The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1908, Page 94

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94.

The Lutheran Pioneer.

The song woke strange echoes. From their liv-
ing tombs men, women, and children came forth to
the number of twenty-five —all that were left of
the town—and marching through the death-
stricken streets, they sang with new courage, “God
with us! Against us who dare be?”

None of this little band died of the Black Death.
They returned to their homes, buried their dead,
and the town began to awake.

The incident was remembered, and for centu-
ries the town continued to meet each Christmas Eve
at midnight, and at two o’clock march through the
streets singing the same old hymn. — Y. CG.

. Donald’s Success.

A certain Scottish nobleman lived quite a re-
tired life, and left his affairs very much in the
hands of others.
rented a farm, upon which his forefathers had lived
for above two hundred years. The lease which he
held was on the point of expiring, and the steward
refused him a renewal, wishing to put the farm
into the hands of a friend of his own. Poor Donald
tried every argument in his power with the steward,
but in vain; finally he bent his steps to the castle,
determined to make his case known to his lordship.

Here, however, he was again repulsed; the porter

had received orders from the steward, and refused
him admittance.

Donald turned away almost in despair, and: re-
solved upon a bold measure, as. his only chance of
success. He climbed the garden wall in an un-
frequented part, and entered the house by a private
door. At length he approached the private apart-
ment of the nobleman. He heard a voice, and,
drawing near, found it was his lordship’s, and that
he was engaged in prayer. Retiring to a short dis-
tance, he waited till the prayer was concluded, and
could not but hear his lordship pleading earnestly
with the Virgin Mary and St. Francis for their
intercession on his behalf.

At length his lordship ceased. Donald, who
had stood trembling with anxiety for the result,
now gently knocked at the door. “Come in,” was
his lordship’s reply, and Donald entered. “Who are
you, man? and what do you want?” was the in-
quiry. Donald stated his case. The peer listened,
was touched with the tale, and having heard some-
thing of Donald, assured him'of his protection, and

_that his lease should be renewed.

Donald, one of his tenantry,

- the birds — for the little wild birds.

Many artless but earnest thanks followed, and
he was departing, when a thought of anxiety for
his noble master occurring to his mind, Donald re-
turned and spoke thus: “My lord, I was a bold
man, and you forgave me, and have saved me and
my poor family from ruin. Many blessings attend
you!, I would again be a bold man, if I might,
and say something further to your lordship.”

“Well, man, speak out.”

“Why, my lord, I was well-nigh a ruined man;
so I was bold, and came to your lordship’s door,
and as I stood there, I could not but hear your
lordship praying to the Virgin Mary and St. Fran-
cis, and you seemed unhappy. Now, my lord, for-
give me, but I cannot help thinking the Virgin
Mary and St. Francis will do you no good, any
more than your lordship’s steward and porter did
for me. I had been a ruined man if I had trusted
to them; but I came direct to your lordship; and
you heard me. Now, if your lordship would but
leave the Virgin Mary and St. Francis, and just go
direct to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and pray

‘to Him for what you need, He will hear you; for

He has said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden;’ and again, ‘Him that cometh to
me, I will in no wise cast out.’ - Will your lordship
forgive me, and just try for yourself?”

It is said that his lordship was struck with this
simple argument, and that he afterward found what
a poor penitent sinner trusting in Jesus will always
find — pardon, peace, and salvation.

Reader, do you apply to the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself for pardon and ‘grace tohelp in every time
of need? He is the Almighty Helper, the only
Savior, and He is willing to help and save you.

Christmas for the Birds.

A traveler in Sweden tells of a beautiful Christ-
mas custom in that land. He says: “One wintry
afternoon at Christmastide I had been skating on
a pretty lake three miles from Gothenburg. On my
way home I noticed that at every farmer’s house
there was erected in the middle of the dooryard a
pole, to the top of which was bound a large sheaf
of grain. In answer to my question as to the mean-
ing of it my companion replied: ‘Oh, that is for
They must

239

have a merry Christmas, too, you know.

He enjoys much who is grateful for little. -