Etienne lived in the great city of Paris, the capital of France, As a young man he had a good trade, and lived in a comfortable home with his wife and children. In the year 1870 there was a great war between France and Germany, and Paris was besieged for a long time. Soldiers were on guard all around the city, and no food could be brought in. Very soon all the food they had was eaten up, and people had to live upon all kinds of things; horses, dogs, rats, anything they could get. Fuel was very scarce, too, and the suffering people had to cut up their furniture and burn it to keep warm. Hundreds of them died, especially little children; and although many of them lived through it, they were small and sickly.
It was during this terrible French war that poor Etienne lost all that he had: wife, children, money, and health; and when it was all over he found himself a lonely and brokenhearted man, with no way of earning an honest living. The only job he could think of was a “rag gatherer.” Most of you who live in cities have heard these men going up and down the streets calling out for rags, bones, and bottles. In this country they generally go about in the day-time, but in Paris they were only allowed to gather at night.
Poor old Etienne built himself a bit of a shack with broken boards and hits of tin and canvas. He had no comfort, for he knew nothing of the comfort that comes from trusting in the Lord Jesus.
One summer evening, as Etienne was passing down a long street, he heard the sound of children’s voices singing. He stopped and listened. The door of the little room was open, and when he looked inside he saw a group of children, and a few older people singing happily. The tired old man stepped inside and sat down to listen. They were singing a hymn about the “Door of mercy.” You will not understand the French words of this hymn. but it tells of the Lord Jesus standing and inviting weary and heavy-laden sinners to come to Him and find rest. Every word went to Etienne’s heart. Was he not sad and lonely? Yes, and perishing too. A deep sense of sin and danger filled his heart, and a yearning for pardon and peace was aroused within him.
Then the preacher stood up and told simply and lovingly of how the Lord Jesus came down from heaven and went to the cross of Calvary to bear the sinner’s punishment. Night after night Etienne came to hear the story of Jesus, the Saviour; and best of all, he opened his sinful heart and accepted Jesus as his own Saviour. Then he busied himself telling others of the it” and peace and forgiveness which he had found, and delighted to bring others to the ball to hear more of the good news.
One week Etienne was not to be found in his usual place at the hall. Some of the children offered to go to his hut and see if he was well. They found the dear happy face cold and still. Etienne had gone home to be with the Lord in his sleep. He is now in heaven where, “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16, 1716They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:16‑17).
ML 12/31/1950