'The chimes of St. Nicholas

The chimes of St. Nicholas

A visitor to Amsterdam wished to hear the wonderful music of the chimes of St. Nicholas , and went up into the tower of the church to hear it. There, he found a man with wooden gloves on his hands, pounding on a keyboard.

All he could hear was the clanging of the keys when struck by the wooden gloves, and the harsh, deafening noise of the bells close over his head. He wondered why people talked of the marvelous chimes of St. Nicholas.

To his ear, there was no music in them, nothing but terrible clatter and clanging. Yet, all the while, the most entrancing music floated out over and beyond the city. Men in the fields paused in their work to listen, and were made glad.

People in their homes, and travelers on the highway, were thrilled by the marvelous bell-notes which fell from the tower.

In the same way, there are many sweet lives which to those who dwell close beside them, seem to make no music. They pour out their strength in hard toil. They are shut up in narrow spheres.

They dwell amid the noise and clatter of common task-work. They themselves think that they are not of any use, that no blessing goes out from their life.

They never dream that sweet music is made anywhere in the world by their noisy hammering. But wherever godly influence goes from their lives and character — human lives are blessed, and weary ones hear with gladness, sweet, comforting music.

And away off in Heaven, where God listens to earth's melody, entrancing strains are heard.

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