FAITHFUL SERVICE.
The home-making instinct was so strongly developed in Mary that her
share in the labor of cooking and baking became a pleasure.
Occasionally she had failures--what inexperienced cook has not?--yet
they served only to spur her on to fresh efforts. She had several
small scars on her wrist caused by her arm coming in contact with the
hot oven when baking. She laughingly explained: "One bar on my arm
represents that delicious 'Brod Torte' which Frau Schmidt taught me to
bake; the other one I acquired when removing the sponge cake from the
oven which Uncle John said 'equaled Aunt Sarah's' (which I consider
highest praise), and the third bar I received when taking from the
oven the 'Lemon Meringue,' Ralph's favorite pie, which he pronounced
'fine, almost too good to eat.'" Mary was as proud of her scars as a
young, non-commissioned officer of the chevron on his sleeve, won by
deeds of valor.
The lessons Mary learned that summer on the farm while filling her
hope chest and preparing her mind for wifehood were of inestimable
value to her in later years. She learned not only to bake, brew and
keep house, but from constant association with her Aunt she acquired a
self-poise, a calm, serene manner, the value of which is beyond price
in this swift, restless age.
One day, while having a little heart-to-heart talk with Mary, her Aunt
said: "My dear, never allow an opportunity to pass for doing a kind
act. If ever so small, it may cheer some sad, lonely heart. Don't wait
to do _big things_. The time may never come. If only a kind word,
speak it at once. Kind words cost so little, and we should all be more
prodigal with them; and to a tired, sad, discouraged soul, a kind word
or act means so very much; and who is there that has not at some time
in life known sorrow and felt the need of sympathy? Were our lives all
sunshine we could not feel in touch with sorrowing friends. How
natural it is for our hearts to go out in sympathy to the one who says
'I have suffered.' Give to your friend the warm hand-clasp and cheery
greeting' which cost us nothing in the giving. 'Tis the little lifts
which help us over stones in our pathway through life. We think our
cross the heaviest when, did we but know the weight of others, we'd
not willingly exchange; and remember Mary, 'there are no crown-bearers
in Heaven that were not cross-bearers below.' Have you ever read the
poem, 'The Changed Cross?' No? Well, I will give it to you to copy in
your book of recipes. Should you ever, in future years, feel your
cross too heavy to bear, read the poem. How many brave, cheery little
women greet us with a smile as they pass. But little do we or any one
realize that instead of a song in their hearts the smiles on their
lips conceal troubles the world does not suspect, seeking to forget
their own sorrows while doing kindly acts for others. They are the
real heroes whom the world does not reward with medals for bravery,
'To stand with a smile upon your face against a stake from which you
cannot get away, that, no doubt, is heroic; but the true glory is not
resignation to the inevitable. To stand unchained, with perfect
liberty to go away, held only by the higher claims of duty, and let
the fire creep up to the heart, that is heroism.' Ah! how many good
women have lived faithful to duty when 'twould have been far easier to
have died!"
"FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS."
Matt. xxv: 23.
It may seem to you but a trifle, which you have been called to do;
Just some humble household labor, away from the public view,
But the question is, are you faithful, and striving to do your best,
As in sight of the Blessed Master, while leaving to Him the rest?
It may be but a little corner, which you have been asked to fill;
What matters it, if you are in it, doing the Master's will?
Doing it well and faithfully, and doing it with your might;
Not for the praise it may bring you, but because the thing is right.
In the sight of man you may never win anything like success;
And the laurel crown of the victor may never your temples press;
If only you have God's approval, 'twill not matter what else you miss,
His blessing is Heaven beginning, His reward will be perfect bliss.
Be faithful in every service, obedient to every call;
Ever ready to do His bidding, whether in great things or small;
You may seem to accomplish little, you may win the praise of none;
But be sure you will win His favor, and the Master's great "Well Done."
And when at His blessed coming, you stand at His judgment seat;
He'll remember your faithful service and His smile will be Oh! so sweet!
He will bid you a loving welcome, He'll make you to reign for aye,
Over great things and o'er many, with Him, through eternal day.
"THE CHANGED CROSS."
It was a time of sadness, and my heart,
Although it knew and loved the better part,
Felt wearied with the conflict and the strife,
And all the needful discipline of life.
And while I thought on these as given to me,
My trial tests of faith and love to be,
It seemed as if I never could be sure
That faithful to the end I should endure.
And thus, no longer trusting to His might,
Who says, "We walk by faith and not by sight";
Doubting and almost yielding to despair,
The thought arose--My cross I cannot bear.
Far heavier its weight must surely be
Than those of others which I daily see;
Oh! if I might another burden choose,
Methinks I should not fear my crown to lose.
A solemn silence reigned on all around,
E'en nature's voices uttered not a sound;
The evening shadows seemed of peace to tell,
And sleep upon my weary spirit fell.
A moment's pause and then a heavenly light
Beamed full upon my wondering, raptured sight;
Angels on silvery wings seemed everywhere,
And angels' music filled the balmy air.
Then One more fair than all the rest to see--
One to whom all the others bowed the knee--
Came gently to me as I trembling lay,
And, "Follow Me!" He said, "I am the Way."
Then speaking thus, He led me far above,
And there, beneath a canopy of love,
Crosses of divers shapes and sizes were seen,
Larger and smaller than my own had been.
And one there was, most beauteous to behold,
A little one, with jewels set in gold;
Ah! this methought, I can with comfort wear,
For it will be an easy one to bear.
And so, the little cross I quickly took,
But all at once, my frame beneath it shook;
The sparkling jewels fair were they to see,
But far too heavy was their weight for me.
"This may not be," I cried, and looked again
To see if there was any here could ease my pain;
But one by one I passed them slowly by,
Till on a lovely one I cast my eye.
Fair flowers around its sculptured form entwined,
And grace and beauty seemed in it combined;
Wondering, I gazed and still I wondered more,
To think so many should have passed it o'er.
But Oh! that form so beautiful to see,
Soon made its hidden sorrows known to me;
Thorns lay beneath those flowers and colors fair;
Sorrowing, I said. "This cross I may not bear."
And so it was with each and all around,
Not one to suit my need could there be found;
Weeping, I laid each heavy burden down,
As my guide gently said: "No cross, no crown."
At length to him I raised my saddened heart,
He knew its sorrows, bid its doubts depart;
"Be not afraid," He said, "but trust in Me,
My perfect love shall now be shown to thee."
And then with lightened eyes and willing feet,
Again I turned my earthly cross to meet;
With forward footsteps, turning not aside
For fear some hidden evil might betide.
And there, in the prepared, appointed way,
Listening to hear, and ready to obey,
A cross I quickly found of plainest form,
With only words of love inscribed thereon.
With thankfulness, I raised it from the rest,
And joyfully acknowledged it the best;
The only one of all the many there
That I could feel was good for me to bear.
And while I thus my chosen one confessed,
I saw a heavenly brightness on it rest;
And as I bent my burden to sustain,
I recognized my own old cross again.
But, oh! how different did it seem to be!
Now I had learned its preciousness to see;
No longer could I unbelievingly say:
"Perhaps another is a better way."
Oh, no! henceforth my own desire shall be
That He who knows me best should choose for me,
And so whate'er His love sees good to send,
I'll trust its best, because He knows the end.
And when that happy time shall come
Of endless peace and rest,
We shall look back upon our path
And say: "It was the best."