Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-03-25

live. Truly, | think they will Now
let me lean on you, Israel. | am go
ing to my last hard fight"
When he reached his room, he
stood a moment and looked wistfully
round it, 1t was but narrow cham
Der, but large enough for the awfully
close, near conflict that he had to
fight in It, For ten terrible days and
nights the anguish Of the struggle
went on increasingly, sometimes the
great Combatant being "all here" and
full of faith and courage. sometimes
far down the shoal of life and reason,
and wandering uneasily through by
gone days of battle and distress and
darkness.
He had turned to face his last en-
envy on the oath of August, and on
the 30th there was such tempest as
had never before been seen tn Eng
land. Whole forests were laid on
the ground; traffic was swept from
the roads and the streets. and the
ships from the stormy seas. The
chambers OF Whitehall were filled
with the roar of the great winds. The
guards leaned on their arms, praying
or talking solemnly together on the
prodigy of the storm.
Israel sat near the men, and heard
something of what they said. Pres
emily DR.. Verify joined him. They
said a few words about the storm,
their words were emphasized by the
falling and crashing of trees outside
the windows, and by thunder and
lightning and driven torrents of rain;
and then DR.. Verify said in a low
voice, HE knows nothing of this
he is still as death; he barely
breathes; he is unconscious; where is
he, Israeli"
Not quite gone-not quite here"
Is he watching the battle of elements
in the middle darkness?" Then for
some minutes only the pealing thun-
der and the bowling winds made an
swer. But John Verify was thinking.
and as soon as there was moments
lull in the uproar, he said, OLIVER is
no stranger to the Immortals, Israel.
They have heard of his fame. In
their way they have seen and helped
him already. While his body lies
yonder, without sense or motion,
where is his spirit? Is it now having
its last fight with its great enemy?
Israel, | was thinking of what Isaiah
says, about hell being moved to meet
Lucifer at his coming"
But, oh, John, John Verify, all
this great life is to be failure. All
our travail and toll and suffering to
be failure!"
mo, indeed There is no failure.
No. no, nothing of the kind! We
have ushered in a new era OF Free
dom. We have made a breakwater
against tyranny. Kings will remem-
Der forevermore that they have joint
in their necks. Oliver has done, to
the last title, the work he was sent
to do. 1t is Oliver the Conqueror!
Not Oliver the Failure. Remember,
Israel, it is not incumbent on us to
finish the work; we can leave IT In
Gods hands And though we have to
leave it behind US incomplete, God
will use it some way and somewhere,
and the news will find us, even In
heaven. and sweeten our happy labors
there. | believe this, do with all my
soul"
On Thursday night, the I'd Of Sep
TENDER, being the ninth day OF his
hard fight, he babe his wife and chill
dren "a goodbye; but Into this
sacred scene not even the tenderest
imagination may intrude. Afterward
he appeared to withdraw himself en-
tirely within the shadow OF the Al
mighty, waiting the signal for his
release in a peaceful, even a happy
mood, and saying in more and more
labored voice, Truly God Is good-in-
deed He is-He will not-leave. Ny
work is done-but God will be-with
His people" Some one offered him
drink to ease his restlessness and
give him sleep, but he refused 1t. 1t
is not my design to drink or to sleep,
he said my design is to make what
haste l can to be gone" The last
extremity indeed, but one full Of that
longing desire of the great apostle
ito depart and be with Christ. which
is far better"
The next morning, the Sd OF Sep
tember, his Fortunate Day, tho day
Of Dunbar Field and Worcester's
laureate wreath" he became speech
less as the sun rose. and SO he lay |
quiet until between three and four
IN the afternoon, when he was heard
70 give a deep sigh. The physician In |
said softly, He 10 gone!"
And some knelt to pray, and all wept,
but unmindful of his tears Israel !
5waffham cried in tone Of triumph: |
Thou good Soldier Of God, fare
WE'LL Thou hast fought q good fight, |