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diff --git a/17152.txt b/17152.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aee779d --- /dev/null +++ b/17152.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3788 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Rosa's Quest, by Anna Potter Wright + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Rosa's Quest + The Way to the Beautiful Land + + +Author: Anna Potter Wright + + + +Release Date: November 25, 2005 [eBook #17152] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROSA'S QUEST*** + + +E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Josephine Paolucci, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(https://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 17152-h.htm or 17152-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/1/5/17152/17152-h/17152-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/1/5/17152/17152-h.zip) + + + + + +ROSA'S QUEST + +Or + +The Way to the Beautiful Land + +by + +ANNA POTTER WRIGHT + + + + + + + +The Moody Press +153 Institute Place +Chicago +Copyright, 1904, by +The Moody Bible Institute +of Chicago +Printed in United States of America. + + + + + _To my mother,_ + _who abides in the "beautiful land,"_ + _I dedicate this, my first book._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER. PAGE + + I. "How Much is the Fare?" 9 + + II. Esther's Perplexity 19 + + III. Rosa's Mother Moves 26 + + IV. Life with Mrs. Gray 37 + + V. The Way Sought 51 + + VI. The Way Found 68 + + VII. Victory! 91 + + VIII. Dust to Dust 105 + + IX. "A Little Child Shall Lead Them" 112 + + Afterword 121 + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +I. + +"HOW MUCH IS THE FARE?" + + +"Rosa! Rosa!" + +"Yes'm, Mis' Gray, I'm coming." + +"Well, fer land sakes then, hurry up, you lazy girl! I've been +a-hollerin' till my throat's sore. You're always underfoot when you +ain't wanted, then when you are wanted, you're no place to be found. If +you wuz my girl, you'd be learnt to know more'n you know now, I can tell +you that. I believe in young uns amountin' to somethin', but it's mighty +little you know." + +"But, Mis' Gray," faltered poor little Rosa, "mother was coughing awful, +and I didn't hear you." + +"Yes, your ma ag'in. I don't know what you'll have fer an excuse when +she's gone, or what'll become of you either. I know one thing, though; I +won't have you. But it'd be a heap sight better fer you if I would, and +a real blessin', too." + +"Why, where's mother going, Mis' Gray?" asked Rosa with wide-open and +frightened eyes. + +"There, there, Sary, don't talk to the child so! Never mind, Rosa dear, +Sary don't mean it. Sary's a good woman, yes, a very good woman." + +"I do too mean it, father, and I jest want you to keep still. You always +take her part. Yes, I am a good woman, or I'd never kep' you after poor +Tom got killed. I have to sew my finger ends off to git us enough to eat +and to pay the rent. I always did have bad luck from the day I married +Tom Gray. He would insist on keepin' you, and you wuz sick that summer +he couldn't git no work. He'd walk all day a-tryin' to find somethin' to +do, then set up all night with you, though I told him it wuzn't +necessary. I washed and I sewed and I done everything, but our little +home had to go. I thought then, and I think now, that we could a-kep' +it, if it hadn't been fer you. If Tom could git hold of a cent at all, +it would go fer medicine, or somethin' fer you to eat. After you got +well, he found a place to work, and wuz a-tryin' to git back the home, +when he went and got killed, a-tryin' to keep a poor, good-fer-nothin' +beggar from bein' run over by the streetcar. All he left me wuz you to +look after, and you ain't never had a bit of sense, since the day he +wuz brought home to me all torn and bleedin'. There ain't many that's +had as much to put up with as I have. I guess most daughters-in-law +would jest have told you to leave, but no, I've been a-keepin' you fer +the last five years, and no tellin' how much longer you'll live! And you +didn't mind me this mornin', and I sprained my ankle a-goin'--" + +"Grandpa," broke in Rosa, heedless of Mrs. Gray's irascible tongue, +"what does she mean about mother going away?" + +"Why, I don't know, child; I ain't heard no talk about her leavin', but +then I git things so mixed up since Tom died." + +"Rosa Browning, I didn't call you in here to ask foolish questions. I +want you to deliver this package, and quick, too. If you hadn't talked +so much, you could be well on your way by this time. It goes to that +lady over on Lake Avenue, where I sent you once before." + +"Oh, where I heard the beautiful music?" + +"Yes, but don't you loiter on your way to listen to no music! Fine music +ain't for the likes of us here on Burton street. It's a shame fer me to +have to pay your carfare, but I 'spose you can't carry that big package +so far. If you'd spend a little more time a-workin', and a little less +a-lookin' after your ma, you'd have more strength, I won't have it said +that I git work done fer nothin', so I'll give you ten cents besides. +You git a piece of beefsteak with it, and I'll broil it fer your ma's +supper. You couldn't fix it fit to eat, nohow. I hope to goodness she +won't cough all night and keep me awake." + +"Oh, thank you, Mis' Gray, you are so kind," delightedly exclaimed Rosa, +her wan little face lighting up with genuine pleasure at the thought +that mother was going to have something good for supper. + +"Now do be gone, and don't talk no more. You're enough to set me crazy, +you and father." + +"I'm off now, Mis' Gray. Goodby, grandpa dear," she affectionately said, +kissing the old man's withered cheek, for these two children of the +tenement, the one eight and the other eighty, were the best of friends. + +"Rosa," called once again Mrs. Gray's shrill voice, as the child was +making her way across the dark hall, "come back here!" + +"Yes'm, Mis' Gray, here I am." + +"You're so awful careless, you see to it that you don't lose that money +I give you. If you do, you'll be sorry. You won't git the pay fer the +work; I wouldn't trust you with that, nohow. Now hurry up and don't +waste another minute! Wait! can't you give me a chance to tell you what +I want? You're so provokin'. Be sure to tell your ma where you're goin', +and that it'll take you about an hour and a half. I don't want her +a-gettin' scared and a-hollerin' 'round and a-sendin' some one after +you, like she did that day you didn't git home till dark. She acted +ridiculous, as if she thought you never would come back. I couldn't fer +the life of me see what made her do so; it was real silly, and I told +her so at the time. I did think, though, that you'd ought to be licked +fer not hurryin' up more, but she jest kissed you and cried all the more +when I said so. Go and tell her now, and be sure you don't drop that +package in the dirt." + +This time Rosa started on a run, lest she might be called back once +more. She feared the tyrant, but vainly endeavored to love her for +grandpa's sake. He so often told her that "Sary was a good woman, yes, a +very good woman." + +"Mother dear," she said, upon entering their one poverty-stricken, but +scrupulously neat, little room, "I'm going to deliver a package over on +Lake Avenue for Mis' Gray, and will not be back for about an hour and a +half, she told me to tell you; and she gave me ten cents, too. Ain't +that nice? I'm going to get some beefsteak, and she'll broil it. + +"But, mother, she said something about your going away, and didn't know +what would become of me. You won't move, will you, without taking me +along? I don't know what she could have meant. What did she mean, +anyhow? Why do you cry, mother dear?" tremulously inquired the child, +rushing impulsively up to the side of the bed. + +"We'll talk when you come back, darling. Kiss me, my precious"; and the +sufferer fell back upon her pillow, coughing violently, and moaning for +very agony of spirit. + +With a heart heavier than the huge package, Rosa sped down the steep +stairway, out into the bitter December weather. + +"Oh," she said, half audibly, "how cold it is! I'm glad I haven't far to +go to take the car." + +Quickly her nimble feet carried her, and in a few minutes she was +scrutinizing the faces of her fellow-passengers. Sitting across the +aisle from her was a young lady, who to Rosa seemed the embodiment of +beauty and elegance. While intently studying the fair face and neat +costume, this object of her admiration suddenly crossed the car and sat +down by her side. The sweet smile and cordial greeting made the child +forget her timidity, and soon the two were conversing most familiarly. + +"And so you are going to deliver that package over on Lake Avenue, are +you?" + +"Yes'm, and Mis' Gray gave me ten cents fer it, too. I'm going to get +some steak, and she will broil it for mother's supper. Ain't that nice? +I'd think I'd be happy, but I ain't a bit. I keep wondering what she +meant about mother going away, and she didn't know what would become of +me. Why, lady, mother just can't move now; she's sick and has a dreadful +cough! She hasn't even been in to see grandpa and Mis' Gray for a long +time. Then I know, anyhow, she'd never go and leave me. Of course she +wouldn't, for we're always together. She couldn't get along without me, +'cause I take care of her, and I know I couldn't get along without her +at all. Mis' Gray ought to know that, for we've lived by her a long +time. What do you 'spose she meant? I can't think about anything else." + +"Why, my little girl," replied the stranger, while Rosa was more +mystified than ever to see the blue eyes fill with tears, "sometimes +when people are sick, they go to a better country than this. Do you know +about heaven?" + +"Not much, ma'am. When Mis' Gray goes away and mother's working, grandpa +gets his old violin and sings to me about the beautiful land. He says +that's heaven, but he can't explain it much to me. He says he can't +think right since Tom got killed. You know Tom was his boy. Grandpa is +so good. When mother moves, I know she will take me, and I wish he could +go too. But, lady, do you 'spose that's the place where mother's going?" + +"I hope so, dear, for she would not cough any more there." + +"Oh, wouldn't she? I'll tell her about it, then. But how much is the +fare? We're poor, you know." + +"You do not have to pay any fare to go to that beautiful land, because +Jesus paid it all long ago." + +"Oh, how kind! He must be so good. Last night I wakened, and mother +kissed me and said that Jesus surely would take care of me. Are you real +sure He paid the fare for everybody?" + +"Yes, I know it, for God so loved the world that He gave His only +begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but +have everlasting life." + +"Ain't that pretty! But where do you start from to get there?" + +"Your mother could go right from your home." + +"But she just ain't able to go any place; she can't sit up much now. +I'll tell her about it, though, then when she's better, we'll both go. +Does it take long to get there?" + +"No, not so very." + +"I wish we'd known it before it got so cold. It might make her cough +worse to go out now. Are there many people in this land?" + +"Yes, a great many." + +"Are there more going?" + +"Yes, they are going all the time." + +"Do people here in the city know about it?" + +"Yes." + +"Then why didn't somebody tell me before mother got so sick? I just +can't bear to see her suffer so, and we might be there now. I'm afraid +it will be a long time before she's well enough to start. Oh, if I'd +only known! I'd think somebody should have told me. + +"Do folks have enough to eat there? Sometimes since mother's not been +able to work much, we get so awful hungry." + +"They have everything they want, and never get hungry." + +"Everything they want, and never get hungry?" + +"Yes." + +"And is it cold there?" + +"No." + +"Do they have to pay rent?" + +"No, for Jesus has paid for everything." + +"Oh, oh! won't it be nice? How glad mother will be when I tell her, for +it has been so hard for us to get along this winter. The rent is due +next Monday, and we have nothing to pay it with, but if mother is just +well enough to go, it won't make no difference. But the very best part +of all, she won't be coughing any more! + +"Oh!" half screamed Rosa, "I forgot to get off, and have gone a whole +block past Lake Avenue. What would Mis' Gray say to me?" + +Without another word she was gone, for already the car was beginning to +move on. Scarcely realizing what she did, she ran after it for a short +distance. With a great pang, she remembered that the girl had not told +her the way to the beautiful land, where mother might go and never cough +any more. + +Half stunned by bewilderment and disappointment, and with her heart +heavier than before, she delivered her package, purchased the steak, and +in due time was again at the sufferer's bedside. + +[Illustration] + + + + +II. + +ESTHER'S PERPLEXITY. + + +The day was gradually fading into darkness. + +Esther Fairfax, with sadness upon her usually sunshiny face, was sitting +before her cheery open fire, fruitlessly endeavoring to become +interested in her newly-purchased book. + +Her room was by no means elegantly furnished, but every article it +contained, from the rugs upon the floor to the pictures upon the wall, +reflected the refinement and culture of the fair young occupant. + +Presently, closing her book and tossing it carelessly from her hand, she +settled back upon her couch for good solid meditation, while tears +gathered in her deep blue eyes, chasing each other in rapid succession +down her flushed cheeks. + +For some time she lived over the events of the afternoon, recalling +minutely the details of the unusual conversation with the untaught but +interesting child. + +"Oh," she thought, "I shall never forget those words, 'How much is the +fare? We're poor you know.' If only I knew where she lives, that I might +go and see her and minister to the comforts of the dying mother! The +hungry wistfulness of those eyes seems burned into my very soul. + +"Father, I am so glad you have come," she said, hastily rising upon +hearing the familiar footstep in the hall. "I have been waiting a long +time for your return." + +"Why, my child, you have been crying. What is it? Are you ill, or have +you received an unwelcome message?" + +"No, neither, father, but I am so troubled about a little girl I saw in +the car this afternoon, and who disappeared almost magically." + +"Come into my study and tell me all about it, Esther." + +Although Dr. Fairfax was the pastor of one of the largest churches in +the city, he always had time for his beloved and motherless daughter. + +"When I was coming from down town this afternoon," she began, "a very +small girl with a very large package in her arms stepped aboard the +car. Her face was so sweet and innocent that one would notice it even in +a crowd, but overshadowed by an expression of care far too heavy for her +baby years. Her eyes were large, dark and unusually lustrous, while her +wavy brown hair fell about her face and neck in rich profusion. Her +clothing was scant and old, but clean and very neatly mended. The whole +appearance of the child was so pathetically irresistible that I went and +sat down by her side, taking her cold little hand within my own. + +"She talked freely, telling me that her name is Rosa Browning. As I now +recall the conversation, I find that I know but little indeed of her +actual circumstances, and nothing at all of the location of her home. + +"She spoke most tenderly now and then of 'grandpa', and occasionally +mentioned 'Mis' Gray', who, I imagine, is not specially noted for her +amiability. But oh, father, when she would refer to her mother, it +seemed that her heart was almost crushed with anxiety, and that her +burden was greater than she could bear!" + +With tears still flowing, Esther then told of Rosa's bewilderment +concerning her mother's rumored moving, and of her own efforts to +explain what this moving probably meant. + +The strong man, accustomed as he was to the tales of woe and misery +among the poor and outcast, bowed his head and wept also. The pathos of +the child's simple, direct questions impressed him quite as much as it +had Esther. + +"'But how much is the fare? How much is the fare?'" he repeated over and +over. + +"Truly you answered well, daughter. We have no fare to pay, no, none, +for Jesus paid it all! But what a price--the life of the Son of the Most +High God, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be +equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the +form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found +in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, +even the death of the cross!" + +For some minutes they remained in silence, lost in the thought of the +price of redemption. + +"It is unfathomable, father," at last Esther said softly, "and to think +that His death was for even little Rosa, and the poor child knew nothing +about it! I felt ashamed and speechless when she asked me why she had +never been told before, having no reasonable answer whatever to give. I +wish I could tell you with what earnestness she said, 'Are you real sure +He paid the fare for everybody?' A fact so stupendous seemed quite +beyond her power of comprehension." + +"Yes, daughter, His death included the fare for her as well as for you +and for me. In every soul He sees a pearl of greatest price." + +"But Rosa left before I could explain anything to her about the way of +salvation. Perhaps she will find no one to tell her, and her mother is +almost dead. Oh, that I knew where she lives! All she needs is some one +to guide her, then perhaps she would lead her mother and grandpa, and +even Mrs. Gray into the light of His love. + +"Why is it, father, that so few Christians speak of Jesus to those whom +they meet? They talk fluently of everything else, but the mentioning of +His name seemingly paralyzes their tongues. This city is full of +churches, with many thousands who profess to be the