ILL-HEALTH AS A STIMULUS.
MANY persons think that good health is essential to efficient service in the intellectual or in the spiritual life. And many others feel that, because they lack such health, there is sufficient reason for their neither hoping nor endeavoring to accomplish much in life. Yet it is a remarkable fact that some of the most efficient and influential workers for the good of their fellows have been permanent invalids, or have been deprived of the free use of some of their physical faculties. For example, William H. Prescott, the historian, whose volumes are no small portion of American contributions to the world's knowledge, was practically deprived of his eyesight before he began his great work in that line. John Kitto lost his power of speech and of hearing while yet a boy, and his extensive contributions to the treasures of religious archeology and devotional reading were seemingly a consequence of that “misfortune.” Robert Hall, the great English preacher, said, near the close of his life, that he had hardly known from boyhood what it was to be free from pain. Often he actually rolled on the floor in acute pain until the hour came for him to go out and preach one of those sermons which are to this day an ornament of the English language. In speaking of the great work accomplished by Cecil Rhodes, The London Times cites suggestively the familiar saying, “It is the invalids who do the work of the world.” Have we improved our advantages of poor health? Or have we done our part in spite of the hindrance of bounding health?—Sunday School Times.