When he spoke of these things his two fellow passengers who sat opposite, and whose interest and sympathy were deepening, told him that God’s care had been over him, and that the Lord had spared him from a terrible death, perhaps to bring him to Himself. This touched the poor man’s heart, and he began to grow tender as his friends spoke of the love that was in God’s heart and how God was seeking such as he; of how utterly worthless his own goodness was in God’s sight, but that when he was willing to take his true place as lost, before God, he would be where God would take Him up. He listened but had little to say in reply. After a minute’s silence, he jerked the flask of liquor from his pocket and dashed it upon the hard-stone road, breaking it to pieces and spilling its contents. This caused the passengers who had but imperfectly heard the conversation, to open their eyes in astonishment; but one of the two who had been talking with him leaned over a little and quietly said “That’s good!” Another minute and that great strong man was bowed, his face upon his hands, and he weeping and sobbing like a little child, while his frame shook with emotion. The poor man was deeply moved. Significant glances were exchanged among the passengers who scarcely seemed to understand it. But after the first outburst of emotion had passed, the two who were seeking his soul’s good, again put before him God’s grace in seeking after him. When he was able to control himself so as to speak, he began to denounce himself in strong terms. What a change! Before it had been only self-justification, now he recognized that he was far from being what he should be.
As the, coach rolled on, the conversation continued, and again and again the poor man was overcome and burst into tears. The fountains of his heart seemed broken up. He spoke with tenderness and affection of his wife and two boys, and of his desires for them; he spoke, too, of the difficulties of leading a better life, connected as he was with a service that led him to write for others what was dishonest and untrue, and which thing he seemed to abhor. In different ways he manifested his gratitude to the two who had manifested such an interest in him, and when the journey was finally ended, with a warm grasp of the hand, and in a tone that made one feel that the words came from the heart, he said, “You have done me good.” One of them said to him, “I trust, through the grace of God, we may meet in the glory!” A warm pressure of the hand and a look that spoke more than words, and they parted, perhaps never to meet on earth again.
R.
ML 04/15/1900