The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-28
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His Hearts Desire.
~~~~~~O~~~

His Hearts Desire.
For many decades Father Holmes"
had been revered and loved in a GER
tain New England village. He was
feeble, but still came to church on Sun
days, and sometimes to the midweek
meeting.
He had seen many sorrows; had lost
his wife, his children, his fortune; yet
his was ever a cheerful face to meet,
and his patience and bravery endeared
him to everyone. His genial greeting
even the boys of the congregation en-
joyed.
One particularly cold night the
friends were surprised to see Father
Holmes coming to meeting. Slowly he
walked to his accustomed seat and gave
his usual greeting to the minister. The
meeting that night seemed pervaded
by spirit Of gratitude and optimism,
and there was a strong personal note
as one after another spoke of his joy
in the Christian life, and of the in
fiuence which had been most potent in
deciding him to choose it.
At last Father Holmes rose slowly
from his seat, and, looking toward
group Of young people with peculiar
usefulness, he bore his testimony to
the unfailing love Of God and to the
| joy which he found in His great friend
ship.
"And l have tried to be faithful to
| Him." continued the old man, "and to
influence others to love Him. / have
: always longed to be the means of max
| ing some one choose the higher life of
I the spirit, to make some one know
/ the truth as it Is in Jesus but in all
my long life that joy has never come
to me. may have done some good
/ in the world, with Gods help, but this
one great good Of helping some one to
higher life have never had the Joy
of accomplishing"
Humbly the white-haired man sat
down, and many hearts longed to give
him his hearts desire, but that could
not be. His friends might grasp his
hand more warmly and tell him how
he had heartened them, but the one
Joy he coveted 1t was not theirs to give.
A few nights after the meeting the
minister's doorbell rang sharply, and
one Of the boys of his congregation
walked resolutely into the study.
The minister saw the look In the
boys face. He knew why he had come.
He drew him over by the friendly fire,
and there, in a straightforward way,
the lad told of his desire for the better
way Of Christian living; of his strug-
, gle, his fear Of not holding out, and
finally of his deliberate choice and reso-
mot unto himself"
"You say you have thought Of all
, this before? What has brought you
to this decision just now?" asked the
| minister.
! WELL" replied the lad, at was what
Father Holmes said the other night
1t was my turn to take mother to
: church that week, and somehow, when
that old man got up and told how he'd
tried, and when l thought of what 9
wonderful old fellow he's been, any
way, why-it seemed as If I couldn't
stand 1t to think he'd never had the
satisfaction of knowing he'd helped
, some one to the better way of living
4 1t seemed as If one Of us must wan
to choose right there to lead a Chris
> tlan life. Then, all at once, l began t.
/ feel as 1 wanted to be that one. Ant
: So" he added, simply, 81 made up my
: mind to come and tell YOU"
Y There's one more person you mus
8 tell" said the minister, as, after a few
e more words, the boy rose You'll Sc,
d Father Holmes"
: Only few words passed between
q them, but the boy will never forget tn
y fervent God bless your as the oil,
. man placed hand on each of hi
y shoulders, nor the light which shon
In his face as he looked into the lad
!, steadfast eyes and knew that at las
. God had given him his desire-Youth'
COmDanion