Lord's, yet Rosa in +reality has never heard of Him. Every day of her life, as she goes upon +the street, or is in a car, she comes into contact with some one who +might lead her precious little soul to Christ. Just one moment of +conversation would help her so, and is it possible that there is none +who cares? Why is it? How can those who know Him truly be so utterly +indifferent?" + +"My child, you ask me what I cannot answer. I spend many hours of prayer +and study upon every sermon I preach, and seek to deliver it in the +power of the Holy Spirit. Then after having cast myself utterly upon +Him, it is simply crushing to know that at times the message falls upon +deaf ears. The tide of worldliness sweeping over the churches is at the +root of the whole matter. Many to whom I preach are saved, but oh, so +few _surrendered_! They want just enough of Christ to help them in times +of trouble, to make sure of heaven being their ultimate goal, and just +as much of this world as they can possibly carry along. It is their +ambition to be His for eternity, but not for time. Oh, that they might +know the unspeakable joy of a consecrated life, and of leading souls to +Him! After once experiencing it, the charms of this world sink into +utter insignificance, while the realities of the next become more and +more certain. + +"The weight of my responsibility well nigh crushes me at times, for the +Lord knows that I want to lead His people aright. How I yearn for +absolute surrender upon the part of myself and of my church! When I +remember Christ's words, 'Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth +speaketh,' it makes me fear that many, indeed, of this generation shall +say in vain at that day, Lord, Lord! It is a fearful thing for those who +profess to know Him, to go up into His presence, leaving behind some +still groping in darkness because of their unfaithfulness. If it is +possible now for the Saviour ever to be unhappy, surely lukewarm +Christians must pain Him the most." + +"Father, I want to find Rosa. If I had been more eager for her soul and +for the glory of the Lord, I should have left the car and followed her. +How can I begin the search? It seems so utterly impossible, yet I must." + +"My darling, it would be folly for you to try to find this child, but +let us ask God to send her to us. He can direct in some way. He sees her +this very moment, and sees us as well." + +A new and radiant light flooded Esther's face with joy, as they arose +from their knees. + +"I am sure He will hear us, father, dear," she said, "for it was by no +mere chance I saw her today. The Lord's directing hand was in it. He +will, I know, forgive my unfaithfulness and open another opportunity. + +"Let us sing 'The Home of the Soul', father. How mother loved that song, +when she knew that soon she would behold the beauties of the place!" + +The two voices, the one a sweet soprano, the other a fine tenor, blended +in the old-time hymn: + + "I will sing you a song of that beautiful land, + The far away home of the soul, + Where no storms ever beat on that glittering strand, + While the years of eternity roll." + +At the conclusion of the song, Esther kissed her father and quietly left +the room. + +[Illustration] + + + + +III. + +ROSA'S MOTHER MOVES. + + +"Miss Browning, here's your steak I broiled fer you and some toast and +tea. I fixed some fer Rosa, too you're so mighty queer, I knew you +wouldn't eat unless she had some. I can't afford to buy her any more, +and there ain't many that'd done it this time. I have to work awful hard +fer all I git." + +"Thank you, Mrs. Gray, you are very kind, but," she added softly, lest +Rosa who had run in to speak to grandpa might hear, "if only I knew what +would become of her! Oh, my poor child! how can I bear to leave her, and +what will her future be?" + +The moans of the poor, tortured mother, whose life was fast ebbing away, +were most piteous. + +"Now, Mis' Browning, don't take on so; chirk up a bit! She's plenty old +enough to work and make her own livin'. Of course you couldn't expect me +to say I'd keep her. Land sakes! Grandpa's all I can manage now, and +he's gittin' worse and more tryin' every day. Why, jest this mornin' +when I wuz that busy I didn't know what to do a-finishin' up that +sewin', what should he do but stumble ag'in the coal pail and upset the +whole thing right on the floor, and jest after I'd scrubbed, too! Then I +thought I'd git rid of him a few minutes by sendin' him to the grocery. +Of course I never trust him with a cent of money. They know him at the +corner grocery, so it's all right; but it all comes of my credit a-bein' +so good, that's the reason. Well, I told him it wuz not necessary fer +him to be gone but fifteen minutes, but when he wuz gone twenty, I had +to put my work down and go after him. I'd better have gone in the first +place. That's always the way when I trust him fer anything, it jest +makes it that much harder fer me in the end. I had to go clean down the +stairs, and in some way twisted my ankle, so I ain't got over it yet; +then I saw him a-comin', but that slow, it made me real provoked. If +he'd jest a-hurried up a little, it would have saved me all that +trouble. He said he wuz tired, but I think I wuz the one to be tired, +a-hurryin' down them steps so, and a-gittin' hurt, too. + +"Land sakes, Mis' Browning, I'd think you could see I have my hands +more'n full now, though I don't wonder you would like to have Rosa +brought up by me. I could train her mighty well, so as she'd know how to +do somethin'. She's old enough to work, and I'll keep an eye on her and +correct her whenever she needs it, and that'll be often. I'd think you'd +ought to be satisfied with that. There ain't many that'd take sech an +interest in a homeless little waif, I can tell you. + +"You eat your supper now, and I'll tell Rosa to come home. That's one +thing she'll have to quit, a-wastin' so much time. What she sees in +grandpa is more'n I can tell, fer he ain't got a bit of sense. Often in +the night he wakes me up a-hollerin' and a-carryin' on a-thinkin' he's a +boy ag'in. There's not many as patient as I am, or they wouldn't put up +with it." + +Every word was a knife thrust through the sensitive, bleeding heart of +the distracted mother. + +"Oh," she thought, "that some one in this great, crowded city might love +my darling, and that she need not fall into the hands of this woman! + +"Mrs. Gray," she asked excitedly, and with an effort controlling the +great dry sobs which were choking her, "won't you promise me one thing? +Won't you keep Rosa at least till spring? What can my baby do without a +home and without a mother, especially when the weather is so bitterly +cold? The mere thought of such a possibility drives me insane with fear +and grief. She can run errands for you, and grandpa loves her so. Do not +deny me, for I am almost dead!" + +Mrs. Gray half staggered backward, for never before had she heard Mrs. +Browning speak with such intensity. The dark eyes riveted upon her +conquered even this unfeeling heart, and before realizing the import of +her words, granted the request. "But," she added in the same breath, +"there ain't many that'd do it, I can tell you that." + +"And be gentle with her, Mrs. Gray. She is so affectionate, she will +miss her mother and the love I have always bestowed upon her." + +Thinking that other promises still more difficult to fulfill might be +exacted, Mrs. Gray hastily left the room. + +"Thank God," the mother murmured falling back upon her pillow, "my baby +will have food and shelter at least till spring, but how she will miss +the love!" + +The hot tears began coursing down the flushed cheeks, causing Rosa to +give a cry of alarm as she stepped up to the bedside. + +"Mother dear, do you feel worse? Why do you cry?" + +"My darling, mother is tired now and cannot talk. Pull the little table +up by the bed, then if I can eat some supper, we shall talk afterward. +There is something I want to tell you." + +Mechanically she obeyed, weighted beneath the feeling that something +dreadful was about to happen. The trembling of the tiny hands and +twitching of the delicate face betrayed a heart suffering which a child +of her tender years should never know. + +The odor of the steak, while being broiled, had given Rosa an appetite, +for her dinner had consisted only of boiled potatoes. Now, however, that +mother apparently did not relish her supper, it seemed that every +mouthful would choke her. + +With a feeling of relief, the supper things at last were cleared away, +and Rosa sat down by the sufferer, taking her hot thin hand within her +own. + +"You need not talk, mother, if you do not feel like it, but I do so want +to know about the moving, and you won't go without me, will you? But oh, +I have such good news, I must tell you the very first thing! Mebbe it +will change your plans and make it easier to know what to do. + +"I saw a lovely lady today, and she told me about a beautiful land some +place, where folks never cough no more, and they don't have to pay rent, +and they have all they want to eat. And she said, too, that it don't +cost nothing to go, nor after you get there, 'cause Jesus paid all the +fare a long time ago. I wish I knew where to find Jesus, so He could +explain all about it. I had to leave the car before the lady could tell +me the way. I think He must be so good to pay the fare for everybody. +There's no mistake, 'cause she said something about God so loving the +world. I don't know what she meant, but it was so pretty. I know I'd +love Jesus so, if I could only find Him, and He'd tell us how to go, I'm +sure He would. + +"Oh, mother, why do you cry so much? Don't feel so, for I'll try my very +best to find out the way, then we'll both go. It will be so nice, won't +it, for you not to have a cough no more? And mebbe we can manage to get +off before the rent is due again." + +The anxious little nurse, old beyond her years, tenderly kissed the +pallid brow, repeating soothingly the assurance that in some way she +would find out how to reach this beautiful land. + +"O God," at last the invalid faltered after several minutes of silence, +"forgive me and take me to that beautiful land, for Jesus' sake, and +care for my darling! + +"Rosa dear, my breath is growing very short, but I must tell you +something. You are too young to know what it all means now, but try to +remember, and sometime you will understand. + +"Just ten years ago today I was married to your father, Harold Browning; +and you are so like him, precious. + +"I was left an orphan at the age of fourteen, and from that time till +the day of marriage, made my living by clerking in a down-town store. +Your father, too, was alone in the world, and how we loved each other! + +"We rented a small furnished flat, which to me was a paradise. Your +father was a bookkeeper on a comfortable salary, and for a time all went +well. At the end of the second year you were born, and then our joy knew +no bounds. Every evening while holding you in his arms, we would plan +for the future, you being the center of everything. There was not a +shadow over our lives, till one morning he was not able to go to work. +In a few hours he became so very ill that in great alarm I summoned the +doctor. Then followed weeks of suspense, the days being divided between +hope and fear, till at last all thought of his recovery was given up. My +anguish was too deep for tears. I went around as one stunned, not +knowing at times what I was about. Your dear father tried to comfort me, +pointing me to Jesus whom he loved intensely, but who I said was cruel +to allow our little home nest thus ruthlessly to be broken up. + +"What happened the last days of his life to me is a blank, for I myself +was very ill. When I recovered and paid all the bills, there was not one +cent left for us. I could hold the flat no longer, so moved here on +Burton street, making our living, as you know, darling, by the day's +work. It has been very hard, for often I have felt unable to be out of +bed; but then I could not let my Rosa suffer." + +The intervals when the poor heartbroken woman had to stop to regain her +breath, were growing more frequent. + +"But, dearest," she continued, and in her earnestness she raised herself +partly up, "the worst of all has been that I have tried to carry the +burden alone. Your father told me that I must be brave for your sake, +and that Jesus would help me; but I would not let Him. + +"Last night and today I have been praying much, and now, thank God, it +is all right!" + +Rosa wondered at the expression of joy flooding her mother's face, +immediately followed by one of deepest grief. + +"Bend closer, darling, my voice is becoming so weak that you cannot +hear! I am so sorry that I did not do as your father said, and have +never taught you of Jesus, and now it is--too late!--I'm glad--the +lady--told you.--Yes,--He paid--the fare!--I'm--going--to move--now--to +that--beautiful land!" + +"Oh, mother," sobbed Rosa, beginning to realize a little of the import +of her words, "please, oh, please don't leave me! What could I ever do +without you? Nobody loves me but you and grandpa, and I just can't stand +it, if you go away." + +With her last atom of strength, the dying mother kissed her child, +whispering just so that Rosa could hear: + +"Find someone--to tell you--the way,--and come--to +that--beautiful--land--where you will--find Jesus--and mother!" + +So calmly did she fall back upon her pillow that Rosa, though +awe-struck, thought she was sleeping. Still clasping the thin hand, she +noticed the chill. Cautiously, lest she might disturb the sleeper, she +slipped off her little flannel skirt, the last article made by her +mother, and wrapped the cold hands within its folds. The scant coverings +she also tucked up more closely and put their last bit of coal upon the +fire. + +Till midnight she sat by the bed, wondering why mother was so very +still, and why she was growing so cold. At last, being able to endure +the suspense no longer, stepping across the hall, she called for Mrs. +Gray. + +"Land sakes, child, why ain't you in bed this time of night?" + +"Please, Mis' Gray, I'd like to borrow a comfort, 'cause mother's so +awful cold, and I can't get her warm." + +"Well, when a body's as accommodatin' as I am, I 'spose they must expect +to be bothered any time of day or night, too. I'll git up and see what +your ma wants. Glad of one thing, she ain't kept me awake by her +coughin' tonight, anyway; but it comes from me fixin' her a decent +supper, I reckon." + +Mrs. Gray stepped to the door of Mrs. Browning's room, but something +impelled her to stop. A fear seized her, while involuntarily she +clutched Rosa's trembling hand. + +There was no light in the room, save that which shone from across the +hall, the faint rays falling directly over the motionless form upon the +bed. + +"Mis' Browning," she cautiously asked, "do you want anything?" + +"Mother doesn't hear, Mis' Gray," said Rosa sobbing violently and +throwing herself within the cold arms, kissing over and over the lips +hitherto so responsive to her own. + +"Mother dear, don't you hear me? Oh, wake up, please do! I want you so. +I don't know the way, and will get lost to go alone." + +"Rosa," said Mrs. Gray almost gently, "git up and go and stay with +grandpa till I tell you to come in here, and don't you come before. I'll +have to go down them steps ag'in fer an undertaker." + +"What is an undertaker, Mis' Gray, and what do they do? Will they take +mother to the beautiful land?" + +"Didn't you hear me tell you to go in and stay with grandpa? So go right +this minute, and ask no more questions. You do beat all fer askin' +questions, anyhow. You might as well learn now as any time to mind, +since I have to keep you till spring. I ain't the woman to go back on my +word, but there ain't many but what would, a-promisin' under the +circumstances." + +The little heart was nearly crushed with a feeling of perplexity and of +indescribable dread, but, after all, there was some comfort in being +alone with grandpa. + +Stealing softly into his room, she found him sitting by the stove; and +climbing up into his lap, pillowing her tired head upon his shoulder, +the two lonely children, soothing each other, were soon fast asleep. + +[Illustration] + + + + +IV. + +LIFE WITH MRS. GRAY. + + +The events of the next few days were like a troubled dream to Rosa, as +she in vain endeavored to comprehend the meaning of all the mysterious +things going on about her. Only once was she allowed to look upon the +silent sleeper. That was just before the arrival of the great black +carriage, which, she was sure, would take her mother to the beautiful +land. + +"Rosa ain't goin' to the burial, I can tell you that," announced Mrs. +Gray to a neighbor, "or she'd be a-hollerin' in her sleep all winter. +I've been broke of my rest so much that I ain't goin' to be bothered +with her any more'n I can help from now on. I didn't promise to keep her +only till spring, but I can make her run errands and sich, so it won't +cost me a great sight. I can't afford it no other way, and Mis' +Browning was unreasonable, anyhow, to ask it of me." + +Rosa and grandpa stood hand in hand, watching the small procession until +it disappeared around the corner. + +"Grandpa," queried Rosa in a tearful voice, "do you know where that +beautiful land is where folks never cough no more, and where they don't +have to pay rent? That's where mother's going, and she told me to find +out the way, so I could go too." + +"'Pears like I'd ought to know, child, fer that's where Tom went. I +can't think much somehow, but, Rosa," he added tenderly, drawing her up +closer to his side, "I don't want you to go and leave me, fer I'm so +lonesome. Sary's a good woman, yes, a very good woman, but it seems like +I need you, too, dearie." + +"Grandpa, if we'd start out together, don't you think we could find it? +Folks have all they want to eat there, and I'm hungry now." + +"Why, yes, yes, mebbe we could! Some way I'm gittin' homesick. I don't +like it here in the city, and it seems like I used to know more about +that land than I do now. Since poor Tom got killed, I can't remember no +how. + +"Sometimes in the night I git that happy, but if I make a little noise, +Sary wakes me up, 'cause it bothers her, then that spoils it all. I +think I'm back in the country ag'in, and the church bell is a-ringin' of +a Sunday mornin'. Tom's mother and me start out from the little cottage, +and I'm a-carryin' Tom. We walk down the cool grassy lane with the brook +a-runnin' on one side, and the trees is a-wavin' in the soft breeze, and +the birds is a-singin', and Tom's mother stops to pick some wild roses. +And the little white meetin' house with the steeple a-p'intin' straight +up. My Rosa, I wish you could see it, and with vines a-growin' all over +it! I can 'most git it, then it slips away ag'in. If I could jest be +inside of that meetin' house once more, it would all come straight, I +know, fer there they used to talk and sing about that land and Jesus." + +"Yes, grandpa, you know it was Jesus that paid the fare. Wasn't He kind +to do that? 