St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-19
The Only Way.

A young man was walking with some
gay companions in a dark forest. They
were not sure that they knew the exact
course they wished to pursue, and yet
the laugh, the story, and the song be-
out at the right place, and thus get
home safely. But suddenly the sky
grew dark, the birds ceased their sing
ing, and in the distance they heard the
bowling of the hungry beasts of prey.
over something, and down, down he
fell, with piercing cry of horror His
companions saw him as he fell down
the steep and fearful precipice. Their
fears soon gave place to joy, for they
saw he had not fallen to the bottom,
but had caught hold of bush half way
down. They called out to him, ''Hang
on, and we will save YOU" They soon
strong, but, alas it was made of ma
terial which may be called "Self-righte-
ousness," and had no strength at all.
1t looked as if they could never break it,
and so as they let it down to him, he
seized it with all his might. They called
to him, "Hold on, and we will draw
you up" but they did not lift him an
inch before it broke all to pieces. ''Oh,"
he shouted, ''the rope is broken give
me something stronger. Be quick, for
my hands ache dreadfully ~
Then they made another. 1t seemed
very hard, and they said it must hold.
1t was made of 'Moralityn ''Now,n
said they, "Take hold of the rope, and
we will draw you to the top" But
they scarcely moved him before it snap
ped like the other. Again he cried,
Give me something stronger, or l shall
fall and he killed"
While they were making third rope,
the poor fellow turned his eye down
ward, but could see nothing but dark
ness.
Suddenly he heard a sweet voice say
ing "Fall, fall | will save thee. My
arms will catch thee let go, and fall
into them.n His friends on the brink
above did not hear the sweet voice, and
so they kept busilv at work till they
had finished a third rope, made of a
very common material, which they found
near at hand twisted together, and
called "GOod Resolutions"
"Now," said his friends, "we have a
rope which you can never break"
nv SOOuSl lucSt NOIuS SOuuutu
in his ears, than he again heard that
calm, mysterious voice from below
Fall into my arms am mighty to
save"
But, like many with proud hearts, he
again seized the rope, though with al
most nerveless hands. He was at the
should have rejOiced his heart, for he
ohf ha SAxV nd fha ard of
the Spirit) cutting off the roots of the
bush. "HOld Oh; we will soon get you
to the top. It's the last rope we can
give YOU" And so they pulled with all
their might; but like the other three,
it broke as if it were cotton thread.
There he hung, with but little strength
ing voice-''FdU, fall; 1 aoiH SaUe thee"
''But it is dark, and cannot see you"
''Trust my word, and see. Let go at
once"
And yet again his foolish companions
shouted, "HOld on; hold on ~
The bush at last gave way, being cut
entirely by that strange sword. AS he
felt his strength all gone, he family
cried, "Lord save, or perish ~ What
was his joy, when suddenly he found
himself firmly clasped in the mighty
arms of him who is cable to save to the
uttermost all them that come unto God
by him !"
Now, my dear young friends, is not
this Il picture of the way you have been
trying to climb up to heaven ? Have
you not often felt that you could by
your own good works merit a home in
the mansions above 2 This you can
never do. Give up every other hope,
and trust only in Jesus. 'Let 90 the
bush," and fall into jesus arms, and you
will be as happy as this young man and
the little girl who were led by this sim
pie story to see the only way of saliva
ton through the Lord Jesus Christ
London Globe.