We would see Jesus, other lights are paling,
Which for long years we have rejoiced to see,
The blessings of our pilgrimage are failing,
We would not mourn them for we go to Thee.
He sang on with growing tenderness through all that
divinely tender hymn, and the longing of it, the prayer
of it was not his alone, but arose from every heart that
listened.
Perhaps they were in a responsive mood, easily swayed by
emotion. Perhaps that is why there was in every heart
that listened a desire to be good and follow righteousness,
a reaching up of feeble hands to God. The Reverend Hugh
Grantley would have said that it was the Spirit of God
that stands at the door of every man's heart and knocks.
The young man left the organ, and the company broke up
soon after. Before they parted, Mr. Slater in whom the
Englishman's singing had revived the spiritual hunger of
his Methodist heart, requested them to sing "God be with
you till we meet again." Every one stood up and joined
hands. Martha, with her thoughts on the butter and eggs;
Tonald McKenzie and big John with the vision of their
lonely dwellings in the hills looming over them; Jim and
Camilla; Tom and Nellie, hand in hand; little Billy, face
to face with the long struggle and its certain ending.
Little Billy's voice rang sweet and clear above the
others--
God be with you till we meet again,
Keep love's banner floating o'er you,
Smite death's threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again!
CHAPTER XIX
PEARL'S DIARY
When Pearl got Tom safely started for the party a great
weight seemed to have rolled from her little shoulders.
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