The Princeton union., 1900-08-23

i lsspoken. Then Malcolm stopped til
horses and bent down to arrange som
4 part OF the cot. When he had finishe,
and gathered UP the lines to go q
again, young Barton spoke. . H.
You We're one OF the men that foun,
me and brought me into the town, MI
4 Kirk y The boy had asked it twic
1 before. -
Yes" replied Malcolm, smiling. "Yo1
can't imagine what a great joy it wa
to me when we found you.''
"And Carver was the other manY
Eyes"
Ihat seems queer to me. How di,
he happen to go with your
'"Well, don't know exactly. H
seemed eager to go.''
"Was he-had he been drinking? :?
The question came with evident pain
full effort.
| Eyes, think he had" replied Nal
com frankly. "But he was sober enough
| when we found YOU"
There was silence, and Malcom gath
cred up the lines again and started on
The day was very still, and there wa
q great cloud coming up in the south
west which promised rain before night
ut was great thing for you to do,
said Philip slowly. "I'll never forge
it, Mr.. Kirk"
1T was Il very little thing, my boy
compared with what was done for IN,
once," said Ialcom gravely.
what was that?"
Il was lost once in a great wilder
ness and surrounded with wild beasts
was sick and starving and unable t.
save myself. Night was coming on
and every minute added to my danger
Just when I had given myself up al
lost and the wild beasts had gathered
around me in the growing darkness
friend suddenly appeared. He save(
me, but in doing it he lost his own life
That is good deal more than did TO-
YOU"
Philip had listened intently. Bu
something in Malcom's manner keD
him silent
'That wilderness where l was lost,
continued Malcolm softly as his earl,
life before he entered the seminar,
came back to him, twas the wilder
ness of sin, and the wild beasts wer,
| my passions, and the friend who save(
me was Jesus Christ, the Saviour O.
the lost, who gave himself a ransom
for many"
There was not a particle of cant o.
attempt at preaching in what Malcon
had said. 1t was so simple, so natural
that the boy on the cot hardly realized
at first what the minister had said.
com had spoken Of his own conversion
he closed his eyes, and his face twitch
ed under his emotion. When he looked
up again, Malcom had turned and wa!
looking down at him.
''Do you mind if we pray here?" sale
Malcolm.
Philip moved his head, and in his
eyes a look of expectant wonder grew
Malcom stopped the horses. The prai
rie was wide and desolate and black
not sign Of life anywhere; the at
mosphere was still; the sun shone ove1
it all; the town lay distinct in the real
distance. And somehow it seemed as
if Kirk spoke to God close by. He sal
with his hands on his knee and looked
out into the line Of the horizon
Father in heaven" he said, I'VE dc
not know what it all meant when the
Lord came to this earth and lived anG
suffered and died, but we know enough
to feel sure that love for US was what
made him do it-love for sinners. We
are always asking something, Father
but what we want now is what thou
dost want. Save another life-this one
here that is in SO much need. His body
has been saved for little while from
physical death. Save his life for al
time, from eternal loss. His mother Is
praying for him. All heaven is anx.
ious for his salvation, If thou wilt
show us what more we can do, dear
Lord, we will do it. But lead him tc
thyself, for we cannot forgive his sins
or keep him from them. Thou canst
do it If he will let thee. For the great
love OF Jesus to US we give thee all we
have, for thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory. Amen"
He gathered up the lines and went
slowly on, and for the next mile not q
word was said. Then Malcolm, hearing
the boy move to change his position a
little. turned and looked down at him.
"Do you believe that, Mr.. Kirk?' he
asked, while his lips quivered.
"What?"
'That all heaven is anxious for nv
salvationY"
'Why not? The book says there is
JOY in heaven over one sinner that re-
penteth.' Why shouldn't heaven be
anxious to have US repent?"
Il don't know, but
"'God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten Son. He cares
as much for you as for any soul or
earth," said Malcolm gently.
Philip was silent after that durine
the rest Of the drive. He lay with his
eyes closed, and Malcolm did not think
it wise to talk any more to him, but a
continual prayer went out of his heart
for another sheep gone astray.
When they drove up to the house al
'oIle Forks" Nfrc por+o,, oo,,o ,,,,>