MR. McKEOWN had reached the small village on the Irish coast and turned in at the inn to spend the night. A little later he told the landlord that he would like to see the ruins of the old abbey by the glorious moonlight.
He was just about to leave the ancient spot when he observed a woman dressed in black praying in the cemetery.
“Do not be afraid. I shall not hurt you,” said he, as she looked up in alarm. “Why do you come here so late?”
When she saw that the stranger spoke her native Irish tongue, she talked quite freely, and told him how her son had enlisted, and how he had been sent to the war and there had perished. She said that she used to come to the old abbey to pray for him.
At this point, the stranger told her why he had come to that part of the country, and it caused her the greatest surprise.
“Eileen McCarthy,” said he, “I knew Captain Martin, in whose company your son was. I have come down to give you Pat’s last message, and a little legacy he left you.”
“Blessings upon you!” she cried. “What did Pat say? Did he think of his old mother at last?”
“Yes, indeed, and he wished you to know that he died happy, because he had found a good Friend who was able and willing to secure for him the forgiveness of all his sins.”
“That is blessed news,” exclaimed Mrs. McCarthy.
“Your son found Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and obtained forgiveness through Him alone.”
Mr. McKeown’s words were listened to because he was able to speak Irish. “Oh! tell me more tomorrow, your honor,” cried Mrs. McCarthy.
The news of the stranger’s visit and the message he had for Mrs. McCarthy traveled quickly, and when he arrived at the widow’s cottage the next day, he found a group of friends and neighbors present also, to hear more about Pat. Mrs. Marthy welcomed him at once. The company seemed a little afraid, but the first word in their own Irish brogue dispelled all doubts.
“I was telling Mrs. McCarthy that her son died happy, trusting in Jesus,” exclaimed the gentleman. “This Book taught him the blessed secret.”
“What book is that, your honor?” asked an old man.
“The very book which St. Patrick loved, and from which he instructed the Irish people. Let me read you some of it.” Then he produced a small volume from his pocket, and they listened with rapt attention as he read to them from the sacred Scriptures.
“Is there anyone here who can read Irish?” asked the stranger. “Yes sir, I can,” replied the old man. “I was a schoolmaster.”
“Should you like to read this book? Will you read it to Mrs. McCarthy if I give it to you? It is the book her son, Pat, read. Through reading it, he found rest and peace in Jesus, before he died.”
Mr. McKeown went on his way, but some months afterward he again visited the little Irish village. Mrs. McCarthy had died and was buried in the old abbey grounds. But the schoolmaster had read to her constantly, and he was given to understand that she too had found rest and peace in Jesus, through His fished work on the cross. She left this world with the bright hope of seeing her dear son again in heaven. The Bible reading still went on, and many more of those poor folks were learning to love the blessed truths that were found in that Irish Testament.
May God grant that our dear reader too might find rest and peace in believing on Jesus, if he or she has not already done so.
Memory Verse: “JESUS STOOD AND CRIED, SAYING, IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME, AND DRINK.” John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37).
ML-05/31/1964