“WE lived together over fifty years, and never had a jar or a cross word. You see, we were right fond of each other, and were just like two children together; and now he's gone, the dear man! But I know he has gone to glory, and I couldna wish him back again, although I did think that I should have gone first, because, you see, I have been a poor, weak, ailing thing for over thirty years, and he was such a fine, big, healthy man. But, there, the Lord knows best—and, oh! he was so happy. Just before he died he lifted himself up in bed, and laid his hands upon my head, and commended me to God—bless him! and I have been so sustained and comforted, far more than I ever could have believed, for I used to say to him, I don't know what I shall do without you'; but, you see, the Lord knows how to comfort His people.”
If my reader could have seen the quiet calm on the wrinkled face of the aged Christian so recently bereft of the one who had been the companion of her joys and sorrows, and have heard her words of holy trust in God as she told the story of her great grief, he must have been impressed with the fact that it is not a vain thing to trust in our God, who has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
Both husband and wife had moved in a very humble sphere of life; but if "holy living" is rightly set forth in the words, "If One died for all, then were all dead, and He died for all, that they which live should henceforth not live to themselves, but to Him who died for them, and rose again," then both husband and wife were holy livers, for their home was placed at the service of Christ; and many a child of God can testify to the loving hospitality found in that lowly dwelling, where they sought to serve their Lord and Master.
Many a young Christian in the city where the aged couple lived will bless God for that home. Its doors were opened in the afternoon of each Lord's Day for reading the scriptures with young believers, and in the evening the grace of God was proclaimed within its walls.
For twenty-five years, both inside the cottage and outside, the gospel was preached. I have seen the old man take his Bible, and stand at the top of the street, and read in a loud voice. If no one appeared outside to listen, he still went on, counting upon the Master whom he sought to serve to speak to those inside the houses. The locality in which he dwelt was a very dark one, spiritually, but the faithful servant lived to see some of the opposers of the gospel become its true adherents.
We will ask the aged widow to tell us of her husband's conversion, and the way the Lord led him to this place. It is a favorite theme with her.
“Well, you see, it's more than fifty years ago now since we married. I was converted myself, but I did not know anything about being unequally yoked,' and so, as he wanted to marry me, I consented. But I soon found that he was in danger from bad companions, and I prayed to the Lord every day to do anything to him, so that his soul might be saved.
“Well, one day he was taken with smallpox, and he got worse and worse, and the doctor said he could not get over it. He left a bottle of medicine, and told me to give it to him regularly. I never left him, and gradually he got worse. When I heard him ask me to come and pray with him, I did pray, and he prayed, and I found he had been learning what a sinner he was. At last he cast himself upon Jesus, and such peace filled his heart that it had an effect upon his body, and from that moment he got better.
“When the doctor came the next day he did not expect his patient to be alive, and, when he saw the change, he said,' Well, you have to thank your wife for this.' But he did not know the true reason, so I told him the Lord had saved his soul, and that had made the difference. You see, I had asked the Lord to send him some illness—anything, in fact, rather than for him to go to hell—and this was the answer.
“Some years after that, we thought we would go to America, as there was a nice little place prepared for us there that a friend had told us of, so we sold our things and packed up, and all was ready; I had left my husband to go and say good-bye to my friends, when I received a telegram, telling me to come at once, as my husband had fallen down a hatchway, fifteen feet deep, and it was feared he would never recover. I hastened back, and found that he had been taken to the hospital. I went to him, but the nurse would not permit me to stay the night: she said it was not allowed. What to do I 'did not know. I had heard such bad reports of large towns that I was afraid to sleep anywhere, but I thought if I could find out the house of a minister of Christ I should be sure to be right; so I trudged about from one shop to another, until at last I met with a woman, who directed me to a minister's house. I went there, but he said they never took strangers in.' Ah! I did feel heartbroken. I could not understand it, for many a poor creature had we taken in. I then went back to the woman, and she directed me to a Christian lady, who took me in, and I shall never forget her kindness.
“In the course of a month my husband recovered wonderfully, but it was all over as to our going abroad.
“After a time, a gentleman came to my husband, and asked him if he would undertake to sell books. He said there was only one book that he knew much about. But the gentleman was determined to have him, as he said he wanted somebody he could depend upon, and so we came here, where we have been for five-and-twenty years; and my husband has traveled through the country with his books, and in many an out-of-the-way cottage and country house has Christ been preached, for everything in nature—sunshine or storm—was a text for him to speak of Jesus.
“Ah! we have seen much sorrow in this house, but much joy, too. All our dear children have gone home, but they have all gone to be with the Lord; and now their father has gone also. He caught cold through walking home in the wet after preaching. But, ah! such a peaceful six weeks before he died. His sufferings were dreadful, he said he did not think such pain could be felt, but he was more than happy. He said, I have known for many years what peace is, but this is joy by Christ indeed.' And so he passed away.”
H. N.