13. Divine Fellowship
Divine Fellowship
SOCRATES’ HOUSE.—When Socrates was building a house a person who observed its small size, asked why he did not build larger. The great man replied that he would consider it large enough if he should see it filled with real friends. THE WOODEN TROUGH.—Years ago, if memory serves us right, an aged father went to live with his married son. Perhaps the old man gave the son his property with the understanding that while life lasted he should have the comforts of a home under the same roof with the son. As time went on and the infirmities and helplessness of old age came upon the old man, making him a care and a burden to the son and his wife, the old man was not kindly treated. One day, while the son was busily engaged in making a wooden trough, his little boy came and asked what he was doing. “Well, my child,” replied the father in substance, “you know grandpa is so very helpless now, he is not nice and tidy at the table, and soils the table-cloth while eating, and so I am making a trough for him to eat out of.” The child replied about as follows: “Oh, yes, papa, and when you get old, and trembling, and helpless like grandpa, then I will make a trough for you.”
INDIAN FIDELITY.—Col. Byrd, of Virginia, fell into the hands of the Cherokees, and was condemned to death. In the tribe was a chief that had before been his friend. At the approach of the executioners, the Indian threw himself up an the intended victim, saying, “This man is my friend; before you can get at him, you must kill me”; which saved him.
DOG’S DEVOTION.—Some years ago, a man was buried in the Greyfriars’ cemetery in Edinburgh. His dog made a bed on his grave. From that time on, for years, he lived in that graveyard. At a given time on the pealing out of the clock, the dog went out for breakfast, which was given to him at one place. At one o’clock, as the time was struck, he went to a baker’s, who gave him dinner all these years. He consumed about one hour and a half to refresh himself. He then went back and kept watch. He did this more than five year3. Thousands visited this cemetery to see the dog.
JEROME’S TESTIMONY.—Jerome said: “If my father should stand before me, my mother hang upon me, my brethren should press about me, I would break through that I might faster cleave unto Christ.” Jerome was burned at the stake and his ashes thrown into the river. When brought to the spot, he told the executioner to light the fire in his face. As the flames enveloped him he sang a hymn.
EMPEROR’S GENEROSITY.—An emperor once opened all the prisons, and released the prisoners, and he is reported to have said: “And now would to God that I could open the tombs, and give life to the dead.”
DYING TESTIMONY OF HERVEY, EDWARDS, HOLLAND.—Mrs. Hervey said: “If this is the dark valley, it has not a dark spot in it.” Edwards, after, bidding adieu to his family, and just before expiring, said: “Now, where is Jesus my true and never-failing friend?” When Holland came down to the river, he said: “Oh, what brightness is this I see? Oh, speak it when I am gone, and preach it at my funeral, God dealeth familiarly with man: Whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth, but I see things that are unutterable! Oh, my friends, it pitieth me to leave you behind.”