Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-13
he happen to 20 with your

| Les, l 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.
1he day was very still, and there was
great cloud coming up in the south
west Which promised rain before night.
1T was great thing for you to do"
said Philip slowly. III never forget
1t, Mr.. Kirk"
1T was very little thing, my boy,
compared with what was done for me
once said Malcolm gravely.
What was that?'
Il 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 OH.
ana every minute added to my danger.
Just when | had given myself I'D as
lost anu the wild beasts had gathered
around ME in the growing darkness
friend suddenly appeared. He saved
me, but IN doing it he lost his own life
mat is good deal more than did fo1
| YOU"
|
something in Malcom's manner kept
| BIN silent
| hat wilderness where I 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 a ransom
for many
mere was not particle OF cant OF
attempt at preaching in what Malcolm
hau said. 1t was so simple, so natural
that the boy on the cot hardly realized
at first what the minister had said.
hen it daWned upon him that Nal
com had spoken Of his own conversion,
be closed his eyes, and his face witch
ed under his emotion. When be looked
up again. Malcolm had turned ard was
looking down at him.
DO you mind if we pray here?" said
Malcolm.
Philip moved his head, and in his
eyes look of expectant wonder grew
Malcolm stopped the horses The prai-
RE was wide and desolate and black,
not sign of life anywhere; the at
moSphere was still; the sun shone over
it all; the town lay distinct in the rear
distance. And somehow it seemed as
II 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" be said, I'VE 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
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 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 all
time, from eternal loss. His mother is
praying for him. All heaven is any
ious for his salvation. If thou wilt
show US what more we can do, dear
Lord, we will do it. But lead him to
myself, 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 a
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 2" he
asked. while his lips quivered.
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?'
II don't know, butt
"'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 Malcolm did not think
it wise to talk any more to him, but
continual prayer went out Of his heart
for another sheep gone astray
When they drove up to the house at
The Forks" Mrs. Barton came run
ming out She helped Malcolm lift
Philip into the house, and as the boy
was being lowered upon a bed he
reached up his arms and put them
about his mothers neck. The poor
woman sank on her knees and with her
face buried on the breast Of her boy
sobbed out her hearts joy at his home
coming. When Kirk was ready to re-
turn to Conrad, she held his hand, re-
luctant to have him go.
Heaven bless you, Mr. Kirk. owe
you more than l can tell. The fire
carried off our grain stacks in the field
out there, and we lost several Of our
sheds. but | would gladly go out into
the world a beggar if Phil would only
turn to God and give up the drink.
And you and Mrs. Kirk have your
great burden. am selfish to add mine
to it."
"'Bear we one another's burdens"
quoted Malcolm and added instantly,
"'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and
he shall sustain thee" So he left
her standing there, looking after him,
comforted.
he went back to Conrad and faced
the situation there with courageous
heart and an outward cheerfulness for
Dorothy's sake more than anything
else. There was no attempt on the
part of either of them to disguise the
fact that the prospect before them was
one that would try all their Christian
| coura ge and faith, The winter was