The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-17
COPYRIGHTED BY THE c. p. A.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ONE DAY IS AS A THOUSAND
vTADC

YEARS.
The Prophet returned with his pitch
er full to dripping. of sparkling spring
water. carrying it with as much care as
if each drop was a pearl of great price.
to lose which would be an offense
against that Son for whose coming he
waited in confidence.
Entering the chamber of the Sacred
Virgin, he found Miss Stella lying up
on the ground, craZed from pain and
fever.
He placed the pitcher upon a stool,
tenderly took into his arms the pre-
cious charge delivered to his keeping
by that deity he served so soulfully,
and laid her upon the bed. Taking
both of her fevered, restless hands in
his own he murm'red:
"IIe restoreth my soul; He lead
eth me into t. paths of Righteousness
for His names sake. Yea, though |
walk through the v.Iiey of the shadow
of death | will fear no evil, for Thou
art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff hey
with me: Thy rcd andIhy staff they
comfort me- Surely goodness and mer-
cy shall follow me all the days of my
life: ard | will dwell in the house of
the Lord forever. For in the time of
trouble He shall hide me in His pa
vilion; in the secret of His tabernacle
shall He hide me; He shall set me upon
rock. Let not your heart be trou-
Lled;ye believe in God, believe also in
me-"
There was soothing in his voice, his
words, his touch; or perhaps it was
ho nf human
and she was Gained. She began to
talk upon subjects familiar to her.
Sometimes it was to her sisters; some
times to Bell Morton; most Of all, to
the adjutant.
After time the Prophet released her
hands and repaired to the altar before
which he so frequently prayed, and
again communed IN his simple, reliant
way with that Father whose will ruled
his soul; whose benifcence and love he
gratefully and devoutly acknowledged;
whose favor and protection for the
Virgin he beSought in fervent words,
Surely the prayer was heard by the
Supreme Protector. When the suppi-
cant arose the water caught his sight
and he remembered the purpose for
which it was desired. He took the
pitcher and poured the fresh, pure.
cooling contents upon the bound limb
Of the delrious sufferer until the band
ages were thoroughly saturated; and
from that hour he kept them so, day
and night. toilingly caring for her with
a patient tenderness born of that love
which is deeper and greater than the
love of youth and maiden, because it
was love of sacred duty and rever-
ential Difference to the will OF Him in
whom was Liked the faith of the loving
servant.
That service was the purest religion.
1t was the willing, joyful obedience of
the trustful discipis who regarded the
sufferer as the One Chosen, the one
taken out from among all His crea-
lures. to give to the sons of earth that
Son whose first coming had opened to
all the gates of eternal life and whose
second coming was to purify the earth,
free the world from sin and emanci
pate men from temptation.
Tho AAuout never fnrSnnk the
presence of his cnarge, save Ia her
service; to bring fresh water, to get
her a drink; to minister to her; or to
kneel at the altar whereon stood the
ever-burning lamp, and appeal to the
Father in her behalf.
Day after day, night after night, her
fever and her delirium continued and
neither the patient nor the nurse knew
aught of the flight of time or the mui7
tiplication Of days.
One afternoon she awoke from a
sleep and saw the Prophet kneeling
at the altar. Remembering that he
had gone after water and how fright
ened she had been by his long absence,
she thought that she had fallen asleep
and that he had returned while she
slept. She asked:
"pid you get the water?"
The Prophet arose and approached
her, and she, wondering why her voice
sounded so strange, continued:
Please let me have the water?
must bathe my limb"
She made an effort to sit up but
could not rise.
What is the matter with me? am
so weak! l feel terribly tired, yet
have been asleep and ought to feel
rested! How strange my voice
sounds"
Il am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness. saying, Prepare ye the
way of the Lord; make His path
straight"
please help me to sit up?"
He gently assisted her and she add
ed;
"Thank you! Won't you please take
the pitcher and pour water on those
Dandages till | tell you to stop? | must
keep them wet or this hurt may be-
come serious. But it does not pain me
now; before l went to sleep the pain
was fearful"
She examined the injured limb and
was utterly bewildered. The iniamma-
tion was gone and there was not even
a trace of soreness.
She sat in silence, her mind fixed
upon her wonderful recovery.
Motionless and silent, with the water
pitcher extended toward her, stood the
faithful Prophet, unnoticed, for she
was endeaVoring to collect the frag=
mentary recollections of many days Of
anguish, many nights of horrors, many
hours of fright and fear and pain and
torture. And yet she could not realize
that she had slept beyond a few hours!
Still, if she had slept but a night and
during that sleep rest had been. bro-