'cause if He hadn't poor folks couldn't go." + +"Yes, mighty kind, mighty kind! + +"Rosa," after a pause, "come real close," and the faded eyes sparkled +with a new thought; "I want to whisper somethin' so nobody'll hear. The +very first day Sary's away, let's start out, and mebbe we can find some +one to tell us how to go. Will you, child?" + +"Oh, yes, grandpa, good! then we'll find mother." + +In her delight she clapped her hands for very joy. + +"Sh! sh! child, Sary might hear, and that would spoil it all, though of +course Sary's a good woman, yes, a very good woman. You won't tell, will +you?" + +"No, no, grandpa, this'll be our secret. I'm just sure there must be +lots of folks that can tell us, for the fare is paid for everybody, and +they're going all the time. But I do wish we could find that pretty lady +again I saw on the car." + +"Yes, dearie, I wish so too, but I think we'll find it anyhow. I'm +a-gittin' so very homesick, we jest must." + +"Sing about that land, won't you, grandpa?" + +"All right, you git the fiddle. That's the only song I can remember. +They used to sing it in the little white meetin' house with the steeple +a-p'intin' straight up. Wish I could remember more, but I can't." + +In a quavery voice he sang many times over the grand old hymn: + + "I will sing you a song of that beautiful land, + The far away home of the soul, + Where no storms ever beat on that glittering strand, + While the years of eternity roll. + + Oh, that home of the soul in my visions and dreams, + Its bright, jasper walls I can see, + Till I fancy but thinly the vail intervenes + Between that fair city and me! + + That unchangeable home is for you and for me, + Where Jesus of Nazareth stands; + The King of all kingdoms forever is He, + And He holdeth our crowns in His hands. + + Oh, how sweet it will be in that beautiful land, + So free from all sorrow and pain, + With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands, + To meet one another again!" + +"That must be the place, grandpa, for it says Jesus is there, and that +we'll meet one another again." + +"Yes, yes, child, it's the place, I'm mighty sure of that, and I'm so +glad we're a-goin' to find it. I'll like it so much better than the +city. I wonder I ain't gone before." + +The two sang and talked till the twilight began to fall, then they heard +Mrs. Gray shuffling up the stairs. + +"Now don't fergit and tell, Rosa," hurriedly whispered grandpa. + +"Oh, no indeed, and we'll go the very first chance we have. Won't mother +be glad to see us?" + +"Land sakes, Rosa, you look and act a heap like you'd jest lost your ma. +I heard that fiddle and you a-singin' with grandpa long before I got up +the steps. But it is real lucky fer you, though, that I'll have you to +manage till spring. You'll learn how to do somethin' a-stayin' here with +me, or I'll miss my guess. + +"Why ain't you got a brisker fire started up fer supper? Do it right +this minute. It'll be somethin' new fer you to have a cooked meal every +day, and sometimes two or three of them. But you'll have to earn them +first, or eat by yourself, and jest what you can git. + +"I ain't a-goin' to keep you fer nothin'. Hurry up now, fer I'm cold, +and my ankle's 'most a-killin' me. Father'd ought to be shook yet, fer +causin' me so much trouble. No tellin' how much longer it'll pain me, +and I shouldn't wonder if it'd lay me up." + +Thus rudely was Rosa's reverie broken in upon, bringing her face to face +with her present dingy surroundings in general, and with Mrs. Gray in +particular. Her first impulse was to run home, then in agony she +remembered that her mother was not there. + +Patiently she worked away till the fire was started. Mrs. Gray's bulky +form in the meantime was swinging energetically back and forth in the +one rocking chair of her two-room apartment, while her voluble tongue +wagged mercilessly on. + +"You can cook them potatoes and fry some mush and make me a cup of tea. +You and father can drink water; tea ain't good fer children nohow, ha, +ha! + +"Ugh, this fire feels good! I'm glad I ain't where your ma is tonight." + +"Why, Mis' Gray," half sobbed Rosa, "didn't mother go to the beautiful +land?" + +"You be still and git supper, and don't ask me no questions!" + +"There, there, dearie, don't cry! Of course your ma went there." It was +grandpa who spoke. + +"A heap you know about it, father, and I jest want you to keep still, +too! + +"Look out there! Don't you spatter no grease a-fryin' that mush, or +you'll wish you hadn't. I believe in the good old-fashioned rod, and +there's one stuck up over that door, handy like. See it?" + +To her great dismay, looking in the direction indicated, Rosa beheld a +cruel whip, the first one ever intended for her. Her little frame shook +so violently from fear that grandpa could endure it no longer. + +"Tut, tut, Sary; Rosa ain't the child to need no whippin', and don't +skeer the poor lamb so. + +"Never mind, dearie," reaching out for her a withered hand, "Sary don't +mean it; Sary's a good woman, yes, a very good woman." + +"Father, I want you to remember right now that you ain't to put no say +in when I correct her. There ain't but one boss here, and that's me, so +there! Do you understand? I 'spose not, though, fer you ain't got no +sense. You're tryin' enough, goodness knows, that there ain't many but +what'd use the rod on you." + +So blinded by tears that she could not see what she was doing, by +accident Rosa dropped a piece of the fried mush upon the floor. + +"There!" shrieked Mrs. Gray, "what did I tell you? I'm a-goin' to lick +you this very minute, now you jest see. I guess you'll learn to mind +after I've done it a few times." + +"Grandpa!" and with a bound Rosa jumped into the old man's outstretched +arms, while tears chased each other in quick succession down his faded +cheeks. + +Making an effort to arise hastily from her chair, Mrs. Gray with a sharp +cry of pain, suddenly sank backward again. + +"Oh, my ankle's plum give out--I can't take one step! But you never +mind, I'll lick you some other time, and you needn't fergit it neither. +Git right down and clean up that mush, and fix some hot water fer me to +put my foot in." + +Seeing the helpless condition of the tyrant, Rosa waited long enough +before obeying to kiss grandpa, and for him to whisper encouragingly: + +"Never mind, dearie; we'll go the very first chance we have, and if we +can't do no better, we'll run off." + +[Illustration: "There!" shrieked Mrs. Gray, "what did I tell you?" (Page +44.)] + +With some degree of composure, Rosa performed her tasks, for evidently, +judging from the groans of the patient, the promised "lickin'" would be +indefinitely postponed. + +While eating supper, Mrs. Gray divided her attentions about equally +between the two helpless victims of her wrath. The sprained ankle was +entirely due to the fact that grandpa was gone twenty minutes instead of +fifteen, and that she, obliging woman that she was, took it upon herself +to make all the arrangements for Mrs. Browning, instead of looking after +her own welfare. Not many could be found who would do half as much for +others as she. + +The grease from that mush would stay in the floor all winter, seriously +injuring her reputation of being the best housekeeper in the thickly +populated building. She never could endure dirt and disorder, though +poverty-striken from the day she married Tom Gray. + +On the whole, Rosa was so thoroughly miserable that very little supper +could she eat. The thought that she and grandpa would soon find the +beautiful land and mother, was all that gave her even the slightest ray +of hope. "But," she added mentally, "I am sure mother would tell me to +stay and take care of Mis' Gray till she can walk again. She always did +do more talking than anything else, mother said so, mebbe she won't whip +me." + +The evening was long and gloomy, but Rosa was kept busily employed, +carrying out the peremptory commands of the cripple. She bathed and +tenderly rubbed the offending ankle till her arm ached cruelly. + +At last, with a sigh of relief, wrapping herself up in a blanket and +lying down upon the floor, she dreamed till morning of mother, the +beautiful land, and of Jesus who paid the fare. + +For three weeks Mrs. Gray was unable to take a step except by using a +crutch, the pain at times being so severe that sewing was out of the +question. + +Her slender savings not being sufficient to meet the emergency of the +case, Rosa in her spare moments was obliged to run errands, tend babies +while the mothers were out working, or to do anything else chancing to +come her way. + +Her allowance of food often was meager, though never once did she +complain. Every day she was growing more thin and pale, her eyes more +large and lustrous, while her heart was almost breaking. + +Night after night the swollen ankle had to be gently rubbed, or Mrs. +Gray could not sleep. No word of praise ever escaped the cruel lips, but +fretting, scolding, and threats of the much talked of "lickin'" for that +grease spot upon the floor were the only reward the weary little worker +ever received. + +There was one, however, though his mind was badly shattered, who saw +and understood, causing the feeble old man to suffer quite as intensely +as did the child. + +They could snatch opportunities only now and then for a word, fearing +that the ever-vigilant Mrs. Gray might discover their cherished secret. + +"Be brave, dearie," grandpa would sometimes whisper, "the very first +chance, you know!" Then Rosa's pensive face would light up with a smile +angelic, reflecting some of the very beauty itself of the land of which +they were so earnestly thinking. + +One Thursday afternoon, just as Mrs. Gray was beginning to walk again, +the postman stopped with a letter, a rare occurrence. + +"Land sakes, who can it be from?" she exclaimed, scrutinizing the +envelope quite long enough to have read the letter through. + +"I'd like to awful well," at last she soliloquized, "but don't 'spose +it'd be safe to leave grandpa and Rosa here alone. No tellin' what +they'd be up to. There ain't many that'd be as self-sacrificin' as I am, +and keep an old man that ain't got a drop of your own blood, then take +in as good as a street waif, too. If it wuzn't fer them, I'd do it, I +jest would!" + +Rosa's curiosity was aroused, but experience had taught her the futility +of asking questions. + +"Rosa," commanded the speaker, "bring me that tin can up there on the +shelf. + +"I guess I could manage the streetcar fare," she announced a few +minutes later, counting over several times Rosa's earnings in pennies, +nickels and dimes. + +"My old neighbor over on the south side wants me to come tomorrow and +stay till Monday. Bein' that I've had it so awful hard, I jest guess +I'll do it, and you can git along the best way you can. Let me see: I'll +go tomorrow afternoon, and be gone all day Saturday and Sunday and till +late Monday afternoon. I'll leave you fifteen cents apiece to live on, +and I guess you won't starve." + +Instinctively grandpa and Rosa cast a glance at each other. At last +their opportunity had come, and a better one by far than for which they +had dared to hope! + +The time intervening between the reception of the letter and her +departure, Mrs. Gray spent mostly in giving directions to her two +charges, as she delighted to call them. + +After having gone down the first flight of stairs, she called back: + +"Rosa, I'll lick you sure if you git another speck of grease on that +there floor, while I'm gone." + +But Rosa heeded not. Tomorrow she and grandpa would start for the +beautiful land and mother, for Jesus had paid all the fare. + +[Illustration] + + + + +V. + +THE WAY SOUGHT. + + +Early the next morning Rosa and grandpa were up, eagerly preparing for +the events of the day, their every motion evidencing a subdued +excitement, while joy beamed from their eyes. + +"I'm going to make you some tea, grandpa, 'cause it's cold, and I think +you'll feel better to drink it. Mis' Gray told me I shouldn't touch it, +but since we're going away, I guess it won't make no difference. We may +have to travel a good ways, you know. Mother used to drink tea, when we +could afford it, before starting out to work all day. My, ain't I glad +we're going to find mother! And she won't be coughing no more. I want to +see her so bad. Of course Mis' Gray has been good to give me a home, but +I'd rather be with mother. She's different some way, and I love her so. +It seems so long since she went away." + +"Thank you, dearie, fer this tea; it's real bracin' like, and I can't +remember when I've had none before Tom used to git it fer me, and +anything else I wanted. + +"Yes, I'm mighty glad we're a-goin', mighty glad, fer I'm a-gittin' +homesicker all the time. I think we'll find Tom, too, and Tom's mother. +There's a lot I want to tell 'em. Sary's so busy, she don't have no time +to talk to me. + +"Last night I dreamed ag'in that I wuz in the little white meetin' house +with the steeple a-pintin' straight up. The green vines a-wavin' in the +breeze wuz a-growin' all over it, and the roses smelled so pretty. And +the man wuz a-readin' out of the Book, Rosa. Wish I could read, then I'd +know it fer myself." + +"What was he reading about, grandpa?" + +"Dunno as I can tell you, child, only somethin' about a river, and a +tree by it, and fruit, and the folks don't git sick no more, and--well, +I can't tell you, Rosa, but hurry up, let's start! When we git there, +we'll know all about it then." + +"Here, grandpa, put this bread in your pocket, please. P'rhaps we'll +need it." + +"I'll take it fer you, Rosa, if you say so, but I don't think we'll need +it. 'Pears like the man said somethin' about their not gittin' hungry no +more, nor thirsty." + +"But then mebbe we'll want it on the way." + +"All right, all right, Rosa, but are you 'most ready? Seems like I can't +wait." + +"Yes, I'm ready now, but I'm so 'fraid you'll be cold, grandpa, dear." + +"No, no, child, we'll soon git there." + +The two children trudged down the three long flights of steps, the +younger leading the older lest he should trip and fall. + +The morning was dreary, with a cold wind blowing and with snow flakes +scurrying through the air. Both being insufficiently clad, they were +shivering before having gone a block. + +"'Tis mighty cold, ain't it, dearie? I had no idee about it; but then we +won't mind, jest so we git there." + +"Yes, grandpa, but I hope it won't take us long, for the wind blows so +awful hard. It used to make mother cough to be out in a wind like this. + +"The big black carriage that came after her, went 'round this corner, so +we'll go this way too. I'm sure nobody on Burton street knows the way +anyhow. I'd think they would, though, when the fare's all paid; but +p'rhaps they've never been told about it. + +"When we see a pretty lady dressed fine, we'll ask her, for I guess +she'd know; but then it's for poor folks, too. + +"I wonder why nobody ever told me about Jesus before? I'll be so glad +when I see Him." + +Tenderly clasping each other by the hand, they walked for blocks, +meeting hundreds of people, though none of them appealed to Rosa's +fancy. She was looking for a beautiful girl with blue eyes and a blue +suit, who would look down upon her with a smile. A feeling of +uncertainty was beginning to depress her, but to grandpa she continued +to talk hopefully. + +At last realizing that he was becoming very tired, she determined to +wait no longer before inquiring the way. Singling out of the jostling +crowd a well-dressed woman with a fur cloak, which Rosa thought looked +so warm, she stepped up to her, and said: + +"Please, ma'am, grandpa and me want to go to the beautiful land where +folks don't cough no more. Mother's gone, and Jesus paid all the fare, +and it don't cost nothing to live there, neither. Won't you please tell +us the way?" + +"What a very singular question!" was the unfeeling reply, the haughty +face relaxing not at all as the woman passed on. + +"I think she didn't understand, grandpa," said the disappointed child, +"but I'll try again. There's a lady dressed in blue. I'm pretty sure +she'll know." + +In a tremulous voice the question was repeated. + +"Why, you queer little girl! Are you talking about heaven?" + +"I don't know, ma'am, only it's where Jesus has paid the fare, and where +there ain't no rent days to come 'round." + +"Really, I scarcely know what to say, only you and this poor old man +ought not to be out on this cold day." + +"We thought we'd soon be there, ma'am, but 'tis dreadful cold," she +replied, her slight frame shivering violently from head to foot. + +"Can't you tell us? We want to go so awful bad. I should think you +could, since it's for everybody." + +"It is too cold and crowded to stand here and talk, child. Do you go to +Sunday school?" + +"No, ma'am; what is Sunday school?" + +"You poor little heathen! Don't you know what Sunday schools are? They +have them in all the churches. Find one and go tomorrow. They will tell +you what you want better than I can. + +"Take this quarter and get something to