Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1893 — THE WHEAT AND THE CHAFF. [ARTICLE]

THE WHEAT AND THE CHAFF.

fheie is an old tale of the go'den age days, When tbo gods with men parleyed and moved. That a critic who dealt all blame and no praise Was once by Apollo reproved, lhe god handed back to the critical fool A handful of unwinnow d grains. Said he: “Leive the wheat, as seems ever your rule; Ton nmy have all the chaff for your pains.” Now, this guide to our choice is suggestive to-day, Though told of a fabulous time, To any and all who its teachings obe y In every country or clime. For the wheat and the chaff are mixed for us still, As they were in those mythical grains ; And if we choose dow to see ouly the il 1 , We shall have ouly that for our pains I All pathways are checker .d. Gray shadows and night Altematj with the sun’s cheering rays. Our eyes grow accustomed to darkness or light As we fix upon either onr gaze. And we can be c.ear-eyed, or we can be b’ind, As each one hie vision so trains ; If he chooses the dark, need he wonder to find He can see nothing bright for his pains ? From the noisome swamn see the marsh hlv lift Its delicate, queenly blue head; From water and t lime and dank earth it will sift The nutriment best for i'a mod. Poisons lurk in these things. It could draw evil thence As well as the good that it g iiDS. Shall it choose, then, those noxious elements whence Hurt and death will proceed for its pa ns ? (n our fellow men are the elements mixed; Forevergood mingles wi:h sin. On their errors, Iheir faults, shall we keep our gaze fixed, n ’erlooking divine sp irks within ? Ah 1 a lesson in judging our frail broth n, then, We may learn from these fabulous grains. It w? seek but the chaff, can we fairly grieve, \ when We receive only chaff for our pains? —[Emily C. Adams, in New York Sun.