Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-01-13
THE PICTURE ON THE WALL
AND THE EASTER LILY
to the Spirit Of jefferson
A. w. Hawks. Sr., Author
The Picture ON the Wall

Presented to the Spirit OF Jefferson,
A W. Hawks, Sr., Author
The Picture ON the Wall
Not fine work Of art; the keen
critic would have pronounced it a
daub. 1t did not cost much money
and the frame was of plain, unearv-
ed wood But the picture told
story and told it well.
For the background a rough stone
wall. above it leaden sky; in the
foreground pale, sad-eyed. weary
looking girl had fallen on stone
bench and in her arms she held a
sick boy, white band around his
forehead just above the sunken, fad
ed eyes. And just in front of them
The Christ stood, the patient, ever
suffering, ever-loving Christ, and His
hand. not yet pierced, rested upon
the head of the sick boy. and His
eyes, so tender, so loving, SO true,
caught the upturnd eyes of the lad
and in the faded eyes of the boy the
light was beginning to come back.
The picture hung in hospital on
the lead, bare. whitewashed walls.
And on a bed right opposite the pic
ture. tossing in fever. wild with de-
lirium, was wolf-reared boy of the
slums. Born of rum-cursed parents,
nursed at rum-scented breast and
tossed il the nervous arms of
drunken mother, the boy was born to
the heritage of woe. He knew moth
ing Of what the word father meant,
he knew the "old man" well enough
to keep out of his way, he carried
marks of his brutal beatings on his
face, and when the fever came, the
blue-coated policeman found him
alone in the straw on the damp floor
Of his cellar.
They brought him here and hands
soft and delicate ministened to him.
while the white-souled nurse trembl-
ed with fear at his fearful oaths.
He grew better: the doctor said
he would pull through.
One morning when the nurse came.
and pulling up the blind let the light
fall upon his face, she said: Shall
read to you?"
mo" said the boy, and his eyes
sought the picture. "No, tell me
about that picter; who is he?'
'He is The Christ" she said. and
then with a prayer in her heart she
told the story of His life to the boy,
and as she closed she said, "Do you
believe in Him."
81 believe in you" said the boy,
and the next morning he said to the
nurse, tell me more about Him."
How glad the sad-eyed nurse was
to tell him. Her life had been one
of trial, but now she was anchored in
haven Of rest, and The Christ's voice
waters of her life.
As she told the old, old story. the
boy said "You know Him, don't
vou?"
'eYes,' she said, "thank God | do"
"And He loves boys?"
tHe loves everybody"
Rough boys like mel"
Everybody"
And so, day by day, she talked Of
Him, and at last there came a time (
when she said again: do you be- Z
ieve in HIM"
And he said 81 believe"
And two faces bathed in tears
we're lifted up to the picture.
The boy went from the hospital
carrying next his heart a small :
Bible, and in his heart The Christ.
As the years rolled on the nurse
hought often Of the boy, but she
vas shut out from the world and her /
hours were all long hours, so she +
heard nothing Of him, but when,
rrayhaired and bent with age, she
inally fell in the harness, they
,rught her. at her request. and plac-
ID her on the bed opposite the pic
ure of The Christ and the child.
She was fading away as cloud at
unset is kissed by the dying sun in.
O the glory of heaven. Her eyes
,ften rested upon the picture and
Ter pale hands were lifted toward it.
SO many came to see her: old men
md women she had nursed back to
ife, children who loved her because
Ter love had stood between them and
Ieath. the white-capped nurses
around her. for her life had
blessed them.
The gray light of a newborn day
tole through the window; all was
till in that quiet ward around the
led, dewy-eyed, stood the nurses,
or she was dying. A young clergy
nan from the next ward had been
allied In. He looked upon the face
N the pillow. then his eyes sought
he picture. then as he fell upon his
.nees he said, "Thank God. /"
The eyes of the dying sought his.
Who are you?" she said
Oh hn1v bov. fare vac clarified