eat, then go back home. You will +meet no one on the street to help you." + +Having thus somewhat eased her conscience, this church-member of many +years went on to complete her shopping. However, things did not go well +the rest of the day. The wan face, the sad brown eyes and the pathetic +earnestness of the little questioner were constantly before her. + +Stopping to see the church treasurer on her way home, she left a check +for fifty dollars to be used in city mission work, feeling confident +that at last her responsibility in the case was at an end. + +It was nearing the noon hour, and Rosa was hungry. + +"I think instead of eating that dry bread in your pocket, grandpa, that +we'll get some warm sandwiches. You wait: I can get them in here, 'cause +I was in one time before with mother." + +Very soon she returned, bringing with her their feast. + +"Let's go down this alley and sit on that box. I guess the p'licemen +won't care." + +"All right, dearie, but it's a mighty long ways to the beautiful land, +ain't it? I thought we'd surely be there by now, and I'm gittin' so +tired and cold. I think if Tom knew we'd started, he'd come and meet +us." + +While they were eating, Rosa was frightened to hear suddenly the abrupt +question in a gruff voice, "What are you doing here?" and before her +terrified eyes loomed a great policeman. + +She, like most children of her class, feared instinctively these city +protectors, and would have run, had it have not been for grandpa. + +"Oh," she replied, with as much dignity and composure as possible, "we +are going to the beautiful land, and are just eating our sandwiches. It +don't cost nothing to go, 'cause God so loved the world and Jesus paid +all the fare. Mother's gone, and folks don't cough no more there. You +don't have to pay rent, and can have everything you want, too." + +So astonished was the policeman at this unexpected reply that he forgot +to order them away. + +"Well, I never!" at last he ejaculated, being unable to think of +anything more appropriate for the occasion. "But let me tell you, little +girl, you and that old man want to turn in wherever you came from before +dark, or you'll be more likely to go to the police station than to this +beautiful land you're talking about." + +So saying, he started off upon his beat. + +The mere thought of spending the night at the police station so +thoroughly terrorized Rosa that her heart for the instant almost stood +still. + +Billy Bruce, the boy who lived next door to Mrs. Gray, had told her +blood-curdling tales concerning his oft-repeated experiences in being +locked up for the night, and, moreover, according to his criterion, he +was always innocent of any misdemeanor. + +"But the worst part of all," he had confided, "is a goin' before the +judge. You know the judge is the man what's made to git folks into +trouble." + +What should she do? Her childish eyes could see that grandpa was about +given out, but the mere thought of returning to Burton street filled her +with a feeling akin to terror. + +"But," she argued, "Mis' Gray won't be home till Monday, and mebbe it's +too far to the beautiful land that we can't get there today, anyhow. And +I know mother'd feel awful if we'd get put in the p'lice station. + +"Say, grandpa," she suddenly inquired, "why didn't we ask that p'liceman +the way? They're on purpose to tell folks how to go. I wish we had, but +then I'm afraid to speak to another." + +"I don't know, child, but I wish we wuz there. I'm so cold and tired, +and I want Tom." + +"I'll tell you, grandpa, let's go back and get warm and rested. You know +there is some of that bushel of coal left Mis' Gray got the other day. +Then tomorrow we can try once more. The lady said something about church +and Sunday school, but I don't know what she meant. Mebbe we can find +some yet to tell us, when it's for everybody. I'd think we could." + +"Jest as you say, dearie, jest as you say, but it 'pears like we must +find it, 'cause I'm so homesick." + +Slowly they began retracing their steps, the old man leaning heavily +with one hand upon the stick which served as a cane, and with the other +clasping Rosa's. + +Turning a corner, they suddenly came face to face with a well-dressed +gentleman who, Rosa thought, could certainly tell them. + +"Oh, say, mister," she said running up to his side, "won't you please--" + +"No, I won't, you little beggar, I have nothing for you." + +For the instant she was so surprised and indignant, that she could not +answer, but, collecting herself, shouted after him: + +"We ain't either beggars, and I don't want no money. I just want to know +the way to the beautiful land." + +But the man was lost in the crowd, and the weary, disappointed pilgrims +started on. + +So frequently did they have to turn aside into some alley or secluded +spot for grandpa to rest that Rosa became alarmed. What if night should +overtake them, bringing to pass the policeman's direful prediction? + +She was so tired and cold, and her heart so heavy from repeated +disappointments, that the tears began rolling down her pale cheeks. + +"What is it, my little girl?" unexpectedly some one gently asked. + +In unutterable surprise, she looked up into the face of another +policeman who was smiling kindly upon her. + +Many a warm heart beats beneath the policeman's star, and Rosa's evident +sorrow had aroused the sincere sympathy of this one. + +"You and the old man step up here out of the wind by this building, and +tell me your trouble. Are you lost?" + +"No, sir, we ain't lost, but just can't find the way." + +"Not lost, but can't find the way? How is it? I don't understand. Maybe +I can help you, if you will explain." + +At this Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs, and for several minutes +could not answer. + +At last, with many a pause, the whole story was told. + +"And oh," she added, with all the earnestness of which her intense +nature was capable, "can you really tell us? Please, oh, please do, for +I can't stand it any longer without mother, and she's looking for me, +'cause Jesus paid the fare. I just must go!" + +[Illustration: Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs. [Page 60.)] + +"Ah, sweet baby," he faltered, his massive frame shaking with emotion, +"I've a mother in the beautiful land looking for me, too! + +"Long years ago I promised to meet her there, but, no, I've never found +the way. I cannot tell you." + +"If the way's so hard to find, how do folks get there? And lots of them +are going, for the lady said so. I do wish mother'd come back for +grandpa and me"; and again the child broke into sobs. + +"Don't cry any more, little one. They say the way is easy to find. Let +me think a minute; maybe I can help you after all. There's a big church +on the corner there, and I know the pastor loves poor people. If you +should go there tomorrow, he would tell you the way, I know. + +"Now cheer up, and get back to your home as soon as possible. It will be +getting dark presently, and you will half freeze. I will walk down to +the corner with you, and point out the church." + +Rosa's hopes were beginning to rise once more, but upon beholding the +massive stone structure indicated by the policeman, she felt less +sanguine. + +"Are you real sure, mister, we could find the way if we'd go in there?" +at length she said. + +"Yes, I know it, for the pastor has wanted many times to teach me the +way, and I wouldn't let him." + +Rosa had no idea who or what the pastor might be, and forgot to +inquire, because of her unutterable surprise. + +It was simply unthinkable that any one could deliberately refuse the +information which she and grandpa so earnestly coveted. + +"Mister p'liceman, why didn't you want to know the way?" she gasped, +impulsively grasping his big, brawny hand. "Wouldn't you like to know +now?" + +"Yes, little one, I would, and by God's help I will. But come, you must +be gone! It is almost dark. I'll watch for you in the morning, and take +you to the door. Be sure not to disappoint me. Goodbye!" + +That evening in the quiet of his room a wonderful thing happened. + +Tucked away in the bottom of his trunk was a Bible, given to him years +before by his mother, when he was but a mere lad. This he brought forth, +and till a late hour poured over its precious contents. Then falling +upon his knees, this prodigal of many years found in Jesus the true way +to the beautiful land. He Himself said that no man cometh unto the +Father but by Him. And an unspeakable peace filled his soul. + +The last half mile of their walk seemed almost interminable both to Rosa +and grandpa. + +As the darkness began to gather, every shadow to her excited +imagination was transformed into a policeman coming to lock them up. + +After the trying experiences of the day, it was a relief to be back once +more in the dingy rooms which they had expected never to see again. + +Rosa soon had a fire feebly burning in the little stove, then prepared a +scanty supper, offset by another cup of tea for grandpa. + +The shabby couch she pulled up by the stove for him, and did all within +her power to make him warm and comfortable. + +Sitting by his side and watching him solicitously, she was beginning to +fear that he might not be able for the journey tomorrow, for without a +doubt he was much exhausted. At last the tears began rolling down his +face and fell upon her hand. + +"Oh, grandpa, what is it?" she asked, the tears coming to her own eyes. +"You ain't sick, are you?" + +"No, no, dearie, but mighty dis'p'inted. I thought we'd be there tonight +sure, and I'm so homesick! Too bad, too bad, ain't it, when the fare's +all paid, and they're a-looking fer us? We wouldn't git hungry nor cold +there, neither, nor tired." + +"Yes, but, grandpa dear, the p'liceman said we could find the way +tomorrow in that great big building. Of course he must know, don't you +think so?" + +"Say, Rosa," he asked excitedly, not noticing her question, and rising +partly up, while his eyes sparkled with new hope, "I can't remember, but +did it have a steeple a-p'intin' straight up?" + +"Yes, such a big one, grandpa. It must go pretty nearly to the sky." + +"Then it'll be all right, I'm mighty sure of that, but it 'pears like +it'd ought to have green vines a-runnin' all over it, and with roses +a-growin' 'round. Wuz there any?" + +"No, grandpa, for this is winter, you know. The roses won't be blooming +outdoors now, but sometimes I see them in the stores." + +"And so we'll git there tomorrow, Rosa," he added dreamily, "and not be +dis'p'inted no more! I'm so mighty glad, so mighty glad." + +Grandpa was asleep, but becoming more and more restless. His hands no +longer were cold, but felt hot to Rosa, as she vainly endeavored to keep +them covered. The flushed cheeks and rapid breathing convinced his +faithful and experienced young nurse that it would be wise for her to +sit by his side till morning. The hours were long and dreary, and at +every sound her overtaxed nerves would cause her to start. Sometimes she +was sure that a policeman was coming after them; and again Mrs. Gray was +about to enter the room with a cruel whip in her hand. So certain was +she once of hearing her mother call that she jumped to her feet to obey +the summons. Then before her vision would stand a lovely girl dressed in +blue, smiling down upon her and saying: + +"Jesus paid all the fare long ago." + +Toward morning grandpa grew more quiet. The little watcher dropped her +head upon his pillow and fell asleep, dreaming that mother was holding +her in her arms, softly singing as of yore. + +[Illustration] + + + + +VI. + +THE WAY FOUND + + +It was late before they awakened the next morning. Rosa, though not much +rested herself, was delighted to see grandpa apparently so well. She +could not remember ever before having seen him step so lightly around +the room. His eyes were shining, and every few minutes he would sing +snatches of his one song, while assisting her in the preparation of +their light breakfast. + +"We're a-goin' to find it today, Rosa, I'm mighty sure, yes, mighty sure +of that; and I'm so glad." + +"I hope so, grandpa dear." + +"Yes, we are, fer he said so." + +"Who said so?" + +"Why, Tom. Don't you remember? We seen him last night, Rosa. Surely you +ain't fergot. + +"We wuz a-crossin' the pretty brook on the bridge under the willers, +when all to once Tom come a-runnin' up, and wuz so glad to see us. Jest +then the bell on the little white meetin' house with the steeple +a-p'intin' straight up begun a-ringin', and it sounded better'n music. +Oh, it wuz so mighty sweet, Rosa! I can 'most hear it now. And when we +got there, the people was a-singin' about the beautiful land. Everybody +wuz so happy, 'cause the fare wuz paid and they all know'd the way. Tom +he says, 'Don't be dis'p'inted no more, father, 'cause you're a goin' to +git there, and no mistake!' + +"Now, Rosa dear," he continued, while walking rapidly back and forth +across the room, "let's git ready and start right off, and not lose no +more time. + +"We're goin' to the big meetin' house today, didn't you say?" + +"Yes, grandpa, the one the p'liceman showed us, you know." + +"'Pears like we'd ought to fix up a little bit then. My shoes look most +mighty bad, don't they? It might worry Tom some. I don't like to have +him find out how poor I've been, but then it won't make no difference +after we git there. + +"Say, do you think Sary would miss it, if I'd take some of her stove +polish and black 'em up a little?" + +"Oh, I don't believe she would." + +"Then I'll take jest a tiny bit, not that she'd care, fer Sary's a good +woman, yes, a very good woman, but mighty partic'lar about her +blackin'." + +Rosa patiently assisted in the process, but it would have been difficult +for the aesthetic eye to have discovered the improvement. Grandpa was +satisfied, and that was enough. + +"I don't want you to get cold like you did yesterday, grandpa. The +wind's blowing hard. Wish you had more to put 'round you." + +"Well, I ain't got it, dearie, but I don't mind, fer we're a-goin' to +git there today. Tom'll look after me then." + +"Here, you take this: it'll help a little," and she slipped from her own +neck a well-worn muffler formerly belonging to her mother. She carefully +pinned together his thin shabby coat, for the buttons long since were +gone, and wrapped the muffler about his neck and face. + +Her own clothing, since mother moved, had grown threadbare and ragged, +forming but little protection against the cold, cutting winds. + +Their hearts, notwithstanding all outward difficulties and the +disappointments of the preceding day, were buoyant with hope as they +started out once more upon their pilgrimage. + +Their one friend, the policeman, saw them coming and met them a short +distance from their destination. + +"Good morning, grandpa and my little lady," he cheerily called, "I have +been expecting you for some time. I had almost begun to fear that +something had prevented your coming. Follow me, and I shall see that the +usher gives you a seat up in front. I know you will find the way in +here, and I have at last, thank God, found it myself!" + +Rosa wondered at this, but could ask no questions. They were entering +the imposing building now, while throngs of well-dressed people, eyeing +her curiously, were surging by. She was disappointed, for her past +experience had convinced her that no well-dressed person but her one +girl in blue, knew the way to the beautiful land. + +While she was considering the advisability of an immediate retreat, the +policeman called to an usher: + +"Here, Dawson, are some friends of mine whom I want Dr. Fairfax to meet +personally. Send a messenger for him at once. I know he will be willing +to come; then give them good seats where they can both hear and see. Do +just as I say, for these are my very special friends," he added, as the +usher looked at him both quizzically and uncertainly. + +"And, Dawson, tell him, too, that I have found the way, praise the Lord! + +"I must go now, and God take care of you, Rosa. You have taught me what +you so want to know yourself. The old Book says that a little child +shall lead them, and it is true." + +The usher hesitated somewhat to break the pastor's quiet half-hour which +he had always spent with a few faithful workers before going into the +pulpit, but seeing the tears beginning to roll down the sweet, sad face +of the child, he sent the messenger post-haste. + +Very soon a tall, handsome man appeared. + +"Good morning, Mr. Dawson, and what may I do for you?" he pleasantly +inquired. + +Something about his voice and kindly manner attracted Rosa immediately, +and, characteristically impulsive, not waiting for Mr. Dawson's reply +she ran up to the stranger's side and said: + +"Oh, please, mister, won't you tell me how to go? The policeman said you +could. Grandpa and me want to go to the beautiful land, and mother's +gone. Folks don't cough no more there, and Jesus paid all the fare, +'cause the pretty lady said so, and it don't cost nothing after you get +there. Can you tell me the way?" + +The pastor in his surprise stood motionless for a moment, then +astonished Mr. Dawson by lifting the little girl up in his arms and +kissing her fondly. + +"Rosa," he said, "you are the straying lamb for whom Esther and I have +been praying for weeks, and now God has sent you. By His help I shall +teach you the way this very morning. + +"This is grandpa, is it not?" he added, grasping the old man cordially +by the hand. "I am indeed very glad to see you. + +"Mr. Dawson, you are needed to seat the people. I shall escort these to +a pew myself." + +The trio a few minutes later slowly passing down the aisle was certainly +unusually striking. The pastor, with head erect and thoroughly conscious +that many were displeased, was half supporting upon his strong right arm +the shabbily-dressed and feeble man, while the child in ragged apparel +he tenderly led by the hand. + +An observant eye might have noted various expressions upon the faces in +the audience. Some evidently were disgusted that their popular pastor +would so demean himself. Others were interested because