The Newtown bee., 1901-07-26

| to see anybody, but rather to nurse his grief in perfect silence and solitude. We can imagine him, sitting in room alone, that Friday and Saturday, and
 perhaps that Easter Sunday evening
 watching the sun set and the darkness
 gather around, emblems of his sinking hope and Of the gloom that enshroud-
 ed him. He has scarcely tasted food
 or drink since the passover-meal of
 Thursday evening, nor does he care
 whether he ever again eats or drinks. But now a step is heard upon the stairs leading from below to the cham Der where he sits. It is an elastic,
 eager step, and it draws nearer
 Speedily one knocks at the chamber
 door, and, at the same time a merry
 voice sings out, "Let me in, Thomas,
 quickly too. It is l, Peter!'' Slowly
 and reluctantly Thomas walks to the
 and says in breathless taste, 70 Thom- as bring news, the best news in the
 world. He is risen! ! have seen Him myself, the women have seen Him, CleOpas and friend have seen him,
 and just this very evening as a num- of us sat in the upper room, He ap-
 peared to us, yes, and ate with us just as He did Thursday evening at the Passover" So eager is Peter while giving this informa tion that he has
 not taken breath, but now stops to do
 witness a WOndrOuS transformation
 come over his face so unutterably sad.
 But no, the same look remains, and
 not word is spoken. Peter cannot
 understand such lathargy. Thomas
 must be in dream or Stupor. 50 he
 shakes him, and cries in louder tones.
 "Thomas don't you hear me? 1 say
 the Master has risen, and we have seen
 him with our eyes," And now listen
 to the reply in sepulchral voice: "Ex- cept l shall see in his hands the print
 of the nails, aye more, exceptI put my
 finger into the print of the nails,
 and thrust my hand into his pierced side, will not believe.''
 Such an answer is almost too much for the excitable Peter. He is on the point of leaving Thomas in disgust and of hurrying back to the happy group in the upper chamber. But
 A NOBLER IMPULSE SOON PREVAILS. Peter has been learning patience and charity during the last few days for he has come to realize that he, more than any other, ought to be forbearing with his'fellowmen. The lesson learned in the palace of the high priest is indel- lbly stamped upon his mind and heart So he turns again to Thomas and seeks to persuade him to join the company of the disciples. He succeeds only after the utmost exertion and the exercise of such patience as he would have been incapable of 10 days before. So Thomas joins the company. He hears the testimony of Mary Mag delene, of the other women, of Peter, (JnnnnC <,f 1,n of I,o o: pies, and still he remains infleXible. Once more he attirms in resolute tones before them all: Except l shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my fingers into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, will not (under any considerations: so the Creek l will not believe'
 Let us here pause to make some ob ServatiOnS on Thomas as we have thus far viewed him. In the first place it is apparent that he made a grave ill detaching himself from the other disciples. Had he remained with them, he would have been spared the most Wretched week in whole life, for, on that Easter Sunday evening when he sat mourning alone in his chamber, Jesus manifested himself to all the apostles but him. What ter rible misfortune to lose sight of the | risen Christ, to miss the opportunity | of gathering around the table with them once more, and of hearing them speak as in days of yore. Such was the forfeit Thomas paid for separat- ing himself from those in whose con- pany he really belonged and to whom he owed the benefactions of service and comfort. It was selfish in him to withdraw himself, and he suffered keenly for it, too. No person is ever selfish, or performs selfish act with put suffering more than any other per- son affected by it. Even if our Lord lad not disclosed Himself to the dis 'iples that evening, still Thomas would lave paid dearly for his remissness in hat he would have lost the privilege 'f fellowship with the apostles with all jhe mutual benefits issuing therefrom.
 Dld you ever stop to wonder why
 esus, after manifesting Himself to he ten apostles that Sunday night, lid not at once proceed to the place where Thomas sat. in solitude and rief? 1 think 1 can proffer a reason ble explanation. It was because He $ would teach Thomas that the place ( )r him, even in the hour of mourning nd Severest trial, was not in the abode [ inaction and secluSion, but at the i ost of service and helpful fellowship. $ esus delights to reveal Himself-not men in selfish, or at least useless r but to those actively en- f