The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-01-11


the rest She is so gentle, so kind, S
helpful, so loving so filed with tn
Christ life, that she seems to be th
gospel leaven which leavens the who'll
| home. Oh, yes, within it's owl
sphere there is no infuefce create
than the influence of the Christian
child. And yet, putting aside thu
monkish legends and traditions abou
! the Saviour's infancy, of all he did anC
said during his childhood there is re
liabIy recorded hardly a word.
A Beautiful Legend.
The great Dean Stanley illustrated
the influence Of the Christian child life
in this beautiful way: MANY years
ago there lived a huge heather giant
He was a mammoth bunch of muscles
but, though he was great in physical
strength, he was a spiritual pygmy.
He wanted to serve God, and he want
ed to pray, but he did not know how.
At last this heather giant came to a
deep river, where he met an old man,
and he told him his hearts warnings.
i lie SOUu Illul SdlO, NJ II lNIbI Ou
may not know how to pray, but you
can help those poor travellers who want
to pass over this river SO, day after
day, the heather giant dwelt upon the
river bank. When the poor wayfarers
came along, he would shoulder them
upon his back and carry them over
this swift running stream. One stormy
night he heard a child piteously cry
ing. The boy wanted to be carried
over. So the giant lifted the lad and
started The waters surged about the
giants feet The tempest blew over
head While he was struggling in the
swift current the giant felt the weight
of the child grow heavier and heavier.
Then the giant looked up at the child,
and, 10, supernatural glory shone in
bis face! The child said, Friend, thou
art labOring under this heavy burden
because thou art carrying one who is
bearing the sins of the world Then
the giant knew that he was carrying
Jesus. and he bore him to the bank
and fell down and worshiped him."
That was only a legend. But it was
a legend which has had its duplication
in many lives. We had grown to
manhood. We wanted to worship
Christ, but somehow we did not knov'
how. Then there came into our homt
q little child. Oh, that little girl seem.
ed so small! When the nurse first
placed her in our arms we were almost
frightened. We were afraid of drop
ping the puny thing upon the floor.
But as we kept carrying the child and
her, with her gentle, trustfu!
ways, we began to be like the leg
endary giant. Through that little child
ife we learned how to trust and be-
ieve on Jesus Christ. Oh, the marvel
JUS influence of a Christian child in
he home! Have you ever stopped for
me instant to think what must have
)een the influence of the child Jesus
lis father and mother and brothers and
listers? Are you and | willing to be
ed to reconsecrate our lives to the
ross through the influence of the con-
'ecrated actions of our little children?
l turn the leaves of the four gospels
md look in vain for any record of
What Christ did as a young man. From
he age of twelve to thirty absolutely
othing authoritative is written. And
ct those were very important years
! Jesus life They were the years
rhen, like Paul, he put aside child
III things. Then he not only thought
S man and worked as a man, but
e had the responsibilities Of the home
ung upon him when he was yet a
lere boy. He was like one of those
tile children we often see in our poor
: districts. While they are yet babies
by the cruel, memorable
WIS of poverty they are compelled to
Ike care of some younger brother and
ster. But during all these years of
hrist's life there is not a word writ
N; no, not one word.
What Jesus Did Not Do.
How precious to us would have been
genuine record showing how Jesus
cted when his foster father, Joseph,
led. Joseph, the carpenter, stood in
lie same relationship to Jesus as Lud-
Jig Guyer did to his stepson, Richard
7agner, or as David Swings stepfa-
Ter did to him. Joseph, the carpenter,
as the divine boys breadwinner and
uman protector. When suddenly this
rong carpenter was stricken down,
e can see Mary, his wife, and her
rood of little ones, with their stained
ices, standing about the pale corpse.
ow, what do you suppose Jesus. the
Oy, did at that time? Do you sup
Ose he turned to Mary and said:
Mother, l am willing to look after
)u, but not after the other boys and
rls. We have not the same father,
nd therefore | am not responsible for
leir daily bread" No; | do not be-
eve that is what Jesus, the young
an, did. Neither do | believe he
ent up to that bier and began to la
ent, saying: "What am l to do?
anted to study, to be a great rabbi
re Hillel. Now | have no father to
" my way through school," No; l
} not believe Jesus did that. 1t is an
written life. All this tragedy of the
,me is covered up.
From what we know Of his manhood
e must suppose he was very kind and
snder to his mother. We can imagine
i'm, as the eldest of her children, tax
g Joseph's place in the carpenter I
Top, of his toiling for the support of '
airy and Der young family. How {
lat sunny nature would tighten the I
and in the evening, when |
returned to the maternal abode. ]
wv it would tighten the humble cot {
ge! Can you not imagine the little I
rvices he would render to the wild '
we'd mother and her brood? / wish (
e knew just what he did. that our z