of the oddity of +the scene, still others amused, while here and there was one conversant +with the language of the Master and who prayed God's blessing to abide +upon all three. + +Belonging to the first-named class was Dr. Dale, wealthy, cautiously +conservative always, aristocratic, exclusive in his circle of friends, +and who wished also to be exclusive in his church relationship. The +knowledge of his power over the majority of his acquaintances was a +source of constant gratification to the proud man, but the fact that his +pastor would not bow the knee to his wealth and position chafed him +sorely. The events of this particular Sunday morning he took as only +another personal insult. + +"Umph!" he grunted in deep displeasure, and reached over to pick up his +hat preparatory to leaving. He could not countenance anything so +ridiculously absurd. If the pastor's eccentricities continued to develop +as they had in the last year, he would be compelled to seek another and +more congenial church home, where form was more in evidence. + +Prim little Mrs. Dale, the one person in the world who could influence +her austere husband, gently tapped him upon the arm and whispered: + +"Stay, my dear, and see what comes of it all. It is really quite +unusual." + +"Well," he thought, "I'll stay to please her, and in the meantime take a +nap." + +More to his discomfiture than ever, Dr. Fairfax had seated the strange +pair directly across the aisle from him in the pew with Esther. + +Glancing over to note the effect upon her, Mr. Dale saw that she took +the little girl up into her lap, bestowing upon her fond caresses. He +looked long enough for Rosa's large brown eyes to meet his own, then +with a great heart pang turned away. When had he ever seen so perfect a +likeness to his own Margaret, his only and idolized darling, who had +left his home the year before? Something seemed to be clutching at his +heart most relentlessly, while a lump was filling his throat. Nervously +and hastily lest his wife might see, he wiped from his brow the +gathering perspiration. Persistently he endeavored to settle down for +the nap, but with eyes either closed or open, all he could see was the +child across the aisle. One moment he wished to fold her within his arms +so strangely empty for twelve long months, and the next mentally +upbraided her for so cruelly tearing open the one deep wound of his +life. + +Presently he became aware that the voluntary had ceased, and that a +restlessness was sweeping over the great audience. Arousing himself +somewhat from his harrowing reveries, he looked at his watch and found +that it was ten minutes past the time for the service to begin, and Dr. +Fairfax had not yet entered the pulpit. + +While the people were wondering what the cause of the delay might be, he +appeared. + +An unusual note of tenderness in the invocation prepared the auditors in +some degree for what followed. + +"Brethren," he said, "it is recorded in Holy Writ that Jesus took a +child and set it in the midst of them. Just as truly has He set in our +midst today a child, and for this reason the whole order of service +shall be changed. God helping me, I shall hide behind the cross, that +the people may see Jesus only, and I shall present the way of salvation +so simply that wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. + +"We are living in a rationalistic age, when by many the God of miracles +is denied; when the incarnation of the Son of God is considered a fable, +having its counterpart in nearly all religions; when a belief in a +literal hell and a literal heaven is becoming obsolete; when the +atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, making it possible to escape the one +and gain the other, is held as a relic of superstition; when the verbal +inspiration of the Bible is ridiculed; and when character-building is +rapidly superseding the belief in the necessity of the new birth. + +"Perhaps I have not been sufficiently determined myself to know nothing +among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and have spoken too often +upon popular themes. Today I shall not speak upon the subject announced, +'Applied Christianity the Remedy for Social Evils,' but," and he looked +down upon Rosa to be sure that she understood, "'Heaven, or the Way to +the Beautiful Land.' Preparatory to what I may say, I shall read the +last two chapters of Revelation." + +"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the +first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. + +"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out +of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. + +"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle +of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His +people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God +shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more +death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: +for the former things are passed away. + +"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. +And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And +He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the +end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water +of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will +be his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, +and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and +idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth +with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. + +"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven +vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come +hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. + +"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and +showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven +from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone +most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and a wall +great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, +and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of +the children of Israel: on the east three gates; on the north three +gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. + +"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names +of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. + +"And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and +the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, +and the length is as large as the breadth * * * * + +"And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure +gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city +were garnished with all manner of precious stones * * * * And the +twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl; +and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. + +"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are +the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the +moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb +is the light thereof. + +"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: +and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And +the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no +night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations +into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that +defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but +they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. + +"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, +proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. + +"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was +there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded +her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing +of the nations. + +"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the +Lamb shall be in it: and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall +see His face; and His names shall be in their foreheads. And there shall +be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; +for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and +ever * * * * + +"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to +the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." + +This incomparable description of the New Jerusalem, read in a finely +modulated voice, had a marked effect upon the audience, though the +reader was conscious of the presence of but three, Rosa, grandpa, and +the Lord Jesus Himself. + +Dr. Dale was more disgusted than ever, or at least tried to be. + +"What unreasonable fanaticism!" he thought. "When men leave their homes +and business to attend church, they want something practical, something +acting as a stimulus in daily life. Being surrounded as we are on every +hand by social evils, strife between capital and labor, and with +anarchical tendencies becoming constantly more prevalent, we need +something bearing directly upon these problems. There'll be time enough +for these other things. Of course I believe in heaven, for Margaret is +there, and when I die I want to go to her. + +"I wish Dr. Fairfax had left these vagrants where they belong. The +child's face haunts me. Her eyes are almost as starry and full of +expression as Margaret's. That's the queerest little old man I ever saw. +I can't see how they happen to be here." + +And so his mind wandered restlessly on during the preliminary services. + +"Let all the people," announced the speaker, "join in singing that old +hymn which some of us have not heard in years, 'The Home of the Soul.'" + +The great organ filled the vast auditorium with the strains of the +melody, followed by a volume of sweetest song. Many were carried back to +the scenes of their childhood, where, gathered around the family altar, +were the dear ones long since singing in paradise. + +The strangers across the aisle again attracted Dr. Dale's attention. The +old man was leaning forward with both hands resting upon his cane, his +eyes were closed, and the tears were slowly trickling down the wrinkled +face, while with a plaintive, quavery voice he was joining in the +singing of his well-beloved song. + +At last it was time for the sermon, but the preacher, who by his +eloquence and magnetic personality could sway thousands, felt as +helpless as a little child to perform the duty before him. + +He announced his text: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way" (John 14:6). + +The audience wondered why at that particular point he stopped apparently +to offer a word of silent prayer. But then they could not see the +expression of hope flash across the face of the child, nor the old man +lean still a little farther forward that he might catch every word. + +"Rosa," whispered grandpa, "didn't I tell you if we'd go to a meetin' +house with the steeple a-p'intin' straight up, we'd find the way? Yes, +yes, that's it, it surely is, Rosa, and it's all a-beginnin' to come +back. Jesus is the way, Jesus is the way! I wonder I ain't thought of it +before." + +The sermon which followed, simple in every detail, began by calling +attention to the marvelously beautiful description of the heavenly land +as contained in the Scripture previously read. + +"There are representatives here today of many classes and conditions of +society," said the speaker, "the high and the low, the rich and the +poor, the learned and the ignorant; but there is no eye that has not +shed bitter tears, no life unacquainted with death, sorrow, crying, or +pain. Thank God for that glad coming day when He will wipe away all +tears, when there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, +nor pain; for these things shall have passed away!" + +He spoke of the glimpse the Scripture gives of the city itself, the New +Jerusalem, with its walls and gates. "There is no language of earth by +which its glories can be fully described," he continued; "where our idea +of beauty leaves off, there heaven begins! Even its foundations are made +of the rarest jewels we know. + +"But heaven's happiness consists not in mere outward things. God is +there, and the Lamb! In God's presence is fulness of joy, and at His +right hand are to be found the truest pleasures for evermore. There the +redeemed out of every nation shall serve Him, and they shall see His +face with no veil of time or sense between. + +"This holy city will never be marred by the entering in of anything that +defileth, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of +life shall behold and enjoy its splendor and happiness. + +"I think I hear some poor soul say: 'Then there is no hope for me!' + +"Yes, there is hope! + +"'But I have sinned!' + +"That is true. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. +There is none righteous, no, not one. We are by nature and practice +strangers to God, even the new-born babe having wrapped up within its +tiny bosom a sinful heritage and bias. And the soul that sinneth shall +die. But sin can be put away, and its dreadful penalty escaped. Shall I +not tell you how? + +"It is by the love and grace of our heavenly Father that we can be +justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God +loved us in our sin and rebellion, and sent His only-begotten Son to +bring earth's inhabitants back to Himself, that they might share the +joys of the heavenly home. Ere He came to earth, an angel of the Lord +appeared and said His name should be called Jesus, for He should save +His people from their sins. When at length He was born, the angel +appeared to the wondering shepherds on the hillside near Bethlehem, and +said: 'Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to +all people: for unto you is born this day a Saviour.' He came to seek +and save the lost. For thirty years He lived a secluded but holy life at +Nazareth. Then for three years He went about doing good, working +marvelous miracles and saying wonderful words. At length they took Him, +and crucified Him on Calvary! 'Behold,' John had said, 'the Lamb of God +that taketh away the sin of the world!' Do you not see how it is? Christ +died--not for His own sins, for He was holy, harmless, undefiled, but +for your sins and mine. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. +Believe on Him, and you are saved! + +"Yes, childlike trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour gives +your soul peace with God and makes your entrance into the house of many +mansions sure! He went back to prepare a place for us who believe on +Him, and promised to come again and receive us unto Himself, that where +He is, there we may be also. Jesus Himself is the way home!" + +So clearly did he explain the plan of salvation that Rosa began to grasp +the truth. All the pent-up love of her ardent nature she began to bestow +upon Jesus, and in the joy of this new experience forgot her crushing +sorrow. + +The sermon closed by another extended reference to heaven, with special +emphasis upon the fact of its being real, and not simply a state of +blissful being, as many profess to believe, and with an appeal to the +skeptical to take Jesus at His word. + +"He said, 'I go to prepare a _place_ for you.' Is it not His positive +statement sufficient? Has He ever proved untrue to His promises +concerning this life? Has He ever turned a deaf ear to the penitent +sinner's prayer? Has He ever refused to speak the word of comfort to the +heart breaking beneath its load? Has He ever called one to some +particular service in His vineyard without supplying the needed +strength? Has He ever forgotten to pour forth His abundant and +sustaining grace upon the trusting soul about the pass through the dark, +mysterious valley of death? And would He say that He was going to +prepare a _place_ for us, that where He is there we may be also, meaning +only that He was going to prepare a state of glorified--_nothingness_? +Impossible! It is an insult to our Lord. + +"He who left the glory-circled throne for thirty-three years of +wandering in this world, for rejection by those whom He came to save, +for Gethsemane and for Calvary, will hold up no false hope to lure +onward those who love Him. + +"He who created this beautiful world, inhabited by fallen sinful beings, +will not forget to provide a home for His own who have washed their +robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. + +"Yes, heaven is a place, where the power of infinity itself is exhausted +in the beautifying thereof! No sin, no sickness, no sorrow will ever +pass through those gates of pearl. The saints of all ages are there, our +loved ones whom we have lost a while are there, and above all our Lord +and Saviour Jesus Christ! + +"Ah, if Satan has deluded you into a state of unbelief now, the time is +coming when you will believe! Some day with unwilling feet you must part +from your Lord forever to spend eternity in hell; or with hosannas and +shouts of victory upon your lips, you will pass into the presence of Him +who sits upon the throne, to praise Him and serve Him forever and ever!" + +At the conclusion of the service, Dr. and Mrs. Dale left without waiting +to speak to the pastor. + +Mrs. Dale, however, stopped ostensibly to greet Esther, but in reality +to look more closely at the child who had attracted her quite as much as +her husband. + +The doctor's perturbed state did not admit of his speaking to any one. +He longed for Margaret, and both loved and hated the little waif who +unconsciously had so remarkably altered the affairs of the whole +morning. He had endeavored not to listen to the sermon, "fit only for +children, and not for men possessed of a logical turn of mind," he said +to himself; but the more he tried, with the greater persistency did the +ringing sentences surge through his aching brain. + +"Well!" he exclaimed to his wife as soon as they were seated in their +carriage, "Dr. Fairfax is a narrow-minded extremist, a fanatic. What +right had he to bring those street wanderers into the church this +morning? The place for them is down at the mission. Do I not give +liberally toward its support? To be sure, such as they need the Gospel, +but I want them to stay where they belong to get it." + +"But, my dear," placidly remonstrated