Two men saw a piece of jewelry on the sidewalk, they reached for
it simultaneously, struck their heads violently; each arose to
censure the other, when they found they were brothers and had
not seen each other for a dozen years. It must not be forgotten
that all competitions and rivalries to-day are between
brothers, and some day the vast brotherhood will be permanently
organized.--CHARLES E. LOCKE.
(290)
* * * * *
A man preaching to the inmates of a prison made the remark that
the only difference between himself and them was owing to the
grace of God. Afterward one of the prisoners approached him and
asked: “Did you mean what you said about sympathizing with us,
and that only the help of God made you differ from us?” Being
answered in the affirmative, the prisoner said: “I am here for
life, but I can stay here more contentedly now that I know I
have a brother out in the world.”
How we might lighten the burden of others if we had and showed more
feeling for them, if we followed more closely in the footsteps of our
blessed Lord.--ST. CLAIR HESTER.
(291)
* * * * *
The story is told, as an instance of Oriental humor, of a little
Chinese girl who was carrying her brother on her back. “Is he
heavy?” she was asked. “No,” she replied, “he is my brother.”
For some reason this seems funny to the Chinese; but it is better than
humorous, it is sweet and winning. Love makes all burdens light. When
one is carrying his brother, he feels little weight. Here is a good
text for social workers. If they consider that they are working for
mere aliens and strangers, their toil may seem irksome; but if the idea
of brotherhood once enters in, the task becomes light. I am carrying my
weaker brother, therefore I feel no weight.
(292)
See WEAKNESS, CONSIDERATION FOR.