CHAPTER XXXI.
NOT DEAD, BUT TRANSLATED.
Mr. Bowser was not a man to do anything by halves. When he was worldly,he was worldly out and out, and now that he had broken with the worldand entered into the service of God, he took up the business of religionwith a thoroughness and ardour that was entirely characteristic. Hefound himself wofully ignorant of the simplest Scripture truths. Untilhis conversion, he had not opened his Bible since he left his mother'scare. He, therefore, determined to become a scholar. So one Saturday heasked Frank:
"Frank, what is it you do at Sunday school?"
"Well, father, we sing, and pray, and study the Bible, that's aboutall," answered Frank, wondering to himself what his father had in mind.
"Do any grown-up people go there, Frank?" inquired Mr. Bowser,innocently.
Frank smiled, partly at his father's lack of knowledge, and partlybecause he thought he caught a glimpse of his purpose.
"Why, of course, father," he exclaimed, "lots of them. Mr. Lloyd goesthere, and Mr. Silver, and ten or twelve other gentlemen."
"Does Mr. Lloyd go to Sunday school?" asked Mr. Bowser, eagerly. "Why,what does he do there?"
"He teaches, father. He has charge of the men's Bible class."
"So Mr. Lloyd has a Bible class there," mused Mr. Bowser aloud; then,turning again to Frank, "Do you think, Frank, he would mind if I joinedit."
Frank could not help smiling at the idea of Mr. Lloyd being otherwisethan glad at having a new member in his class.
"Indeed, he won't. On the contrary, he'll be mighty glad, I'm sure," heanswered, warmly.
"Very well, then, Frank, I'll go with you to Sunday school to-morrow. Idon't know anything about the Bible, and I think there's no better placefor me to learn," said Mr. Bowser, as he went off, leaving Frank sohappy at the prospect of having his father go to school with him that hecould hardly contain himself.
Very deep was Mr. Lloyd's pleasure when on Sunday afternoon burly Mr.Bowser walked into his class room and took his seat in the most remotecorner. He went up to him at once, and gave him a cordial greeting.
"I've come as a learner, Mr. Lloyd," said Mr. Bowser. "I know little ornothing about the Bible, and I want you to teach me."
"I am sure I shall be most happy to do anything that lies in my power,Mr. Bowser," responded Mr. Lloyd, heartily, "and there are others in theclass that you will find will help you also."
And so Mr. Bowser, putting aside all foolish notions about pride orself-importance, became one of the most faithful and attentiveattendants of the Bible class. Rain or shine, the whole year round, hischair was rarely vacant, until Mr. Lloyd came to look upon him as hismodel member, and to feel somewhat lost, if for any reason he wascompelled to be absent.
But Mr. Lloyd was not his only guide and instructor. Dr. Chrystal hadattracted him from the very first. The sermon he preached on thateventful Sunday evening, when, yielding to an impulse which seemed tohim little better than curiosity, he had attended church for the firsttime in so many years, had been followed by others, each one of whichmet some need or answered some question springing up in Mr. Bowser'sheart, and his admiration and affection for the eloquent preacher hadincreased with a steady growth.
In truth, Dr. Chrystal was a man of no common mould. He united inhimself characteristics that might seem to have belonged to widelydifferent natures. He was deeply spiritual, yet intensely alive to thespirit of the times. He was as thoroughly conversant with modernthought as he was with the history of God's ancient people. Although aprofound student, he was anything but a Dr. Dry-as-Dust. On thecontrary, the very children heard him gladly because he never forgotthem in his sermons. There was always something for them as well as forthe older folks. Indeed, perhaps one of the best proofs of his singularfitness for his work was the way the young people loved him. Boys likeBert and Frank, for instance, probably the hardest class in thecongregation for the minister to secure to himself, while they never fora moment felt tempted to take any liberties with him, yet, on the otherhand, never felt ill at ease in his presence, nor sought to avoid him.He made them feel at home with him, and the consequence was that theproportion of boys belonging to his church exceeded that of any otherchurch in the city.
Dr. Chrystal had of late been causing his friends no small concern byshowing signs of failing health. His heart began to give him trouble. Somuch so, indeed, that now and then he would be obliged to pause in themidst of his sermon, and rest a little before resuming. His physiciantold him he had been working too hard, and that what he needed was totake things more easily, or, better still, to lay aside his work for aseason, and recuperate by a good long vacation.
At first he would not listen to any such proposition. There seemed somuch to be done all around him that would be undoubtedly left undoneunless he did it himself, that he felt as if he could not desert hispost. But it soon became clear to him that the warnings he had receivedmust be heeded, and ere long he was able to make up his mind to followthe physician's advice, and indulge himself with an ocean voyage, andprolonged vacation in Europe.
