SEVERAL years ago some young officers were assembled in the quarters of one of their number in the— barracks to pass the evening in card playing. They were, for the most part, gay, careless young men; and although but lately returned from the Crimea, the scenes of death and bloodshed they had there witnessed had left little impression upon them, the awful realities of eternity never occupying their thoughts.
Not one among that merry party was in higher spirits than Captain H., and yet he had not always been thus careless. When quite a child, he had been led to see himself as a sinner, and to think of Jesus as the Saviour; but the world and its attractions had lured his heart from Christ, and he saw now outwardly as gay and thoughtless as any of his companions.
Yet conscience had not been quite silent, for in the midst of scenes of gaiety, thoughts of death, hell, and eternity, had often forced themselves upon him, and while in the Crimea, surrounded by danger and death, though fighting bravely and winning many honors, as the medals on his breast testified, his thoughts had been often occupied with these solemn subjects, and he longed for the simple faith of his childhood, with its accompanying peace. But this evening he was in spirit as far from the Lord as the poor prodigal in the far country was from the father’s house, and was trying, as he did, to satisfy himself with the husks.
But what was the matter with their young host? He was usually as gay as any, but now a strange depression weighed upon him; he did not join in the card playing, but sat cowering in silence over the fire. His brother officers tried to rouse him from his unusual gloom. “You look as if a dreadful doom were hanging over you,” one laughingly said; but nothing that he or they could do could shake it off, and when at length they separated for the night, they left him in the same state.
Next morning his servant lit the fire, and made ready the breakfast for his young master, who had not yet risen; then, as his master did not appear, the man gently opened the bedroom door to awake him. What an awful sight met his gaze! That young, gay, thoughtless master, would never wake again. There he lay—dead! With a cry of horror the man fled to call for help. Among the first who entered the room was Captain H., he had seen death in many forms, but never had he been so overwhelmed with horror and remorse. Here on the table lay the cards they had used the evening before, and there on the bed in the adjoining room lay the form of his brother officer, cold in death.
Only a few hours ago he had laughed at him for his gloomy silence, and tried to engage him in the game of cards. How little he then thought that they were the last few precious hours of his life. Others came into the room and gazed in silent awe on that sad, sad sight, and went away sobered for a time, but soon to become as thoughtless as ever. Not so Captain H., it was to him the turning point in his life, a solemn warning sent home to his heart and conscience by the God whose grace he had slighted so long.
The uncertainty of life, the reality of death and judgment, came before him as they had never done before. From this time he was a changed man. As a prodigal he had wandered far, but now he arose and returned to his Father, and was welcomed with joy.
A few days after, all that remained of the once gay young officer was laid in the grave with military honors. One in the procession, which followed him to the grave, walked with subdued and solemnized spirit, for that sudden summons which had called his brother officer into eternity, had been to Captain H. the beginning of new life in Christ; he saw the fearful danger in which he had been and his heart was full of thankfulness to God for having opened his eyes before it was too late. Thenceforth he became a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus, delighting to preach to perishing sinners the glad tidings of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
M. M. B.
REJOICE, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. (Eccl. 11:99Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 11:9)).