Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

THAT seems queer to me. How did
he happen to go with you?"
swell, l don't know exactly. he
seemed eager to CO."
"Was he--had he been drinking 2"
The question came with evident paine
full effort.
Eyes, think he had" replied Nal
com frankly. "But he was sober enough
when we found you"
There was silence, and Malcolm gath
cred up the lines again and started on.
The day was very still, and there was
great cloud coming up in the south
west which promised rain before night.
cit was great thing for you to do"
said Philip slowly. ''I'll never forget
| it, Mr.. Kirk"
ut was very little thing, my boy,
compared with what was done for me
once" said Malcolm gravely.
what was that?"
II was lost once in a great wilder
ness and surrounded with wild beasts.
was sick and starving and unable to
save myself Night was coming on,
and every minute added to my danger.
Just when l had given myself up as
lost and the wild beasts had gathered
around me in the growing darkness q
friend suddenly appeared. He saved
me, but in doing it he lost his own life.
| That is good deal more than did for
you"
Philip had listened intently. But
something in Malcom's manner kept
him silent.
THAT wilderness where 1 was lost"
continued Malcolm softly as his early
life before he entered the seminary
came back to him, was the wilder
ness of sin, and the wild beasts were
my passions, and the friend who saved
me was Jesus Christ, the Saviour Of
the lost, who gave himself q ransom
for many
There was not a particle Of cant on
attempt at preaching in what Malcolm
had said. 1t was SO simple. so natural
that the boy on the cot hardly realized
at first what the minister had said.
Il When it dawned upon him that Mal-
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 was
looking down at him.
do you mind if we pray here?" said
Malcolm.
/ Philip moved his head, and in his
eyes q look of expectant wonder grew.
Malcom stopped the horses. The prai-
RE was wide and desolate and black.
not a sign of life anywhere; the at
mosphere was still; the sun shone over
it all; the town lay distinct in the rear
II distance. And somehow it seemed as
; if Kirk spoke to God close by. He sat
with his hands on his knee and looked
out into the line of the horizon.
Father in heaven" he said, Eve do
not know what it all meant when the
Lord came to this earth and lived and
suffered and died, but we know enough
to feel sure that love for us was what
4 made him do it-loye for sinners. We
are always asking something, Father,
but what we want now is what thou
dost want. Save another lfe-this one
here that is in so much need. His body
has been saved for q little while from
physical death. Save his life for all
time from eternal loss. His mother Is
lOl hiLI. All dSthN Si 10 db-AS
ious for his salvation. If thou wilt
show US what more we can do. dear
! Lord, we will do it. But lead him to
, 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. Amen1'
! He gathered up the lines and went
, slowly on. and for the next mile not a
, word was said. Then Malcolm. hearing
i the boy move to change his position
little, turned and looked down at him.
| do you believe that. Mr.. Kirk?'' he
asked. while his lips quiyered.
WHAT"
"That all heaven is anxious for my,
salvation?'
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 on
: earth" said Malcolm gently
Philip was silent after that during
, the rest of the drive. He lay with his
: eyes closed. and Malcom did not think
: it wise to talk any more to him, but q
: continual prayer went out Of his heart
3 for another sheep gone astray.
3 When they drove up to the house at
t 1.-THE Forks" Mrs. Barton came rum
q ming out She helped Malcolm lift
e Philip into the house, and as the boy
was being lowered upon a bed he
l reached up his arms and put them
v about his mothers neck. The poos
q woman sank on her knees and with hey
: face buried on the breast of her boy
D sobbed out her hearts joy at his home-
e coming. When Kirk was ready to re-
a turn to Conrad. she held his hand, Ee-.
luctant to have him go.
;. Heaven bless you. Mr.. Kirk. owe
: you more than / can tell. The fire
off nur trraip Stanlys in tho fiald