SERVICE, AUXILIARY
Many a humble parent or teacher might find comfort in the following pretty fable:
A taper lay in a drawer, when its owner
took it and climbed a winding stair in a
tower. "Where are you taking me?" asked
the taper complainingly. "I am going to
show big ships their way over the sea," answered
the owner. "Why, no ship could see
me or my little light," said the taper. "Leave
that to me," added the owner as he lighted
the big lantern, and then blew the taper out.
(2918)
SERVICE, HUMBLE
Our service ought to be positive. Every
day brings with it some chance to help. If
your service can not be great, let it be small,
only let it be service in some way for the
good of another and for the glory of God.
An old Scotch woman in Edinburgh was
arrested as a suspicious character. She was
seen furtively picking some things from
the sidewalk and putting them beneath her
shawl. On examination it was found that
the articles were only little bits of glass.
Questioned, she replied that she was only
picking up the stray pieces of glass that they
might not cut the bairnies' feet.
Remember, there is glass to be taken from life's highways; there are thorns to be uprooted and roses to be planted.—Joel B. Slocum.
(2919)
See Earthen Vessel.
SERVICE, INTERESTED
Washington housekeepers are inclined to
think that T. B. Witherspoon, of St. Louis,
was romancing recently when he told of a
negro servant who has been in his employ
for fifteen years. It appears that the negro
was given ten days' leave and money to
spend for a trip down to New Orleans, but
in three days turned up again, and here is
the way Mr. Witherspoon explains the negro's
return, quoting the servant:
"'You see, suh, it done get mighty miserably cold night after I lef' you, and I knows dat Miss Kate (my wife) ain't got no business tryin' to work dat furnace, and I know you ain't gwine to bother with it. Nary one of you got enny business with a dirty old furnace, least of all Miss Kate, who ain't got no right to soil her little han's. I couldn't sleep good thinkin' about it, an' dat's why I gits back quicker'n I 'spected.'
"There is a specimen act of an old-time, true-hearted darky, whose first thought is of the comfort of his employer."
(2920)
Service, Lowly—See Example.
SERVICE, METHOD OF
When Jael served her yellow-hued dainty
to Sisera in that fine dish, she set an example
that is worthy of being followed in
more ways than in that hospitable one. Milton
in his noble thoughts set in his lofty
style has served his "butter in a lordly dish."
A kindness or a benefaction dealt in a courteous
spirit and in fine chivalry is equally
"butter in a lordly dish." Above all, a life
lived in the exercise of a character that is
sterling and pure gold—serving viands of
soul in divinest thoughts and sublimest virtues
and inspirations that gods might envy,
is "butter in a lordly dish." The substance
of a deed is heightened in merit by its service
when the mettle of the dish matches the
quality of the meat.
(2921)
SERVICE, RELIGIOUS
If a child finds itself in want of anything,
it runs in and asks its father for it—does it
call that doing its father a service? If it
begs for a toy or a piece of cake—does it
call that serving its father? That, with God,
is prayer, and He likes to hear it. He likes
you to ask Him for cake when you want it;
but He doesn't call that "serving Him."
Begging is not serving; God likes mere beggars
as little as you do; He likes honest
servants, not beggars. So when a child loves
its father very much, and is very happy, it
may sing little songs about him; but it doesn't
call that serving its father; neither is singing
songs about God, serving God. It is enjoying
ourselves, if it's anything; most probably it
is nothing; but if it's anything, it is serving
ourselves, not God.—John Ruskin.
(2922)
Service Unnoticed-See Results of Good Deeds.
SERVICE, UNSEEN
I heard of a young woman, a domestic in
a home, who loved her Savior and whose
heart He had filled with a love for her fellow
men. Opportunities for service such as
the world recognizes were few, but every
