5. I remember also that when I was a stamp-collector, I had one page in my book on which I had a stamp from each nation. They were all at peace with each other. It was the first picture of "The League of Nations."
To illustrate the truth, get as many stamps of the various nations as you may be able, and fix them on a large cardboard, and show them to the children, or bring them out of the Bible to show that if they are true to God's Word, they will live together in peace. This is the only "League of Nations" that can stand through the ages.
6. The postage-stamp does what it is told to do. It fulfils its task. When it is placed on the envelope, it takes the letter to the address given. That is its business. That is all that is expected of it. It does not seek to know the contents of the letter, but to deliver the letter to the party named. So it is our business to do just as we are told to do by our Good Father. We are not to pry into his will, or seek to know his unrevealed secrets. Our business is to carry his message. We are to speak where God's Book speaks, We are to be silent where the Book is silent. We should all try to do as well as a postage-stamp.
7. The stamp is a non-combatant. When it is licked it does not hit back. It is a peace-lover. It opens not its mouth. So we should learn that when criticism and hardship come to us, when the road is difficult, and we are discouraged, when the enemy does his worst, and Satan tries to dislodge us, we must just stick like a stamp. When we put the stamp on the envelope, we often give it a blow with our fist. That just makes the stamp stick tighter. So when we are hit by hard experiences we should tighten our grip all the more and just stick.
8. The stamp sticks to its job to the finish. It holds tight to the letter till it gets there. Happy is that boy or girl who continues to the end. A little newsboy by the name of George in the City of Philadelphia, Pa., sold papers in the street for a living. He believed if he stuck to his task he would some day be a great man. One day he stood looking up at the great building in which the paper was published and said, "I will some day own that building, and become the editor of the paper I now sell." He stuck to his task until at last he was owner of the paper and its editor also. His name was George Washington Childs, and the paper was The Public Ledger. He was like the postage-stamp. He stuck fast until he got there. That is the only way to "get there."
9. The postage-stamp never has a complaining word. Sometimes it is put on upside down or very crooked, and struck a great blow by the cancelling-machine in the Post Office, but it never speaks a word of complaint, just stands by its post and waits. If it goes to an address that has been changed, the new address is put on the envelope, and it starts on its journey again. It makes no complaint because of extra work, but starts away on another journey. So we should always "try again" and make another start. Many a man has "made good" by doing this. There is a medical remedy called "606." When the firm was asked why this number was given it, the reply was, "We tried 605 times to find a proper remedy, and failed; but the next time we found just what we were after, and so called it No. 606." Do not be afraid to try over and over. The next time may be the 606th of success. Now when you look at the little red postage-stamp let it preach over and over again to you the lessons I have given you in this chapter. Look again, and you will see on this stamp the face of the great George Washington, who lived out all these lessons in his life, and he is now "stuck fast" to the hearts of his countrymen.
Now, Mr. Postage-stamp, we thank you. You have preached to us a fine sermon this morning.
When you receive a stamped letter from the postman remember the Postage-stamp Preacher. Hear ye him.
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