The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1912-01-17
usefulness
(By L. H. Bush.)

1hS lam SOltcuSu anu sui WdIlHSu
ground, on through its various stages
Of taller stalks and ever changing
green, until the blades change to the
color of old gold and the stalks
are bowed down with the fully ripen-
ed ears of corn, glistening in the au-
tumn sun, and now for. the first time
peeping forth from the shuck, open
ed by the frosts of the coming winter,
it is indeed glorious to contemplate,
and gives joy and hope not only to
the farmer who planted it but to all
passers-by.
While the growing corn is thing
of joy, and beauty through all its
stages in the field, its day of useful
ness TO man is not to be found, I'M
til the harvest time comes, when the
glorious ears are plucked by the
farmer, and transferred to his home,
to be distributed as the bread Of life
for both man and beast the whole
world over. 4
What is grander than yonder ma
jestic oak, stretching forth its great
gnarled limbs towards the skies, and
/ towering above its brothers like some
great giant. The SHOWS and sun
shine of an hundred years have fl
tered through its leaves and limbs,
and in its mighty strength, it laughs
and jeers at the storms and sleets
which beat against it to no avail.
But now its time of real usefulness
to man has come, it has ripened into
full fruition, for already the master
woods-man has gone through the for
est and marked this tree. Soon his
sturdy men will follow him, and with
great saws cut and remove this
mighty monarch from its native
heath. leaving behind as the only ev-
idence of its one-time magnitude and
grandeur the great broad stump,
which soften and decays and sinks
back into mother earth. but the great
body of the tree. becomes a part of
the beautiful homes, which shelte.
and protect us. and in many fother
ways finds its day of real usefulness,
to man.
\ flower garden is indeed beauti-
full, and brings great joy to hearts,
but the days in which the beautiful
blossoms grow and romp and play
with luxurious idleness in the sun
shine of their beloved garden, are
not the really useful days.
The most beautiful rose does not
fpd its time Of fruition in life, its
day of real usefulness, until it is
plucked and carried with love and
good cheer to the bedside of sick
friend. The shy, modest lily-of- the
valley, hiding behind the shelter of
the dark green leaves, dreams of its
day Of usefulness when it shall have
been made into bridal veil.
The sweet violets, which my lady
loves so well, do not know how use
full they can be, until some day they
are gathered with gentle hands, and
sent as token Of sweetheart love.
The trees, the flowers, the growing
crops, and all the goodly things were
made for the use Of man, but of man,
Gods best, His last and most perfect
creation, what shall we say? For
whose use was man made, and what
is his destiny? Man was created
for the use of God Himself.
What mighty thought it is, that
we should be of use to God. Can
it be possible that God has a purpose
and use for us in the life to come?
Indeed it is, for this world is Gods
great cornfeld, His vast forest, His
magnificent flower garden, and we,
His children are His ever ripening
ears of corn, His growing trees, His
beautiful blooming roses.
Since we like the trees, the flowers,
and the growing crops of corn, are
each day going on towards our har-
vest time, our day Of fruitiOn, when
our time of real usefulness shall be-
gin, we should strive in this life, to
become mighty oaks, TO grow into !
perfect ears of corn, and to let the |