The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-02

drummer-boy. too weak 70 sing. repeated
them as his dying prayer and while they
were on bis lips, his soul took its fight TO the
bosom Of Jesus
In the winter Of 1872 Christian worker in
New York visited Bellevue Hospital He was
urged by the attendants TO see an English
sailor IN one OF the wards. who was near
death. and then unable TO speak. The good
man leaned over his bed and softly repeated
tins hymn IN his dull ear There was no sign
that the dying man heard the blessed words,
ana the visitor went away About midnight.
however, the sailor aroused. and with clear
voice said
Jesus lover OF nv soul
Let mo 20 thy bosom fly"
and continued until he had repeated the
entire hymn. lie then added other verses Of
hymns, and suddenly died.
W 40 can tell, says Dufield. how great
bridge had been thrown by those familiar
words across the gulf of memory, and how
great comfort they may have brought 10
his dying hour"
A lady in Norwich England, went to hear
famous preacher at the Tabernacle. she
was IN great distress OF mind. and had deter
mined to attend divine service once more
and she Intended If she obtained no peace
then 20 drown herself. The first hymn that
the preacher announced was. Jesus. lover Of
my soul which SO startled her and suited
made this hymn for her sake" for she was
sure some one had informed him of her state
of mind. As a result Of this experience she
was hopefully converted.
One beautiful evening in the summer of
1851 a party o. Northern tourists formed
part Of q large company gathered on the deck
Of an excursion steamer sailing down the his
toric Potomac. A gentlemen who has since
gained a national reputation as singing
evangelist had been dehghting the party
with his happy rendering OF familiar hymns
the last being that petition so dear 20 every
Christian heart, Jesus lover of My soul.
The singer gave the first two verses with
such feeling aud emphasis a. thrilled every
heart. a hush had fallen upon the listeners
which was not broken till a gentleman made
his way from the outskirts of the crowd TO the
side OF the singer and said:
Beg your pardon, stranger, but were you
actively engaged IN the late war;
Yes. sir the man Of song answered. Il
fought under General Grant"
II did my fighting on the other side" con-
tinued the first speaker, and am quite sure
] WAS very near on, one bright night, elgh-
teen years ago this very month. II was much
such a night as this. If am not mistaken,
you were on guard duty. We of the South
had sharp business on hand. and you were
one Of the enemy. | was selected by the
commander. because had a reputation as 4
sure shot 10 creep near your post OF duty
The shadows hid me. My weapon was Ia my
hand. As you paced back and forth you were
humning the tune of the hymn you have Just
sung | raised my gun and aimed 1t at your
heart. Then out upon the air rang the
words
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow Of thy wing
Your prayer was answered. | couldn't fire
after that. and there was no attack made
upon your camp that night. felt sure, when
heard you sing this evening, that you were
the man whose life was spared from taking"
The singer grasped the hand Of the South
eTner. and said with much emotions:
" / remember the night very well. and re-
member distinctly the feeling of depression
and loneliness with which / went forth to my
duty. / knew nay post was one OF great dan
GER and I was more detected than remember
to have been at any time during the service,
] paced my lonely beat, thinking of home and
friends, and all that life holds dear. Then the
thought of Gods care for all that He had
created came to me with peculiar force. If
He 80 cares for the sparrow, how much
more for man created in his own
image and | sung the prayer Of
my heart and ceased to feel alone. How
the PRAYER was answered | never knew TIL
this evening, My Heavenly Father thought
best TO keep the knowledge from me
for eighteen years How much of his good
ness TO US we shall be ignorant OF, until re-
veaed by the light of eternity. Jesus lover
Of my soul has been a fayOrlte hymn-nOw
it Will be inexpressibly dear"
This incident il q true one, and was told TO
the writer by a lady who was one OF the party
on the steamer.