The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-04-15
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Little Foxes.
FIFTH LETTER.

to spoil the purity of our lives and
render US barren of good works.
There is selfishness, which resem-
bles a sponge, in that it takes up all
itself and gives out little or none only
as 1t is squeezed. Selfishness always
loves itself best. "What must do to
get picture of one whom | love best?"
said mean man to a friend 1.-The
easiest way" said his friend, lis to sit
for your own portrait"
lngratltude. too, is mean little fox,
that will not acknowledges obligations
for favor, nor thank God for His
mercies on Earth. The old saw puts it
thus: Bring up raven and it pecks
out your eyes" Ingratitude is so
ravenously cruel that it justifes this
proverb. Its very appearance is hate
full. 1t is like kicking the bucket from
which you drank. 1t is the basest of
vices. No one owns it-he is ashamed
to. Even the devil will not defend it.
The antidote for it is edo good to the
unthankful."
Then there is Envy that can't bear to
see the success of others without sore
eyes, and Consciousness that cries,
give, give" and is never satisfied.
There is also Procrastination, or faith
in to morrow instead of Christ, which
has been the cause of many mans
p rdition. God says, Nov is the ac-
cepted time" but you say, "by and
by and that road leads to the town of
Never.
You who have idled away the morn
ing Of life have the day yet left you,
though beset with many snares.
You who are in the full vigor of man
hood, are you lettering and wasting the
golden hours, or reclining at ease and
squandering the monday of your life?
Do you not know that life is made up
of little things? Are you treading in
the good old way that leads to eternal
happiness? In it are no secret places,
in which the tippler's glass or beer keg
! can be concealed. No haunts of vice
are there, nor is the air poisoned with
the impure breath of the blasphemer's
lips. You need not go to the haunts of
inlquity or to the gambling den to see
the foot prints of the little foxes. Look
into your own lives and see the marks
of these little pests and then guard
against them, chase them away and
with the confidence of child look to
higher power for the victory. The little
wrongs often inflict the greater injury
ard little acts and unkind words make
deeper wounds in the hear is of others
than the assassin's knife.
These little pests of our life creep in
unawares and too often spoil all the
fruit of our lives. From mornings
light till long after the earth has wrap
ped herself in veil Of darkness, we
see the effects on those who are stroll
ing about, loafing on street corners and
passing rude remarks on those who
hurry by; or resting their lazy limbs
on the soft side of store box in front
of the store, they are devising some new
methods of serving the devil
Child, are the little foxes of peevish-
ness, fretfulness or anger nibbling your
purity of character in the early morn
ing of your life. Chase them away at
once and keep stainless and pure the
soul given you by your Heavenly
Father. All parents and friends, do you
wish the tender plant to grow into a
sturdy vine, then plant it in love and
guard it against the invasion of these
little sins. Seek to have it refreshed
with grace and train it over the great
high cross that reaches beyond the dome
of the sky, SO that when you climb to
the top for the richest fruit you may
find yourself within the golden gate.
Why does the long and costly trail so
often sweep the dirty pavement and
rich ruffies and gorgeousIy decorated
bonnet so frequently promenade the
streets when the money unnecessarily
spent on these things would feed and
clothe the hungry orphan and freezing
child.
Sisters! Why not pause long enough
to raise the broken slips around you and
plant them in new soil. Brother!
Where are you? What kind of fruit are
you producing? What are you doing in
the garden? Are you training the vines
for the Masters glory and guarding
against the little foxes, or are they des-
troying your better nature and render
ing you unfit for the heavenly Paradise?
Are you too, decking the body with
stly robes following the inclinations
of your heart and trying to satisfy the
desire of your soul with the empty
pleasure OF the world? Why allow the
little foxes stop the fountain of your
better nature? Why not clothe the soul
in the beautiful robes of Christ righte-
BUSINESS. Manhood and old age, how is
it with you? Were the sickle of the