The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True StoryByrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Religion
The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True Story
Byrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Christian life -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Now, if Edwin had not already been in front of the entire audience, he
would have gone forward; but supposing that the call was for some one else,
he remained standing as he had done in the afternoon, but he made no move
toward the altar. Still the singing continued and no one came forward, and
as the minister's manner became more and more earnest, all eyes were turned
toward him. Edwin became sorely troubled; for he feared that he was not
doing all that he should do to get the best results, and he did not want to
hinder the operation.
He saw the long vacant bench in front of the pulpit, but he had no way of
knowing that "going forward" meant to kneel in prayer before the altar
where the spiritual workers might pray with and help him to understand what
it meant to be converted. For this ignorance he was misjudged, many
supposing that he was stubborn and unwilling to bow before the altar in so
humble a manner.
Noticing that Mr. Hass had occasionally spoken to him, no one else thought
it necessary to do so. It seemed that night that the singing and
invitations were continued an unusually long time, for Edwin's case was
already creating an interest. The fact that he was a subject for prayer and
the anxiety pictured upon his face made many long to see him move out and
get an experience of salvation. And Edwin, feeling that something was
expected of him and that he was losing much valuable time, became more
anxious and concerned as the moments crept by.
It was another opportunity for his divine Teacher to act, and suddenly he
seemed to feel the pressure of a strong hand placed upon his shoulder, and
by an unseen power he was forced downward upon his knees directly in front
of the altar. Although he could not have told how or why he was there, he
was sure that it was the right thing for him to do, and immediately his
worry was gone. Thus, unconsciously and mysteriously he was being led one
step at a time, but always he was unable to know just what thing to do
next.
Seeing Edwin kneeling at the altar, the minister soon came and, kneeling
beside him, began to ask various questions, but to all that he said he
received no answer, and he wondered at Edwin's silence. Then again Edwin
was misjudged. Not knowing that it was because the young man did not
understand the language, the minister arose, leaving Edwin still kneeling
at the altar, and dismissed the meeting.
When Edwin realized that the people were scattering out over the grounds,
he too arose from the altar and followed them. Then he remembered that Mrs.
Miller had said that some place would be found for him to sleep, and as Mr.
Meyer, one of Mr. Miller's neighbors, appeared among the crowd, Edwin made
his wants known, and the kind old gentleman hastened to show him a good bed
that he had prepared in his covered wagon. It had been made, he told Edwin,
for another brother, but he could share it if he liked.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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