In referring to this subject she remarked that young persons, after having united with the church, sometimes felt greatly disheartened and thought themselves the worst Christians in the world.  But this was often a very wrong feeling.  Their sense of their own weakness and unworthiness might come from the Holy Comforter; and we should be very careful how we treat Him.  His influence is a very tender, sacred thing, and, like the sensitive plant, recoils at the touch of a rude hand.  I have wanted, she said, to speak cheerful, comforting words to you to-day.  It was the particular desire of my husband this morning that I should do so.  He thought that young Christians, especially, needed much encouragement on this point.  It was a great thing to lead them to feel that they could please their Master and be witnesses for Him in quiet, simple ways, and that, too, every day of their lives.  Our Lord, to be sure, does not really need our services.  He could quite easily dispense with them.  But He lets us work for Him somewhat as a mother lets her little child do things for her—­not because she needs the child’s help, but because she loves to see the child trying to please her.  “And yet, Mrs. Prentiss (asked one of the ladies), does there not come a time when the child is really of service to the mother?” “I thank you for the suggestion (she replied); I left my remark incomplete.  Yes, it is true such a time does come.  And so, in a certain sense, it may be said, perhaps, that God needs the services of His children.  But how easily He can dispense with the best and most useful of them!  One may seem to have a great task to perform in the service of the Master, but in the midst of it he is taken away, and, while he is missed, the work of God goes right on.  God does not see such a difference as we do, she said, between what we call great and small services rendered to Him.  A cup of cold water given in Christ’s name, if that is all one can give, is just as acceptable as the richest offering; and so is a tea-spoonful, if one has no more to give.  Christ loves to be loved; and the smallest testimony of real love is most pleasing to Him.  And love shown to one of His suffering disciples He regards as love to Himself.  So a little child, just carrying a flower to some poor invalid, may thus do Christ honor and become more endeared to Him.  There is no one, old or young, who has not the power of blessing other souls.  We all have far more influence, both for good and evil, than we dream of.”

In the course of her talk she alluded to the trials of life and the shortness of them at the longest.  We are all passing away, one after another.  Our intimate friends will mourn for us when we are gone, but the world will move on just the same.  And we should not allow ourselves to be troubled lest when our time comes we may be afraid to die.  Dying grace is not usually given until it is needed.  Death to the disciple of Jesus is only stepping from