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THE LESSON TAUGHT BY A SWISS GUIDE

Sarah Smiley, in her account of a tour in the Alps, recounts a touching incident and gives a beautiful illustration of Scripture-teaching concerning the generous help of our great burden-bearer. “In the summer of 1879,” says the writer, “I descended the Rhigi with one of the most faithful of the old Swiss guides. Beyond the service of the day, he gave me, unconsciously, a lesson for life. His first care was to put my wraps and other burdens upon his shoulder. In doing this he called for all; but I chose to keep back a few for special care. I soon found them no little hindrance to the freedom of my movement, but still I would not give them up until my guide, returning to me where I sat resting for a moment, kindly but firmly demanded that I should give him everything but my alpenstock. Putting them with the utmost care upon his shoulders, with a look of intense satisfaction he led the way. And now, in my freedom, I found that I could make double speed with double safety. Then a voice spoke inwardly: ‘O foolish, wilful heart, hast thou indeed given up thy last burden? Thou hast no need to carry them.’ I saw it all in a flash; and then, as I leaped lightly from rock to rock down the steep mountain side, I said within myself: ‘And even thus will I follow Jesus, my Guide, my burden-bearer. I will rest all my care upon Him, for He careth for me.'”—Selected.

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— January, 1884 —