The Four Plants

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1911

AN old teacher was once taking a walk through a forest with a student by his side. The old man suddenly stopped, and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, and the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth, the third was a small shrub, while the fourth and last was a full-sized tree. The tutor said to his young companion:—

“Pull up the first.”

The boy easily pulled it up with his fingers.

“Now pull up the second.”

The youth obeyed, but not so easily.

“And now the third.”

The boy had to put forth all his strength and use both arms before he succeeded in uprooting it.

“And now,” said the master, “try your hand upon the full-grown tree.”

But lo! the trunk of the tall tree, grasped in the arms of the youth, hardly shook its leaves.

“This, my son, is just what happens with our bad habits. When they are young, we can cast them out readily, but only divine power can uproot them when they are old.” — Young People’s Paper.