The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-01-24

and months he lay lowering between
life and death. At last he was given
back to life, but regardless of the fair
state of health to which he was re-
stored, he was not himself. 1t could no.
be said that he was insane, but to him
all the past was like a dream. He had
no distinct recollection of his early
home, and could not recall even his
own name or tell to what regiment he
belonged. The surgeons thought that
In time his memory of the past would
be restored to him, but it was not,
and not knowing where to send him,
he remained in the hospital as nurse
until the close Of the war; Then, in
company with a hospital friend, he
drifted to the far West, where by dill
gence he succeeded in acquiring
small property and making for himself
home. Gradually, as the years went
by, glimpses Of the happy past came
back to him. Visions of the little
vine-clad New England home torment
ed him by their obscurity, and Of the
mother who watched him through in
Fancy there came an indistinct remem-
brance. Before he left the hospital he
mad regained some of his lost knowl
edge OF books, but in all his study and
reading OF papers he never came across
anything that suggested possible So
luton of the mystery surrounding his
early life, until, one autumn day, fif-
teen years after the close of the war,
while reading his daily Bible lesson,
ne came across his parting words to
MS mother, "Hjs banner over me Is
love"
In an instant, like a flash of light
from heaven, that farewell scene on
the porch Of the old home returned to
him. He remembered his mothers
sad face and her words that called
forth his declaration, His banner over
me is love-" Her name and his own
seemed now familiar to him, and q
few moments thought linked that
scene in his life with those of his child
hood and his entry into the army in
such way as to give him full pict-
ure or the past up until the time he
had been wounded in battle. He scarce
ly dared to hope that his mother had
survived all these eighteen years of
suspense, but anxious to know the
worst, he hastily prepared for a visit
to the East, and in less than twenty
four hours was hurrying as fast as the
train could carry him towards the ris-
ing sun.
1t was early in the morning OF
Thanksgiving day when he reached the
little hamlet where all his boyhood
days had been spent. A few words Of
inquiry at the station gladdened his
heart with the assurance that his
mother was yet alive. But when he
reached the little cottage where she
still dwelt he found it much more
difficult to convince her that the gray
haired man who stood before her was
the rosy-cheeked boy who eighteen
years before had gone away looking so
young and handsome in his suit of blue.
After relating his long, sad expert
ence, he said in his old boyish voice:
Mother, l am your loving, warm
hearted Nathan yet, your boy given
back from worse condition than
death, but in all these years Gods
banner over me has been love, and it
was His love that directed me to the
passage in His word, my farewell words
to you, and through that banner over
me opened up the dark recesses of my
mind to the admission of the light for
which l had long been praying"
Nevertheless continually, thou art
10 l. Ii,
longer in doubt concerning this son,
who had been lost, but was now found
Truly His banner over you has been
love. All these years l have been
fighting against Him. I would have
been thankful even for the certainty
Of your death. In His great love he has
denied me the grave for which | was
seeking. but instead has given me back
my boy.
For years ! have not observed
Thanksgiving, because l felt had
nothing to be thankful for, but to-day
we will SO up to Gods house to give
thanks together; to give thanks for
the banner Of love that has been over
us all these years"
and it will be over us until the
end" returned Nathan.
Eyes, thank God, for my unanswered
prayer" replied the old mother. God
is love, now and evermore."
Changed His Lover.