Christie, the King's Servant / A Sequel to Christie's Old Organ""

gale, and never saw them again through the long hours of that night of storm. For some considerable time he and his mates, by straining every nerve, were able to keep the water

d my soul again to Christ, for I expected t

storm that day, "Master, save us, we perish!" they said; and He heard their cry, didn't He, sir? And He heard mine. Yes, He heard mine, for when the wave did come which carried us over, the Mary Ann was driven right past where we were struggling in the water, and we caught hold on her. We clung on for dear life, sir, but we couldn't have clung there many minutes, for the sea was that cold and icy our hands was well-nigh frozen. But God Almighty knew how to save us, and He sent a steamer to p

out of danger. But from that time he improved slowly but steadily, and before very long he was

omfort I had given them in their time of trouble, small though I felt these to have been. If I had been a prince, I think they

iety lasted I had no heart or desire to paint. On Saturday I saw Marjor

the merry little rogue, as he thre

d passed since last Sunday, and I thought also how differently I felt with regard to the service on the shore, from what I had don

father was able to leave him and to take his place in the choir. I stood close to the

their companions and their narrow escape from death had stirred the hearts of the fishermen,

d to take his place in the boat; 'it's the first time I've been able

hat day, but I do not think even he prayed more earnestly than I did. My whole heart

ore attentive than was that one gathered on the shore that Sept

e imagine, or We think. It is not even We hope, that would be wonderful; b

n, this question, "Do you imagine you are on the shore now? Do you think you a

case of imagining, or thinking, or hoping

d he bids us join with him in these glad, happy, thankful words, "We know that we have passed from death unto life." We know, we are persuaded, we are sure,

an you say that? Can you take your stand by the apostle John

y man to say, and I don't see that any man can know in this life if he is saved

t it speaks in the present. It runs thus: "We know that we have passed from death unto life." So you see

out in my boat, and the storm rages, and I don't know whether I shall ever see land again, it would be a good thing if

is, and I looked round, and saw one of Du

nd I get out and look from my window at the stars shining down upon me, I would give a great deal to

never get out of it again; when you say to yourself, as the neighbours sit round, "This is my dying bed, and they are watching to

the shore beside us to-day, and He yearns with unutterable longing, that each man, each woman, each child here pr

gst us now. He was very near to each one of us; His arms were wide open. He was waiting to receive each one who was willing to cross the l

step t

and thou

now He'

dy to f

step to

rom sin

thy heart

ents fl

step to

not come

o Thee, m

mysel

tep, onl

waits f

thy sin

receive a

reject

ly offe

old boat with his hands over his face. He had evidently felt the sermon very much, and when

e's, for Polly was still fully occupied with the child, and was not able to attend to much of the work downstairs. Duncan did the cooking now, and the washing up and the cleaning, and I never saw a more handy man. He

from his admiration of me, time after time, by his mother. After tea he told her he had a great secret to confide to her; he dragged her from the room and led her upstairs, and then with closed doors, and in a whisper so low that she

we were sitting cosily round the fire talking of my mo

hastily; 'some one must be ill, I

ttle maid had already opened it, and

at the door, says as how

epeated in astonis

he wants you very p

here, and to my great astonishment I found my friend Tom Berna

een hunting for you all over in this rabbit-warren of a place, t

u doing here, To

else should I have come for? I set off early this morning, and I tho

ing the evening here; but I'l

I went with Tom to my lodgings. He looked vastly amused when he saw Duncan's house, and

aid,' he said, as he looked with

uld not ask you to come here if there was room; the

him some tea. Just at this moment Duncan came in, and the two good souls did all in their power to do honour to my guest. The whitest tablecloth was spread on the round table, the v

he declared himself tired out, so I walked with him up to the hotel. He was in high spirits, and was much looki

times that night. I was fond of Tom; he had been like a brother

f I could? I asked myself this question many t

ress, and I could work it up even better in my studio at home. Besides which, Tom was a

ings without interruption? No, surely, for Tom's company had alway

me here? I had a suspicion of the right answer to that question,

d when he saw me come in, but I said, 'Go on, Duncan, never mind me; I shall like to listen.

nd of My words, of him shal

m last I had changed my service. I used to be a servant of sin, living for self, pleasing self in all things. No

he would discover it at once. And I dreaded his doing so. Yes, I was a downright coward, ashamed of the

I would speak, and I made up several sentences with which I meant to begin; but the more I thought of it so much t