As the time for his temporary separation from his congregation drew nearthere was a marked increase of fervour and loving earnestness on thepart of Dr. Chrystal toward his people. It was as though he thought hemight perhaps never return to them, and it therefore behoved him notonly to preach with special unction, but to lose no opportunity ofsaying to each one with whom he came in contact something that mightremain with them as a fruitful recollection in the event of its provingto be his last word to them. Meeting Bert upon the street one day, helinked his arm with his, and entered at once into a conversationregarding the boy's spiritual interests. Bert felt perfectly at homewith his pastor, and did not hesitate to speak with him in the samespirit of frank unreserve that he would with his father.
"I have been thinking much about you, Bert," said Dr. Chrystal, in tonesof warm affection, "and saying to myself that if, in the providence ofGod, I should never come back to my work, I would like to leavesomething with you that would linger in your memory after I am gone."
"But you're coming back again all right, Dr. Chrystal," said Bert,looking up with much concern in his countenance, for he had neverthought of its being otherwise.
"I am sure I hope and pray so with all my heart," replied Dr. Chrystal,fervently. "But there are many things to be considered, and God aloneknows how it will be with me a few months hence. I am altogether in Hishands."
"Well, God knows right well that we couldn't have a better minister thanyou, sir, and so there's no fear but He'll send you back to us allright," returned Bert, his eager loyalty to his pastor quite carryinghim away.
Dr. Chrystal smiled sympathetically at the boy's enthusiasm.
"There are just as good fish in the sea as have ever yet been caught,Bert," he answered.
"I thoroughly appreciate your kind, and I know sincere, compliment, butit was not to talk about myself that I joined you, but about yourself. Ihave been thinking that it is full time you took up some definite workfor your Heavenly Master. Don't you think so, too?"
"Yes, I do, sir; and so does Frank, and we're both quite willing to makea beginning, but we don't just know what to go at."
"I have been thinking about that, too, Bert, and I have an idea I wantto discuss with you. You know the streets that lie between the north andsouth portions of our city, and how densely they are packed with people,very few of whom make any pretensions to religion at all. Now, would itnot be possible for you and Frank to do a little city missionary work inthose streets. The field is white unto the harvest, but the labourersare so few that it is sad to see how little is being done. What do youthink about it?"
Bert did not answer at once. He knew well the locality Dr. Chrystal hadin mind, and the class of people that inhabited it. For square aftersquare, tenement houses, tall, grimy, and repulsive, alternated withgroggeries, flaunting, flashy, and reeking with iniquity. The residentswere of the lowest and poorest order. Filth, vice, and poverty, heldhigh carniva
l the whole year round. In the day time crowds of tatteredroughs played rudely with one another in the streets, and after dark,drunken soldiers, sailors, and wharf men, made night hideous with theirdegraded revelry or frenzied fighting.
And yet these people had souls to save, and even though they might seemsunken in sin beyond all hope of recovery, they had children that mightbe trained to better ways and a brighter future. It was these childrenthat Dr. Chrystal had in mind when he spoke to Bert. A union missionschool had lately been established in the very heart of thisunattractive district, and it was sorely in need of workers.
Both Bert and Frank were quite competent to undertake work of this kind,did they but give their minds to it, and Dr. Chrystal was anxious tohave their interest in it thoroughly aroused before he went away.
After a few moments' silence, during which his brain had been very busywith conflicting thoughts, Bert looked up into his pastor's face, andsaid, in a doubtful way:
"Don't you think, sir, that is rather hard work to put us at at first?"
Dr. Chrystal gave him a tender smile. "It is hard work, I know, Bert,"said he. "I would not for a moment try to argue that it is anythingelse, but I am none the less desirous of seeing you engaged in it. Youand Frank would make splendid recruiting sergeants for the littlemission school, and you could be very helpful in keeping order, or evenin teaching at the morning session. By doing this you would notinterfere with either your church-going or your own Sunday school in theafternoon. I wish you would talk the matter over with Frank, and, ofcourse, consult your parents about it."
Bert readily promised that he would do this, for although he, as wasnatural enough, shrank from undertaking what could not be otherwise thantrying and difficult work, yet he felt that if his father fullyapproved of it, and Frank took it up heartily, he would be able at leastto give it a trial. Dr. Chrystal was evidently well pleased with theresult of the conversation, and in parting with Bert took his hand inhis, and pressing it warmly, said:
"God's best blessings be upon you, Bert. You are fitted to do good workfor Him. May you ever be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."
Little did Bert imagine that these would be the last words Dr. Chrystalwould address to him personally, or that, as he turned away with aseraphic smile upon his face, he would see him but once more alive.
