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Christian Service
looking too far away to see them. I began to gather the fruit near by,
but very carefully, for fear of picking the green berries, which were so
mingled with the ripe fruit that I could pick only one or two berries
from a cluster.
Some of the nice large berries had fallen to the ground, and were
half consumed by worms and insects. “Oh,” thought I, “if this field
had only been entered before, all this precious fruit might have been
saved! But it is too late now. I will, however, pick these from the
ground, and see if there is any good in them. Even if the whole berry
is spoiled, I can at least show the brethren what they might have found
if they had not been too late.”
[47]
Just then two or three of the party came sauntering around where I
was. They were chatting, and seemed to be much occupied with each
other’s company. Seeing me, they said, “We have looked everywhere,
and can find no fruit.” They looked with astonishment at the quantity I
had. I said, “There are more to be gathered from these bushes.” They
began picking, but soon stopped, saying, “It is not fair for us to pick
here; you found this spot, and the fruit is yours.” But I replied, “That
makes no difference. Gather wherever you can find anything. This
is God’s field, and these are His berries; it is your privilege to pick
them.”
But soon I seemed to be alone again. Every little while I heard
talking and laughing at the wagon. I called out to those who were
there, “What are you doing?” They answered, “We could not find any
berries, and as we were tired and hungry, we thought we would come
to the wagon and take a lunch. After we have rested awhile, we will
go out again.”
“But,” I said, “you have brought in nothing as yet. You are eating
up all our supplies, without giving us any more. I cannot eat now; there
is too much fruit to be picked. You did not find it because you did not
look close enough. It does not hang on the outside of the bushes, you
must search for it. True, you cannot pick it by handfuls; but by looking
carefully among the green berries, you will find very choice fruit.”
My small pail was soon full of berries, and I took them to the
wagon. Said I, “This is the nicest fruit that I ever picked, and I gathered
it near by, while you have wearied yourselves by searching at a distance
without success.”