ON the North American frontier there lived a peaceful tribe of Cree Indians who made their living by bartering beaver skins with the white men.
As they came to the market one day, dressed in their native costume, a drummer boy, belonging to a regiment of soldiers who guarded the frontier, began to sneer at the red-skinned traders, and to use abusive language toward them in presence of his comrades. Not satisfied with that, the foolish boy ran up and struck the foremost of the party—who was an aged Indian—in the face with his drumstick, causing the blood to flow. This wanton act caused indignation even among the soldiers, and when it reached the officer’s ears, he gave order to have the young scapegrace whipped. On the morrow the lad was brought out in the midst of the assembled troops to receive his punishment, and two officers were sent across to the old Indian’s hut to ask him to come and see the punishment inflicted on his young assailant.
“Let the white boy go free,” said the aged Indian; “he did not mean to hurt me.”
“He must suffer the penalty all the same,” said the officer, and orders were given for the young drummer to strip. Seeing his remonstrance was in vain, the Indian threw aside his blanket, and stepping out to the post said, “Then flog me, not the boy.”
A murmur of admiration ran through the company as the old Indian stood with his shoulders bare, head bent and arms folded, to receive the stripes due to the drummer boy, who stood, with quivering lips and teat-fill eyes, looking on in wonder. Touched by the noble act, the officer said to the drummer,
“Boy, you have escaped what you richly deserved. The man whom you injured has shown you a noble example which I have never seen equaled: go, and profit by it,” From that day the drummer boy was the Indian’s friend. That noble deed changed his heart, so that ever after he loved him.
This is a faint picture of the love of Jesus, who suffered—the Just for the unjust—to save sinners from the just punishment of their sins. Has the love of Jesus won your heart and caused you to love Him in return? Can you say, “The Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me”? Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20), “We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:1919We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19). There never was or will be love like His.
“O wondrous grace, O love beyond degree—
The Offended died to set the offender free.”
ML-06/23/1935