The visitor sighed a deep sigh. “Ah, lad, you are a great deal happier in this wretched room making sacrifices for Jesus, than thousands who profess to belong to Him, and who have time, talents, and money, and do little or nothing for Him.”
“These don’t know Him, sir. Knowin’ is lovin,’ and lovin’ is doing. It ain’t love without.”
“You are right, Tom. But now about yourself. I must begin by making your life brighter. How would you like to end your days in one of those homes for cripple lads where you would be nursed and cared for, and where you would see the trees and flowers, and hear the birds sing? I could get you into one not far from my home if you liked, Tom.”
The weary lad looked wistfully into the man’s kindly face, and after a few moments’ silence answered, “Thank’ee, sir. I’ve heard tell of ‘em afore, but I ain’t anxious to die easy when He died hard. I might get taken up with them things a bit too much, and I’d rather be a lookin’ at Him and a carryin’ on this ‘ere work till He comes to fetch me. Plenty of joy for a boy like me to have a mansion with Him up there through eternity.” The visitor felt more reproved than ever.
“Very well, my lad; then I will see that you have proper food and all the paper you need while you live. I will settle it all with. one of the Bible women. Now, laddie, before I go I want you to pray aloud for me,” and as he made the request the strong man knelt down by the dying boy’s bedside, scarcely suppressing a sob as he covered his face with his hands. The lad trembled at having to do such a thing, but when he saw that bowed form, and heard that half-stifled sob, he knew he ought to comply with the request.
There was a bright light on the poor, pale upturned face as he said in a tone of the deepest reverence, “Lord Jesus, I know You’re a-listenin’, and I’m much obliged to You for sending this friend here to cheer me in my work. Now, Lord Jesus, he’s’ a bit troubled about not havin’ worked for Thee enough in past days. Will You help him to see to it that there’s nothin’ left undone in the coming days? And please, Lord, make him go straight away and tell them other rich men that they don’t know Thee if they aren’t a-workin’ for Thee. And I am, grateful to You, Jesus, for all the paper and the food that’s a-coming to me while I live. Maybe I’ll hold out a bit longer to write these texts for Thee. Now, Lord Jesus; please bless this kind friend all roads and always. I ask this for Thy name’s sake.”
“Amen,” said the deep-toned voice.
Then the gentleman rose and said farewell. Before leaving London he made every arrangement for the lad to be cared for, and then with a gladder heart he went back to his beautiful country home and lived for Christ. As soon as he could he built a mission hall on his own grounds, and preached Jesus to the villagers. When he confessed his sin of negligence towards them, and told them of his conversion through the cripple boy and his text, many were led to Christ.
News of the dying lad reached them from time to time through the Bible woman, but it was not till winter had set in, and the snow had fallen and covered the earth with its crystal whiteness, that they heard that the dear lad had gone to be with Jesus. The same post brought a parcel which contained Tom’s much-prized and used Bible. What a precious relic was that marked Bible in that beautiful home: for when the cripple boy’s friend lent it to his youngest son to read, the careful marking, the short simple prayers written by the cripple lad on the margin, and his dying wish on the fly-leaf, written about a week before his death, that “this holy book may be as great a friend to someone else as it has been to me,” made such an impression on the youth that he gave himself to the Lord, and later on to mission work in foreign fields; and out in Central Africa he has shown that worn Bible to many a native Christian when telling them about cripple Tom and his texts.
May you, dear reader, be encouraged to live such a lowly and self-sacrificing life if you know Christ ash your Saviour and find that God in His grace will give blessing with all the feeble efforts to spread His precious truth.
ML 09/16/1906