. Hepworth. in N. Y. Herald.