Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-05-22

iheh IL Woulu suudenly grow small
again and give him a sinking sensa-
ton, as if he were being let down
in a narrow place with the sides
constantly rising higher. 1t he were
going to die, he wished the Parson
was with him.
Then he thought Of the Tesla
ment. Wasn't he all right while he
had that? But Mr.. Wills had wanted
him to read it. He could use his
right hand, and finally got the Book
out, hitching himself up against the
bank so that when he held it open
the page was in sight. The process
threw his left leg over the ledge and
it hurt; but what was the difference?
He could follow the Parsons direc-
tions, and that was the important
thing. When he looked at the. print
the letters began to jump about.
Some of them got off the Book en-
tirely, but it would never do to let
them get away; so he made an effort
and brought them back in order,
reading enough of the verse to take
in the sense: Call upon me in the
day of trouble; I will deliver thee"
He fell back exhausted, and tried to
think what this meant.
"It must be God who is to be called
upon, for Mr.. Wills is always telling
what He will do for any one in
trouble. But if He knows that l am
hurt, why does He wait to be called
upon? Why don't He let some one
know that 1 I'm here? Perhaps He
thinks what's worth having is worth
asking for. Or maybe it's like the
time I dug old Jack Munson out,
when his cabin fell in on him. He
said, 4 wish you had sense enough
to let people alone! I could have
got myself out after a while !
swore that l would never help an.
other man until l was asked. Per.
haps God thinks we wouldn't appre'
ciate it if He doesn't wait until He
knows that we can't help ourselves
Well, I surely can't help myself,
What's that other place the Parson
marked?"
1t took some time to find it; but
he managed to read the verse and
murmered:
God loves the world, and if we
believe it we shall have everlasting
life. / don't quite get that.
His strength was failing, and he
was thinking in a weaker way.
Everybody must die; but Goo
doesn't. | wonder if it means that
after we die here we shall have the
same kind of life that God has, il
we call on Him for it?"
This idea seemed somewhat of az
answer to his questions, and com
forted him. As the tension relaxed
his mind wandered and he though
of the park just up yonder, with ice
cold springs. The sun was growing
hotter, the fever was increasing ant
he imagined that he was STOPPING to
drink. He could feel the cool all
as his face neared the water. Then
just as he was about to touch it, the
spring receded and in it's stead there
was alkili dust hot and dry. HI
drew back in despair, and imme
diately felt himself carried to thu
edge of a deep valley which hi
thought he recognized. He began t.
slowly slip over, inch by inch, ant
must soon fall into the shadows be
low. This would kill him, of course
but he was not disturbed by it. On
ly there was something he intended
to do before death came. What wa.
it?
He struggled to recall the inten
ton, lest he should suddenly go owe
into the darkness; and the attemp
cleared his brain. His face hat
dropped down on his right arm, ant
the shadow of a small tree was cas-
upon him. He tried to raise himself
but could only lift his head. Neve:
mind; he could get the same kind o
life that God had, by calling on Him
and then it wouldn't make any diff
ference what occurred. But he mus
hurry.
Turning his face upward towaro
the light blue, he noticed first tn
heat waves from the rocks near a
hand, then the green of the scrub
oak banked on the opposite side o
the valley; while farther up lutter
ing leaves looked cool against a darl
cloud whose edge was silvered in tn
bright sunlight.
80, Cod" he began; but tn
effort was too much, and his heat
lurched forward onto his arm.
So Mr.. Wills found him. As h
gently removed the Testament iron
the fast stiffening fingers, he say
the marked places and whispered t.
himself: HE called, and was surel,
delivered."-Pacific Monthly.