IN a town on the banks of the river llm, where, during the summer months many guests could be found, who had exchanged the dusty streets of the city for quiet recreation in the wide and glorious forest of Thuringen, there lived a godly man with his wife and two happy children, Fred, the oldest, a boy of 12 years, did all the errands for his father; while Ida, his 10 year old sister, stayed at home, and tried to help her mother as best she could.
Fred received 20 Pfg. (5c) weekly, from his father, for his services; half of which went to his savings bank, and the other half was given to the Sunday-school collection. When at times he received a little change for himself from some of his father’s customers, this went into a special collection-box. With this money he bought, with the approval of his parents, various tracts, writing on these the address of the hall where Christian meetings were held, to which he and his parents went. He distributed these among the summer-guests staying in that locality, with the invitation to come to the meetings. Seeing his labor was not in vain, he became more bold.
One Lord’s day morning he went quite early to the “forest,” to give out his tracts. His path led him passed a hotel-lawn filled with guests. Fearlessly he went in, going from table to table, offering his leaflets. A few refused his papers, remarking mockingly
“Keep your leaflets, we have other things to read.” But Fred was not so easily put off, and asked:
“Are those other things which you read, the Word of God, which shows you the way to the Saviour, who wants to save you?
“O, my boy,” answered one of the young men, “I feel myself so blest here in Thuringen. I do not wish it any better.”
“But what will become of you after death?” asked the boy, who seemed to pick up courage,
“Then I will be buried,” answered the man, with a mocking smile on his face. Fred tried again to offer him a tract, but it was refused, like the first one.
“If you do not care to read God’s Word, sir, you do not have to the Saviour does not impose Himself upon anyone. He wants people who will believe on Him voluntarily, and follow Him gladly.”
Then he went on. When he had offered his tracts to all many of which were gladly received and read he booked back, while standing in the entrance of the garden, and glancing again prayerfully over the whole company of summer-guests, he sang:
“Come to the Saviour, make no delay;
Here in His word, He’s shown us the way;
Here in our midst He’s standing today,
Tenderly saying, ‘Come’.
Joyful, joyful will the meeting be,
When from sin, our hearts are pure and free,
And we shall gather, Saviour with Thee,
In our eternal home!”
He put his whole soul into the hymn. All eyes were turned to the entrance, and all ears listened eagerly to the sweet tune, which sounded to them as a warning invitation brought by the mouth of angels, from the world above. With still deeper feeling for poor sinners he sang the second stanza
“‘Suffer the children O hear His voice,
“Let every heart leap forth and rejoice,
“And let us freely make Him our choice;
“Do not delay, but come.
“Joyful, joyful, will the meeting be,
“When from sin, our hearts are pure and free,
“When we shall gather, Saviour with Thee,
“In our eternal home.”
This hymn sang from the heart, had deeply impressed the listeners. All day long it sounded in their ears. In the evening of this same Lord’s day, a well-attended and blessed meeting was held, there. The Spirit of God working mightily; and when at its close the invitation went forth to come to the Lord Jesus there was also that young man among them, who had, in the morning, mocked and laughed about divine things, but was now convinced of the truth of God’s Word, and of the seriousness of eternity. He sought peace and rest for his guilty soul at the feet of Jesus, who shed His blood for sinners. Restored to health in body and soul, this young man returned to his home town, happy in the sunshine of God’s love.
The young missionary, who had given his heart to the Saviour in his early years, and then sought to win souls for the Lord Jesus, has now become a man, who, through God’s grace, has been a guide to many in pointing them to the Saviour, through whom they have found eternal life.
“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Ecclesiastes. 11:6.
ML 04/26/1925