The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-25
LIRE FINDING.
BY JOHN ~ GILBERT.

Inc long bright DAY drew 10 close.
Amid tine glories of the crimson sunset.
on q rocky point. running far out into
the sea. stood a man Of eight and TWEEN
ty. or thereabouts. with the determined
expression of one who has fixed upon
the light path Of action, and resolved to
follow it. come what may.
lie gazed earnestly out across the
whispering waves, watching the light
die slowly cut of the sky ana the night
fall upon the most important day of his
life. This day he had set before him
life and death. pleasure and pain, and
after struggle with himself, which
had seemed well-nigh endless, had made
his choice.
over and over he repeated to himself
the words "Whoso loseth his life for
my sake shall find it, and then lower
and more slowly. Grant me thy
strength, o Lord, and SO may | find
that life at last.
The sun set. and as the first bright
star shone out clear and serene, he
turned away from the scene Of his con-
hict and walked ashore. till the main
land was reached and the gathering
darkness shut him from sight.
Ills way was to be no longer through
the paradise Of youth. but through the
sc0rching sands of a desert, in which
the trial of his manhood would lie
made. lie had VOL studied the cost,
and knew what must be borne, what
must be overcome if he would finally
reach the end of his journey in peace.
It is not easy fora young man to give
up all that makes life pleasant, and
voluntarily undertake a difficult and
dangerous work, even if he knows that
by SO doing he becomes more like unto
Christ. The spirit truly Is willing
but the flesh is weak. Self Will assert
itself. and refuses at times to be set
aside unless duly conquered by de-
termined battle.
Even Rutherford was brave enough
to face death, indeed, without muir
muir, but sacrifice Of himself day by
day, to last, it might be, for months, as
different matter, and sharp was the
contest between love of self and love of
others. though fighting with the prayer
ever on his lips that self might be over
thrown and right win tho day. Through
the gloom he walked until he reached
fair country house, surrounded by
wide-spreading lawns and beautiful
gardens, and, gaining the shelter Of a
cluster of trees, threw himself upon the
ground.
Tie had wealth at his command and
had studied medicine, selecting this
profession with little idea Of regularly
following it, but simply because he
deemed it necessary for every man to
have a practical knowledge Of some use
full science. Then, too, his best loved
friend, Oswald Cherbourg, had chosen
that, and it was partly the thought Of
being with him that brought about
Evan 5 choice. Oswald, upon his grad
uation, bad Immediately set to work
and soon had laid aside enough money
to carry out long-cherished plan OF
studying abroad, but Evan being dis
abled by trouble with his sight had been
obliged to give up and remain at home.
In the early spring Of the year when
the story opens Oswald had returned,
full of plans for future activity, and
was with difficulty persuaded by his
friend to wait awhile before beginning
to practice.
During the time of rest, a terrible
plague broke out in the South. At first
the physicians there were thought able
TO control the disease: and, indeed,
worked manfully. Soon, however,
they began to fell, one by one. The in
lection spread, and almost the entire
lower part of The great Mississippi val
lev was filed with the terrors Of yell
low fever.
Then came the call for aid. Many
noble lives were offered and among
them the Hrst to volunteer was Oswald
Cherbourg.
Evan CHANGED to be away at the time
and was brought to the city IN haste
by a telegram. Il leave for Memphis
tomorrow. ten-thrty. Hope to see
YOU before starting.' He was too gen
erous to dissuade Oswald by word or
deed, aud even thought Of going him