St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-08-09
How He Came.

''Ohi mother, mother, the Lord Jesus
is coming here tonight"
Was it the words or the sudden flash
of sunset drifting in through the open
door that glOrified the poor, low, dingy
walls in the eyes of the wondering
motherP
"The Lord Jesus" she repeated
dreamily. 81 havena kenned him sin
were child. Did he tell you it him
self"
mo, mother, it was the old minister.
He said the dear Lord Jesus had written
to us, Behold, come quickly : and l
ran all the way home to tell you"
HELL he wanting the floor clean,'
she said, in the simple faith of igno-
rance, and she FASTENED to take down
mop and broom. The wooden chairs
were sanded and secured and a fresh
bright flame kindled in the old fashion
ed fireplace.
"Maybe he'll be hungry and wanting
something to eat" she said, at last. a
will bake him little cake, for he shall
ma be flashed for warm supper the
NIGHT"
Twilight waned, but still his footsteps
fingered and their watch was kept in
VAIN. hC NtIt
home from their work, and already baby
Annie was fast asleep; but he came
not. SO they placed il candle in the
window to guide him through the dark
ness, and the welcoming light shone far
out over the dreary waste. There was
one who saw il and drew near, and a
low and soft knock sounded on the
Oaken door.
"He's come" they whispered. The
mothers face sOftened with IN unspeak
able tenderness and even the baby
smiled in her sleep, as if at some pleas
ant dream. Robbie and Jessie stood Oh
tiptoe with eager waiting eyes as the
father, trying to still the loud beating
of his heart, walked slowly to the door,
and with tremulous hands unfastened
the latch. Out of the gloom and dark
ness there appeared strange vision
not the King of Glory, for whose COM
ing the gates had lifted up their heads
but a poor lone woman, who stood
shuddering upon the threshold. Her
ragged hood fell back, and revealed
dull eXpressiOnlCss face. Her torn gar
ments, dripping with wet, hung about
her in scanty folds, and her two thin
hands were held out implOiingly.
Ppm cauld," she said, "Pd like to
bide bit"
sit is only daft Jennie" they wills
pered. And in the first disappointed
moment they had almost closed the
door upon her. But better thoughts
prevailed, and they brought her in and
placed her gently in the chimney cor
ner. They chafed the red hands and
quivering limbs, while the mother won
dered if the Lord Jesus, when he came,
would notice the muddy tracks across
the floor. 81 wouldna have him see
daft Jennie so," she said to her hus-
band, and so she bathed the poor crea-
ture, combed her hair and put on
clean calico dress, too large for her by
half; but | doubt if the angels saw a |
wrinkle in it.
A half-remembered verse came dimly |
into the mothers thought as she spoke |
through the door to Robbie: "Seek him |
that's coming here tonight, if happily
you may find him !" She did not know
the rest, poor though he be not
far from every one of u.s."
They gave food to the poor furnished
waf, who eagerly devOured it, sitting
in the chimney-c corner with her motion
less stare.
Then they waited till midnight, and
the expiring candles sent them up the
rough ladder to the dark loft above
Morning stole softly in, and found the
same weird figure crouched over the
smouldering embers on the hearth. The
parritch was prepared, and she ate her
share with the same stony face.
Then Robbie went to his work, and
the father FASTENED to the old minister
to tell him the Borrowing story of their
disappointment ut not seeing the Lord
Jesus, "For we wOuldna grudged him
aught we had" he said, ''and mayhap
he would have left his blessing with
u.s."
Reverently the aged pastor opened
his bible, and with trembling voice read
the wonderful story of the Judgment
day. "Then shall the King say unto
those on his right hand Come We
blessed of my father, inherit the king
dom prepared for you from the fOunda-
ton of the world. For was an hun
gered, and ye gave me meat; | was
thirsty, and ye gave me drink l was a
stranger and We took me in naked and
We clothed me-"
'But | Gamma claim it,n he answered
sadly, ''fOr he didna come. There was
only daft Jeanne to eat the cake and
parritch, and to wear the missis' gown
''ListeD little longeI,n and the gray
headed man read on: ''Then shall the
righteous answer him, saying, Lord
when saw we thee an hungered, aud fed
thee or thirsty, and gave thee drink
When saw we thee stranger, and took
thee in or naked, and clothed thee
And the King shall answer and saw
unto them: Inasmuch as We have done
it unto one of the least of these, nv
brethren, ye have done it unto me.n