The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 70

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WHOSOEVER does not prove his faith by his
deeds is as much as a Gentile, yea, he is worse than
a Gentile, for he is a Christian who denies his
Lord. — Luther.

The Lutheran Pioneer.

The Baby’s Grave.

I was passing by a churehyard

On a lovely summer’s day —

Through the gate a hearse was passing,
Moving slowly on its way.

And I followed with the others

To a little lonely place

Where the cold sod soon would cover
From our sight the dead one’s face.

It was just a small white coffin

That was lowered from our view.

But some lonely hearts were aching
With a sadness we all knew.

In the coffin was a baby

Resting *neath a wealth of bloom.

And the mother stood by weeping,
Now her life seemed naught but gloom.

Her dear baby’s life was ended,
Its sweet face forever hid,

Oh! what bitter pain and sorrow
Rested on that coffin lid.

By the grave the mother lingered,
Sobbing out her grief and woe,
Feeling all her joys departed
With the one she cherished so.

Near the churchyard, in a chapel
Could be heard a singer’s voice,
And the song that came so sweetly
Bade the mother’s heart rejoice.

“Go bury thy sorrow,
The world has its share:
Go bury it deeply,

Go hide it with care.

“Go tell it to Jesus

When curtained by night;
Go tell it to Jesus

And all will be right.

“Go gather the sunshine
He sheds on the way:
He'll lighten thy burdens,
Go, weary one, pray!”

Then the mother ceased her weeping,
And she bowed her head in prayer
As the sweet voice of the singer
Floated softly through the air.
And I heard her softly whisper
As she knelt beside the sod:

“That sweet song has eased my sorrow,
I will take my grief to God.”

EstTier PETerson.

A Deaf-Mute’s Announcement for
Communion.

A missionary in India relates the following:

One day our deaf Peter came to me with a ques-
tion, which I could not well understand. I handed
him a lead pencil and a sheet of paper, upon which
he wrote the question: “When will the Lord’s Sup-
per be celebrated?” In an almanac I pointed out
to him our communion Sunday. He asked for a
Bible, which I handed to him. He opened the book
and pointed with his finger. to the first verse of the
42. Psalm: “As the hart panteth after the water
brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.”
This was his way of announcing himself for com-
munion. Tears of joy filled my eyes as I grasped
and pressed his hand. He then pointed out to me
other passages of the Bible which treat of the Holy
Supper.

> —__——

Hearing and Keeping God’s Word.

Many years ago, a young man, leaving his home
and his native village for the first time, went into
a store in New York to apply for a position as
clerk. But there were many applications, and he
obtained an interview with the merchant only to be
told there was no place for him. He modestly asked
the privilege of showing a letter of recommendation
he had brought from a well-known and influential
person. He had just opened his grip to find his
letter, of recommendation, when a book rolled out
on the floor.

“What book is that?” asked the merchant,
sharply. ;

“Tt is the Bible,” answered the young man.

“And what are you going to do with that book |
in New York?”

The young stranger straightened himself up,
and, with a clear, unflinching look into the older
man’s eyes, replied : “I promised my mother I would
read it every day, and I have kept my promise, not
only for her sake, but also for my own.” Absolute
sincerity shone in his face, and it was impossible
to doubt him. The wealthy merchant, although
not himself a Christian, understood well the value
of Christian principle. A place was found for the
young man, and his fidelity to what he believed to
be right, and his loyalty to the precepts laid down
in the Bible, won him steady promotion. ‘The time
came when he was partner in the establishment he
had entered as an humble clerk. The Word of God
is a sure life-chart. — Vz.