Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-10-18

81 married your oldest sister, ex-
claimed Mr.. Colby; who are yOu?"
Il am little Dan,'" was the reply.
1t certainly would be impossible to.
describe the expression of wonder, as
constituent and half incredulity that
came over COlby's face.
'YOu Daniel Websterp said he; and he
started to rise from his chair. AS he
did so, he stammered out some words of
surprise. rs it possible that this is the
little black lad that used to ride the
horse to water? Well l cannot realize
itp.
s Mr.. Webster approached him. They
embraced each other, and both wept.
'1s it possible" said Mr.. Colby, when
the embarrassment of the first shock of
recognition was over, 'that you have
come to see me? Is this Daniel? Why,
why" said he, 81 cannot believe my
senses. Now, sit down. am glad, oh,
am so glad to see you, Daniell never
expected to see you again. don't know
what to say. am so glad" he went on,
chat my life has been spared that /
might see you. Why, Daniel, Iread.abOut
you, and hear about you in all ways;
sometimes some members Of the family
come and tell us about; yOu,. too. Your
name seems to be constantly in the
newspapers. They say that you are a
great man, that you are famous man;
and you can't tell how delighted / am
when hear such things. But, Daniel,
the time is short; EyOu wont stay here
l0ng-I want to ask you one important
question. You may be great man, but
are you a good man? Are you Christian
man? Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?
that is the only question worth asking
or answering. Are you a Christian?
You know, Daniel, whatI have been; j
have been one of the wickedest of men.
Your poor sister, who is now in heaven,
knows that. But the spirit of Christ
and of Almighty God, has come down
and plucked me as brand from the
everlasting burning. / am here now, a
monument to his grace. Oh, Daniel
would mot give what is contained within
the covers of this book for all the hOnOrs
which have been conferred upon men
from the creation of the world until now.
For what good would it do? it. is. all
nothing, and less than nothing, if you
are not a Christian, if you are not re-
pentant. If you do not love the Lord
Jesus Christ, in sincerity and truth, all
your worldly hOnOrs will sink to utter
nOthingness. Are you ChristianP Do
you love Christ? You have not answered
me-"
ALI this was said in the most earnest
and even vehement manner.
"JOhn Colby" said Mr.. Webster, "yOu
have asked me very important ques-
ton, and one which should not be an
swered lightly. intend to give you an
answer, and one that is truthful, or
won't give you any. l hope that am a
Christian. | profess to be a Christian.
But while say that, l wish TO add
say it with shame and confusion of face
that am not such a Christian as /
wish were. l have lived in the world
surrounded by its hOnOrs and its temp
tatiOns; and L am afraid, John Colby,
that / am not so good Christian as I
ought to be. | am afraid have not your
hopes; but still hope and trust am a
Christian, and that the same grace which
has converted you, and made you an heir
of salvation, will do the same for me. j
trust it; and | also trust, John Colby
land it won't be long before our summons
will cOme-that we shall meet in bet
ter world, and meet those who have gone
before us whom we knew, and who trust
| ed in that same divine, free grace. 1t
won't be long. You cannot tell, John
Colby, how much delight it gave me to
hear of your conversion. The hearing
of that is what led me here. to-day. |
came here to see with my own eyes, and
hear with my own ears the story from a
man that | know and remember well.
What wicked man you used to beP
80 DanielP' exclaimed John Colby,
'yOu don't remember how wicked was;
how ungrateful was: how unthankful
| was. never thought of God; l never
| cared for God; | was worse than the
heather. Living in Christian land,
with the light shining all around me
and the blessings of the Sabbath teach
| ingS all about me, l was worse than a
heather until l was arrested by the
grace of Christ, and made to see my sim
| fulness, and to hear the voice of my
Savior. No, l am only waiting to GO
home to Him, and to meet your Sainted-
ed sister, my poor wife. And l wish
Daniel, that you might be a praying
| Christian, and trust you are, Daniel,
he added, with earnestness of voice, twill
you pray with me?"
| We knelt down, and Mr.. Webster offer
ed most touching and eloquent prayer
AS soon as he had pronounced the
"Amen," Mr.. Colby followed in a most
pathetic appeal to God. He prayed fol
the family, for me and for everybody
Then we arose; and he seemed to feel q
serene happiness in having thus joined
his spirit with that of Mr.. Webster in
prayer.
"NOw," said he, "what can we give
you? don't think that we have any
thing that we can give YOU" -
Eyes you have" replied Mr.. Webster;
you have something that is just what
we want to eat" s
what is that?" asked Colby. -
ut is some bread and milk" said Mr.
Webster. / want bowl of bread and
milk for myself and my friend"
| Very soon the table was set, and g
white cloth spread over it, some nice
bread was set upon it, and some milk
brought, and we sat down to the table
and ate. Mr., Webster exclaimed after
/ ward:
Didn't it taste good? Didn't it taste
like old times?"
! The brOther-in-law took an election
ate leave of each other, and we left. Mr.
Webster could hardly restrain his tears
When he got into the wagon he began tt
mOraliZe.
81 should like" said he, ito know
what thu enemies of religion would say
to John COlby's cOnvefsarfUn. Firor1'
was man as unlikely, humanity speak
ing, to become Christian as any man
ever saw. He was reckless, needless
impious, never attended church, never
experienced the influence of assOciatins
with religious society. And here he ha
been living on in that reckless way un
| til period of life when you NATURAL.
would expect his habits not to change, an.
vet he has been brought into the condi
| ton in which we have seen him tO-da.
la penitent, trusting, humble believer
Whatever people may say, nothing" add
ed Mr.. Webster, "can convince me tina
! anything short of the grace Of Ged cOul,
make such change as l, with my owl
eyes, have witnessed in the life, OF Johl