THE HESPERIAN
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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
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