his wife, "there may be +qualifying circumstances connected with all this which we do not +understand." + +"Possibly, but scarcely probable anything to warrant such an unheard-of +innovation! The place for them is down at the mission, I say. + +"And that sermon, if such it may be called! I thought I was at a +funeral. There were hundreds of men there, who like myself went for +something helpful and practical. Who cares to discuss the heavenly city +when our city down here is in the throes of a strike, threatening to +paralyze business for weeks and months to come, and meaning the loss of +millions of dollars, both directly and indirectly?" + +"I know, dear, but the Father's omnipotent hand of love will bring +everything out right some day. He has promised, and His promises never +fail. Is it not restful, and does it not make one more brave for the +conflict, to know that there is an abiding city, at whose portals we +leave earth's sorrows and perplexities?" + +"Yes, wife, I know, but we are living now upon this mundane sphere, and +naturally our interests center here. A belief in heaven does not +straighten out affairs on earth, nor make the burdens any the lighter to +bear." + +"I do not know about that, since Margaret has gone. If I did not believe +what Dr. Fairfax said this morning, my burden, at least, would be much +heavier and harder to bear. It does help to know that she is safe, and +that I shall join her myself some day." + +"Oh, well, yes, of course, but then it's different when it comes to +Margaret!" + +For several minutes they rode in silence, when the doctor said: + +"Wife, did you see that child's eyes?" + +"Yes, I saw them." + +"I wish--well, we are home now! Let me assist you from the carriage." + +In the meantime, grandpa and Rosa were having an experience very novel +to them. + +Upon discovering grandpa's weak condition, a carriage had been ordered, +the first one in which they had ever ridden. Esther was quietly +explaining to Rosa more of Jesus and His love for the children, while +her receptive little soul was eagerly taking it all in. + +"Then," she said, "I can't go to the beautiful land till He sends for +me! I do wish He would send soon." + +"No, but He surely will send some day, Rosa, and perhaps He wants you to +teach others how to get there." + +"If He does, then I'm willing to stay, 'cause so many don't know." + +In her broken childish way, Rosa told of the many and varied +experiences befalling her and grandpa since mother moved. + +Esther and her father were greatly touched by the pathos of the +narrative, but what left the deepest impression was that in her eager +quest she could find no one for so long to help her. + +There in the privacy of their carriage they gave themselves anew to the +work of the Lord, pledging never again to let a known opportunity to +speak to a needy soul pass by. + +Grandpa, like a tired child, was resting his head upon the shoulder of +his new friend during the drive, and it was evident that he was very +ill. The fever was returning, the mind partially wandering, but the soul +rejoicing in the light of that land which he so soon was to enter. + +"Ah, Rosa," he murmured over and over, "I told you so. Jesus is the way, +Jesus is the way! I'm mighty glad it's all come back, but Tom he said +'twould, and I think he' a-comin' now to git me." + +Upon their arrival home, with tender hands the weary old man was put to +bed, while Esther took charge of Rosa, clothing her in more suitable +garments, and talking simply of the Shepherd who seeks the wandering +lambs. + +[Illustration] + + + + +VII. + +VICTORY! + + +The deserted rooms on Burton street suddenly became the scene of great +activity early Monday afternoon. + +Mrs. Gray's supersensitive conscience would not admit of her neglecting +her charges, so in consequence her visit was made a few hours shorter +than first planned. + +The fire was out, and no trace could she find of Rosa and grandpa. She +"hollered till her throat was sore," looked in every reasonable--and +unreasonable--corner, searched up and down the hall, inquired of her +neighbors, visited the corner grocery, but all to no avail. + +"Land sakes!" over and over she repeated to a group of interested +spectators, "I might a-know'd better'n to have gone off and left them. +This is jest my luck, anyhow. The first time I've been away in five +years, then have this happen. I'm jest real provoked, and I don't think +a body could blame me, either. But it all comes of me bein' so obligin'. +If it wuzn't fer my tender heart, I'd never kep' Tom's father, nor took +Mis' Browning's young one, then I could come and go as I pleased and not +be pestered this way. There ain't many that'd do fer others what I do, +and I never git no thanks fer it, neither. If I hadn't had father to +board all these years, I might have somethin' laid up fer a rainy day, +and there ain't nobody but what'll say I'm industrious and savin'. + +"But I can't think where they'd go, nor what I can do. It seems like +somebody'd seen them. I'll fix them when they git back, so as they'll +never do it ag'in. It looks like they'd been gone fer some time, and I +do b'lieve they've been into the tea and stove blackin'. I never thought +about blackin', who would? but I told them not to touch that tea, fer I +couldn't afford it. They'll be sorry, they will, when I git hold of +them. + +"Here you, Billy Bruce!" she vociferously called, catching sight of that +youth running down the stairs three steps at a time; "come right back +here at fast as you can, and tell me what you know about Rosa and +grandpa. You're always under foot a-knowin' what's a-goin' on, so I +'spose if anybody seen them you did." + +Billy feared Mrs. Gray more than he did the judge or policeman--that +is, at close range; but when occupying the vantage-ground, as at the +present, he delighted in revolt. + +"I didn't either see them," he shouted back, "and don't know nothin' +about them, only I'd run off, too, if I wuz them." + +At this the greatly abused and misunderstood woman picked up a piece of +coal to hurl at the rapidly retreating young rebel, when, to her +astonishment, she saw coming up the steps the transformed Rosa with +Esther! + +"You'd better look out, Rosa," confidently explained Billy, "she's awful +mad, and you may git that lickin' yet, you said she'd been a-promisin'." + +Rosa shrank in terror, her face growing pale and twitching nervously, +while an inclination to run away with her barbarous but devoted champion +took possession of her. + +"Never mind, dear," whispered Esther reassuringly, "she will do you no +harm while I am with you. You need not be at all afraid." + +Upon looking into the fearless blue eyes of Esther, Mrs. Gray suddenly +determined to change her plan of attack. + +"Land sakes, Rosa! I've been that worried about you and father, the dear +old soul,--where is he? and where have you been, and where did you git +them pretty clothes? Why didn't you tell me you wanted to go on a visit, +and what made you stay so long? Of course it wuz awful lonesome here +without me, so I won't blame you much, but children'd ought to tell." + +Not giving the child an opportunity to answer, a volley of +interrogations and information was turned upon Esther. + +"What's your name? Esther Fairfax, is it? well, now that's a real pretty +name, but do come right in and set down. Things is in a muss, fer I've +been gone, and children don't amount to much fer work, 'specially when +they ain't been raised right. I ain't had her long, you know, or she'd +be different. Her ma wuz awful queer and silly about her. But where did +you find her? You wuz real thoughtful to bring her back to me, so as I +wouldn't worry any longer'n necessary. I 'spose you found her clothes in +bad shape. Her ma's been dead now a while, and didn't keep things up as +well as she might anyhow, I thought, fer some time. She wuz one of them +women that gives up easy, but that's somethin' I never do. I've been +a-layin' out to show Rosa how to sew. She's plenty old enough, and I +ain't got no time to do it myself. But then I never did b'lieve in +bringin' them up lazy. There's a lot in gittin' them started right. + +"And where on earth's the old man? I can't think how you found them. +Seems like a month since I seen him, but then I have more attachment and +affection than most folks, or I wouldn't a been so flustered. I hope +he's acted with some sense, so as I won't have to be mortified." + +Endeavoring to impress her guest favorably, Mrs. Gray, while talking, +was energetically moving about the room, making some pretense toward +bringing order out of confusion. + +"That grease spot down there on the floor by the stove does really worry +me a heap, and I'd really ought to--" + +At this Rosa cast a glance at the whip still reposing above the door, +and tightened her clasp upon Esther's hand. + +"Father's awful childish, and I have to treat him jest like a child, +too, or I couldn't git on with him no how. I've kep' him now, well, let +me see: it's a-goin' on six years since Tom got killed, and I've been +a-supportin' him ever since, and no tellin' how much longer he'll live. +If it wuzn't fer my kind heart, I'd tell him he'd have to leave. I've +thought of it some lately, but then s'pose I never will. Then when Mis' +Browning died, of course she wanted me to raise Rosa. It's a good thing +she did die fer now Rosa'll learn to do somethin' more'n jest to be +kissed and cried over. I used to git that provoked at her ma fer actin' +so silly. I didn't say she could stay here only till spring. Of course +she come in real handy like when father didn't mind and I twisted my +ankle, but then it's sech a bother to raise a child. When she ain't no +more use to me, I don't know how it'll be then." + +During this recital, Esther's face was a study. She had visited much +among the poor with her father, but never before had she come into +contact with quite so unusual a character as Mrs. Gray. Finding that her +only opportunity to state her errand was to interrupt the loquacious +speaker, she determined to wait no longer. + +"Mrs. Gray, I have come to tell you that you will never again be +troubled by grandpa or Rosa. Grandpa is in my home, and the physician +says that he can live but a few hours longer. He has had a raging fever, +but that has left now; he is entirely rational and wishes to see you +before the Master calls. + +"My carriage is waiting. There is no time to lose. Put on your wraps and +come immediately." + +So surprised was Mrs. Gray that for the instant an almost unprecedented +thing occurred: she could think of nothing to say. But endeavoring to +gain her normal poise, she turned upon Rosa. + +"Well, you heard what the lady said! Father, the dear old soul, of +course he wants to see me before he dies, after all I've done fer him; +but how lonely it'll be without him! Seems like I can see him a-settin' +over there in his chair now, a-lookin' out of the winder, like he did +'most all day sometimes." + +At this appropriate juncture, she made a fruitless effort to shed a few +tears, but, to be charitable, the deepest sorrow cannot find expression +in tears. + +"You can stay here, Rosa, and have supper ready when I git back, and +make me some tea; I'll need it to settle my nerves. Take them fine +clothes off, too, before you spoil 'em. I want you to learn to be +savin', like I've always been. And give that grease spot another +scrubbin', and go to the corner grocery and git--" + +"No, Mrs. Gray," vehemently interposed Esther, "did I not tell you that +Rosa is never going to live with you again? You are about to realize +your dream of liberty, for which without a doubt you are duly grateful. +You seem to feel that both grandpa and Rosa have been intolerable +burdens." + +Esther was the repetition of her father, and when the case demanded +could be firm and commandingly dignified. + +Again Mrs. Gray was speechless. For so long she had been absolute +monarch in her small realm, with none daring to question or to rise in +rebellion, that it was a revelation to find in a young woman like Esther +an opposite and stronger force with which to reckon. + +For the first time in her life she was completely conquered, and without +another word marched solemnly down to the carriage. + +"This is an opportunity," thought Esther, "and may I be directed in all +I say." + +Not wishing this woman possessed of a hard heart and a shriveled soul to +stand in awe of her any longer, a few kind and ordinary remarks soon +accomplished the desired end. + +"Well, Miss Esther, you ain't told me how it's all come about. I can't +fer the life of me think, and it all seems so strange. I jest can't git +it through my head that father's a-goin' to die. Are you real sure of +it? Mebbe there's a mistake." + +"No, Mrs. Gray, there is no mistake. In a few hours he will be safe +forever in the better land." + +Esther's power of narration was well developed. Going into the minute +details, she simply told the whole story, while Mrs. Gray attentively +listened without an interruption. There were indications that the +hitherto impregnable fortress of this untutored woman's heart was +beginning to totter. But is there after all in this great world a heart +so loveless, so blackened by sin, or so narrowed by its own selfish +domain, as to be entirely invincible? Cannot the love emanating from +Christ Himself, flowing through the channel of a surrendered life, leave +its impress where all else fails? + +Esther's observant eye noted the change, then skilfully she began +speaking of the Lord as a personal Saviour. + +Presently tears began rolling down the hardened cheeks, causing the +young messenger to feel that victory was almost certain. + +Upon reaching the Fairfax home, Mrs. Gray was ushered into a room, which +to her seemed magnificent. + +Grandpa was lying upon an immaculate bed, while everything surrounding +him was far more indicative of loving thoughtfulness than of luxury. In +his hand he clasped a beautiful rose, because during his rational +moments he so often spoke of the "pretty roses a-growin' by the brook +down in the lane." The rose was presented by none other than Dr. Dale, +not--so he assured himself--that he was in the least sympathetic with +the Fairfaxes in their eccentric freak. It was simply for the good of +the patient that all small whims be humored. + +Upon a nearby table was Esther's violin. During the long hours of the +preceding night, when the burning fever produced a great restlessness +in the weary sufferer, nothing soothed him but the low, sweet strains of +music. + +Now he was calm, and for the first time since Tom died clothed in his +right mind. + +"Sary, how be you?" he feebly asked, as she slowly walked up to his +side. "I'm so glad you've come, fer it's all straightened out now, and I +want to thank you afore I go fer all you've done fer me. And may +somebody take care of you real kind when you git old and can't work no +more. I've been a big bother, Sary. You've had a good deal to put up +with since Tom died, but you've been mighty kind. You've always give me +enough to eat, and kep' me warm, and you've had to work awful hard to do +it. I thank you, Sary, and may God bless you! But I do want you to find +Jesus, the way to the beautiful land. You won't have it so hard there. +He's paid for everything, and it's free fer the askin'." + +"Oh, father," she said, dropping upon her knees and weeping bitterly for +the first time in many years, "you ain't got nothin' to thank me fer. +I've never seen till jest this minute how awful mean I've been. You did +your very best to please me, and the harder you tried, the more I +scolded. I wish I'd been better to you. No, you ain't got nothin' at all +to thank me fer, and I'll miss you so! I don't know why I've never seen +it before, and you've always been so good. I'll never git over feelin' +mean about it, no, I never will, oh dear, dear!" + +"There, there, Sary, don't cry! It's all right now." + +Tenderly he stroked the hand which many times had been raised +threateningly against him, and tried to soothe the thoroughly +conscience-striken woman. + +"Sary, I do want you to find Jesus. It's so mighty sweet to know Him, +and He'll help you over all the hard places,--He says He will; and He +always carries the heavy end of the load, too." + +"I'm too wicked and mean, father. He wouldn't have me," she sobbed, "but +I wish He would; I need Him bad, and want help." + +"Mrs. Gray,"--it was the minister who spoke and who had been a silent +witness of the pathetic scene,--"Jesus died to save you." + +"I wish I knew it," she moaned, "but I'm too mean. I'm the biggest +sinner in the world to treat father and Rosa the way I have." + +"If you are the biggest sinner in the world, then I know that Jesus died +to save you. Listen to His word: 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy +of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save +sinners; of whom I am chief.' You consider yourself the chief of +sinners, do you?" + +"Yes, I do; I know I am." + +"Who came to save the chief of sinners?" + +"Why, the verse says Christ Jesus did." + +"Yes, Mrs. Gray, that is true. Then whom did Jesus Christ come to save?" + +"Oh, He came to save me, He came to save me! How could He ever do it?" + +"Just because God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten +Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have +everlasting life. Do you believe it?" + +"Yes, how can I help it, when He done all that?" + +"Then if you believe in Him, what have you?" + +"Everlasting life! Everlasting life!" Dreamily, yet joyously, she +repeated the words many times, trying to comprehend their fathomless +depths. + +"But," she anxiously asked, "what about my sins? You don't know how mean +I've been." + +"'And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.'" + +"Oh, thank God, thank God! He's give me everlasting life, and won't +remember my sins. I want to begin all over now, and do somethin' fer Him +before I die." + +In broken petitions she poured forth her heart in prayer to God, while +at the same moment angelic songs were started anew around the throne +above. Another soul was born again. + +Is there less rejoicing over there when the soul saved chances to be the +tenant of a roughly-hewn temple? Ah no, for it required the shedding of +just the same precious blood as for the souls of earth's greatest and +noblest! + +An expression of unspeakable peace lighted up grandpa's happy face, as +he murmured: + +"Oh, Sary, I'm so glad, so mighty glad! Now I'll tell Tom you're +a-comin', and we'll both be a-watchin' fer you. Won't we be happy when +we all git safe home? Goodby, Sary! You've always been a good woman, +yes, a very good woman, and now Jesus will take care of you. Goodby, +till we meet ag'in!" + +The effort of speaking seemed to exhaust him perceptably, and he sank +off into a deep sleep. + +It was evident that the end was near, and hastily Dr. Dale was summoned. +Upon examining his patient, he found that in a few minutes, or perhaps a +half an hour at the most, all would be over. + +Silently they watched him. Rosa understood better now than she did a few +weeks before what the "moving" meant. She knew that she would be lonely +without grandpa, her one comforter through many a dark and dreary hour, +and the tears began to gather. + +At this Dr. Dale became restless. Just to avoid a scene, he took the +little girl up into his arms, wiping away the tears and whispering words +of comfort. + +Mrs. Gray sat nearest the dying man, gently smoothing back the snowy +locks from his forehead. His breath was growing shorter and shorter, but +there was no struggle. Suddenly his eyes opened, and with a smile of +recognition he greeted each one. + +"Oh," he faintly whispered, "Jesus is the way, Jesus is the way! Sing to +me my song, won't you, please?" + +With difficulty Esther and her father complied with the request, while +the doctor walked nervously up and down the room with Rosa still in his +arms. + + "Oh, how sweet it will be in that beautiful land, + So free from all sorrow and pain, + With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands, + To meet one another again!" + +As the words of the last verse died away, the soul took its flight to +rejoice forever in the presence of the King. + +"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be +to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." + +[Illustration] + + + + +VIII. + +DUST TO DUST. + + +The events of Sunday morning had occasioned much comment upon the part +of Dr. Fairfax's parishioners. + +The majority, after taking time for consideration, approved, and became +intensely interested to know the outcome of the strange proceeding. +During the few hours of grandpa's illness many messengers called to +learn the latest news, and it cheered the pastor's heart to find that +after all he was far from being alone in his love for God's neglected +poor. + +He had planned a quiet funeral, and was arranging to that effect when +requests from all sides began pouring in that it might be held in the +church. + +"It is a signal opportunity, father," Esther had said when consulted, so +a public funeral was soon announced together with another innovation. +Instead of the customary floral offerings, it was suggested that the +people bring gifts of money to place upon the casket, to be used in the +forwarding of city mission work. + +At the hour appointed, the small procession wended its way to the +church. + +Dr. Dale had found it advisable for himself and wife to join the funeral +party. It was natural that Esther should look after Mrs. Gray, who never +before had been in so fine a building, and it would be awkward for her +to have charge of Rosa as well. Then really the child was very nervous +and might suddenly need professional attention. All things considered, +there was no alternative: he must keep her with him. + +Both curiosity and genuine interest attracted a great crowd, causing the +pastor once more to feel his need of hiding behind the cross, that the +people might behold Jesus only. + +In all his wide and varied experience, this funeral pre-eminently was +the most unique. Conventionality was laid aside. There was no sermon, +but the story of the last few days of the victor's life was told so +graphically that the audience was held in almost breathless silence. + +"Brethren," said the speaker in closing, "how must we appear in the +sight of God, who loved us to the extent of giving His only Son to die +for our sins, when it is possible for one to live long, weary years in +our midst with none to tell him of Jesus? Can we expect ever to hear +from His lips the welcome plaudit, 'Well done!' when we are no more +zealous than this for the souls whom He came to save? + +"I fear that many who profess to love Him will fall far short of the +'abundant entrance,' and will stand ashamed before Him at His appearing. + +"Can it be true that we are selfish to the extent of being satisfied +simply with our own salvation, when His heart of infinite love and +compassion is yearning with unfathomable tenderness over the lost? + +"We have the opportunity now which angels may well covet, that of +leading souls to Christ. This priceless privilege is intrusted to us +only for the one brief moment of our earthly existence, and how we +should prize it above all things else! + +"Consider the fact that one million of years hence, yea, millions of +millions of years, your happiness and capacity for enjoying Christ and +heaven depend upon the manner of your spending this present vapor called +life. When eventually we are ushered through the gates of the Eternal +City, it will then be forever too late for this one blood-purchased +pleasure of telling salvation's story to the lost. + +"It seems a paradox that it is possible for one to be a Christian +without having a consuming passion for souls. But in reality the whole +matter centers not upon our love for those around us, but upon our love +for the Lord Jesus Himself. When we are in unbroken fellowship with +Christ, the natural result is love for those so dear to Him. 'The love +of Jesus is not an absorbing, but a radiating love. The more we love +Him, the more shall we most certainly love others.' Each new revelation +of Himself graciously granted unto His followers only draws us the +nearer to Him, the fountain of eternal love, where we drink to our fill +and are imbued with an all-consuming desire to carry the life-giving +water unto others. + +"Nor can we gaze long at the cross, at the cruelly mutilated brow of our +Saviour, at His body torn and bruised by the merciless scourging, at the +five bleeding wounds, nor can we listen to the cry of His broken heart, +'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?' without being melted with +love and filled with a holy zeal to serve Him every moment of our lives. +One real view of the cross changes all. The things of this life, where +we shall be located and how we shall be situated, will have no more +effect upon us, if only we may glorify Him. + +"Many have taken the first step, giving into His keeping their souls +for eternity, but will you not now, while beholding Him hanging on +yonder cross for you, give Him your lives as well? The only life worth +the living is the surrendered life. Time is uncertain, eternity sure. +Now and _only now_ may we prove to Him our love, and know the fellowship +of His sufferings. + +"I ask every Christian here today, who is willing henceforth to yield +his life, his time, his all, unconditionally into the hands of the +Master and to go forth seeking those who need help, to arise." + +The speaker, though pale from emotion, calmly folded his arms and looked +over the audience to see what the result might be. + +He knew that the crisis in the life of his church had arrived, and +should the King have the victory, or no? + +For a moment there was not a stir. Then the preacher himself could +scarcely believe what he saw. + +Dr. Dale, still holding Rosa in his arms, slowly arose, love and +determination being depicted upon the hitherto cold and dignified +countenance. The effect was pronounced. Soon hundreds were upon their +feet, while some one started the song: + + "I gave My life for thee, + My precious blood I shed + That thou might'st ransomed be + And quickened from the dead; + I gave My life for thee: + What hast thou done for Me? + + "My Father's house of light, + My glory-circled throne, + I left for earthly night, + For wanderings sad and lone; + I left it all for thee: + Hast thou left aught for Me? + + "I suffered much for thee, + More than thy tongue can tell, + Of bitterest agony, + To rescue thee from hell; + I've borne it all for thee: + What hast thou borne for Me? + + "And I have brought to thee, + Down from my home above, + Salvation full and free, + My pardon and My love; + I bring rich gifts to thee: + What hast thou brought to Me?" + +At the conclusion of the song the pastor led in a consecration prayer, +knowing that in many the bonds of worldliness were forever snapped +asunder, and that henceforth the victorious, overcoming life would be +theirs, making themselves heirs of the promise: "To him that overcometh +will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and +am set down with My Father in His throne." + +After a few moments of silence, the quartette softly sang "The Home of +the Soul," while a vast procession slowly marched before the casket, +placing upon it gifts of silver, gold and bank notes all in one great +heap. + +At last all that was earthly of him whose simple life and final victory +had proven so powerful a sermon, was tenderly carried out and laid to +rest in a beautiful lot purchased by Dr. Dale, while the setting sun was +painting the western sky with almost heavenly glory. + +"God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; +and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things +which are mighty." + +[Illustration] + + + + +IX. + +"A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." + + +The day was over. + +Esther and her father, possessed of a calm, holy joy deeper than ever +before, were seated in his study, while with them were Dr. and Mrs. +Dale, Rosa and Mrs. Gray. + +Esther had been undergoing a struggle, for it would be hard to give Rosa +up. She had planned to keep her as her own little sister, to educate +her, to train her in things both temporal and spiritual, and to guard +her till she should develop into a pure, strong, noble woman. + +Now she felt that it must be otherwise, for evidently God had so +determined. Knowing that His will always would be her deliberate choice, +could she see the end from the beginning as He can, she was growing +positively happy at this unexpected turn of events. It was a part of her +religion not to be simply passively submissive to His will, but in it +always to rejoice. The psalmist's declaration, "I delight to do Thy +will, O my God," was the expression of her heart's desire. + +Mrs. Dale, though with an eye upon the child, was quietly talking to +Mrs. Gray of the privileges and duties befalling the Christian. + +Dr. Dale was clasping Rosa closely to his breast, while now and then a +tear dropped upon her curly head. + +"Pastor," he said after a long interval of silence, "the battle has +raged fiercely since Sunday morning, but thanks be to God, He has given +me the strength with which to gain the victory. + +"You know how selfish I have been, how taken up with the affairs of this +world and the amassing of riches. For many years I have had no vital +interest in other things. I have prided myself upon my uprightness and +morality, considering that I was a worthy example for any to follow, and +a decidedly successful man. Now the fallacy of my position I see, and +realize that the best part of my life has been wasted--more than wasted! + +"When you walked down the aisle with Rosa and grandpa, Satan made upon +me a relentless onslaught. It seemed that there were two mighty and +opposing forces within, each struggling for the supremacy. I did not +yield entirely to the right till this afternoon, for I have gloried in +my reputation of being influenced by no one. + +"For years I have not been satisfied, knowing myself to be slipping +farther and farther away from God. I have longed for the joy of my first +love, but He could not take me back with my hands so tenaciously holding +to the things of this world. + +"Today the tempter told me that there would be no use in my +surrendering, for I would not prove true, and anyhow that it was only a +matter of excitement and not of firm conviction. I fully realize that I +have no power in myself, and that the first moment I look away from +Christ I shall fall. I am resting on the promise that He is able to keep +me from falling and to present me faultless before the presence of His +glory with exceeding joy. + +"Your message Sunday and your message today burned deeply into my soul, +but it is this little girl whom God was pleased to use in the breaking +of my stony, icy heart. I wish to take her as my own daughter, knowing +that she will lead me still closer to the Lord she loves so well. + +"Rosa," he asked tenderly, "are you willing to be my little girl +instead of my Margaret whom God has taken to Himself?" + +For her answer she slipped her arms about his neck and kissed him, while +Mrs. Dale smiled through her tears upon the happy pair. + +"My brother, may God bless you and keep you," fervently responded the +pastor, "leading you from victory up into victory. + +"You are not the only one to be filled with gratitude for having been +brought under the influence of this child. I too view life differently, +seeing more clearly than ever the duty, nay, privilege of personal +soul-saving work for the Master. Rosa's quest has brought me face to +face with the insignificance of this world, and the realities of the +next. Her attitude is only what that of every true follower of God +should be. Our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for +the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we could only remember our +position in Him, the surrendered life would be the natural outcome, and, +like Rosa, our faces continually would be turned toward the beautiful +land. + +"This is only another verification of the fact that a little child shall +lead them. + +"Yes, it means a rich and new blessing to me!" + +"And to me, too," softly sobbed Mrs. Gray, "fer it's all come through +her, the sweet lamb, and I've been a-threat'nin' to lick her. She was +that patient when my ankle was twisted, that I'll never fergit it, no +never! I can see now how she'd shake of fear when she'd come up to me, +then run to poor old father fer a bit of comfort. I didn't know it then, +but do now, that she was 'most a-starvin' fer the kind of love she +didn't git. How she must have missed her ma! Oh, I've been so awful +mean! I don't see how God can fergive me, but I know He has. I never +knew'd before that the Saviour is fer sech as me. Tom used to try to +tell me, and I wouldn't let him. He wuz good, and I wuzn't. And dear old +father! How happy he and Tom must be tonight, but it'll be dreadfully +lonesome with them all gone. I wish I could have Rosa back ag'in, though +I'm awful glad she's to have sech a good home. And I made sech a fuss +about a-keepin' her till spring. If it hadn't been fer her, I don't know +how I'd ever got along when I couldn't walk. But God has fergive me now, +and I feel like another woman." + +"I'll go back with you, Mis' Gray," faltered Rosa, "if you want me to." + +"No, my child, you promised to stay with me," interrupted the doctor, +"but you may visit Mrs. Gray every week, and I shall see that she never +wants for anything again." + +[Illustration: Dr. Dale and Rosa.] + +"Ain't He a wonderful Saviour?" said Mrs. Gray, brightening up. "I +can't see how 'tis, but I love them all over there on Burton street now, +and I used to be that ugly they're all afraid of me, I know. Seems like +I can hardly wait till mornin', I'm that anxious to git back to tell +them all about it. They're all so poor, and have sech heavy loads. They +need Him bad to help them, but they don't know He's promised to. And +Billy Bruce, the poor laddie, I want to tell him how sorry I am fer +a-tryin' to throw that piece of coal at him. His ma's drunk most of the +time, and so's his pa. He used to come to me fer somethin' to eat, and I +wouldn't give him a thing, but jest scold him and tell him to git out of +the way, fer I didn't feed beggars. He ain't never had no chance yet, +and I'm jest a-goin' to see what I can do fer him. He's got a good +heart, and once he told me I'd never lick Rosa if he wuz only a little +bigger. He'll run when he see me a-comin', but I'll put some peppermints +in my pocket, and mebbe they'd help catch him." + +"Oh, Mrs. Gray," said Esther, "I am so glad that you are going to help +Billy. I saw him the other day, and feel sure that you can bring him +around all right. I shall come over often to assist you, and I know that +many will find the same dear Friend in whom you are rejoicing tonight. + +"How wonderfully has the Lord's hand been guiding since first I saw +Rosa that cold December day; and the end is not yet!" + +For several minutes the little company sat in silence, each one buried +in thoughts too deep and sacred to find expression in words. + +Presently Rosa lifted her head from the doctor's shoulder, her lustrous +eyes becoming more luminous than ever, as she said: + +"Oh, how glad I am that I have found the way to the beautiful land! +Mother's there, and don't cough no more. Grandpa's there, and we're all +going some day, 'cause Jesus paid the fare a long time ago!" + + + + +AFTERWORD. + + +One bitterly cold December day, while riding in a streetcar in a large +city, a frail-looking little girl, bending beneath the weight of a huge +package, entered the car, sitting directly in front of me. She was +thinly, though neatly, clad. Her pale face was overshadowed by an +expression of care far too old for her baby shoulders, while her eyes +were large, dark, and pathetically wistful. + +There was something irresistible about her whole appearance, impelling +me to cross the aisle and sit down by her side. + +She told me that her name was