On the sixteenth day after the battle of Gettysburg I entered the room where a young wounded colonel— my only son—seemed near death. As I came in he was roused from his stupor, and he beckoned me to his bedside and threw his arms around my neck.
"Oh, Father! How glad I am to see you! I was afraid you would not come till it was too late. I am too weak to say much, so you must do the talking. Tell me about Mother and Sister.”
I soon saw there was little hope of his recovering. But, as I could not endure the agony of suspense, I went to the doctor: "How long do you think he can live '?”
"Not more than four days. He may drop away at any hour.”
"Has anyone told him this?”
"No, we left that for you, since we have been expecting you for several days.”
As I returned to his room, with the message of death on my heart, the eyes of my son fastened on me.
"Come sit by me, Father. Have you been talking with the doctor?”
"Yes.”
"Does he think I'll get better?”
There was a long, painful silence. Then he said, "Don't be afraid to tell me what he said.”
"He told me that you must die.”
"How long does he think I can live?”
"Not more than four days, and that you may die at any hour.”
"Then I must die. No! I cannot! I must not die! I am not prepared. Oh, tell me how I can get ready. Tell me! I know you can Father; I used to hear you explain it to others.”
It was no time for tears, but calmness and light, to bring a soul to Christ.
"My son, I see you are afraid to die.”
"Yes, I am.”
"Well, I suppose you feel guilty?”
"Yes, that is it. I have been wicked. You know how it is in the army.”
"You want to be forgiven, don't you?”
"Oh, yes! Can I be, Father?”
"Certainly.”
"Can I know it before I die?”
"Certainly.”
"Well, now, Father; make it—so plain I can get hold of it so plain that I can understand it.”
At once an incident of his school days came to my mind. I had not thought of it for years, but it now came fresh to me, and was just what was needed to direct my son to Jesus.
"Do you remember While you were a schoolboy you came home one day, and I had reason to rebuke you. You got angry, and abused me with harsh words.”
"Yes, Father. I was thinking it all over as I thought of your coming. I felt so bad about it that I wanted to see you and once more ask you to forgive me.”
"Do you remember—after your temper cooled down—that you came in, and threw your arms around me? You said, 'Oh, Father, I am so sorry that I talked to you like that! I was very angry. Won't you forgive me?"'
"Yes, I remember it.”
"Do you remember what I said as you wept in my arms?”
"You said, 'I forgive you with all my heart,' and kissed me. I have never forgotten it.”
"Did you believe me?”
"Certainly. I have never doubted your word.”
"Did you feel happy again?”
"Yes and since that time, I have loved you better than ever. How it relieved me when you looked at me and said, 'I forgive you with all my heart'!”
"Well, that is just the way to come to Jesus. Tell Him you are sorry, just as you told me. Quicker than a father's love forgave, He will forgive you. He says He will. And you must take Him at His word, as you did me.”
"Oh, Father, is this the way to become a Christian?”
"I don't know of any other way.”
"Why, I can get hold of this. I'm so glad you came and told me.”
He turned his head upon his pillow. I sank back in my chair and wept—my heart could no longer suppress its emotions. I had done what I could, and so committed the case to Jesus. And He too had done His part. The broken heart had believed in Him, heard His voice, and been healed.
I soon felt a shaking 'hand on my head, and heard, "Father," in such a tone of joy that I knew a change had come.
"Father, I don't want you to weep any more," he said. "I am happy. Jesus has forgiven me. I know it. I take His word for it, as I did yours.”
The doctor came in, found him cheerful and happy, felt his pulse, and said, "Why, Colonel, you look better!”
"I am, doctor! I'm going to get well. Father has told me how to be a Christian. God has heard me. Doctor, I want you to be a Christian too. My father can tell you how.”
And he did live for many more years—a happy Christian.
I was made a humbler man—a better evangelist—by that scene. Then and there I resolved never to forget the charge my boy gave me inn the day of his extremity: "Make it so plain that I can get hold of it.”