The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-20
Old and Young Rejoice From Inspiration

out to hear the sermonette and take
part in the service We're heartily glad. |
DR.. Potter in his own and interest
ing way, reached his listeners and
held their attention with the follow
ing: E
i want to tell you a real story this
afternoon, OF one who was real Amer
lean boy and lived in eastern Kansas
AT one time when the gold fever was
at its height in Pixies Peak country,
many went there and found gold. One
acre produced s3,000,OOO in gold.
Some years ago that one acre sold
for only $20.
Well, this boy I want TO tell you
about went to the gold country, for
he got the fever too. His folks didn't
want him to go and pointed out to
him that he was living in comfort.
But he couldn't be prevailed upon, for
he wanted to come back in five years
or SO and buy up all the farms in the
section, his fathers land included.
So one morning in the fall he
swung into the saddle on his Indian
pony and with light heart started
for the west after biding the folks
goodbye
On the morning of the third day
he was still moving along after hay-
ing stopped at settlers cabin or
two.
Then suddenly he noticed a small
dark cloud. He knew a storm was
impending. BY and by it began to
blow and snow-then the sky grew
intensely dark and the snow covered
the entire ground. The blizzard grew
worse and the pony losing the trail,
stumbled in the sage brush.
Our Kansas lad became frightened,
he began to want his home and Won
der in which direction it lay. Then
he thought OF all the bad things he
had ever done. The thought of the
times he had disobeyed his mother
the though OF the Sunday school teach
er, Of all the little mean pranks he
had played.
Once Sunday school teacher
came to me. crying as though her
heart would break. When ! asked
her what the matter was, she cried
20 that class of boys-what shall 1
do-they won't mind me-"
ITO return to our boy-'what would
do-what wouldn't do ii / were
only back at home with the folks
I'd give my heart to Christ, and I'd
do the right thing. l would go with
the boys now and be converted he
said, wringing his hands in despair
He jumped from his horse and the
sharp pains stung through his body
He found some old buffalo grass and
sage brush. Then he looked 70,
his matches. They weren't there
He had forgotten them. No-oh here
was one. o s'pose this should &c
| out In after years that boy who
had grown to be man said: III
Pixies Peak had been a solid nugget
of gold wouldn't have traded that
match for it, Then our Kansas boy
prayed-prayed as only repentan1
bad boy knows how to pray. Care
| fully then he lit the match and he
and the pony got warm and the dead
sage brush and buffalo grass contin
ued-all night-until he was nearly
| exhausted
Then when the first faint streak
= d,, Il f,,.e
and gave his heart to Jesus and
| turned his steps homeward. Some
| time ago, the Kansas boy, now prom
inent minister Geo. H. Pentecost, D
D., no less a parsonage than he who
says many times II wish l had that
| piece of burnt match now"
Wouldn't the boy have been foolish
| to have thrown away that one match
| which meant life to him? Yes, in
| deed.
There are many, many boys and
| girls today, not yet out of thei1
teens who are lost in the whirl and
| pleasure of earthly things. Now listen.
There is only one reason, one Saviour
on whom your lives depend today
and to ignore him is to lose the life
and it is unwise to throw away these
chances to be saved by His grace
Some say, II don't want His teachings
| His life, and don't want to accept
the opportunity"
They are infinitely more foolish
| than Geo. H. Pentecost. the Kansas
I! boy OF our story, if he had thrown
away his only match.
Listen. Individually l am going to
ask you a question to be answered in
! that same way. What am I to do
to be christian and to do that which
lis righfss
1t is vie duty Of every girl and boy
when they are old enough to come
into the church. to unite with the
house of God and serve him.
you may be a christian and you
may not belong to the church. How
many are there who will stand up
and say I want Christ as my Saviour,
! want Him to help me and guide me
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