The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-05-17

ago, he used 10 stand on Chris. mas eve
listening In thrilling delight to his
mother telling him the story. and how
she used 20 make him see the shepherds
and hear the sheep bleating near by.
and how the sudden burst OF glory used
TO make his heart jump.
II used TO be Il little afraid OF the
angels. because a boy told me they
were ghosts, bu, my mother told me
better. and / didn't fear them any
more. And the Baby. the dear little
Baby--we all love a baby"
There was a quick, dry sob. II was
from Nelson.
II used To peek through under to see
the little one I'm the straw and wonder
what things swaddling clothes We're
Oh, II was all so real and beautiful"
He paused, and | could hear the men
breathing
But one Christmas eve" he went on
I'm a lower, sweeter tone, there was
no one to tell me the story, and grew
to forget IL and went away 90 college
and learned TO think that II was only
childs tale and was not for men.
Then bad days came 10 me, and worse,
and | began TO lose my grip of myself,
OF life, Of hope. OF goodness, Till one
black Christmas, In the slums of a far.
away city. when had given up all
and the devils arms were about me, !
heard tn story again, and as listen
cd, with a bitter ache In my heart, for
had put II all behind me, suddenly
found myself peeking under the shep-
herds arms with a child's wonder az
! the Baby In the straw. Then IL came
over me like great waves that his
name was Jesus because II was he
/ that should save men from their sins
Save! Save. The waves kept beating
upon my ears. and before | knew
had called out, oh, can he save me-
Ii was In little mission meeting on
one OF the side streets, and they seem
cd to be used TO that sort OF thing
there. for no one was surprised, and
young fellow leaned across the aisl,
to me and said, Why, you Just bet NJ
cam His surprise that should doubt
his bright face and confident tone, gave
me hope that perhaps It might be so.
held 10 that hope with all my soul
and" stretching up his arms and Wit
quick glow in his face and littl
break In his voice, "he hasn't faiie'
me yet, not once, not oncew
He stopped short, and | felt goo
deal like making fool of myself, fo
in those days had not made up 10
mind about these things. Graeme, poe
old chap, was gazing at him with sa
yearning In his dark eyes; big Sand
was sitting very stiff and staring har'
or than ever into the fire; Baptiste Wa
trembling with excitement; Blaney WI
openly wtping the tears away. But U
face that held my eyes was that of o
man Nelson II was white, fierce, hu
CRY looking. his sunken eyes burnin
{ his lips parted as IL 10 cry.
, The minister went on. IL didn't met
? 10 ten YOU this, men. IL all came ov
me with rush But III Is true, eve
: word, and not n word will take bac
= And, what's more. | can tell you this
= what he did for me be can do for al
man. and IL doesn't make any diffC
I ence what's behind him. and,' leanii
: slightly forward and with a little thr
, of pathos vibrating in his voice, e
n boys, why don't you give him a chan
!, at your Without him you'll never
the men you want 20 be. and yor
!. never get the better Of that that's ke1
o Ing some OF you now from going ba
- home. You know you'll never 80 b3
@ tin you're the men you want TO b'
q Then. lifting up his face and throw
i back his head. he said. as IL 10 himsc
n Jesus he shall save his people fr'
: their sins" and then, Let Us pray"
= Graeme lcancd forward with his N
+ in his hands; Baptiste and Blaney dr'
n ped on their knees; Sandy, the Can
% bells and some others stood up. {
- man Nelson held his eyes steadily
Il the minister.
= Only once before lad ! seen that IL
,on a human face young follow h
r. broken through Jlye ice on the river
- home. and MS fLo L'Trs water "
# dragging his fingers ots Us 0uc fr
r. thu slippery edges thert cane ov.r
n face that snme look ! used to wa
n ul Tor many II NIGHT .dt lti al ~ "N'
a. OF horror, seeing the white face "
$. its parting lips and it's pitcous, dul
-. appeal and the black water sloy
~ sucking ii down.
II Nelson's face brought IL all back |
y. during the prayer the face chang
ar and seemed TO settle into resolve
~ some sort. stern, almost gloomy, as
a man with his last chance before hi
10 After the prayer Mr. Craig invii
= the men to Christmas dinner ne
i day In Black Rock "And because )
"a are an independent lot Wen charge y
~ half dollar for dinner and the ev'
- ing show" Then. leaving bundle
- magazines and illustrated papers
= the table. godsend 10 the men.
= said goodby and went out.
- ! was TO 20 with the minister. 81
- Jumped into the sleigh first and wait
~ while he said goodby 10 Greene. "
4, had been bard hit by the whole Sc