Save for an occasional moan, there was silence in the hospital ward, where two patients lay who had been injured through the falling of a building. How and where the accident occurred is of small importance, but the sequel should be related. Nurse Cruse was on night duty. Of late her work had become burdensome to her, for she was weary and depressed. If the life-stories of patients and nurses could be told, what tragedies might be unfolded! Administering the cooling lotion, as directed, to the, heads of the last incoming patients, she paused. One had shown signs of consciousness.
“I’ve been a bad one, nurse; but I got work at last, and then this—”
“You must keep still,” she said, for he was badly injured.
The case in the next bed looked more hopeless; he had not spoken since he had lain there, and she retired to keep watch. Had they any trouble weighing on heart and spirit? Ah, if she could hear of the state of other people, some help or uplift might come to her; but alone—parents dead, friends far away—there seemed nothing left but her work, and even that had become wearisome. Watching during the night the suffering ones of whom she knew nothing, gave her full time to turn her thoughts inward, when all at once a sound recalled her.
“Listen!” from the unconscious stranger. “Listen!” louder still; and she rose and went to his bedside. Patting his hand, as if feeling for something, he said, “I am the Way.” Then again all was quiet. But a thrill had stirred within the heart of the other injured man nearby; and like an arrow the words had pierced the heart of Nurse Cruse. “Why,” she asked herself, “only four simple words?”
Morning came, and she was off duty. Walking early in the park, before retiring for rest, she heard among the trees of singing birds: “Listen! ‘I am the Way.’” She knew they were Bible words, knew who spoke them, but had never known their full meaning—never understood that they meant everything to those who hear them rightly. As the day wore on, the words gathered force, and as she thought of her want of strength, comfort, satisfaction and peace, louder and louder they came: “I am the Way.” Wondering why that man had spoken thus while still unconscious, she longed to hear more, and strangely perturbed in spirit, she went to her next night’s work.
“Slightly better,” said the doctor. “His name is evidently: Hallam—David Hallam. His card has been found in his pocket.”
“Nurse,” said the other man, who had spoken of his bad life, “why does he keep calling attention to those words? He speaks as if it meant life or death!”
“I know; it struck me as remarkable. He’ll be able to tell us, perhaps, soon.” She turned as David Hallam spoke.
“You were speaking of me, nurse,” he said. “Tell me what I said.” She told him how his words had followed her all yesterday. “I will tell you all about it now,” he softly said. “My mother was dying, and I had been her trouble. She pleaded that I would find my way to God.
I said there was no chance of forgiveness, or holiness, in my line of life. She said, with her failing breath, reaching her hand out for mine: ‘Listen! “I am the Way.’” After a minute’s exhaustion, she gasped, ‘Yes, Jesus Christ.’ They were her last words, and I heard them till I seemed to hear nothing else. They drew me past all the dangers of evil and wrong into that Way; yes, nurse, into Him who is the Way to God. Ah! ‘tis worth calling attention to.”
As Hallam slowly recovered strength, he began to exert a marvelous power over doctors, nurses and patients. When his fellow-sufferer left the hospital, a week before he did, with a hearty handshake, he said “Thank God you made me listen, and I’m going home to carry the message.”
Nurse Cruse declares it was through that “Listen!” that she found the way to peace, and gladness, and God. Many heard the story of the patient who made them listen, and were sorry he had gone away.
David Hallam, from Australia, making his lonely way back to the old country, by an accident, carried into that hospital had made many hear his Master’s voice; but it was a year later that, in the district where he found work, he was thrown among a large number of young men who were gamblers, and reckless of all consequences, refused to take advice.
He had spoken to them as opportunity offered, but to see the numbers who were simply throwing life away made him determined to call an arrest somehow. They knew him for what they called “a pious one,” yet he was so genial and pleasant when he met them that they could but respect him. He would pass them on their way to their evening revels, and at his word of warning they only laughed; but when he put in an appearance one night where he knew he would find ten of them, they were fairly astonished.
“Not the place for you,” said one.
“Whatever are you here for?” asked another. Quite a tumult of voices arose, and excitement prevailed.
As soon as he could be heard, David Hallam said: “I know you are seeking for what you think best, and I want you to listen while I tell you there is only one Source of true joy and real heart satisfaction, and deep, abiding peace. There is only One who could say, ‘I am the Way,’ to that which has its center in God; and as I said in the hospital once, ‘This is worth calling attention to, in this rushing, busy age.’ That is all I want to say.”
Silence reigned as he left the room, but the words had gone forth. A week later, one of that company stole away to David Hallam’s room and poured out his heart’s confession of folly and guilt. When he learned the way to truth’s life he asked: “Why are there not more who feel it worthwhile to tell of the right way? You did a grand thing that night, and you will hear of results.”
Thankful, and gaining courage, Hallam went on to speak of the words that had arrested him at his mother’s bedside; men and women listen to him, the Holy Spirit applies the word—not for the much he said or did, but just that he called attention to the Saviour’s words.
Mrs. H― J―