No. 2.
I was looking at my sister lighting the fire, and noticed how carefully she poked out every bit of dust and cinder; then she strewed some paper at the bottom, then she placed bits of stick lightly crossways, and on the top went the cobbles of coal. When she put the lighted match to it, how soon it blazed up; and in a little while Nancy had a bright fire, and the room was nice and warm. When I spoke about her poking all the corners out first, so that not one bit of cinder should be left, she said, “it was no use putting new stuff on old rubbish. She always liked to begin with an empty grate— if she didn’t, the fire didn’t seem to burn well all day long.” That set me thinking. I said to myself, “Ah! perhaps that is why some of us don’t burn so brightly all day — we didn’t begin with an empty grate. When there’s a lot of rubbish underneath, how sulky the fire looks, and the more you poke it about the worse it seems; nothing like a good beginning. I think Sunday School Teachers are very busy laying the fire with their lessons and addresses, and patiently waiting for the Lord to put the flame to their labors, because that is His work. Well, there’s one thing about Sunday Schools, — I think there is not much poking needed there— not much rubbish, you know, but one or two large cinders that cannot easily get through the grate. You can’t get them out, and they won’t burn out, either — SIN and SELF; but they are very deceptive, for if we are not watchful they catch alight directly, and what mischief they do then. Scripture talks about live coals which the angel took off the altar with the tongs for his service. I do so want to be a “live bright coal.” Well, I am converted. I don’t mean that — but a coal that soon gets into a flame. A few bright coals at the bottom of the grate is more cheerful, and gives more warmth than a grate full of smoky coals. So I think a little love to the Lord at the bottom of the heart is better than a deal of show and no reality.
[I am sure some of us older Christians will agree with our friend as to the “poking about” we need. I suppose we were not thoroughly emptied of Self when we began, and so we have not burned so brightly as we ought. Nothing like beginning early and well― beginning with Jesus in childhood. We thank Nancy for the lesson she taught her thoughtful brother. — Ed]