Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-07
CHAPTER I.

(hA1 / LIN /.
For hcreunto wero So called because c7rIo
also suffered for you, leaving YOU an exauple
that ye should follow his steps.
1t was Friday morning, and the Row.
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 a satisfactory finish
MARY, he called to his wife az he
went mp stairs after the last Interrupt
ton, "if any one comes after this |
wish you would say that | am very
busy and cannot come down unless it
Is something very important. "
YES, Henry. But | am going over
to visit the kindergarten. and you will
have the house all to yourself. "
The minister went up into his study
and shut the door. In few minutes
he heard his wife go out
He settled himself at his desk with a
sigh of relief and began to write. His
text was from Peter ii, 81
For hereunto were We called; be-
cause Christ also suffered for You. leav-
ing you an example that ye should fol-
low his stops.
He had emphasized in the first part
OF his sermon the atonement as per-
sonal sacrifice, calling attcnt: II 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 l2 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
man was standing on the steps. He
was a young man very shabbily dressed.
Looks like a tramp" said the min
lister. II suppose III have to go down,
and
He did not finish the sentence. but
went down stairs and opened the front
door
There was moments pause az the
two men stood facing each other. Then
the shabby looking young man said:
I'm ont Of u job, sir, and thought
maybe You might put me in the way of
getting something
81 don't know of anything Jobs are
scarce" replied the minister. begin
ming to shut the door slowly.
II didn't know but you might per-
haps be able to 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 l hope you will find some
thing. Sorry can't give you some
thing 10 do here. But l 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 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 kim
dergarten this morning Henry" said
his wife while they We're eating dinner
"1ou know, / went over with Mrs
Brown to visit the school, and Just aft
~ WV ShhitSi NiiiIc were
at the tables the door opened, and a
young man came in. holding a dirty
hat in both hands. He sat down near
the door and never said word, only
looked at the children He was evident
ly tramp, and Miss Wren and her as
Instant, Miss Kyle, We're little fright
ened at first, but he sat there very
quietly and after a few minutes he
went out "
Perhaps he was tired and wanted
70 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 80 or 33
years old, | should say.
"The same man, said the Rev.
Henry Maxwell thoughtfully.
"Did You finish your sermon, Hen
ryf" his wife asked after pause
eyes, all done. 1t has been a very
busy week with me. The two sermons
cost me good deal of labor "
They will be appreciated by a large
audience tomorrow, hope" replied
his wife, smiling "What are you 90.
Ing to preach about in the morning?'
Following Christ / take up the
atonement under the heads Of sacrifice
and example and then show the steps