Have Patience with the “Bad Scholars.”
“SOME years ago,” says the Rev. William Jay, “I had in my garden a tree which never bore. One day as I was going down with the axe in my hand to fell it, my wife met me in the pathway and pleaded for it, saying, “Why, the spring is now very near; stay, and see if there may not be some change; and if not, you can deal with it accordingly.” As I had never repented following her advice, I yielded to it now; and what was the consequence? In a few weeks the tree was covered with blossoms, and in a few weeks more it was bending with fruit. Ah! said I, this should teach me. I will learn a lesson from hence not to cut down too soon; that is, not to consider persons incorrigible or abandoned too soon, so as to give up hope, and the use of means and prayer in their behalf.”