Mower County transcript., 1902-12-24

always true In its application to duty.
Kirk preached simple sermon about
Christ iu his relation to the sea and
those who live upon it. He touched on
Christ's love Of humankind and his
compassion for all sorts of trouble.
The sermon was easily understood. 1t
helped. Kirk saw tears In many eyes.
Many Of the passengers thanked him
after he was through. He went in and
prayed briefly with the sufferer. And
the day passed on slowly with an un-
wonted calmness, as Sunday on board
ship at sea is so often. The ocean was
quiet The sun went down without
cloud about 1t, and the sick woman
seemed to rest easier as the lights were
turned on, and the great steamer with
it's freight of human tragedy and it's
uncounted value Of souls sailed untir
ingly on toward the old world.
Near morning the woman who was
watching the sufferer sent for the sur
geon. He came down, and Kirk, who
was wakened by an unusual noise,
heard him going by and rose and dress
ed, going out into the large cabin. The
wind was roaring over the water, and
the vessel was beginning to rock for
the first time since they left home.
1--WE are in for Storm" he heard
one Of the passengers say. He steadied
himself and walked down to the sick
woman,s door and sat near, waiting ex-
pectantly as If he knew he would be
summoned. In a moment the door
opened, and the surgeon looked out.
He beckoned to Kirk, who instantly
rose and went in. The great change
was coming. Kirk had never seen any
one die, but he knew at once what the
look on the face meant. He kneeled,
and the woman feebly opened her eyes.
He took the hand and prayed again
and knew that she heard and under.
stood. sss 7: sa llll1(E d aIk;f71eaa
"We'll see that your baby is cared
for" said Kirk very gently. Hes q
fine boy, and we are going to pray that
he may grow into noble Christian
man. You don't have any fear to go,
do you? We have talked about that.
You can trust the love of Jesus? You
know he has prepared a place for
you"
She could not speak, but they all
knew she understood. AS the storm
rose and the vessel began to pitch and
toss under the resistless grasp of the
heaving hand Of the tempest under it
the woman neared her harbor Of peace.
And she entered it gently just as the
gray dawn was creeping over the wa
ter now lashed into great sheets OF
spray that went clear over the decks
and fell in torrents on the hatchways.
A death on board ship in midocean
is soon known by all the passengers
Before noon every one knew that there
was an orphan baby in the intermedi-
ate cabin. The storm increased as
the day wore on. Nearly every one
was sick. One after another of the
women in the cabins gave up the strug-
gle and retired.
This was what led to an unexpected
experience for Malcom Kirk. The baby
woke up, and for the first time there
was no one to take care Of him. The
three women stewards were busy with
their duties, and one Of them who had
prepared the baby's milk suddenly
came up to Kirk, who was standing by
the long dining table, and asked him if
he couldn't take the baby awhile.
II don't know what We'll do," she
said in great perplexity. t'The women
are all sick. and we have our hands
full caring for them. You can hold
him all right, can't you? He's the
best baby you ever saw"
By this time the baby had developed
a good, healthy cry that could be easi-
ly heard through the roar of the storm.
Kirk looked doubtfully at the stew.
ardess.
"I'm afraid I'll drop him. he said.
drop him! A great strong man
like you!" said the woman, whom Kirk
was sure was laughing a. little at his
hesitation. He'll be all right as soon
as he has some dinner, poor fellow"
"Well, bring him here, thenv said
Kirk desperately. And the woman
quickly brought out the baby and plac-
ed him in Kinks long arms. =:
IT the few passengers still in the din
AA6 AOOM udu uOt Dccu 81 u1ScIdUAc
from approaching seasickness. they
certainly would have laughed ut the
sight Of Malcom Kirk holding that
baby. He really tried to be as gentle
with it as it's own mother ever was,
but it seemed to him that he sprawled
| all over the cabin in his efforts to keep
the baby where the woman said he
| ought to be. H
But the tremendous storm was partly
to blame for that. Kirk braced his
feet against the legs of the table and
held on to the baby as If it was life
preserver. The milk in the bottle was
first in one end of it and then in the
other. Every time the baby. missed
getting it he cried with a vigor that
made Kirk afraid he would burst a
blood vessed or rupture his lungs. FL
nally, however, matters were adjusted
so that the baby's hunger was satisfied,
and he dropped asleep In Kinks arms.
Kirk was SO afraid to carry him over
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