I was looking at my sister one day, cleaning her fire irons; they had got a little rusty. Well, she got a piece of sand paper and rubbed away, and didn’t leave off till every spot was gone, but I thought they looked rather scratchy. Presently, however, Nancy got a piece of chamois skin, and rubbed away again till all the scratches were gone; and she didn’t stop until she could see her face in them, they were so bright. Ah! I thought, that’s what trials and troubles do for a Christian —they keep the rust of evil away, and keep us bright for Jesus, so that He can see His face in His own work, for He does it.
ML 12/30/1900