Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-12-08

give to me a place Of active service
Give to me place to labor IN thy
kingdom" This Is not a foolish re-
quest to make.
Always Out of Work.
HIVE YOU never noticed how many
men and women there are who seem
10 be most of the time out of employ
mentf These unfortunates always
seem to be square pegs trying 10 De
fitted to round holes. They work, and
they work hard. They seem to have all
the mental and physical and spiritual
qualifications for positions OF innu-
ence II they could only find their right
nosItions. Poor old Samuel Johnson's
life was battle against adversely.
Edmund Burke's speeches are read py
posterity, but they were spoken 10
empty benches when he was alive. |
CARLYLE had such a long, bitter light
for success in life that when he did
acquire ii he was an old man, pre-
maturely aged by troubles, with dis'
position soured and a nature MADE
cynical by perpetual vexation. 30 II
IA with these unfortunates whom we
see around us and who are out OF their
proper sphere in life. 1t Is all impor-
tant to have the right field OF usefui-
ness open to man before ne can
amount to much. So at this Christmas
time do not say to God: 70 Fatner'
give me money! Give me as Christ
mas present an easy sinecure." But
do say: 20 Father, give me place
in which | may labor for theel Give
me a blessed opportunity in. which
may be able to work for my daily
bread and support my dear ones ana
accomplish something for my Fellow
meng" This Is one Of my desires for
the coming Christmas Is 1t yours!
Is the opportunity for labor Christ
mas request which Is pressing upon
your heart and pleading from your
llpsf
It is right and proper for every one
to have a healthy ambition. Every
man. woman and child, no matter now
humble their sphere, should strive to
make the most out of life. But, though
I should come to God today and make
this prayer. 20 God, give me posi-
| tion of usefulness, where / may DO
something for thy glory!" / should al
so cIrcumscribe that prayer with an
other prayer. l should say, 70 God'
do not give me a position of earthly
influence greater than that which my
mental and physical and spiritual ca
| liabilities are able to FILL" But where
there are fifty men who are ready con-
| sclentiously to make the first prayer
there is hardly one ready to make the
second prayer. When we come to Coo
70 ask for a Christmas gift we want
that gift Just as large as possible. ana
vet, my friends. do you not know there
are scores of men absolutely miserable
because they are trying to 6ll too big q
place in life? They are trying to do
more than God ever meant their brains
or their hearts to do.
Their Places TOO biBs
- One tisfy-st -rriyfrty- -pisioncd eagle
was winging his way through the
heavens. lie flew on and on, going
with the speed of the winds. Sudden
ly he heard mud turtle calling to him
TO stop. Like a ship tacking into port
the monster clrcled around and flew
down to the mudhole and seated him
self upon a rock near by. What Is the
matter O mud turtle?" asked the
eagle 20 eagle" answered the mud
turtle, 81 am tired Of living down here
, in the dirt. All that can do Is t(
crawl out upon this bank of morning
! or take a sun bath upon some floating
! log. | want to fill higher life. wan
, TO nut mountains underfoot and build
! an eyrie for my young upon the lofties
, rocks and bathe my shell In the coiC
. waters of the mighty deep" "Ah, mut
turtle" said the eagle, you may wan
O TO do all that, but you must hav'
o wings to fly. An eagle does not clim'
!. over the blue dome Of the heaven
!. ! with his feet. And, mark me, mu'
n turtle, even an eagle has his danger
= to meet. have to fee the sportsman
gun. as you must guard against tn
= fisherman's hook" mot So" says tn
- mud turtle. Position and experienc
make YOU what you are and not talent
+, I would be just as smart as you II m
= father and mother had tried to teac
!. me to fly as yours taught you. Tax
. me up in your claws. Lift me highe
- and higher until the earth Is far b'
meath. Then let me go, and I will us
nv webbed feet for wings. And as
. now can paddle through the waters
!, will | soar through the air."
So the eagle, to please the turtl
II took him at his word. He clutched II
y turtle in his claws. Then the might
y wings began to vibrate. Higher an
~ higher they rose. "Shall let you
- now. mud turtle" NAY, nay" a.
IL swered the mud turtle. Lift me hig
er. The higher 1 go the easier 1t WI
III be for me to fy." Higher and high'
re they went, higher and higher, until
Ae last the eagle loosened his hold. !
III once the mud turtle, though ne trit
q. to flap his webbed feet like an eagle
to wings. fell to the earth like lump
a lead His shell was crushed upon c
~ rocks below. How many are ike I
,r- moor mud turtle and think that II
d, can only be lifted far up into the hea
in ems with our poor webbed feet we "
ny be able to fly. Pray God today til
he when he gives to you a position
nd influence he will give you. too' I
a mental and physical and spiritual
pacity to fll 1t acceptably.
y. The race is not always to the sw'
by nor the battle to the strong. neither
90 bread to the wise, nor riches to men
We understanding, nor yet favor 10 10
nd of skill. But rather, far rather. Oe
zen big man IN too small place tnan
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