Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-09-15

also suffered for you. leaving you an example,
that We should follow his steps.
1t was Friday morning and the Rev.
Henry Maxwell was trying to finish his
Sunday morning sermon. He had been
interrupted several times and was
growing nervous as the morning wore
away and the sermon grew very slowly
toward satisfactory finish.
MARY" he called TO his wife as he
went up stairs after the last Interrupt
tion, 'if any one comes after this /
wish You would say that l am very
busy and cannot come down unless ii
is something very important -
Eyes, Henry. But am going over
to visit the kindergarten, and you will
have the house all 10 yourself.
The minister went up into his study
and shut the door In a few minutes
he heard his wife go out
He settled himself at his desk with a
sigh Of relief and began 10 write. His
text was from | Peter H. 2l
For hereunto were ye called; be-
cause Christ also suffered for you, leav-
ing You an example, that We should fol-
low his steps
He had emphasized in the first part
of his sermon the atOnement as per
sonal sacrifice, calling attention TO the
fact Of Jesus suffering in various ways,
in his life as well as in his death. He
had gone on to emphasize the atone
ment from the side of example giving
illustrations from the life and teaching
of Jesus TO show how faith in the Christ
helped TO save men because of the pat
tern or character he displayed for their
imitation. He was now on the third
and last point, the necessity of follow
ing Jesus in his sacrifice and example
He had just put down, "(3) Steps
what are they and was about to
enumerate them in logical order when
the bell rang sharply. 1t was one OF
those clockwork bells and always went
off as a clock might 20 If it tried TO
strike - all at once
Henry Maxwell sat at his desk and
frowned little He made no move
ment TO answer the bell. Very soon it
rang again. Then he rose and walked
over TO one of his windows, which com
manded view Of the front door.
a man was standing on the steps. He
was young man very shabbily dressed
Looks like tramp, said the min
lister II suppose III have TO 20 down,
and"
He did not finish the sentence, but
went down stairs and opened the front
door
There was moment 5 pause as the
two men stood facing each other. Then
the shabby looking young man said:
Il m ont OF job sir, and thought
maybe You might put me in the way Of
getting something -
II don know of anything. Jobs are
scarce replied the minister, begin
ming to shut the door slowly.
IL didn't know but you might per
haps be able 10 give me line TO the
city railway or superintendent Of the
shops or something continued the
young man. shifting his faded hat from
one hand to the other nervously.
1T would be Of no use. You will
have to excuse me / am very busy this
morning. hope You will find some
thing. Sorry | can't give you some
thing to do here. But / keep only
horse and COW and do the work my
self "
The Rev Henry Maxwell closed the
door and heard the man walk down the
steps. AS he went up into his study he
saw from his hall window that the man
was going slowly down the street still
holding his hat between his hands
There was something in the figure so
detected, homeless and forsaken that
the minister hesitated a moment as he
stood looking at it. Then he turned TO
his desk and with "A sigh began the
writing where he had left off
He had no more interruptions, and
when his wife came in two hours later
the sermon was finished, and the loose
leaves were gathered up and neatly tied
together and laid on his Bible all ready
for the Sunday morning service.
"A queer thing happened AT the kin
dergarten this morning Henry said
his wife while they were eating dinner
"You know. ! went over with Mrs
Brown 10 visit the school. and just aft
or the games while the children were
at the tables, the door opened. and a
young man came in, holding dirty
hat in both hands He sat down near
the door and never said a word only
looked at the children. He was evident
ly tramp. and Miss Wren and her as
sistant Miss Kyle. were little fright
ened at first. but he sat there very
quietly, and after few minutes he
went ont
perhaps he was tired and wanted
to rest somewhere. The same man
called here. ! think. Did you say he
looked like tramp
"Yes. very dusty, shabby and gener.
ally tramplike-not more than 30 or 33
years old. should say
"Th4 same man, said the Rev
Henry Maxwell thoughtfully.
did You finish your sermon Hen
ryI' his wife asked after pause
Eyes. all done. 1t has been very
busy week with sSe The two sermons