The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-30

A Lost Opportunity.
1t was the Sunday before Christmas
Christmas cheer was everywhere-in the
fragrant wreaths of evergreen. in the Joy.
Gus strains of church choirs, in the snil.
ing faces OF men. women and children. 1t
seemed as II pain and loss and struggle
ana failure and death were forgotten in
the Joy that Christ was born
But not even Christmas could ease the
ache OF one heart; In all the great city
there was probably no woman more
wretched than Agnes Fafrar. She had
once had all that seemed best in life
health, beauty, wealth. charm, love. She
had had them. and had spent them She
mad chosen ten years before to ignore
the requirements Of her world and % be:
come. law unto herself. She had found
the late which surely waits for a woman
who so chooses. On Christmas Sunday
she faced the truth. Her money was
gone She had bartered her health for
pleasure. Only faint traces remained of
her beauty and her grace. OF the abun.
cant loves once given her without stint,
she had chosen the cheapest and poorest,
and the last fragment OF that was gone
I've come to the end of 1t all!r she
said TO herself, as she stood before the
dull mirror IN her cheap lodging on Christ.
mas Sunday morning With that word
upon her lips she resolved to go to churcn
..-for the last time. She thought with a
bitter smile that she would at least be
warm there.
She entered the church az it in dream.
As she was shown up the broad aisle q
Hood OF memories swept over her. An
'nem and Scripture lesson and prayer
passed unheeded. One scene after another
OF her life unrolled before her inward Wis
ION, until she was suddenly conscious that
she was weeping, and that a gracious wo.
man beside her looked at her with gentle.
pitying eyes. She reused Eeraef and
turned her face up to the preacher. He
had been speaking some minutes although
che had caught no word OF the sermon
Now this was what she heard:
One night man was cropping his way
lone across a dark and dangerous moor.
Suddenly he slipped and fell into deep
PIT. In vain he cried for help. In vain
he struggled to climb up .he steep sides
OF the pit. Morning broke, and found him
wounded, thirsty, exhausted, despairing.
Then there came to the mouth of the
pit a Buddhist. He looked down at the
broken figure and said, % wretched man.
Your struggles are useless, and your sui
fering is because of your struggles Cease
to desire to live and all will be well. Fix
your thought upon eternity. and present.
T. you Will find Nirvana,' and the buddhist
passed on.
Then there came a student of Confuc.
ius. He also bent over the pit 10 see
whence the cries came. / hen he said. NV
poor man, | see plainly that YOU have
dlsobeyed the great moral laws OF .his
world. Gou have neglected to reverence
your parents or the state. If YOU were
up acre | would gladly instruct you in
these duties, but as you are quite incap-
sble of getting out. | must leave you
Then there came a NuS,u,man, and he
counseled patience and belief in one God,
and also went his wav.
But at last there came n Christian. He
leaned over the nit. and he called to the
man, who by this time was almost dead,
Courage Courage. my brother. We will
help YOU. | was once in that very pit
myself. Be OF good cheer; keep YOUR
hope little longer and I will return
Then the Christian hurried away, and
Quickly returned with men and ropes and
food and drink. They all worked togeth.
er to hit the injured man out Of the pit:
and among them as they worked his dim
eyes seemed to see strange Figure. like
as it had beon the Son OF God. SO pres.
entity the man was saved from his dire
extremity, and was carried by strong, low
ing hands to his journeys end"
The woman in the pew hung on the
preachers words. When they ceased she
fell upon her knees as he gave the bene.
dietioH. There was hushed moment. and
then the congregation rose and began to
move slowly ont. The lady in whose pew
the woman had sat glanced at her tear.
stained face. She thought quickly, That
woman is IN trouble. She looks as il she
had been hearing her own story. I Won
der il | dare speak to herr"
Mhiie she hestated friend whispered.
what time tomorrow can you come to
the Christmas sale?" The two moved
down the aisle talking quietly, Agnes
followed them-hoping she knew not
what. They halted At the door and 9th.
ers Joined them. What a thrilling ser
mon!" said one. Il never heard him
more inspired" answered another.
he woman. now very pale. listened for
few minutes to their friendly chat. She
heard one call back. a merry Christmas
to you ALL" aud then az the vestibule
was almost empty, she made her way out.
A fpe, dry snow was falling, and the wind
was bitter cold.
For an instant salvation had seemed
possible 10 her. although she know not
how. But the moment OF hope had passed
me black pail Of temptation, failure and
despair wrapped itself again around her,
and hid her. forever from the eyes OF those
who might have rescued her.
The next dav the preacher said to one
OF ms most useful parishioners. "Who was
davr
81 never saw her before" she replied
DO you know, was almost tempted 10
speak to her after service: she seemed
much moved by the sermon. But some
friends came up. and she slipped away"
Il wish you had suolten to her." said
the preacher.-Youth's Companion.
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