Part 12 (1/2)
”You remember when we first talked of the Shepherd's Psalm, I said I should be glad when I could say: 'When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil' Now,” he added, emphatically, ”_I can say it._ I fear no evil, for thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
His listener then went on to speak of the beautiful figure of the rod and staff.
_Suns.h.i.+ne and Shadow._--G.o.d leads his little ones gently, the Good Shepherd bears the lambs, that the enemy may not too much affright them through the dark valley.
”Is your peace never disturbed, William?” I asked one day.
”Not often,” he answered. ”Sometimes there comes a cloud--it is a temptation, I suppose.”
”Yes,” I said, ”Satan, perhaps, envies you. He knows that he will never get your soul, but he will trouble you a little.”
”I suppose so,” he replied thoughtfully.
Wis.h.i.+ng to express to me his happiness in G.o.d, and not knowing quite how to do so, he said:
”It is like this, sometimes--I feel like a boy let out from school; I am so happy, I want to shout.” At another time he said:
”I have much _communion_.” Then, as if to ill.u.s.trate this, he added:
”Last night, I awoke about two o'clock, and I was praying in my sleep.”
”Can you recall your prayer?” I asked.
”No,” he said, ”but I was praying to G.o.d.”
”G.o.d is very good, William, to let you talk with him so in the night.”
”Yes,” he answered; and then turning his face toward his pillow, he said, in a low voice: ”Praise G.o.d!”
”And bless his holy name,” I responded.
We were both silent for a few moments, and then--I think it was in connection with this conversation--I asked:
”William, if you were to get well now, do you think you would try to live to the glory of G.o.d?”
”Indeed, I would,” he answered.
”And bring others to know him?” I asked.
”Yes,” he said again.
”Well, William, I suppose you think that here upon this bed you cannot do much; but I think you can glorify him here on this very bed.”
”Yes,” he answered, a little doubtfully; then added: ”I try to pray to him all the time.”
I was half sorry for the suggestion, which seemed somewhat to bewilder him, and said: ”That is all you can do, is it not?”
”And that is little enough,” he replied sorrowfully.