Baptist Visitor from Emporia, Kansas • 1

The 3tlSt Vol. I. EMPORIA, KANSAS MARCH, 1891. No. 4 ISltOfo SERVICE.

she inscribed an envelope: "Thank off years ago before her husband had lost ering for pleasant little things," and his property in an unfortunate specu lation. She wondered a little dully if the conditions would be fulfilled if she How can 1 cer.e my Master? I love him, and would make My life one full, glad offering Of service for his sake. How can I serve my Master? I have no wondrous gift, No power to rouse and quicken, And all the world uplift. I cannot climb the lofty height On which earth's great ones stand, And shower noble gifts around As with a royal hand. should bring her offering out of a general feeling of gratitude that things were no worse with them than they were.

Both she and her husband were systematic givers out of their penury, as they had once been out of their abundance; so this extra gift, small as it was, the price of a large self-denial It would represent her shabby bonnet worn through another winter, without the refurnishing she had hoped to give it, when it had seemed almost too bad Yet, through no great things I may do, Mrs. Stanton could and did. A half hour's gentle manipulation of the aching head sent her sufferer into a quiet sleep, from which she awoke two hours later with the pain gone, weak but happy. mused Mrs. Stanton that evening, "I ought to be thankful for the power to do a kindness even a little one as well as to receive one," and she dropped a dime in the envelope.

"It is getting heavy," she thought with a smile, "At this rate 1 shall be bankrupt soon." Yet she did not seem greatly alarmed at the prospect. One afternoon Helen Brown, a member of her Sunday-school class, came in. She seemed depressed and anxious. After a little common-place talk she said What is it, Helen? Does something trouble you? Can I help you? "0 Mrs. Stanton, I want to be a Christian! I am so unhappy.

Will you tell me what to do?" The sacred hour that followed neither will ever forget. When Halen left it was a light in her eyes, a new love dropped a nickle in it for the handful of roses. The next afternoon as she sat mending Willie's jacket, Mrs. Dodd came in with the Forum in her hand. "Here is an article," she said, "that I thought you would be interested in, so I brought it over to read with you." The article was read and discussed.

Both women received some new ideas some inspirations to better living and parted feeling heartened and uplifted by the pleasant hour. That night another nickel bore the first one company. "0 mamma," cried Willie, as he came rushing in from school on examination day, "I passed 98 in my arithmetic to-day. Aren't you glad? Didn't I have to study for it, though "Indeed, I am glad, Willie, more glad than I can say, not only for the passing and good reward, but I am glad because it shows you have been in earnest and determined to conquer to last out the previous season, Still she was warmly interested in mission work, and gave it gladly, only wishing I can with cheerful face Do each day's duty as i comes, Supported by his grace I can have in my heart the love To him which overflows To all his creatures, and will make Me gentle toward my foes. The Holy Spirit, ever noar, May be my faithful guide, And teach me everything to do As unto him who died.

it was more. The secretary read on, while she sat half listening, half thinking. Soon her attention was arrested by the reading of this: "For the many pleasant little things that have fallen to my share this year, two dollars. Other notes were read; remarks were in her heart, a new purpose in her living. Her feet were set in the way of your easy-going habits of study.

You make me very So happy that another contribution went into the thankful envelope. "Did you know," said Mr. Stanton one evening, "that Mrs. Floyd slipped made: the meeting was closed, and Mrs Stanton went thouerhtfullv home, the everlasting life. t.

words, "For the pleasant little things' "0 exclaimed Mrs. Stanton to her ringing in heixears. She wondered self that night, "this is not one of-, the on the icy sidewalk this afternoon ana she had always taken note of her own ileasant, small thincrs as thev came to broke her "Nolls it possible?" A THANK-OFFERING STORY. It was a thank-offering meeting of the Woman's Missionary Society of one of our city churches. A pile of envelopes lay before the secretary, the contents of which she read aloud ono by one.

They ran something like this: "For recovery from severe illness, five dollars." "For the granting of the dearest wish of my heart, ten dollars." "For preservation from harm in the great railroad accident when so many were killed and injured ten dollars." "For the conversion of a son, five "For the dear baby that has come to me, three dollars." ler. She feared not, looking back in "It is a bad injury, and the doctor the light of this little thought she could savs she will be confined to the house recall numberless little acts of kind for months." "How dreadful! What if it had ness from others to herself that had sweetened her life, and for which been I was out this afternoon, too but I did not slip and break my bones 'little For this great privilege this great honor of leading a soul to Christ, all that I have in the world would be but a small thank-offering. What can I render uuto the Lord for all His goodness to me? A fresh and whole consecration to His service is the least I can offer." But into the envelope also went the largest contribution yet. As time went on life held a new sweetness and a new meaning for Mrs. Stanton.

