Robert Hardy's Seven Days: A Dream and Its ConsequencesSheldon, Charles M.
Religion
Robert Hardy's Seven Days: A Dream and Its Consequences
Sheldon, Charles M.
Christian fiction
So the wretched man prayed there by the side of that cold body. Yet
the world to-day goes on with men in high places who have it in their
power to change the conditions that exact Sunday labour from thousands
of weary men and drive the commerce of the world across the continent
at the cost of that priceless thing, the soul of man, in order that the
owners of railroad stock and the men who get their salaried living from
it may have more money. What! is it not true that every Sunday in this
land of Christian homes and hearts many and many a well-fed, sleek,
self-satisfied, well-dressed man, with a high salary and
well-established social position, with a luxurious home and money in
the bank, goes to church and sits down in a softly cushioned pew to
listen to the preaching of the Gospel, while within hearing distance of
the services an express train or a freight thunders by upon the road
which declares the dividends that make that man's wealth possible? On
those trains are groups of coal-begrimed human beings who never go
inside a church, who never speak the name of God or Christ except in an
oath, who lead lives that are as destitute of spiritual nourishment as
a desert of sand and rocks, and who are compelled to labour contrary to
God's everlasting law of rest, in order that man may have more to feed
his body and indulge his passions! Do not tell us it is necessary
labour. It is labour for the making of more money. It does not need
to be done. The community could dispense with it; in the sight of God
it is a wicked use of human flesh and blood and souls; and the starved
spiritual natures of these men will come up at the Judgment Day before
the men who had it in their power to say, "Not a wheel shall turn on
these tracks on Sunday, even if we don't make a little more money."
Money or souls! Which is worth more in the thought of the railroad
corporation? Let the facts make answer.
Mr. Hardy did not know just how long he kneeled there in that bare
room. At last he arose wearily and came out; his prayer had not
refreshed him. The surgeon glanced at him inquisitively, but asked no
questions. The sick woman was in a state of semi-unconsciousness. Mr.
Hardy's cook, her sister, sat listlessly and worn out by the side of
the lounge. The surgeon rapidly gave directions for the use of some
medicine, and prepared to go. Some of the neighbours called, and the
surgeon let two of the women come in. Just as the two men were going
out together--Mr. Hardy still absorbed in his great desire to do
something of importance for the mother and her children--his minister,
Mr. Jones, appeared.
He looked surprised at seeing Mr. Hardy, inquired the news of the
doctor, and at once asked if he could see the poor widow. The doctor
thought it would do no harm. Mr. Jones whispered to Mr. Hardy:
"She was a faithful member of our church, you know."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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