Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/180

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same instinct, crouches in such forms that he may be taken for one of the burnt stumps common in his forest region Are they not right in deceiving, or lying, to save their lives? or would a Christian missionary forbid their saving them by such a trick? If an English lady were chased by a gang of murdering and worse than murdering Sepoys, would she not have a right to cheat their pursuit by covering herself with leaves, so as to be taken for a heap of them? If you were starving on a wreck, would you die of hunger rather than cheat a fish out of the water by an artificial bait? If a school-*house were on fire, would you get the children down-stairs under any convenient pretense, or tell them the precise truth, and so have a rush and a score or two of them crusht to death in five minutes?—Oliver Wendell Holmes.


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Decision Dependent Upon Call—See Testimony, a Sheep's. Decisive Deeds—See Opportunity. DECORATING SOLDIERS' GRAVES

 Strew flowers, sweet flowers, on the soldiers' graves, For the death they died the nation saves, 'Tis sweet and glorious thus to die— Hallowed the spot where their ashes lie. On Fame's eternal camping-ground Their martial tents are spread, While glory guards with solemn round The bivouac of the dead. —Evangelical Messenger.

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Decoration Day—See Honor's Roll-*call. DECREES A minister esteemed it his religious duty to visit an extreme frontier settlement to preach. To reach that settlement he had to pass through a wilderness infested with hostile Indians. When about to start on one of these journeys, he took his rifle from its rack and was about to depart with it on his shoulder when his good wife said to him: "My dear husband, why do you carry that great, heavy rifle on these long journeys? Don't you know that the time and manner of your taking off has been decreed from the beginning of time, and that rifle can not vary the decree one hair's breadth?" "That is true, my dear wife, and I don't take my rifle to vary, but to execute the decree. What if I should meet an Indian whose time had come according to the decree and I didn't have my rifle?"—Henry C. Caldwell.

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DEED, THE GOOD A man walked south on Main Street one afternoon recently. He had no overcoat and he shivered as the north wind struck him. Near the junction he stopped and picked something up. It was a bright silver dime. "Wasn't I lucky," he said to a man who had seen the episode, who related the story to a reporter on the Kansas City Times. "I haven't a cent and have had nothing to eat since yesterday noon. Now for the nearest lunch-wagon." A little girl came along at that moment. She, too, was poorly drest. "I've lost a dime," she half sobbed, as she inspected the pavement. "I guess I've got what you were looking for," said the man, as he handed the dime to the child, who danced away with only a "Thank you, mister." "Just my luck," said the man with the stomach.

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DEEDS, BRAVE This prayer in verse is by Harry P. Ford:

 Our Father, God, while life is sweet With earthly joys that round it cling, Grant us brave deeds, for heaven meet, To shape the dreams that death may bring.

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DEEDS, HEAVENLY A cripple girl on a train was presented with a bunch of roses by another girl on board. She held them to her lips, and prest them to her bosom, and fell asleep. Later her father came in from the smoker, and took his little daughter in his arms. Waking up, she said: "Oh, father—I've—been—in—heaven—and—I've—got—some—roses." Deeds of love make a heaven.

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DEEDS, NOT APPEARANCES The Orientals have a proverb which says: "Provided that beneficence have long fingers and rapid steps, what does it matter if its wry faces displease thee? Don't look at its face." (Text.)—Revue des Deux Mondes.


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