Many years ago there was a freshet which carried much destruction with it. While the waters were still rising, a bridge was washed out just as a train of cars passed on it, and passengers, cars and bridge were dashed into the surging waters below.
The engineer of the train was thrown into the river near the shore. He could soon have made his escape, had it not been that his arm was caught between portions of the broken bridge and held as in a vise. The waters were rising rapidly and he must soon be submerged, if he could not be released from this dire situation. He called to a man not far off to get a saw quickly and come and saw off his arm.
This man without hesitation carried out the request of the poor, imprisoned engineer, and just in time for him to escape a watery grave. The maimed arm was bound up, and cared for, and in due time the engineer recovered.
The railroad company paid him $5,000.00 damages, and out of this he gave $500.00 to the man who had so heroically cut off his arm. It required true courage and resolution to perform such an act, but by it the life of the engineer had been saved, and with deep gratitude he gladly sought to repay the man who thus unflinchingly went forward in this trying duty.
Shall we, who have been redeemed at the cost of the precious blood of Jesus, show less fortitude, less courage, in rescuing souls from eternal misery, than this man did in rescuing a fellow-being from temporal death? Had he wavered, or stopped to think of the dreadful task before him, the waters would soon have swallowed up the poor prisoner.
Alas! how often the followers of Jesus Christ are afraid to speak, afraid to act for Him. They waver—they put off—and perhaps the opportunity is gone forever.
May the Lord give to each of His own, true courage in seeking to rescue souls from the everlasting burnings!