When I first met Harry Fontaine, his short hair marked him as a prison "bird." He was about nineteen years old, and had for some time associated with a party of youths who were notorious thieves. A storekeeper who had lost goods repeatedly, determined to prosecute the first lad caught stealing. Poor Harry Fontaine was the one.
To get away from the officer who was pursuing him, he waded through a pond; but he was caught and locked up in his wet clothes to await his trial. It resulted in his conviction and a "stretch" in jail. Tuberculosis was the result of this treatment, and it terminated his life in about two years' time.
After his term in jail, Harry was ashamed to show himself on the streets. However, hearing of a class of boys in the neighborhood, he determined to go too.
Sitting quietly one night with the boys, he heard God's blessed message of salvation simply told. Harry listened with wonder. This was just what he needed. He had now no friends, and had a bad reputation. All about him was proved to be only evil. What good news to hear that "the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost"—just like him! He received the blessed message and was saved that night.
Oh, what a change came over his life from that hour! All things were new, and all was of God. Work was obtained; but Harry's main business was telling how God had met and stopped him on the way to everlasting destruction. Some we know were brought to Christ through him. He never seemed to tire of telling out the great things God had done for his soul.
As disease progressed, the hectic cheek and painful cough told their own tale; but nothing could dim the joy of his spirit. Once when I carried him some little delicacy to tempt his failing appetite, his sister met me with the words, "Brother Harry is laughing." His face was so lit up with joy that she had mistaken it for a laugh.
I learned from poor Harry much of what God's grace can do. As the end of his journey neared, he begged his mother to pray the Lord to release his spirit. "He is so long in coming," he added, after inquiring what the time was. A little later he cried out with energy: "Mother, He has come; Jesus is here!" And quietly he entered into rest.
Dear reader, only think what that deathbed would have meant if Harry Fontaine had not received God's salvation! Where are you as to your soul? Perhaps you have lived a very different life from this lad, but there is only one Savior for the moral or the immoral. Let me entreat you to follow his example. Accept the salvation which God offers now, without money and without price.