Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-05-21

But in another sense, my brother, your
answer is wrong. Though most Of US
may be healthy, yet there was a time
when nearly all well persons were
sick, and awfully sick. We know what
1t Is to have the temperature run up to
1O4 and 1O5 and the pulse. like trip
hammer, beating 1870 times to the min
ute. We know what It Is to have pneu-
monia or typhoid fever or appendicitis
And from the past experience Of those
sicknesses we should fully realize the
blessing Of good health and be willing
to pay a great debt of service to God
for that health. When visiting the
Isle of Wight in 1885 we saw the
queens physician every morning ride
up to the royal palace. He did not go
there because the queen was Ill. but
in order to prevent her from becoming
sick. II the royal courts OF Europe
have their attending physicians, who
are paid large salaries to keep the rul-
ers WE'LL shall we not pay in service
anything to our Heavenly Physician
for the physical strength with which
Capital Of Good Health.
"Oh," said n poor laborer to mis-
sionary one day. II do not owe any
debt to God. lie has done nothing for
me-" Nothing for you" exclaimed
the missionary. would you be will
ing, poor as you are, to take a mil
lion dollars cash for your two eyes,
"No" answered the laborer, II would
not" would you be willing to take
million dollars for your two legs, and
all the rest of your earthly days have
TO be wheeled around as a cripple!
Would you be willing for a million dol
lars to exchange your good lungs for
those of II consumptlveT NO" said
the lahorer. II would not" Then
said the minister. you owe to God
gratitude and service to the amount of
at least S3,OOOOO0 capital for good
health"
We have all followed with intense
interest the operation which the ia
nous Vienna surgeon, DR.. Lorenz, per-
formed on the little daughter of n
Chicago millionaire. Twice has the
great doctor crossed the seas within
a few months to visit his little patient.
1t has been said that for each trip he
was paid $4,000. oh" you say, "let
that Chicago father pay 100000, pay
anything. if he can only have his Grip
pied daughter cured" Then. my broth
er, do we not owe God a greater debt
than Mr.. Armour owes to DR.. Lorenz
Have we no debt to pay because we
have had for years the blessing of good
health?
4 big debt. for food and clothing and
house rent, I find charged against us
in the divine ledger. A noted French
statistician has compiled the following
summary Of how an average man
fifty years Of age, has spent his past
life: He has slept 6,O0o days; played
1000 days; was eating LOO days and
has been sick 500 days. During his
l 800 days of feeding. he has eaten Il
whole car load of bread-1T, 900 pounds
whole car load OF meat-16.OOC
pounds; 1900 pounds of vegetable
eggs and fish. and has drunk 1000 gal
Ions of liquids. He has worked only
$500 days out Of the 1880 days which
he has lived. In other words, he has
slept nearly as long as he has worked
Then when you further estimate all
the expense Of a mans clothing and
cost Of travel during his life, you can
TO some extent compute the financial
value of the food and clothes will
which God has endowed one of his
children up to the half century mile
/ stone.
Friend of Infancy.
But though the divine debt for foot
and raimcnt may be very great are
you going to try TO cancel ii by merel!
estimating. dollar for dollar, how mucl
/ the bccfstcaks and the chops and til,
potatoes and peas and barrels of apple
and the garments have cost? Oh, no
That would not be right. You stron:
man, with the earning capacity YOU
now have. owe to God financially more
than that. You have Il moral debt a
well as Il financial one. If | should
come 10 you in business crisis o
your life and help YOU. you woulC
never forget it. II | should say: Mr.
So-and 50, | hear the banks are begin
ming to push you. Never mind, | will
see you through this crisis. Bring you
notes to my Office, and | will indors
Them" what would be the result
Tears would come into your eyes. Yol
/ would pnrhaDs cry like little child
You would say to me: Il can never for
get your kindness. 1t means more t
me than money. If any trouble eve
comes to your home, you can Away
count upon me as your friend
Suppose your father and mother die
thirty years ago and left you pcnniless
suppose at that time | should hav
gone to foundlnGs home and foun'
you and brought you into my house an
adopted YOU and reared you as my sor
what would be the result? Would yo
estimate the sacrifices | have made 70
you by the dollar and cent measure
BY how much | spent for your clothe
and board on, no, Iou would est
mate it by the extent of my love. Yo
would give back to me more than NOR
oy. You would feel that all You mr.
and all you have you owe TO my patel
nal kindness and that | have claim
upon you that all your devotion cannc
repay. What, then, are your obliga
tions TO God for all the comforts yo
have enjoyed? II you give yourself t