Rosa, and the conversation which followed, +suggested the story, "ROSA'S QUEST." + +I asked her if she knew anything about Jesus. To this she replied: + +"Not much, ma'am, but it seems like I've heard just a little." + +Of heaven and the way of salvation she was as ignorant as a child in the +wilds of Africa. The sad expression of her face did not alter till I +quoted John 3:16, then looking up with a smile she said: + +"Ain't that pretty?" + +For some time we talked, her hungry soul eagerly drinking in the old, +old story, but to her so new. + +Suddenly she left the car, and with a sense of deep depression, I saw +her disappear amid a great, seething mass of humanity. + +If she has not succumbed to the hardships of poverty, she probably is +still toiling on in that proud "Christian" city, and has any one taught +her more of Jesus than she knew that day? + +Who will be responsible for these lost souls, constantly coming into +contact with those who profess to know the Lord? + +Why is it that so many Christians view life from an inverted standpoint, +attaching apparently vastly more importance to the few brief years spent +upon this earth, than to the countless cycles of eternity? Why not view +it normally, making our one business that of serving that blessed +Christ? + +Surely the saddest word in a Christian's vocabulary is indifference. +By-and-by many a one would doubtless gladly forfeit ten thousand years +of heavenly bliss just to recall the wasted opportunities of this day. + +It is an incomparable privilege to be a child of the King, and the only +way in which one may prove his appreciation and loyalty is by the degree +of consecration and quality of service rendered. + +At the day of Christ's appearing there will be many an unrewarded +Christian, saved eternally by the precious blood of God's sacrificial +Lamb, but with no glittering starry crown to cast at those once-pierced +and bleeding feet! + +If the reading of this little story draws any nearer to the Lord, +influencing them to become more diligent in their search for the lost, +it shall accomplish that whereunto it is prayerfully sent. + + + + +MAN'S QUESTIONS; GOD'S ANSWERS + + +Am I accountable to God? + + "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans + 14:12). + +Has God seen all my ways? + + "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom + we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13). + +Does He charge me with sin? + + "The Scripture hath concluded all under sin" (Galatians 3:22). + "All have sinned" (Romans 3:23). + +Will He punish sin? + + "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). + + "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). + +Must I perish? + + "God is not willing that any perish, but that all should come + to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). + +How can I escape? + + "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" + (Acts 16:31). + +Is He _able_ to save me? + + "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto + God by Him" (Hebrews 7:25). + +Is He willing? + + "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy + 1:15). + +Am I saved on believing? + + "He that believeth on the Son _hath_ everlasting life" (John + 3:36). + +Can I be saved now? + + "_Now_ is the accepted time; behold, _now_ is the day of + salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). + +As I am? + + "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). + +Shall I not fall away? + + "Him that is able to keep you from falling" (Jude 24). + +If saved, how should I live? + + "They which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, + but unto Him which died for them" (2 Corinthians 5:25). + +What about death, and eternity? + + "I go to prepare a place for you; that _where I am_, there ye + may be also" (John 14:2, 3). + + + * * * * * + + +LIFE on the HIGHEST PLANE + +_By_ RUTH PAXSON + +Now, all 3 volumes in one book. 820 pages, + + +[Illustration] + +The three volumes, "THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST"; "THE +RELATION BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN"; and "THE BELIEVER'S +RESPONSE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT'S INWORKING" have now been combined, +without revision and with fourteen colored charts included in one handy +volume. These Bible studies were first given in embryo to pastors, +evangelists, teachers, and other Christian leaders in conferences held +in China. Later, printed in three volumes, they brought great blessing +to many. + + +_Other Books by Ruth Paxson_ + +GOD'S PLAN OF REDEMPTION + + It will aid one in personal Bible study or provide a practical + outline for study groups. The questions are based on the + teaching in each chapter of "Life on the Highest Plane." Can be + used with or without the larger book. 48 pages, paper, + +CALLED UNTO HOLINESS + + Addresses given at Keswick's Conference in England. Sounds the + clarion call to a more holy life. Here is victory for the + defeated; deliverance for the enslaved; rest for the weary; + peace for the discouraged; and joy for the sorrowing. 126 + pages, paper, + +RIVERS OF LIVING WATER + + Studies Setting Forth the Believer's Possession of Christ, How + Obtained--How Maintained. Multitudes of Christians are living a + dry and thirsty existence when the Lord is waiting to give them + His very best--rivers of living water! Perhaps few Christians + have heard or read the Divine plan and purpose for the life of + the believer presented so tersely, simply and clearly, and + withal so lovingly and compellingly. 124 pages, paper, + +CALEB, THE OVERCOMER + + An inspiring account of this outstanding Bible character, a man + out of the common run of people who lived a life brilliant in + faith, obedience and courage. 80 pages, paper, + +MOODY PRESS. 153 Institute Pl., Chicago 10, Ill. + + * * * * * + +BIBLE LESSONS IN BIBLE ORDER + +(_For Teachers of Children_) + +BY MRS. FRANK HAMILTON + +Vol. I: THE PENTATEUCH + +Vol. II: JOSHUA TO SOLOMON + +Vol. III: THE KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH: + _Concluding lessons from the Old Testament_ + +Vol. IV: THE LIFE OF CHRIST-- + _Matthew, Mark, Luke, John_ + +Vol. V: THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES _and Program Material_ + +With the use of the blackboard and objects, the lessons in Bible order, +beginning with Genesis, are taught in a way that the child can _see_ +them as well as _hear_ them, and thus be able to _retain_ them. + +Each lesson begins with a Golden Text, which may be used as a memory +verse, after which the story is told in a manner that will interest the +young. At the close of each section, blackboard suggestions are given. +There are maps and pages of blackboard drawings. + +Teachers of the Beginners, Primary and Junior grades in Sunday Schools +and Vacation Bible Schools, as well as parents in the home, who +recognize the importance of following a _consecutive_ course of Bible +lessons, will find these books of great value. They are practical and +true to the Word. They are full of suggestions that can be developed by +the skilful teacher. + + Mrs. Hamilton is an exceptionally successful teacher of + children. She had charge of Primary and Junior Departments of + large and successful Sunday Schools for many years. She has + been Superintendent of Instruction of a Primary Sunday School + Teachers' Union. Summer Bible Schools have also come within the + author's experience. + +Vols. I, II, III and V, 112 pages each; Vol. IV, 144 pages + +Durable Art Stock Covers. Each, 60 Cents + +THE MOODY PRESS +153 Institute Place Chicago. Ill., U.S.A. + + * * * * * + +The Moody COLPORTAGE Library + + +Uniform in size and style, attractive paper covers, 4-3/4 x 6-3/4 +inches. 25c each. + +1. All of Grace. C.H. Spurgeon +2. The Way to God. D.L. Moody +3. Pleasure & Profit In Bible Study. Moody +4. Life, Warfare and Victory. Whittle +5. Heaven. D.L. Moody +6. Prevailing Prayer. D.L. Moody +7. The Way of Life. Various authors +8. Secret Power. D.L. Moody +9. To the Work. D.L. Moody +10. According to Promise. C.H. Spurgeon +11. Bible Characters. D.L. Moody +13. "And Peter." J.W. Chapman +15. Light on Life's Duties, F.B. Meyer +18. The Good Shepherd. Life of Christ + +20. Sovereign Grace. D.L. Moody +21. Select Sermons. D.L. Moody +23. Nobody Loves Me. Mrs. O.F. Walton + +26. Sowing and Reaping. D.L. Moody +28. "Probable Sons." Story. Amy LeFeuvre +30. Good News. Robert Boyd + +34. The Second Coming of Christ +40. The Power of a Surrendered Life, or Kadesh-Barnes. J.W. Chapman +42. Whiter Than Snow and Little Dot--Stories. Mrs. O.F. Walton +44. The Overcoming Life. D.L. Moody +48. The Prodigal. Various authors +49. The Spirit-Filled Life. John MacNeil +50. Jessica's First Prayer. Hesba Stretton +51. The Christ-Life for the Self-Life. Meyer +54. Absolute Surrender. Andrew Murray +58. What is Faith? Spurgeon, Moody, etc. +57. Christie's Old Organ--A story. Walton + +60. Weighed and Wanting. D.L. Moody +61. The Crew of the Dolphin. Hesba Stretton +63. Meet for the Master's Use. F.B. Meyer +64. Our Bible. C. Leach and R.A. Torrey +65. Alone in London. Hesba Stretton +66. Moody's Anecdotes + +70. The Power of Pentecost. Thomas Waugh +71. Men of the Bible. D.L. Moody +72. A Peep Behind the Scenes. O.F. Walton + +76. Moody's Stories + +81. Thoughts for Quiet Hour. D.L. Moody +82. The Shorter Life of D.L. Moody. Fitt + +86. Moody's Latest Sermons + +88. Calvary's Cross. Spurgeon, Whittle, etc. +89. How to Pray. R.A. Torrey +90. Little King Davie--Story. Nellie Hellis +91. Short Talks. D.L. Moody +93. Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan +96. Kept for the Master's use. Havergal +98. Back to Bethel. F.B. Meyer + +102. Popular Amusements and the Christian Life. P.W. Sinks +104. Answers to Prayer. George Muller +105. The Way Home. D.L. Moody +109. Life of David Livingstone. Worcester +114. First Words to Young Christians. Boyd +115. Rosa's Quest--A Story. Anna P. Wright +116. Difficulties in the Bible. R.A. Torrey +119. Practical and Perplexing Questions Answered. R.A. Torrey + +123. Salvation from Start to Finish. Gray + +126. Burton Street Folks. Anna P. Wright +127. Bible Problems Explained. J.M. Gray +128. Papers on The Lord's Coming. "C.H.M." +129. Christian: Creed and Conduct. Evans +130. Intercessory Prayer. J.G.K. McClure + +132. Ruth, the Moabitess. Henry Moorhouse +134. Forty-Eight Bernard Street. Clark +135. Deliverance from the Penalty and Power of Sin. O.R. Palmer +136. Mrs. Mary's Go-Tell. Graham Clark +137. Bird's-Eye Bible Study. A. Patterson +138. "I Cried, He Answered." + +143. Moving Messages. J.C. Massee +144. The Christ We Know. A.C. Gaebelein +145. Five "Musts" of the Christian Life. F.B. Meyer +146. The New Life in Christ Jesus. Scofield +147. Problems in the Prayer Life. Buswell + +151. The Faith that Wins. Roy T. Brumbaugh +152. God's Way of Holiness. H. Bonar +153. Souls Set Free. Mission field miracles +154. Thinking with God. Norman H. Camp +155. "Charge That to My Account." Ironside + +158. Antidote to Christian Science. Gray +159. Is the Bible the Word of God? Scroggle +160. And God Spake These Words. W.H. Griffith Thomas +161. Methods of Bible Study. Thomas +162. Romance of a Doctor's Visits. Wilson +163. The Little Shepherd. Anna P. Wright +164. God's Picked Young Men. H.K. Pasma +165. The Cross of Christ. James H. Todd +168. By Ways Appointed. Briggs P. Dingman +167. Miracles in a Doctor's Life. Wilson +168. The Living Christ. Will H. Houghton + +171. Full Assurance. H.A. Ironside + +173. A Sure Remedy. Walter L. Wilson + +175. Vivid Experiences in Korea. Chisholm +176. The "True" Mystery Solved. Wright +177. The Resurrection of the Human Body. Norman H. Camp +178. On Silver Creek Knob. Story. Cannon + +180. Remarkable New Stories. W.L. Wilson +181. Rivers of Living Water. Ruth Paxson +182. "Called Unto Holiness." Ruth Paxson +183. The Soul-Winner's Fire. John R. Rice +185. Aunt Hattie's Bible Stories--Genesis. H.I. Fisher + +187. In His Hands--Story. Harriett Heine +188. Great Words of the Gospel. Ironside +189. So Great Salvation. J.F. Strombeck + +_Ask for descriptive folder._ + +MOODY PRESS 153 Institute Place +(Dept. MCL) Chicago 10 + + * * * * * + +THE EVANGEL BOOKLETS + +A series of brief, timely messages of supreme importance, and gospel +stories, by evangelical preachers and teachers, Christian workers and +laymen. 32-page booklets, self-cover. + +1. God Is Love. An appeal to the unsaved. D.L. Moody. + +2. God Reaching Down. Messages to the unconverted. C.H. Spurgeon. + +4. Jack Winsted's Choice. A Gospel story. Lillian E. Andrews. + +6. Ruined, Redeemed, Regenerated. C.H. Mackintosh. + +7. By the Old Mill. Story. Katherine Elise Chapman. + +8. The Day After Thanksgiving. Story. Mrs. S.R. Graham Clark. + +9. True Stories About God's Free Gift. Alexander Marshall. + +10. Lois Dudley Finds Peace. Story. Anna Potter Wright. + +12. The Penitent Thief, and Naaman the Syrian. D.L. Moody. + +13. Adder's Eggs and Spider's Webs. H.A. Ironside. + +14. Samuel Morris. The true story of a Spirit-filled African. + +16. Saved and Safe. Salvation, Assurance and Security. Fred J. +Meldau. + +17. "In the Beginning God--" and other Talks. Mark A. Matthews. + +18. Christian Science: Pedigree, Principles, Posterity. Percy W. +Stephens. + +19. Modern Education at the Cross-Roads. M.H. Duncan. + +20. Is the Bible True? Nashville address. Wm. Jennings Bryan. + +21. How to Read the Word of God Effectively. A.T. Pierson. + +22. The Most Important Thing in My Life. The testimony of Dr. Howard +A. Kelly, world-famous surgeon. William S. Dutton. + +23. Where Are the Dead? H.C. Marshall. + +25. Mary Antipas. Story. Howard W. Pope. + +26. Four Old Pals. Story. Frederick Burnham. + +28. Dios es Amor (God Is Love). Spanish edition of No. 1. + +29. Forethought in Creation. W. Bell Dawson. + +30. Bryan's Last Word on Evolution. William Jennings Bryan. + + +33. The Double Cure. A Gospel appeal. Melvin E. Trotter. + +35. Old Truths for Young Lives. For children. + +37. How to Have a Happy Home. Harold Francis Branch. + +38. The Peril of Unbelief and the Danger of Doubt. D.L. Moody. + +39. Moody the Evangelist. Joseph B. Bowles. + +40. The Only Begotten Son. H.A. Ironside. + +42. Tom Bennett's Transformation. Story. Howard W. Pope. + +43. Will a God of Love Punish Any of His Creatures Forever? Alexander +Marshall. + +45. Intercession for Revival. Helen C. Alexander Dixon. + +46. With Everlasting Love. Story. Elzoe Prindle Stead. + +47. How the Word Works. Fred J. Meldau. + +48. Why I Believe the Bible. M.H. Duncan. + +49. Caught. Story. C.S. Knight. + +50. The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy. John R. Riebe. + +51. A Life Decision in the Sand Hills. Story. Ronald R. Kratz. + +52. Love's Danger Signal. Doctrine of future retribution. John G. +Reid. + +53. Pictures That Talk, Series One. E.J. Pace. + +54. Pictures That Talk, Series Two. E.J. Pace. + +56. My One Question Answered: Was Jesus Christ a Great Teacher Only? +R.D. Sheldon. + +57. Modern Miracles of Grace. John Wilmot Mahood. + +58. How to Study the Bible. A helpful outline. B.B. Sutcliffe. + +59. What is Your Answer? Oswald J. Smith. + +60. Deus E Amor (God Is Love) Portuguese edition of No. 1. + +61. The True and False in Christian Work and Worship. M.H. Duncan. + +62. What Must I Do to be Saved? George E. Guille. + +63. The Man in the Well. Other religious faiths. Oswald J. Smith. + +64. Why All "Good People" Will Be Lost. J.E. Conant. + + +66. The Compromise Road. Story. Paul Hutchens. + +67. An Hundredfold. Stewartship. David McConoughy. + +68. Death or Life, Which? A clear presentation. Oswald J. Smith. + +69. Bernard Enters the Race. Story. Anna Potter Wright. + +70. The Trial of Jesus. Harold F. Branch. + +71. The Christian's Citizenship. M.H. Duncan. + +72. Atheism and the Bible. A startling revelation. Oswald J. Smith. + +73. Galatians. God's answer to legalism. B.B. Sutcliffe. + +74. O Sangue. (The Blood) Portuguese. D.L. Moody. + +75. Who is a Christian? Timely questions answered. Oswald J. Smith. + +76. Broken Life-Line. Story. Paul Hutchens. + +77. Eagle Christians. Harry McCormick Lintz. + +78. Elisha Rice. Man of God--Mountaineer. Helen R. Blankenship. + +79. The Master Touch. Rebuilt Lives. William Seath. + +80. The Bully of Stony Lonesome. Story. Charles S. Knight. + +81. The Stolen Pearl. Story. Paul Hutchens. + +Each, 10c; 12 copies (any assortment), $1.00; 100, $7.00 + +Attractive rates on large quantities. + +MOODY PRESS 153 INSTITUTE PLACE +Chicago 10, Ill., U.S.A. + + * * * * * + +CHRISTIAN FICTION + +SUN IN THE STREET--By John Leonard Lovdahl + +[Illustration] + +A gripping novel of Revolutionary France. Rugged, God-fearing Georges +Gerot; frugal, hardworking Mama Gerot; Jacques, the prodigal elder +brother who decides to test his own theories of life; François, the +younger son who becomes a missionary--these are the central characters +in this fascinating account of spiritual conflict and romance. 264 +pages; cloth cover + + +NOT MY WILL--By Francena H. Arnold + +Strong in plot and characters, this easy-to-read novel portrays events +in the life of headstrong Eleanor Stewart who discovers that fortune +plays strange tricks on those who try to manage their lives to please +themselves. She seeks peace in vain until she surrenders her life +completely to Christ. 334 pages; cloth cover + + +THE YEAR OF THE TIGER--By John Bechtel + +This exciting story of China portrays vividly the experiences of the +Tsui family, and what the ill-omened Year of the Tiger, occurring every +twelfth year, meant to them. Written by a missionary who knows Chinese +life. Fascinating reading. 224 pages; cloth cover + + +COLORING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN + +By Dorothy Grunbock Johnston and Emmy Lou Osborne Murphy + + +TOGNIA: School Boy of India + +[Illustration] + +Previous books in this series have been eagerly received by children and +parents, for this team knows what appeals to the very youngest. This +book is the heart-warming story of a little Indian boy who comes to know +the Lord Jesus. 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