The following Sunday was the last that Dr. Chrystal would spend with hiscongregation previous to his going away, and as he appeared before themat the morning service it was the general opinion that his abstentionfrom work was taking place none too soon, for he certainly seemed tosorely need it.
In spite of evident weakness, he preached with unabated eloquence andfervour. Indeed, he was perhaps more earnest than usual, and his sermonmade a profound impression upon the congregation that thronged thechurch. In the afternoon he visited the Sunday school, and said a wordor two to each one of the teachers as he passed up and down the classes.The evening service found the church filled to its utmost capacity, anda smile of inexpressible love and sweetness illuminated the pastor'spale face as he came out from the study, and beheld the multitudegathered to hear the Gospel from his lips.
"Doesn't he look like an angel?" whispered Bert to Frank, as the boyssat together in their accustomed place.
"He doesn't simply look like one. He is one," Frank whispered back, andBert nodded his assent.
The service proceeded with singing, and prayer, and Bible reading, andthen came the sermon. Dr. Chrystal was evidently labouring under strongemotion. His words did not at first flow with their wonted freedom, andsome among his listeners began to think it would have been well if hehad not attempted to preach. But presently all this hesitation passedaway, and he launched out into an earnest impassioned appeal to hispeople to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of theLord. Although he did not say expressly that this might be the last timehe would ever speak to them from the pulpit, there was something in hismanner that showed this thought was present in his mind.
He had got about half through his sermon, and every eye in thatcongregation was fixed upon him, and every ear attent to his burningwords, when suddenly he stopped. A deadly pallor took possession of hisface; he pressed his left hand with a gesture of pain against his heart,while with the other he strove to steady himself in the pulpit. For amoment he stood there silent, and swaying to and fro before the startledcongregation; and then, ere Mr. Lloyd, who had been watching himintently all through the service, could spring up the steps to his side,he fell back with a dull thud upon the cushioned seat behind him, andthence sank to the floor.
When Mr. Lloyd reached him, and bending down lifted him in his strongarms from the floor, Dr. Chrystal opened his eyes, looked upon hisfriend with a smile that seemed a reflection from heaven, breathedsoftly the words: "The Lord be with you," and then, with a gentle sigh,closed his eyes to open them again in the presence of the Master he hadserved so well.
It is not possible to describe the scene that followed, when all presentbecame aware that their beloved pastor had gone from them upon a journeyfrom which there could be no returning. They were so stunned, saddened,and bewildered that they knew not what to do with themselves. The menand women sat weeping in their seats, or wandered aimlessly about theaisles to speak with one another, while the children, not realising thefull import of what had happened, looked on in fear and wonder. It wassome time before the congregation dispersed. Dr. Chrystal's body wastenderly carried into the study, and there was nothing more to do; andyet they lingered about as if hoping that perhaps it might prove to beonly a faint or trance, after all, for it seemed so hard to believe thedreadful truth.
As Bert and Frank walked home together, with hearts full to overflowingand tear-stained faces, Mr. Silver caught up to them, and pushing themapart, took an arm of each. For a few steps he said nothing; and then,as if musing to himself:
"'God buries His workmen, but His work goes on.' Our pastor has gone. Heis not--because God has taken him--not dead, but translated. Upon whomwill his mantle fall, boys?"
"I am sure I don't know, Mr. Silver," replied Bert. "But this I do know,that we can never have a better minister."
"No, I suppose not--according to our way of thinking, at all events; butwe must not let that thought paralyse our energies. The vacant pulpithas its lesson for each one of us, boys," returned Mr. Silver.
"Yes, it means work, and it seems so strange that Dr. Chrystal shouldhave spoken to me as he did the very last time he saw me," said Bert.And then he proceeded to repeat the conversation concerning the citymission work.
"I am so glad he spoke to you about that," said Mr. Silver. "I hadintended doing so myself, but it has been far better done now. You willdo what you can, both of you?"
"Yes, we will," replied Bert and Frank together, in tones ofunmistakable purpose.
"Perhaps, then," said Mr. Silver, reflectively, "the question I asked amoment ago may yet be answered by you, dear boys. Would you like tothink that Dr. Chrystal's mantle should fall upon you, and that in duetime you should take up the glorious work he has just laid down? To whatnobler career can a man aspire than that of being one of the Master'sshepherds?"
The boys were silent. The thought was new to them, and altogether toogreat to be grasped at once. And Mr. Silver wisely did not press themfor an answer before he bade them "Good-night, and God bless you both."
But his question remained in their minds. It proved a seed thought thatin the case of one of them was later on destined to find itself in goodground, and to spring up and bear goodly fruit.