THE HESPERJAN
like I've growod wickeder und wickeder
every year. I've knowed all along that I
orter bo bottor." Mrs. Boadlo began to
weep.
The minister drew his Bible from his
pocket, and turning to the first psalm, be
gan: "BlesBed is the man that walkelh not
in the counsel of the ungodly." When he
had finished the reading of the first psalm,
he turned to the twenty-third and read it.
Aftor waiting a few minutes ho said: UI
have nothing of this world's goods. I am
worth no more monoy than are you, my
friends. But 'The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want.' He may try me very
sorely with misfortune; He may keep me
poor always. But, as I read in the first
psalm 'The Lord knowoth the way of the
righteous.' Through the blood of Christ
Jesus I am to-day righteous in God's sight.
I would rather have God know my way;
have His eyes watching my path, ovon
though it be through trouble and sorrow
and poverty, than by great wealth to attract
the attention of mon. You notice also,
friends, that the word says 'Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly.' It does not say, 'Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the un
godly if he is rich;' but, 'Blessed is the
man any man, rich or poor.' Poverty
with Christ is eternal riches. If you and I
friends, must live poor, let us have Christ."
After a short silence the minister said:
"Are you willing to take Christ as your
savior to-day, my friends?" I am if my
wife is," came from the corner where Lish
sat, and ho looked over at his weeping wife.
Mrs. Beadle made no reply for a time.
Then she said: "I will."
"Let us pray," said the minister, and ho
offered a short petition for the wife, her hus
band and children. Then ho asked Lish to
pray.
But he sat loaning against the wall with
lowered head and silent lips. "Can you
not offer just a word of prayer, Mr. Boadlo?"
asked the minister. "Can you not ask God
to forgive your sins and to accept you
through the blood of His Son?" Not a
word came from Lish. Ho sat silent for five
minutes while the minister waited. Then
addressing Mrs. Boadlo, he said: "Mrs.
Beadle, will you pray? Just a word."
Soon the prayer came. Very simply it was ;
very faltering, but from the heart. She
prayed for herself, for her husband, for her
children, acknowledging sin and asking
pardon. "Now just a few words from you,
Mr. Beadle. It is God who is to save you
if you are to be saved." Again there was a
long silence. The minister finally arose,
and after advising Mrs. Beadle to read the
scriptures and to pray daily, he shook hands
with each one and left the house.
That evening at the supper table, the
minister was telling his companion of the
experience ho had with Mr. Beadle. "It is
the strangest case I have ever had anything
to do with. Until the moment we knelt in
prayer ho said ho was willing to accept
Christ, if his wife would do so. Ho evi
dently thought ho was willing till it came to
the test. I shall go to see him again to
morrow morning before we go." Just then
the oldest girl opened the door of the dining
room and said: "Pap's sick and wants, to
see y'u." "Tell him I will be there in a
minute," ho said to the girl, and then added
to his companion, "Sick! I am not a doctor;
but I had bottor go, if he wants to see me."
When he entered the shanty door five
minutes later ho found Lish rolling about on
the feather bed, in a high fever. Mr.
Beadle reached out his hand to him saying:
"I wanted to see y'u, mister. I thought
maybe y'u might go off and I might'nt see
y'u agin, boin' as 1 am took sick. I wanted
to tell y'u that after y'u went away this
mornin' I gave up and prayed. I couldn't
this mornin' 'cause there kept runnin' in my
head that script'r verso what says: 'Ho
that p'rvidos not for his own family is worse
than an infidel.' But I settled it sir, and I
hitched up the nags right away to help my
brother who's been wantin' mo to help make
hay for some time. But I took sick this
evonin' and wanted to toll y'u sir, 'cause
y'u've been real good to me and to all of us."
Norman B. Barr.
