The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1911, Page 22

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22

The Lutheran Pioneer.

said to himself, “Yes, I will do so; I will go and
try it with my daughter Kate. Women have softer
hearts.” But after he had spent some time with
his daughter, she grew weary of him, and said she
was always so fearful when her father went to
church or anywhere else, and was obliged to de-
scend the steep stairs; and at her sister Elizabeth’s
he would not be obliged to climb any stairs as she
lived on the ground floor.

For the sake of peace the old man assented,
and went to his second daughter. But after some
time she, too, was tired of him, and had a third
person tell him that her house near the water was
too damp for a man who suffered with rheumatism,
and her sister, the grave-digger’s wife at St. John’s,
had much drier lodgings. The old man himself
thought she was right, and went outside the gate
to his youngest daughter, Helen. But after he had
been three days with her, her little son said to his
grandfather, “Mother said yesterday to’ aunt Eliz-
abeth that there was no better chamber for you
than such a one as father makes with a spade.”

These words broke the old man’s heart; so he
sank back in his chair and died. — Luther.

The Unbeliever and the Child.

The celebrated English philosopher; David
Hume, of Edinburgh, one day dined with one of
his most trusted friends. After they had eaten,
Hume allowed himself to make a very offensive re-
mark concerning religion, whereupon one of his
friends said, “If you hold such views, one does you
no wrong by regarding you as an unbeliever.” A
little girl, who had loved the philosopher very much
_ and with whom he delighted to be, was in an ad-
joining room, and, unobserved by all, listened very
attentively to the conversation. Some days after,
Hume again visited his friend, and, as he entered
the room, he found the little girl alone and at her
play. He approached her, and, as had been his
custom, sought to encircle her in his arms in order
that he might kiss her. But the child extricated
herself, and went away from him. “But what does
this mean, my little one?” said Hume. “Have I
offended you in any way?” “No, you have done
me no harm,” she replied, “but you are an unbe-
liever.” “An unbeliever, and what kind of a per-
son is that?” “That is,” said the child, who had
been instructed by her mother, “one who neither
believes in God or Christ, heaven or hell, or a life

to my home.

after death.” “But are you not sorry for this on
my account?” said the philosopher, not 4 little sur-
prised. ‘Yes, indeed, very sorry,” quickly said the
little one, and solemnly added: “I also pray to
God for you.” “Ah! and what do you say to
God!” “I say, ‘O my God, show this man that
Thou art God.’ ”

> 3 >- —e

‘sWhosoever Shall Confess Me.”’

Missionary Leupolt related the following soul-
stirring experience:

A learned Hindoo, Samal Das by name, taught
me the Hindostani language, and as he visited me
often for this purpose, I had ‘frequent conversations
with him about the truth of Christianity. My ef-
forts, however, appeared to be fruitless; he remained
unchanged. One day I learned that he was sick,
and, hastening to his bedside, I found him to be
dangerously ill. I talked with him, reminded him
of our many conversations, and besought him to
take refuge in Jesus. He made no reply, and so,
having spoken to him earnestly and urgently, but
fruitlessly, for a whole hour, I returned in sadness
On the following day I visited him
again, but found no warmer reception than before,
so that I withdrew in deep sorrow and commended
his soul to God in fervent prayer. On the third day
I sought his house again. As I stepped into his
room, I found that he was dying. Now, thought I,
there is no time’to be lost, now is the time to speak
to him frankly and plainly.

“Samal Das,” said I, “you are very sick, and I
believe your hours here below are numbered, delay
not therefore to make your peace with God.” “I
know it,” he replied, “I will not outlive this day.”
“Well, then,” I continued, “I earnestly beseech you,
hasten to Jesus. You know that your gods are
vanity, and that there is none other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must be saved,
except the name of Jesus Christ. Now, now there
is still time for you to seek His pardon and mercy.
Oh! hasten to Christ before this day of salvation
ends, lest you be summoned before His judgment
seat, where you would find Him no longer a Savior,
but a Judge. Oh! how dreadful it would be for
you, should you reject Him now, while He comes
to you still as a Savior, a merciful Savior, and be
compelled to meet Him there as Judge, a stern
Judge, who knows no mercy !”

The sick man had listened attentively; then,