The Newtown bee., 1907-04-26

life. And the black pail of death GOV cred the sweetheart, who was to have become bride on Christmas night.
 KlOeffer was rough, unlettered man and the saloon was not an infre- quent place for loafing for him, But Saturday night, after the little sor- rowful funeral party had laid to rest the companion, who had sacrificed his life, Kloeffer sat silent and sad in his dark, cold room, thinking of the past two days. Why couldn't he have died iu place of George? Why didn't George let him alone? He had no loved ones dependent upon him. Oh, the grief in that young woman's facel and poor his uncle! Colder and colder it grew. It seemed as though he was out on a plain, under the bleak sky, and there | was but one star, great bright light heard a faint voice saying "Follow | mel" He-could not tell from whence l it came. It seemed to be all around l him. But he arose, looking up to the star, and was surprised to see 1t move | forward. He followed as fast as he could over the plain, and after several hours came to a little village and to cave where the star seemed to stand still. He entered and found l himself in the presence of little child, babe with his mother; and shepherds were worshiping him and calling him ''King of Kings" and ''Lord of Lords,' the Saviour of the l world. While he stood at the opening of the cave an angel came down from the star, which then disappeared; and l the angel said to him, s'I am the spirit of George Rodner who died for you on Thursday l gave my life that might 1 become star to lead you to Him,' pointing to the child within.
 l Kloeffer then awake and found him. self alone in his room and almost | chilled from cold aS fro had died out.
 | The next day was Christmas Sunday and the bells made a joyous sound as they rang with quicker and richer peals than on other times. The streets and avenues were lined with fashion able people going to the uptown churches and cathedralS KOeffer wended his way alone down the east side along the river front to little chapel among the fishing boats and filled with rough Seamen. It was not a large building and few score would fill it, There was no Christmas laurel or flowers to grace the pulpit, which was only small unstained table set sent forth deep pealing music to thrill the worshipers. Only low cabinet organ much out of tune. There was no paid choir to sing the halleluiahs of Mendelssohn or Brahm; -only a rough sailor with-an uncertain voice
 who played the organ and started the hymns. But the praise was not 8
 weak one, but more like the mighty , organ of heaven with all the stops opened; for every one of those three score men sang with all the fervor and : joy of their souls.
 The minister was plain man with
 out ministerial coat or a white era
 vat. He did not even dress in black spun cloth, and it was much the worse for wear. But he was like the singers
 full of earnestness and zeal for God and when he took as his text the word, of the three wise men, We have seen His star in the east and are come tt , worship Him." they all knew that il would be a sermon of practical help fulness. The preacher knew little else than that three princely men lief, their homes and friends and the ridi cule of neighbors and followed stal : over thousands of miles of mountain ? and forest and plain to find the Christ ] to whom they bestowed their greateS possessions. After dwelling upon thi. . touchingly the preacher turned to hi audience ana asked: "Who among VOL have seen the star that God has placed
 in your heavens to lead you to Christ?'
 This star may. be the consecration of a 2 noble lifeJ the dedication of one', wealth to Gods service; or it may b the devotion of noble father o { mother; or the sacrifice of some friend for your sake. There are such star,
 shining to-day to lead you to thi. 2 Christmas. It may be that they have been shining in your lives for 20 or 4 } years. Have you ever followed then as they appeared again and again t.
 you, sometimes when you have beel
 SOrely tempted, sometimes when yol
 weN stranger and an outcast anc
 forlorn, or sometimes at night wher
 you have been in the midst of grief
 Will you follow them to-day and be- | come fine wise nf fhiQ GhriCrnnQ
 in the year of our Lord 1906? Ther,
 was pause as he waited and looked
 anxiousfy over the audience Of sturdy
 men for reply. finally there arose 1T
 to the door, an old man, with white
 hair and bent body. His voice wa
 weak and his hand trembled. "Many
 years ago." he said "when I was
 young man like many of you here to
 day, cursed the church and hated
 time l was drunk and l abused m.
 wife and children. A new church was
 built in our town, the gift of the boss
 in my mill. It stood opposite our mil
 every day at work. I attended ths
 dedication service, though 1 don'
 know why 1 did, and heard the bishop
 say that it would be like light iron
 and sinful. He also said it would be g
 place of safety for the sorely tempted
 These words burned in my mind anc
 kept me from drinking for a few
 nights. But one night as the fellow!
 were all drunk, short distance above
 my house, felt compelled to rush tC
 them and drink till 1 was dead drunk
 Just as 1 was lifting the cup to my
 lips bright fire darted through the
 sky, down to that church, like thous
 and stars, that lighted it up with pc
 culiar. weirdness. My hand dropped
 and the rum spilled and I rushed
 home, never to touch another drop ol
 liquor. I believe that was my stal
 in the east and l have been trying to
 follow 1t ever since, ana now I see the
 Christ" He reached forth as if tc
 touch something just before and above
 him; then he fell back with the smile
 of Heaven upon his face.F
 From the opposite side of the roon
 young man arose aud spoke with g
 foreign accent, though in polished
 language. He told how, when he came to this country twenty-five years ago,
 he was saved by noble man, a strang CT, who took him into his home and
 became father to him. "If ever 8 star shone out of darkness" he said
 "it vas MT Lawrence, who took him when all else failed, and has ever since