Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1905-02-13

| tant cause in Europe hung upon his
| life, and the barking of this dog had
perhaps an unreasonable influence up
on the destinies of nations. The chance
encounter of Major Andre and the
American soldiers when he was al
most within the British lines, saved
Washington from capture. We are
told that the everturning of a lantern
caused the great confagration which
desolated Chicago. A few years ago
the state normal school of California,
a beautiful building costing hundreds
of thousands of dollars, was burned on
account of a defective ash bin. A sin
gle spark, perhaps, caused so great de-
struction. An ill-natured tilt in the
United States senate between Blaine
and Conkling cost the one the presi
dency and the other his seat in the
senate. Behold how great a matter
a little fire kindleth.'
The text is often illustrated in ev-
ery-day life. A single word, carelessly
spoken, may cause to be built up be-
tween two once loving hearts a wall
as high as were the walls of ancient
Babylon. A single sentence uttered in
advertently by prince or president
may involve two great nations in war.
A single prejudice in the mind of a
speaker of the house of representatives
may decide the political fate of Ari-
iona. single word of warning or of
instruction may be the good seed
which will spring up in some heart
to bear fruit unto eternal life. The
moment may come when some friend
or comrade may speak to you or when
you may speak to some weary toiler, a
word which will be an inspiration to
noble endeavor a word which may
change the current of a life. When
Daniel Webster came to Boston to
study law he was looked upon as
green country boy and no one in the
great law office which he had entered
gave him any attention. He felt lone
ly and discouraged. One day the emil
nent lawyer. Rufus Choate, came into
the office. He saw the lonely student
asked his name. took him by the hand
and said: Il know your father we'll
He is an intimate friend of mine. You
have chosen a noble profession. Be
studious and you will win. If you
want advice or assistance come to me-"
When Daniel Webster was an old man
he said that he still felt the warm
grasp of that friendly hand. That
word of cheer was to his soul like re-
freshing dew to the thirsting, dropping
flower. That word of inspiration went
with him through life. a great nav
igator, travelling through unknown
seas, finds it almost impossible to per-
suade his weary and disappointed sail
ors to continue the voyage. The lead
er has faith but the men have long
since ceased to hope. Unless in a few
hours signs of land appear the mon
will turn the little ships prov toward
Spain. But now they see a fragment
Of sea-weed which seems to have
grown near the shore, and they hear
from the rigging the song of a tiny
land bird. These little tokens of land.
ahead restore their courage. renew
their hope; they press forward, and
the new world is won. The touch of c
finger upon the key of a piano leaves
no perceptible impression upon the
ivory yet it is said that the keys of
HandeTs harpsichord were quite worn
through to the wood. The oft repeated
touch of the great musician mad worn
away the ivory. as the continual drop
ping of water, so soft and yielding to
the touch, will wear away the rock.
Many great and striking changes are
wrought in the world by causes in
themselves insignificant. The discov-
erer lands upon some beautiful island,
it's forests rich with the products Ct
the tropics, and examining it's coun Ia
ton, finds that it has been i.uiIt en-
tirely by little coral insects almost too
small to be distinguished. One OF the
of the last and the present
century is that great bridge between
New York City and Brooklyn. Eoun-
dations were laid far under ground to
sustain the towers and abutments. |
Millions of dollars were expended up !
on the vast undertaking before pro- |
gress was visible. Now the largest
ocean vessels pass beneath the huge /
cities, or rather sister members of the |
same city family, so long separated by /
The waves of summer and the ice of /
winter, are joined as one. Yet 1 re-
member, almost as if it were yester-
lay, standing upon the Brooklyn |
side of the channel, in 1876, and per-
,eiving by the excitement of the ever
present multitude that something of
Importance was taking place. The
shipping drew back on either side to
make an open way and then little
wire, almost invisible a hundred feet
away, was stretched from shore to
shore. 1t stood as a token of that i'm
nense fabric which was soon to span
he waves with arch sublime" So the
bread of a single thought, a single
holy inspiration, extended toward
heaven, may mean much; may be a
prophecy of grace and glory far-reach-
ng in their influence. A single word
If gratitude to God, a single prayer for
guidance; these are little things in
themselves. but one of these chords.
stretching heavenward, may tell to the
lngles that for one soul the gulf of
loubt and unbelief is spanned by that
afe way which has been thrown up
hat the ransomed of the Lord may
walk in it; that way not wrought out
~ human hands, but whose builder
md maker is God; that way as COM
Jared with whose cost and span the
most magnificent structures of earth
compare as shadow with substance.
)ne single act of faith may be a
and an assurance of this