The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-07-11
A HUMBLE LIFE.
"an i' Judged by His Fnithfulness
Rather Than by the Conspicu-
business of His Position.


business of His Position.
: Whosoever shall give a cup OF cold water
! st. Matthew. X. A.
e. My friend and | were looking at
, bit Of exquisite tapestry. II was tn,
| product Of loom that had brains an,
| soul. Generations had gazed upor
1t with admiration. but doubt if anv
one had done so with more reverenc,
than my friend and /. lie called my
attention to the coloring Of the cen,
iral figure, to the dignity Of its pose
as though it were half-conscioua that
1t represented the nobility Of thought
and deed which has always been the
worlds ideal
Then, having assented to his criti-
cism, ventured 10 remark that three
quarters Of the threads in the picture
constituted a background at which
no one looked 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 byits failure
10 excite admiration? ] said 10 nv
heart that 10 be conspicuous is not the
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
It's humble task as it's 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
1t 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 ieal- |
ousy and envy in us, which is not only
discouraging, but gives us a feeling
that injustice has been done. Their
work has blaze Of light on II, and be-
comes historical Our work. on the
contrary, Is done In corner. and
though we be honest and faithful. we
live without observation, and die IN
known and, therefore, unregretted.
We are the threads in the background.
lemoralized because we are not con-
.picuous.
But whether our task is great or
little, 1t is the task that God has set
IS, and that fact should give us good
heer. What matter is II whether we
re in the worlds eye II what we do
S done well and with a true heart? Is
nything small in the judgment Of the
Almighty? Is a man Of no account
Heaven because he is Of no account
n the earth? Are riches, or fame. or
reat deeds, in peace or war, any foun- I
alton for happiness? II we do our
est with what He has set us to do.
eed we worry because men do not
'ok at us as we pass by? Is It ap- =.
lause or Is II faithfulness that We =
eek?
i am so little" moaned one the
ther day; "in the great aggregate 7
n so Insignificant that am quite in !,
sible." That may be true. and vet O
le may build a great character ont
honest though humble work as well
in the midst OF great opportunities. p
is not what you do, but how you do II
which decides your fate. Once get
Of desiring a high place, and be sat
led to do an honest days work. the
lole OF il Gods work, and You will ID
Ike little world for yourself. in ~
lich the spirit of Christ and con- -,
ntment will dwell. Instead of COM Ac
ring your condition with that OF col
hers, and so disturbing your soul. -
you would think il enough 10 have =
approval Of God and conscience.
to labor cheerily, making the best
what you have, you would find your
I stronger, healthier and happier.
The Christ is our example in this as
Ill other things. He had 10 jealousy
the good fortune of others. but G
d His own life amid the surround toe
S which God ordained. He found to-i
lsure in the friendship Of those who the
e loyal, and when sorrow came the S5PYY
lpanionship Of the other world sus- e nv.
led him. What this world could not % %1es,
ply He drew from the upper realms. not
and the Father worked together. bee
a peace which passeth understand o
was the consequence. tina
yourself, therefore. Measure vour to
III by the standard Of duty well you
2, not by the opinion OF others. -
Il they think OF you is a matter ''oN
mall concern, but what your con- T
nee thinks Of you is important. 10
strong enough and independent
Igh 10 care for nothing except the ~,
{ and true. You will not then need bi
eek for happiness, because II will DE
as sunshine comes to chase away Fk
darkness. The smallest soul is
in the judgment Of God; there
keep that soul pure and manly.
Heaven always in sight.-George
epworth. in y. Y. Herald. .
co
Drifting.
2 late Dr. Purves. in a sermon on ss.f.