The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 188

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188

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

future was full of promise; but he was making
shipwreck of his life in other ways.

When the revolution of Nicolas de Pierola drove
General Caceres out of the government and his
military establishment out of the national service,
the colonel was left without a position. Unfortu-
nately he was already also without his wife and
children; for his conduct had been such that first
the children were taken away to the home of rela-
tives and then his wife had left him. With the
savings which remained he acquired in the port of
Callao a cigaret factory, which was conducted by
a man who knew the business. After a life of
regular and disciplined activity this new life was
very empty for him; but it gave him time to reflect
on his conduct, and he awakened to the conscious-

ness of his failure and moral ruin.

One evening, in utter dejection, he was on his
way to the wasteland between Callao and the sea,
determined to take his life, feeling that, to use his
own expression, he was but a despicable parasite,
unfit to live longer.

Fortunately he was hailed on the street by an
old companion in arms. His friend discerned the
dejected look and challenged him for the cause
of it. Finding himself in congenial and sympa-
thetic company, the colonel poured out all the tale
of his bitterness and told his friend what he was
going to do. This friend, however, walked around
with him, chatted comfortably with him, and finally
brought him back to his room, assuring him that
next morning he would bring a real remedy for
all the afflictions of his life. He went to bed, won-
dering what his old-time companion could bring
him that could remedy such a state of life and soul.
Next morning his friend duly appeared, told him
he must hurry on to his business, but here he had
brought what he had promised; and he gave the
colonel a little book. He looked at it. A book!
What good could a book do him? He opened it.
A religious book! He threw it to the other corner
of the room and relapsed into his dejection.

The colonel had no urgent duties, and he was
disinclined to go out. So presently curiosity and
the lack of anything better to do conspired together
to interest him in the book. He picked it up and
read and read and read. ‘There was something
strange about this book. He spent most of that
day reading it. When evening fell, he felt that
somehow things seemed changed. Next day he

; Tesumed reading and became conscious he had
"changed.
His figure for describing this change was simple

and clear: If he had been physically sick and the
doctor had prescribed the adequate remedy, the
result in the physical realm would have been like:
what happened to him in the spiritual. THe had
come under the treatment of the Great Physician ;.
for the little book was the New Testament.

In a few days he found his wife and persuaded
her to make a home with him again. In a very few
weeks the home was reconstituted, and their
daughters rejoined them. Not long after, he was.
sent for by the government and given a military
appointment. From that first day which he spent
reading the little book he went steadily upward in:
his personal conduct, in his public position, and im
all that makes for the satisfactions of life.

He faithfully read that little book for many
years, fifteen pages every morning immediately
after his half-hour of gymnastic exercise, until the:
bottom corner of many a page was completely worm
away. In his desire to obtain a new copy he had
asked from time to time in bookstores whether they
had Zl Nuevo Testamento (the New Testament),
but had never happened to find one, and he did
not know where else to seek for a copy. Finally the:
condition of his Testament led him to instruct his
aide-de-camp to find him a copy of this book at
any price. It was a day to be remembered by each
of us when his aide met my colporteur selling books-
in the plaza.

The colonel and I spent a long time together
that day, and when we parted, it was with an ar-
rangement that I should give him one hour every
Saturday morning when in town to read the Scrip-
tures and pray with him. When I appeared each
Saturday, all others were put out of the office,
orders were given that we must not be disturbed
until the door was reopened, the door was shut, and.
a sentry stood guard outside. During the time of

my acquaintance with him the colonel was twice: —

offered the position of Minister of War, and tokens.
were not lacking of the high esteem in which he-
was held by all classes of men who had to deal
with him. To many of these he told the story of
his own salvation and gave a present of the wonder--
working book.

Never at any time did he enter an evangelical
place of worship, though he was systematically gen—
erous in assisting financially with the work. But

he would not miss that hour of devotional exercise: ~

in his office on Saturday. ;

So without any other influence than the simple-
personal reading of the New Testament the colonel
was made a new man in eyery sense of the word..