'The old smith

The old smith

Men said the old smith was foolishly careful as he wrought on the chain he was making in his dingy shop in the heart of the great city. But he heeded not their words, and only wrought with greater painstaking. Link after link he fashioned, and at last the chain was finished and carried away.

In time it lay coiled on the deck of a great ship which sped back and forth on the ocean. There seemed no use for it, for the great anchor never was needed, and the chain lay there uncoiled. So years passed. But one night there was a fearful storm, and the ship was in sore peril of being hurled upon the rocks. Anchor after anchor was dropped — but none of them availed; the chains were broken like threads. At last the great sheet anchor was cast into the sea, and the old chain was quickly uncoiled and run out until it grew taut.

All watched to see if it would bear the awful strain. It sang in the wild storm as the vessel's weight surged upon it. It was a moment of intense anxiety; the ship with its cargo of a thousand lives depended upon this one chain. What now if the old smith had wrought carelessly even on one link of his chain? But he had put honesty, truth, and invincible strength into every part of it, and it stood the test, holding the ship in safety until the storm was over and the morning came.

Miss Frances Havergal tells of her experience at a girls' school in Germany. She went there soon after she had become a Christian and had confessed Christ. Her heart was very warm with love for her Savior and she was eager to speak for Him. To her amazement, however, she soon learned that among the hundred girls in the school, she was the only Christian. Her first thought was one of dismay — she could not confess Christ in that great company of worldly, sinful-hearted companions. Her gentle, sensitive heart shrank from a duty so hard.

Her second thought, however, was that she could not refrain from confessing Christ. She was the only one Christ had there, and she must be faithful. She writes. "I felt I must try to walk worthy of my calling for Christ's sake. It brought a new and strong desire to bear witness for my Master. It made me more watchful and earnest than ever before, for I knew that any slip in word or deed would bring discredit on my Master." She realized that she had a mission in that school, that she was Christ's witness there, His only witness, and that she dare not fail.

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