Her day seemed to be full of pleasant things; her heart was attuned though she had been grateful to the 1 1 i i en vers, sue scarceiv rememuereu iu Ought I not to be thankful?" 1 1 have raised her eyes to heaven in grat tihide. She resolved to be upon the So thankful that a twenty-hve cen piece in the envelope that night pu lookout hereafter. the nickels quite out of countenance Mrs. Stanton sat listening to the read Even as she meditated the bell rang The next day she went down town to aig, and blushed a little when her own and going to the door there stood little get a much needed cloak for Mary envelope was opened and the seeretary Elly Hale with a great bunch of roses She had priced cloaks a few days be- ook out two dollars, enclosed in to thanksgiving; aud out of the abun in her hand. blank sheet, accompanied by no word fore, and the very cheapest she- could find that would be at all serviceable dance of her heart her mouth spoke.

Her envelope grew full almost to burst "Aunt Ella sent mamma a big box of or comment. was twelve dollars, it was a large The truth was, Mrs, Stanton's life roses to-day so many she can't use them all and will you please take ing; and yet there was no laok of earthly comforts. She sometimes felt as if sum to take from their slender income, had been very uneventful the last year. these?" said the little messenger, the the miracle of the widow's cruse of oil It had gone quietly on, with few ups yet this was one of the "must haves," or May would be obliged to leave school. and measure of meal was repeated in and few downs.

She and her husband and her two children had been fairly When she arrived at the store she found her, for the more she put away in the hat this particular line of cloaks had sacred envelope the more she had to put there; and when the next thank-offer been marked down that very morning child of a wealthy neighbor and a sister in the church, and one whose thoughtful kindnesses were nothing new in this household; Mrs. Stanton kissed the little maiden and sent her home with thanks. Then she buried her face in the flowers with well by close economy they had had enough to eat and drink, and to dress respectably, though this lst had not 0 ten dollars, which was joyfully paid, ing come around it was no vain obla- and that night deposited a coin in the ion that she carried to the place of been accomplished without much thought and care on her part, and many envelope. meeting, but her little gift small yet A day or two later little Elly Hale in comparison with some of the others various pinching known only to her self. appeared at the door with the message was sweetened through and through childish delight.

She loved beautiful things, and often had to take herself to task for her vain longing for them. Uut now there was a feeling almost of hat her mother was sick, and would Self-denial had seemed to be the key with gratitude and low Illustrated Christian Weekly. Mrs. Stanton please come in and sit with her a little while? awe mingled with her pleasure as she remembered again the "little things" A call for a sad service took ihe pas She went with the little messenger. "I am sorry to trouble you, "said Mrs.

and how soon her thought had been re tor to Reading, Wednesday afternoon, March 11, to preach the funeral sermon of Mrs. Jane Telfer, aged 05 sponded to. She finished her preparations for supper with a light step, pausing often to look at the flowers and in ears 8 months. She was a faithful note of her life the past year; her had been rather gray than sunny; her atmosphere rather chill than warm. Not that she made any moan over her self-denials and deprivations.

It was all done cheerfully, and no one was the wiser for it but herself. Still in this thank-offering meeting, she had wondered just a little for what special reason she should bring her small gift. She could hardly help contrasting her condition now with the luxury by hichshe had been surrounded a few hale their fragrance as she passed them member of the Baptist church there, and leaves a husband, three sons and Hale, "but the nurse is away for the day, the cook is in a temper, and I feel one of my terrible headaches coming on. Sometimes the nurse has been able to ward them off by rubbing, and as company i3 coming to-morrow 1 don't know how I can afford to have one now. So in my despair I sent to see if you can help me.

They brought a glow to her heart which was reflected in her face, and which her husband and children caught bur daughters, three of the latter are n. .11 5 mi. -1 1- now in ocouana. ine cnurcn was well filled with neighbors and pympa- as they sat down to supper. hizers.

Before she went to bed that night.