THE CONTENTED HERD BOY.
IN a flowery dell a herd boy kept his sheep and because his heart was joyous, he sang so;
loudly that the surrounding hills echoed back his song. One morning, the king, who was out on his hunting expedition, spoke to him, and said, "Why are you so happy, dear little one?"
"Why shall I not be?" he answered; "Our king is not richer than I."
"Indeed!" said the king, "tell me of your great possessions."
The lad answered, "The sun in the bright blue sky shines as brightly upon me as upon the king;
the flowers on the mountain and the grass in the valley grow and bloom to gladden my sight as well as his. I would not take a hundred thousand thalers for my hands; my eyes are of more value than all the precious stones in the world; I have food and clothing, too. Am I not, therefore, as rich as the king?"
"You are right," said the king, with a laugh, "but your greatest treasure is a contented heart; keep it so, and you will always be happy."
—S. S. Gem.
THE HARVEST IS PAST.
ANOTHER harvest season has come and gone. The fields brought forth a bountiful harvest.
Barns and storehouses are full. But in order to secure the abundant crop of wheat, the farmers had to watch carefully for the right time to begin to gather it in. If left a few days too long, there was danger that much of it would get too ripe and shell out by handling, or the rain would come on it before taken into the barn, and injure it.
As soon as it was ready, the good and wise farmer gathered his hands, and started his reapers, or cradlers. From early in the morning until late in the evening they moved on, losing but little time. How happy the farmer feels when the wheat is all gathered into the barn in good condition. He knows that, unless some accident occurs, he has enough to see him through the coming winter.
Sometimes a day is spent at the close of harvest, in feasting and rejoicing over the gathered crops.
In some places large meetings are held, called "Harvest Homes," at which sermons are preached and cheerful songs sung in praise to God for the grain gathered into barns and storehouses. The harvest season is used in the Scriptures to represent our season of religious privileges.
We read in the Scriptures of those who allowed their privileges to go by unimproved, and were compelled to lament. They said, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
Our Religious privileges are great. We may gather a good harvest if we will. We can lay up treasure in the great and secure storehouse of heaven, but we must, like the farmer, commence in good time, and keep at it while the season lasts.
Youth is the time to begin. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." Those who allow life to come to a close without having gathered a treasure for the future, or without having made any provisions for the future state, will have bitter regrets. They will feel the force of the lamentation already referred to, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." But those who gathered while the harvest time of privileges lasted, will end their lives in the assurance of a home in heaven. "And we know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Gather while you may, for the season is passing by. Death may soon end your gathering time.
—S. S. Gem.
Like Jesus be faithful, like Jesus obey.
Oh yield not to wrong; but do right all the day.