T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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make them avail. They are like nails. You must keep hammering at them if you expect them to go through. Jesus Hirst An old black woman in Africa said to the missionary who had come to open a school in which the people would be taught to read, “ I want you to teach me to spell JESUS first, please, Missus, do!” The teacher said, “ Why do you want to spell Jesus first?” “ ’Cause if* I learn that first, every thing else will come easier.” She was right; put JESUS FIRST, and all else will come much easier. Walt a Little Some years ago I had in my garden a tree that never bore. One day I was going down, with my axe in my nand, to fell it. My wife met me in the path way, and pleaded for it, saying: “ Why, spring is now very near; stay, and see whether there may not be some change; and if not, you can deal with it ac cordingly.” As I never repented, following her advice, I yielded to it now; and what was the consequence? In a few weeks the tree "was covered with blossoms, and in a few weeks more it was bend ing with fruit. “Ah !” said I, “ this should teach me. I will learn a lesson from hence, not to cut down too soon; that is, not to consider persons incorrigible or aban doned too soon, so as to give up hope, and the use of the means of prayer in their behalf." —W. Jay. ' jfe 'dS> SHOULDER TOi SHOULDER Shoulder to shoulder, each man in his place! Shoulder to shoulder, and “ right about face!” We’ve a duty to do ere we grow a day older, And the way we can do it is— shoulder to shoulder! Scollard.
MONTHLY ILLUSTRATIONS Is Jesus Pleased? An interesting story is told of Verdi, the great composer, ■which well illus trates the attitude that ought to he assumed by all Christians, in view of their duty to their Maker. When one of Verdi’s compositions was rendered for the first time it was received with tremendous applause by a large assem bly. Verdi came forward— hut stood unmoved by the wave of enthusiasm. In one direction and one only did he look— he kept his gaze on the face of his master and teacher, who was in the audience. If he was gratified, it he approved, that was enough! We have a Master in Jesus Christ; His eye is upon us as we “write, or sew, or labor with the hands, or tend the sick, or otherwise work. If the Master be pleased, what are men? If we can not suit Him, what avail is it if half the world bow down to us? Let the Verdis look to the greatest Master of all— for no criticism is of such vast consequence as that which the Saviour gives. Keeping at It A good story is told of the poet Whittier, that at one time he wished to have an objectionable building re moved from a certain locality, and, as the quickest and surest way to accom plish the purpose, he gave a man a dol lar a day on condition that he should do nothing from morning till night but talk with various interested persons about it. In less than three months the building was gone. Agitating the subject, keeping it to the fore, was what was needed. The reason why so many good things, essential things, fail to get accom plished in this world, is because we are content with merely suggesting them, and then let the matter drop. Most good ideas and good enterprises need persistent human force behind them, to
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