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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1892)
THE HESPERIAN 0 thorn and his bluo oyos gazed at thorn with torriblo oarnostncss. "Show us how, Lou," said quo littlo follow in an awed whispor. Lou knolt down in the cavo, his long, shaggy hair hung down over his faco, and his voico tromblod as ho spoko: u Oh God, they call tho many long nainos in thy book, thy prophets; but wo aro only simple folk, tho boys aro all littlo and I am weak headed over since I was born, thoreforo, lot us call thee Father, for thy other names aro hard to romombor. O Fathor, wo aro so thirsty, all tho world is thirsty; tho crooks aro all dried up, and tho rivor is so low that tho fishes die and rot in it; tho corn is almost gone; tho hay is light; and oven tho littlo flowers aro no moro beautiful. 0 God! our corn may yet bo saved. O, give us rain ! Our corn means so much to us, if it fails, all our pigs and cattle will die, and we ourselves come very near it; but if you do not send rain, O Father, ard if tho ond is indeed come, bo morcif ul to thy groat, wicked world. They do many wrong things, but I think thoy for get thy word, for it is a long book to remem ber, and some are little, and some aro born weak headed, like mo, and some aro born very strong headed, which is near as bad. Oh, forgive them their abominations in all tho world, both in Denmark and here, for tho fire hurts so, O God ! Amen." Tho littlo boys knelt and each said a few blundering words. Outside, tho sun shone brightly and tho cattle nibbled at tho short, dry grass, and the hot wind blew through the shriveled corn; within tho cave, they knelt as many another had knolt before them, some in temples, some in prison colls, some in the caves of earth, and One , indeed, in tho garden, praying for the sin of tho world. Tho next day, Lou went to town, and prayed in the streets. . When the people saw his emaciated frame and wild eyes, and heard his wild words, they told tho sheriif to do his duty, tho man must be mad. Then Lou ran away; he ran for miles, thon walked and limped and stumbled on, until he reached tho cavo; thoro tho boys found him in tho morning. Tho officials hunted him for days, but ho hid in tho cavo, and the little Danes kopt his socrot well. Thoy shared their dinners with him, and prayod with him all day long, Thoy had always liked him, but now they would havo gone straight through tiro for him, any ono of them, thoy almost worshipped him. Ho had about him that mysticism which always appoals so quickly to children. I havo always thought that boar story which tho Ilobrows used to toll thoir children vory improbable. If it was true, thon I havo my doubts about tho prophet ; no ono in the world will hoot at insincero and affected pioty sooner than a child, but no ono fools tho true prophetic flame, quickor, no ono is moro readily touched by simplo goodness. A very young child can tell a sincero man better than any phronologist. Ono morning, ho told tho boy that ho had had another "true dream." He was not going to die like other men, but God was going to take him to himself as ho was. The end of the world was close at hand, too vory close. Ho prayed moro than usual that day, and whon they sat eating thoir dinner in th'e sunshine, ho suddenly sprang to his feet and stared wildly south, crying, "See, see, it is the great light! the end comes!! and thoy do not know it; thoy will keep on sin ning, I must tell them, I must!" "No, no, Lou, they will catch you; thoy are looking for you, you must not go !" "I must go, my boys; but first let mo speak once more to you. Men would not heed mo, or believe me, because my head is weak, but you havo always believed in mo, that God has revealed his word to me, and I will pray God to take you to himself quickly, for yo aro worthy. Watch and pray always, boys, watch tho light, over tho bluffs, it is breaking, breaking, and shall grow brighter. Good bye, my boys, I must leave ye in the world yet awhile." He kissed them ail tenderly and blessed thom, and started south. He walked at first, then ho ran, faster and. faster ho wont, all tho ! ' ' i i ( ! t . t! ! i ! i! i:
