Gathering Up The Small Gold

        In the United States assay office in Wall Street, New York City, the refining of metals containing gold  and silver went on year in and year out, and the dust of the precious metals permeated every nook and crevice. The fumes from the melting- caldrons also bore minute particles of value into the flue. It was usual for the government to have a general house-cleaning at least once a year, just prior to the making of the annual statement; and from the sweepings of the roof and the collecting of the soot several hundreds of dollars were saved each year. But for many years the old smoke-stack had stood without a careful cleaning, or repairing of the fire-bricks that lined its interior. One fall it was noticed that some of the bricks were worn out, and it was decided to reline the entire stack. The work has just been completed, and from those old fire-bricks have been taken $1,500 in gold and silver.
       In the work of saving souls we must not despise the small gold. We must carefully seek after the little child and tenderly encourage the weak and the unfortunate. The spirit of the Christ, on whose mission we are sent, is to deal kindly by the bruised reed and the smoking flax. The fine gold of human hearts is as dear to Him as the big nuggets. 

"For a soul is far too precious to be ransomed by mere earthly wealth. There is not enough of it in all the earth to buy eternal life for just one soul..." Psalm 49:8