The diamond drill., 1902-08-23
CHAPTER V.


his book and l9oked up, Far over the
fiat lay the "kJpje," a mere speck; the
sheep wandered quietly from bush 10
bush; the stiffness Of the early Sunday
rested everywhere, and the air was
fresh.
He looked down at his book. on its
page black insect crept. It lifted IL
of with his finger. Then he leaned on
his elbow, watching its quivering an
tennae and strange movements, smil-
ing.
Even YOU" he whispered, 'shnll not
die. Even You he loves Even you he
Will fold In hA arms when he takes
everything and makes IL perfect and
Msbpy."
When the thing had gone, he smooth
ed the leaves OF his Bible somewhat
caressingiy. The leaves of that book
had dropped blood for him once, They
had taken the brightness ont OF his
childhood. From between them had
sprung the visions that had cllng
about him and made night horrible.
Adderllke thoughts had lifted their
heads, had shot ont forked tongues at
him, asking mockingly strange, trivial
questions that he could not answer
miserable child:
Why did the women in Mark see only
one angel and the women in Luke two?
Could "A story be told in opposite ways
and both ways be truel Could itI
Could it? Then, again: Is there moth
ing always right and nothing always
wrong? Could Jael, the wife of Heber
the Kenite. put her hand TO the nail
and her right hand TO the workman's
, hammerT and could the Spirit OF the
Lord chant paeans over her, loud
paeans, high paeans, set In the book or
the Lord, and no voice cry out IL was n
mean and dastardly sin TO lie and Kill
the trusting in their sleep? Could the
friend OF God marry his own sister
and be beloved, and the man who does
it today goes to hell, to he'll? Was
there nothing always right or always
wrong?
Those leaves had dropped blood for
him once They had made his heart
>Aeavy and cold; they had robbed his
childhood OF its gladness. Now his
fingers moved over them carcssingly.
"My Father God knows, my Father
knows" he said. I'VE cannot under
stand. lie knows" After awhile he
whispered. smiling; II heard your voice
this morning when my eyes were not
vet open felt you near me, my Fa-
ther. Why do you love me soY' His
face was Illuminated. "ln the last
four months the old question has gone
from me know you are good; know
you love everything; ! know, know
know! | could not have borne 1t any
more, not any more lie laughed
softly. "And all the while ] was So
miserable you were looking M me and
loving me, and never knew IL. But
know Il now feel IT, said the
boy, and he laughed low. u feel itl'
he laughed.
After awhile he began partly to sing
partly TO chant. the disconnected verses
of hymns, those which spoke his glad
ness, many times over. The sheer
with their senseless eyes turned TO looA
at him as he sang.
At last he lapsed into quiet Ther
as the boy lay there staring at busf
and sand he saw vision.
He had crossed the river OF Deatf
and walked on the other bank In th'
Lords land OF Beulah. His feet sani
- into the dark grass, and he walked
falone. Then. far over the fields. h'
saw figure coming across the darl
green grass. At first he thought ]
must be one OF the angels, but as
came rfearer he began to feel what
was. And II came closer. closer &
him, and then the voice said. Come,
and he knew surely who IL was. III
ran to the dear feet and touched then
with his hands; yes, he held them fast
He lay down beside them. When b
looked up, the face was over him, an
thexriorious eyes were loving him, an
they two were there alone together.
He laughed n deep laugh. then start
ed MP like one suddenly awakene
from sleep.
20 God" he cried, IL cannot walt.
cannot waiti want 20 die! wan
10 see himi want TO touch hlmi lie
me diep' He folded bis hands, trem
bling. How can wait so long-fo
long. long years perhaps7 I want
die-to see himi Will die any deatf
oh, let me conner
weeping, he bowed himself and quiz
cred from head TO foot. After a Ion
while he lifted his head.
'sYes; win wait, | Will walt but nc
long. DO not let II be very long. Jesu
K4ng. want You; oh. want you
soon. soonr' He sat stIll staring acroi
the plain with his fearful eyes.
SERVICE NO. II.
In the front room OF the farmhou'
sat Tant' sannie In her elbow chat
In her hand was her great brass cias
ed hymnbook; round her neck was
clean white handkerchief: under o.