LIGHTS out, traffic stopped, and one strange visitor; at least, hovering overhead—such was the situation on a cold night a few months ago. The special constables were on duty, and every other official that can be named was called out; and the one dread whisper passed from lip to lip— “Zeppelins!”.
One troop of firemen had been specially busy, and when the fourth fire was extinguished they were called to the fifth, This was in the slums of the city, and not a serious one, so it was quickly got under, and the firemen prepared to go home, As one of them changed his helmet for a more comfortable cap, a paper fluttered from the former and fell at the feet of the, crowd that had gathered. “Hi!” they called loudly, “you’ve dropped your love-letter.”
The fire-man stooped and took it up. “Yes, you’re, quite right. It is a love-letter,” he said.
“Read it to us!” shouted someone, and a peal of laughter followed.
The fireman stepped to a point of vantage and held the letter aloft. “Yes, I’ll read it to you,” he said, and in the astonished silence of the crowd he read the matchless words of John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
Then he spoke a few simple words—his first sermon—on the love of God, the sacrifice of His, Son; and immediately Zeppelins, fires, and night-alarms were forgotten: The crowd listened, spell-bound, and who shall say what will be the end of it?
“He wasn’t afraid!” they cried as the fireman finished.
“Ready for Zepps, or anything he was. His love letter helped him, he’s a good ‘un! Le’ts give him a cheer as he goes away.
And the fireman went away, praying that his love letter might be theirs too.
KAY
“Dear Sir—You will think it very strange of me to write to you like this, but I am enclosing a card with my address on it, and I want to ask you on behalf of other nine men besides myself if you would send ten books instead of one. We are all in the same tent, and every night we have a hymn and a prayer, and, if we had the Testaments we would have a Bible class and ask others to join us. 1 Think you will agree with me that it is a good idea to prepare us for what is to come. We have all agreed to put 3d. towards your expenses if you wish it so. Dear sir, kindly do your best. Before. I close I would like to tell you what happened on Sunday. We (the whole company numbered about 500 men were assembled in the open for morning service. We all sang three, hymns, ‘The Church’s one foundation, ‘Our-blessed Redeemer ere He breathed,’ and ‘Rock of ages,’ and when we sang the latter at least half of the men were in tears. It was a touching scene, but it made a lot realize that there is a God. This war has anyhow done one good turn, and that is it has taken a lot of conceit and pride out of us. Well, dear sir, this is all this time—Pte. C. C.”