The San Francisco call., 1903-12-20


yssl the storm IL back again; the eyes
partly urclose; he struggles to his feet,
staggers a few steps; stops Hstena
Surely some one Is singing II Is the
time OF service in a little country
church The people have gathered for
worship and he is about to enter the
pulpit to preach, when he falls against
his horse and the shock partially
arouses him. He strives 10 collect his
shattered wits, fights again the oft-re-
peated battle against Overpowerfng
drowsiness, half realizes that the effort
Is absolutely futile and is slowly kick
ing place IN the snow to lie down IN,
under growing impression that he Is
turning down the covers OF a bed. when
a light feebly shoots through the al
most impenetrable curtain Of snowy
darkness. At first he thought 1t a part
OF his dream. but slowly Il brought him
back to reality. He began to think
about 1t, and at last was reused enough
to know that he must be near a dwell
ing. The blood was quickened enough
by the fact TO permit OF slow move
ment He started toward the light
each step awakening him still more
until he was again pretty well master
Of his dazed faculties. Hope sprang up
/ in his heart and quickened every pulse.
Then the light disappeared. The horror
Of black night, lightened only by fierce
Iy driven snow, settled over him again
A sickening sense OF despair weighted
him down. For a little while he was
tempted 10 believe that the light was
another illusion and that he might as
we'll give up again. but he stubbornIy
summoned his little remaining strength
for one final effort to ind the house
from which the light must have come.
II there was but one chance for Hfs
he would take that chancs. Tbs
thought that he was near TO safety and
yet might miss II served a whip to his
benumbed faculties. But 30 dazed was
he. 30 nearly exhausted and 80 oonfus-
ing was the fierce storm that II seemed
an age to him before he finally stun
bled against the house without being
able to see Il. Slowly he felt his way
along the sides until he came TO a door;
then struck II with the handle OF HIS
rfding-whip, which IN some manner he
had managed to keep hold Of The
door was opened cautiously By a burly.
whiskered man who peered out and
asked who was there. The preachers
tongue was too thick for speech, 90 he
stood in silence, but the man, opening
the door wide enough for the light TO
shine out recognized the colored scarf.
MY God It Is Brother Taylor, our
pastor!" he said. Then calling hastily
to a grown son. they came out and
helped him In. The son took the horse
to the stable. while the father. a man OF
long experience IN prairie life. took the
preacher to a bedroom away from the
fire, removed his garments. sent for a
pail Of snow, laid him on the bed and
with his own strong hands chafed the
chilled body, applying a little snow
occasionally, until the sluggish circu-
lation was slowly quickened. Then
tepid water was used and finally warm
water and last Of all. copious drinks Of
hot milk were given. After that he was
placed under warm covers and left to
sleep as long as he would.
1t was . o'clock when the faithful
work Of the strong man was ended.
The patient sank at once into the deep
sleep OF complets exhaustion. For
hours the family. who were members
OF one Of the country churches served
by the young preacher at a point ten
miles out Of his right course toward
note any signs Of fever or delirium- But
so well had the wise treatment been
given that he slept as swestly as a
babe. As they anxiously watched him,
the wife and mother, with tear-dimmsd
eyes, said: Poor man! the Christmas
gift for which he prayed 80 earnestly
yesterday In our church. IN order that
we might be spared further loss amOns
our little ones'-here she looked sad
ly at an empty crib against the wall
was sent, but II came near to being
the means Of his own death"
Yes" said her husband. when ~
were rejoicing tonight over the coming
OF the storm as we sat around our
warm hearth making this cur Christ
mas celebration, little ala We think that
We were rejoicing over our pastors
peril I have rarely seen % bad . case
OF freezing where the victim lived
through It," But the preacher BisDt on.
The next morning he stin slept At
noon he had not awakened Il Was
about the middle Of the aftsrno0n when
he opened his eyes. It WGs several
moments before he realised WHARF he
was and what had happened ouAsads.
the sun was shining. bat the snow
drifts lay against the window. Slowly
II all came back to him II seemed
years since he had started fOR town the
morning before. How much he had
lived In that long day 0f battle against
slow death. And this Was Christmas
day. The people had received ths
Christmas gift they asked and his own
life had been spared Surely, ood was
good.
He rallied IA . few hours from his
exhaustion and suffered no permanent
injury. He learned from the family
that the reason Of the sudden aisAp-
pearancs Of the Hight. which % nearly
cost his life, was the thoughtisss pull
fng down Of q window shade. He has
never BincS seen q window curtain
drawn down without q shuddsr.