Mower County transcript., 1903-01-28
son lFe1f . I'M y q hy VS. sober enough
when we found you. S.. go

when We found you. -. .
There was silence, and Malcom cath.
cred up the lines again and started on
The day was very still, and there was
q great cloud coming up lin the south.
west which promised rain before nirht,
1T was a great thing for you to do .
said Philip slowly. ''I'll never forget
it, Mr.. Kirk z&4 81. y 81 ~ /.
1T was a very little thing, nv boy,
compared with what was done for me
once: said Malcom gravely.
"What was thatW *s,<..5sss *.s.5s q. s... s. 1:
II was lost once in a great wilder
ness and surrounded with wild beasts.
l was sick and starving and unable: to
save myself. Night was coming on,
and every minute added to my danger.
just when I had given myself up as
lost and the wild beasts had gathered
around me in the growing darkness a
friend suddenly appeared. He saved
me, but in doing it he lost his own life.
That is good deal more than did for
you"
Philip had listened intently. But
something in Malcom's manner kept
him silent.
'That wilderness where I was lost, -
continued Malcom softly as his early
life before he entered the seminary
came back to him, twas the wilder
ness Of sin, and the wild beasts were
my passions, and the friend who saved
me was Jesus Christ, the Saviour Of
the lost, who gave himself a ransom
for many"
There was not particle Of cant or
attempt at preaching in what. Malcom
had said. 1t was so simple, so natural,
that the boy on the cot hardly realized
at first what the minister had said.
When it dawned upon him that Nal.
com had spoken Of his own conversion,
he closed his eyes, and his face witch
ed under his emotion. When he looked
up again, Malcom had turned and was
looking down at him.
"Do you mind If we pray here" said
Malcom. y 'r~-:..ss. :aas :.ssss:s. s,s:si
Philip moved his head, and in his
eyes look of expectant wonder grew.
Malcom stopped the horses. The prai-
rie was wide and desolate and black,
not sign Of life anywhere; the at
mosphere was still; the sun shone over
it all; the town lay distinct in the rear
distance. And somehow it seemed as
if Kirk spoke to God close by. He sat
with his hands on his knee and looked
out into the line Of the horizon.
''Father in heaven" he said, 1--WE do
not know what it all meant when the
Lord came to this earth and lived and
suffered and died, but we know enough
to feel sure that love for us was what
made him do it--love for sinners. We
are always asking something, Father,
but what we want now is what thou
dost want. Save another life-this one
here that is in so much need. His body
has been saved for q little while from
physical death. Save his life for oil
time, from eternal loss. His mother is
praying for him. All heaven is anx.
ious for his salvation. If thou wilt
show us what more we can do, dear
Lord, we will do it. But lead him to
thyself, for we cannot forgive? his sins
or keep him from them. Thou canst
do it If he will let thee. For the great
love Of Jesustto us we give thee all we
have, for thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory. Amenw
He gathered up the lines and went
slowly on, and for the next mile not a
word was said. Then Malcom, hearing
the boy move to change his position q
little, turned and looked down at him.
"Do you believe that, Mr.. Kirk?" he
asked, while his lips quivered.
"What?"
THAT all heaven is anxious for my
salvation?"
''Why not? The book says there is
JOY in heaven over one sinner that re-
penteth.' Why shouldn't heaven be
anxious to have us repent?
II don't know, butt
"'God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten Son. He cares
as much for you as for any soul on
earth," said Malcom gently.
Philip was silent after that during
the rest Of the drive. He lay with his
eyes closed, and Malcom did not think
it wise to talk any more to him, but a
continual prayer went out Of his heart
for another sheep gone astray.
When they drove up to the house at
''The Forks" Mrs. Barton came run
ming out. She helped Malcom lift
Philip into the house, and as the boy
was being lowered upon a bed he
reached up his arms and put them
about his mothers neck. The poor
woman sank on her knees and with her
face buried on the breast of her boy
sobbed out her hearts joy at his home
coming. When Kirk was ready to re-
turn to Conrad, she held his hand, re-
luctant to have him 60.
"Heaven bless you, Mr.. Kirk. owe
you more than can tell. The fire
carried OF our grain stacks in the field
out there, and: we lost several Of our
sheds, but ISwould gladly: 60 out into
the world beggar IL Phil would only
turn TO- God and give up the drink.
And you and Mrs: Kirk have your
great burden. I am selfish to add mine