The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-02
His Hearts Desire.

IlS I1CuItS DSoAkS'
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
Sundays, and sometimes to the mid
week meeting.
He had seen many sorrows; had
lost his wife, his children, his for
tune; yet his was ever a cheerful
face to meet, and his patience and
bravery endeared him to every one.
His genial greeting even the boys Of
the congregation enjoyed.
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 minis
ter. The meeting that night seemed
pervaded by a spirit Of gratitude and
optimism, and there was a strong per-
sonal note as n after another spoke
of his JOY in the Christian life, and
of the influence which had been most
potent in deciding him to choose it.
At last Father Holmes ros slowly
from his. seat, and looking toward a
: group of young people with peculiar
wistfulness, he bore his testimony to
the unfailing love of God, and TO the
Joy which he found in His great
friendship.
"And I have tried to be faithful to
Him." continued the old man, "and
to influence others to love Him. I
have always longed to be the mean
of making some one choose the higher
1iQn ~ fh4 C~fp{f 10 10 - nnn
know the truth as it is In Jesus but
in all my long liferthat Joy has never
come to me. I may have done some
good in the world, with Gods help,
but this one great good Of helping
some one to a higher life I have
never had the Joy of accomplishing"
Humbly the white-haired man sat
down, and many hearts longed to give
him his hearts desirey 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 most coveted it was not theirs
to give.
A few nights after the meeting the
minister 8 doorbell rang sharply, and
one of the boys of his congregation
walked resolutely into the study. p,
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 straight
forward way, the lad told of his de-
sire for the better way Of Christian
living; of his struggle, his fear Of
not holding out, and finally Of his de-
liberate choice and resolute deter
mination to live henceforth mot unto
himself" FL ~
aYou say you have thought of all
this before? What has brought you
to this decision just noW?" asked the
minister. .i
WELL" replied the lad, "it was what
Father Holmes said the other night.
It was my turn to take mother to
church that week, and somehow,
when that old man got up and told
how hard he'd tried, and when !
thought of what a wonderful fellow
he's been, anyway, why-it seemed
as If I couldn't stand it to think he'd
never had the satisfaction of knowing
he'd helped some one to the better
way of living. It seemed as II one Of
US must want to choose right there to
lead q Christian life. Then, all at
once, I began to feel as i'll wanted to
be that one. And So" he added, SIM
ply, II made up my mind to come and
tell you" ..
There's one more person you must
tell, " said the minister, as, after a few
more words, the boy rose. you'll
see Father Holiness" =
Only a few words passed between
them, but the boy will never forget
the fervent "God bless you'll" as the
old man placed a hand on each of his
shoulders, nor the light which shone
in his face as he looked into the lads
steadfast eyes and knew that at last
God had given him his DESIRE
Youths Companion.