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reached the other shore。 I know what terrible storms and dangers
you will meet。 You can't escape these storms； my young friends。
No one can； and you don't seem prepared to meet them。
〃Your manner has pained me very much； and yet； as my Master said；
so I have felt； you 'know not what you do。' There is a Kingly
Presence in this place that you have not recognized。 Do you not
remember who it was that said； 'Where two or three are gathered
together in my name； there am I in the midst of them'？
〃I am very old； but my memory is good。 It seems but a short time
ago that I was as young thoughtless as any one of you； and yet it
was seventy years ago。 I have tested the friendship of Jesus Christ
for over half a century。 Have I not then a right to speak of it？
Ought I not to know something about him？
〃Do you ask me if my Master has kept me from trouble and suffering
all these years？ Far from it。 Indeed； I think he has caused me a
good deal of trouble and pain in addition to that which I brought on
myself by my own folly and mistakes； but I now see that he caused
it only as the good physician gives pain； in order to make the
patient strong and well。 But one thing is certainly true。 He has
stood by me as a faithful friend all these years； and has brought
good to me out of all the evil。 I have been in sore temptations
and deep discouragement。 My heart at times has seemed breaking
with sorrow。 Mine has been the common lot。 But when the storm was
loudest and most terrible； his hand was on the helm； and now I am
entering the quiet harbor。 There has been much that was dark and
hard to understand； there is much still； but there is plenty to
prove that my Heavenly Father is leading me home as a little child。
〃It is a precious； blessed truth that I wish to bring you fact to
face with to…night； and yet it may become a very sad and terrible
truth； if you shut your eyes to it now and remember it only when
it is too late。 I wish to assure you； on the ground of simple；
down…right experience； through all these years； that God's 'unspeakable
gift；' his only Son； is just what our poor human nature needs。
Jesus Christ 'is able to save them ot the uttermost that come to
God by him。' He helps us overcome that awful diseasesin。 He
brings to our unhappy hearts immortal life and health。 I know it
as I know that I exist。 He has helped me when and where there was
no human help。 I have often seen his redeeming work in the lives
of other faulty； sinful people like myself。
〃The question therefore which you must each decide is not whether
you will believe this or that doctrine； or do what this or that
man teaches。 The question is this：Here is a tender； merciful；
Divine Friend。 He offers to lead you safely through all the dangers
and hard places in this world； as a shepherd leads his flock through
the wilderness。 Will you follow him； or will you remain in the
wilderness and perish when the night comes； as it surely will？ If
you will follow him as well as you can； he'll bring you to a happy
and eternal home。 Thanks to his patient kindness which never
falters； he has brough me almost there。
〃And now； my young friends； beat with an old man； and let me say；
in conclusion； that you all need the kind； patient； faithful Friend
that I found so long ago。 No evil； no misfortune can come into any
human life that is beyond his power to remedy and finally banish
forever。 I you have not found this Friend； this Life…giver； I am
younger and happier than you are to…day； although I am eighty…eight
years old。〃
Once before a rash； despairing man lifted his hand against his life；
but God's message to him； through his apostle； was； 〃Do thyself no
harm。〃 And now again a faithful servant； speaking for him whose
coming was God's supreme expression of good…will towards men； had
brought a like merciful message to another poor soul that had taken
counsel of despair。 Ida Mayhew might learn； as did the jailer of
Philippi； that God has a better remedy than death for seemingly
irretrievable disasters。
The old gentleman's words came home to her with such a force
of personal application that she was deeply moved； and even awed。
They seemed like a divine messagenay more； like a restraining
hand。 〃How strange it was；〃 she thought； that she had come to this
place！how strange that a serene old； man； with heaven's peace
already on his brow； should have uttered the words best adapted
to her desperate need。 If he had spoken of duty； obligation； of
truth in the abstract； his tones would have been like the sound of
a wintry wind。 But he had spoken of a Friend； as tender； patient；
and helpful as he was powerful。 What was far more； he spoke with
the strong convincing confidence of personal knowledge。 He had tried
this Friend through all the vicissitudes of over half a century；
and found him true。 Could human assurancecould human testimony
go farther？ Deep in her heart she was conscious that hope was
reviving againthat the end had not yet come。
The gay young party； touched and subdued； passed out quietly with
the others。 But Ida lingered。
〃Who is that old gentleman？〃 she asked of a lady near her。
〃That is Mr。 EltingeMr。 James Eltinge；〃 was the reply。
Ida passed slowly towards the door； looking wistfully back at the
old man； who stopped to greet cheerily one and another。
〃No one need be afraid to speak to him；〃 she thought。 〃His every
look and tone show him to be kind and sincere。 I'll see him
beforebefore〃she shuddered； and scarcely dared to put her dark
purpose in thought in the presence of one who had lived patiently
at God's will for nearly a century。
She stepped out into the night and watched for his coming。 In a
moment or two the old gentleman also passed out； and stood waiting
for his carriage。
Timidly approaching him； she said； 〃Mr。 Eltinge； may I speak with
you？〃
He stepped with her a little aside from the others。
〃Mr。 Eltinge；〃 she continued； in a voice that trembled and was
broken by her feeling； 〃I am one of the young people you spoke to
this evening。 I'm in troubledeep trouble。 I want such a Friend
as you described to…night。〃
He took her hand and said； in a hearty voice； 〃God bless you； my
child。 He wants you more than you want him。〃
〃May I come and see you to…morrow morning？〃 asked Ida； hurriedly；
for his tones of kindness； for which her heart was famishing； were
fast breaking down her self…control。
〃I'll come and see you；〃 was his prompt and cordial response。
〃No；〃 she faltered； 〃let it be as I wish。 Please tell me where to
find you。〃
As he finished directing her； she stooped down and kissed his hand；
and then vanished in the darkness。
〃Perhaps I'm not yet a cumberer of the ground；〃 murmured the old
man； wiping a sudden moisture from his eyes。
Chapter XXXIX。 Van Berg's Escape。
Ida found the party； o