St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20

the Baby in the straw. Then it came
over me like great waves that his
name was Jesus, because it was he
that should save men from their sins.
Save! Save! The waves kept beating
upon my ears, and before 1 knew 1
had called out, oh, can he save meP
1t was in a little mission meeting on
one of the side streets, and they SEEM
ed to be used to that sort of thing
there, for no one was surprised, and
young fellow leaned across the aisle
to me and said, why, you just bet he
cam His surprise that should doubt,
his bright face and confident tone, gave
me hope that perhaps it might be so. 1
held to that hope with all my soul,
and" stretching up his arms and with
a quick glow in his face and a little
break in his voice, che hasn't failed
me yet, not once, not once"
He stopped short, and l felt good
deal like making fool of myself, for
in those days l had not made up my
mind about these things. Graeme, poor
old chap, was gazing at him with sad
yearning in his dark eyes; big Sandy
was sitting very stiff and staring hard
er than ever into the fire; Baptiste was
trembling with excitement; Blaney was
openly wiping the tears away But the
face that held my eyes was that Of old
man Nelson. 1t was white, fierce hull
cry looking, his sunken eyes burning,
his lips parted as if to cry.
The minister went on Il didn't mean
to tell you this, men. 1t all came over
me with a rush. But it is true, every
word and not a word will | take back.
And, what's more, can ten you this
what he did for me he can do for any
man, and it doesn't make any differ
ence what's behind him, and" leaning
slightly forward and with little thrill
of pathos vibrating in his voice, ''oh,
boys, why don't you give him a chance
at you? Without him you'll never be
the men you want to be, and you
never get the better Of that that's keep
ing some Of you now from going back
home. You know you'll never go back
till you're the men you want to be-"
Then, lifting up his face and throwing
back his head, he said, as if to himself
"Jesus-he shall save his people from
their SINS" and then, "Let us pray"
Graeme leaned forward with his face
in his hands; Baptiste and Blaney drop
ped on their knees; Sandy, the Camp
bells and some others stood up. Old
man Nelson held his eyes steadily on
the minister.
Only once before had I seen that look
on human face. A young fellow ha>
broken through the ice on the river at
home, and as the black water was
| dragging his fingers one by one from
the slippery edges there came over his
face that same look. | used to wake
up for many night after IN a SWEET
of horror, seeing the white face with
its parting lips and its piteous, dumb
appeal and the black water slowly
sucking it down.
Nelson's face brought it all back, but
during the prayer the face changed
and seemed to settle into resolve of
some sort, stern, almost gloomy, as of
a man with his last chance before him.
After the prayer Mr.. Craig invited
the men to a Christmas dinner neAt
day in Black Rock. "And because you
are an independent lot We'll charge you
half a dollar for dinner and the even
ing show" Then, leaving bundle Of
magazines and illustrated papers on
the table, a godsend to the men, he
said goodby and went out.
was to go with the minister, so l
jumped into the sleigh first and waited
while he sAid goodby to Graeme, who
had been hard hit by the whole serv-
ice and seemed to want to say some
thing. heard Mr.. Craig say cheerful
ly and confidently: "Its a true bill.
Try him."
Sandy, who had been steadying Dan
dy while that interesting broncho was
attempting with great success to bal
ance himself on his hind legs, came to
say goodby.
"Come and see me first thing, Sandy"
"Aye, l know. I'll see you, Mr..
Craig" said Sandy earnestly as Dandy
dashed off at q full gallop across the
clearing and over the bridge, steadying
down when he reached the hill.
STEADY, you idiot"
This was to Dandy, who had taken
sudden side spring into the deep
snow, almost upsetting us. A man
stepped out from the shadow. 1t was
old man Nelson. He came straight to
the sleigh and, ignoring my presence
completely, said:
"NIr. Craig, are you dead sure of
this? Will it work.?
do you mean," said Craig, taking
him up promptly, "can Jesus Christ
save you from your sins and make a
man of you?"
The old man nodded, keeping his
hungry eyes on the others face.
swell, here's his message to you;
THE Son of Man is come to seek and to
save that which is lost"
"To me? To ne| said the old man
eagerly.
Listen. This, too, is his word: Hin
that cometh unto me l will in nowise
cast out That's for you, for here yor
are, coming"