The Lumberjack Sky Pilot

g an exaltation of spirit, a desire to praise the Creator. The shrub and towering tree, the aisles of the woods and the sweet soothing comfort of the silence all

ray of dawn her call is clear and sweet, and as the loggers tighten their heavy belts and view the new-born day she whispers, "Praise." In the busy noon day, amidst the bruised and broken tops, the playing winds repeat the echo of the morning

e Frank Higgins is apt to inquire, "

ake the landing in Hades or no

care for us poor devils. Heaven was made for the rich, and

he stake," replied the minister, "an

remarked the woodsman, evidently thinking

in the bunkhouse tonight. What time will suit? 7:30, you say? Well, let all

k. His dress is that of his parishioners, mackinaw jacket, belt, boots, socks and cap suggest the logger. His physical appearance is in keeping with the camp; he is broad-shouldered and built for endurance. H

ove contain many who are lounging in attitudes of individual fancy. No straight, erect or formal audience is this; it is as free as the forest air, as informal as Eden, but not so cleanly. The congregation is coatless, collarless, often bootless, for probably half of them are in their stocking feet, while the temporarily discarded boots are heaped around the huge stove to dry. Pipes send forth long streams of smoke, and in various parts of the room card games are in progress. Extra lanterns hang around the shack, sending

y fearless, powerful in the love for God and man. The hymnbooks have been passed around, some familiar hymn is announced and the command to sing is given. Not such music as kisses the ear of

hat the gospel can do for the loggers and what the Christ can accomplish in them. He speaks plainly of their wasted lives, the folly of spendi

ship of swine in the form of men and vampires who resembled women, have wanted love and found only vice; so they listen gladly to the news of another life, another world,

n unmistakable message for the men of the forest. Figures of speech had little place in it; of poetry there was little except the poetry of direct simplicity; it was unadorned Anglo-Saxon with the crash and c

tracts given who

acked his "turkey" and went out to blow his stake. You lumberjacks are in that youngster's place and the old folks are wondering where you are and what you are doing.

ing and how the mother watched him until

My story is yours with the names changed. Some one wan

here are men in these towns who have your wages figured up already and they smile and chuckle as they toast their shins at the base burner, thinking what a good time they will have with your money when you come down in the spring. Don't think you are working for yourselves; the saloonmen and their crowd are the ones who cash your checks and bank your coin. Some of the men in the saloon business that came to these parts when I did and were as poor as I am, are now living in the finest houses in the north and eat the best the land affords. The wives

or him. Do you remember when you had spent all at the bar, the wheel, or the brothel, how you asked a loan for a lodging of the man in whose till your winter's earnings rested, and he gave yo

er will. In the father's home was the only place the prodigal found a

gave Christ to die that the prodigal might have light and love, and how through hi

s bowed in shame as the story of the prodigal's life was told, for the listeners knew it was a tale, not of the times of Christ, but taken from t

rivate conversation. The sermon had awakened a longing for a better life in which real love was to take the

t to pray for myself. Te

he Pilot, "and under the

rozen snow they knelt while the prayers of the minister an

months, and now the news he sent made her join in the raptures of the angel chorus. Immediately she wrote a letter of gratitude to Mr. Higgins and when th

ntinue to talk to the minister of their far-off homes and the loved ones they have not seen for years. The years are reviewed and there is a wi

in the sleeping quarters of the men are often filled with small annoyances that are fruitful and multiply and disturb the occupants of the bunks. But when such an invitation is given the missionary seldom refuses it. He knows that the man who gives it means more than to share the discomforts of his lodging-he wishes

ice that a young man cam

sick of going on this way, Pilot. I'm sledding in the wr

ere the companions of his leisure hours. So absorbed did he become in his new purpose that he carried his book to the mill and when the machinery stopped to make repairs out came the book. The proprietor of the mill observed the diligence of the new hand and changed him to the sawdust pile where he could have mo

ver of My Soul." Those unloved men of the distant places feel the influence of the hymn which speaks of the tender Christ opening his bosom to the outcast as well

of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly." One by one the men joined in the song, and the solo passed into a chorus of one hundred voices. Out through the twilight of the morning the melody rolled, waking the sleeping pines and crossing the frozen streams. The men in the stables, harnessing their horses, heard the song and softly whistled it; the cook, busy w

me not alone," and it came from the hearts of men who knew the weight of lonely weeks and

s appointed way, but the song still continued in all parts of the forest, until the sweet melody of the hymn died to tender murmurs and was

the value of missionary effort has brought about a change in sentiment. When Mr. Higgins first began his work he used a little muscular Christianity as well as persuasion in regulating the deportment of the men during the services; now he has learned a better way. The Frenchman who undertook to create a rough house, and suddenly

oes to assist by private word the work done in the public meeting. From the clerk he finds where they are working in the forest and goes to join them in their labors. Here is where the finely developed body comes into play for the King. One of the secrets of aidi

s bunk with his little nondescript dog in his lap. Loneliness was

sked the missionary

business," gruffly

ring no word of the sermon. The next day the missionary went to

and you'll find him on the east road abo

ting of the missionary as he

d Old Grouchy, in

almost perfect," said the missi

bad," answered

d the preacher to en

burst out Old Grouchy. "But what is it to you

en in pursuit of a pine squirrel, and came to the minister for attention. It was a dog of

yours, I suppose,"

ve," and the tone was

e animals and the companionship they freely gave. Old Grouchy joined in the conversation and discussed with freedom the love he felt for the dumb cre

e wrecked through unfaithfulness and broken trust. N

" said the preacher; "if I had your ex

d soul of the lonely man. The gospel gave him no hope, the sun was set, and all was covered with the curtains of ni

y would listen attentively to the presentation of the loving Christ

melody had left him through the unfaithfulness of woman. He had passed into the starless night where no glimmer of hope entered, and in his soli

was to do duty as a pulpit. The proprietor of the camp came in and seeing the barrel, but not knowing its intended purpose

The errors of the lumberjacks were pointed out with freedom and a remedy forced with conviction. The proprietor sitting on the pulpit enjoyed the straightfo

e them another whirl, Pilot; you have them where the hide is th

being able to get out his logs where others would fail, yet his morals were far below his business reputati

yle of preaching suited to the lumberjacks, Mr. Higgins turned his guns on the pro

the proprietors, contractors and bosses are to be found drinking, gambling and carousing in the villages and towns, and they who s

rietor s

lso?" asked the preacher of the proprie

proprietor was there, and as he entered the logger lo

udience will understand m

he whole blank thing before the

how you are living and that your son is following pretty close in your footsteps.

hanked him for not only fearlessly preaching to the lumberjac

ed sown often springs up in later days to show

and tried to bring him to a decision. Since there was no hope of recovery he was carried to his Canadian home to die among his kinsmen. There in the long days of pain and waiting the

od brooded above the place, and his presence always brings life. No one was surprised when a w

en a stand for righteousness. When the minister had closed his prayer the man said, "I want to pray f

he end of his old life and its works and that in the

Soul." The lumberjacks listened and their interest turned to astonishment when the convert drew out a Bible and began to read a chapter to the crowd. But if they were astonished at the reading they were dumbfounded w

o be the only one having a settled pastor. When Mr. Higgins returned to the camp he found the men happy in the new condition, stimula

and in the green solitudes, under th