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
Mr. Hardy did not know it, to his shame he confessed. This sister of
his in Christ had been a member of the same church, and he had not even
known it. If she had happened to sit on the same side of the building
where he sat, he would probably have wondered who that plain-looking
person was, dressed so poorly. But she had always sat back on the
other side, being one of a few poor women who had been attracted into
the church and been comforted by Mr. Jones' simple piety and prayers.
The minister kneeled down and said a gentle word to the woman. Then as
if in reply to a low-voiced request he began a prayer of remarkable
beauty and comfort. Mr. Hardy wondered, as he listened, that he could
ever have thought this man dull in the pulpit. He sat down and sobbed
as the prayer went on, and took to himself the consolation of that
heavenly petition. When Mr. Jones rose, Mr. Hardy still sat with his
hands over his face. The surgeon was called out by someone. Then the
minister, after making arrangements for the funeral of Scoville with
the women who had come in, started to go out, when Mr. Hardy rose, and
they went away together.
"Mr. Jones," said Mr. Hardy, as they walked along, "I have an
explanation and a confession to make. I haven't time to make it now,
but I want to say that I have met God face to face within the past
twenty-four hours, and I am conscious for the first time in years of
the intensely selfish life I have lived. I need your prayers and help.
And I want to serve the church and do my duty there, as I never before
have done it. I have not supported your work as I should. I want you
to think of me this week as ready to help in anything in my power.
Will you accept my apology for my contempt of your request a week ago?
I will come into the meeting Thursday night and help in any way
possible."
Mr. Jones' eyes filled with tears. He grasped Mr. Hardy's hand and
said:
"Brother, God bless you! Let me be of service to you in any way I can."
Mr. Hardy felt a little better for the partial confession, and parted
with his minister at the next corner, going down to his office.
It was now ten o'clock, and the day seemed to him cruelly brief for the
work he had to do. He entered the office, and almost the first thing
he saw on his desk was the following letter, addressed to him, but
written in a disguised hand:
"_Mr. Hardy_,--Us in the casting room don't need no looking after but
maybe the next pot of hot iron that explodes will be next the offis if
you thinks we have bodies but no sols some morning you will wake up
beleving another thing. We ain't so easy led as sum folks supposes.
Better look to house and employ spesul patrol; if you do we will blak
his face for him."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account