St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-11-07
HIS story is told Of a certain Capt.

T HIS story is told Of a certain Capt.
D, who commanded sailing
! vessel from Liverpool to New York. On
one voyage he had all his family on
board the ship. One night, when all
were quietly asleep, there arose sud
den squall of wind which came sweep
ing over the waters until it struck the
vessel and instantly threw her on her
side, tumbiing and crashing everything
that was movable and awaking the pas
sengers to q consciousness that they
were in imminent peril. Every one on
board was alarmed and uneasy, and
some sprang from their berths and be-
gan to dress, that they might be ready
for the worst. Capt. D. had little
girl on board, just eight years old, who,
of course, awoke with the rest.
Whats the matter?" asked the
frightened child.
They told her squall had struck the
ship.
rs father on deck?" she asked.
eyes, fathers on deck"
And with that assurance the little
one dropped herself on her pillow again
was sleeping sweetly again In spite OF
winds or waves. 1t was enough for her
to know thatfher father was in charge.
And when the Christian knows that
God is present at all times and in charge
of their welfare and safety how it ought
to reassure and bring that peace in the
heart which passeth understanding.
4 ND the God Who cares for us is an
y All-Loving God. We know how the
love of father and mother surrounds and
protects the little babe that makes glad
the home. That little, helpless thing
lives in an atmosphere Of love. The
mother who so gently and faithfully
cares for that tiny babe from day to
day does it in sweetest, fullest love. And
how infinitely fuller, and better, and
more constant. is the love of God for
His children. Love is the very nature
and essence of God. He Who careth for
/ ;ou, does /. in love. There may be chas-
tening, but whom the Lord loveth He
chasteneth" AS the earthly parent
cares for its child in love through the
ministry of discipline, so does the Lord
care for His children. Trials OF all
kinds come into the life, but God says.
''count it all JOY" when they come, for
He does not permit anything to come to
His children but that 1t has its blessed
ministry to perform in the life. Oh. II
we can only try to understand the love
of God, we will realize more clearly that
He careth for us when the cloud is how
ering over us as we'll as when our skies
are bright and we are sailing over =
smooth and unrufned sea. And because
God loves us He is watching over us and
caring for US when we are unconscious
of it.
A LITTLE incident related by Min
n neapolis preacher illustrates this
point He says: Late one winters
night as entered street car, when the
thermometer registered something like
rs below zero, saw man come in car
rying bundle in his arms, closely
wrapped, while he had no overcoat upon
himself. l wondered why he should be
out such a bitter night without an over
coat to protect him from the biting cold.
AS he sat down he began to slightly
loosen the wrappings around the mys-
terious package in his arms, and as he
did SO the passengers beheld sleeping
boy EMBODIED in the fathers own over
coat. To protect the little lad from pos
coat and put 1t around the child he loved
more than he did himself. But that
slumbering lad was all unconscious Of
the love that was shielding him in his
repose, and probably never knew how
that father had shivered in the cold Of
the night to keep him warm and SAFE"
And so 1t is with Gods care for US. His
love provides for our needs when we
know it not. so hath thy Heavenly
Father thrown about thee His protec-
ton in the hours when thou knowest
1t not, when thou hast slumbered
amidst perils, or walked amongst dan
gers of which thou didst never know"
Let us not ignore the constancy Of Gods
love that ceases not to enrich, defend
and lead US in the days and hours when
we realize it not. Like as father
pietieth his children, SO the Lord pitieth
them that fear Him.
A ND this is the God of Whom it Is said:
n "He careth for YOU" The All-Know-
ing, All-Powerful, All-Loving, Ever
Present God. How can we doubt Him?
How can we fret and chafe under His
discipline? How dare we chide Him
with having forgotten US? He careth
for us, and because He is all-knowing
and all-wise, He knows what is best for
US. :.
Il need oil" said an ancient monk. So
he planted him an olive sapling. Lord"
he prayed, ut needs rain that Its roots
may drink and swell. Send gentle
showers" And the Lord sent gentle
shower.
Lord" prayed the monk, my tree
needs sun. Send sun, Ipray thee" And
the sun shone, gliding the dripping
clouds.
"Now, frost, my Lord. to brace its tis-
Sues" said the monk, and, behold, the
little tree stood sparkling with frost.
But at evensong it died. Then the monk
sought the cell of a brother monk, and
told his strange experience