When  a  heavy  weight  presses  the  soul  to  the  lowest  level  at
which  endurance  is  possible,  there  is  an  instant  and  desperate
effort  of  every  physical  and  moral  nerve  to  throw  off  the  weight ;
and  hence  the  heaviest  anguish  often  precedes  a  return  tide  of
joy  and  courage.  So  was  it  now  with  Tom.  The  atheistic
taunts  of  his  cruel  master  sunk  his  before  dejected  soul  to  tho
lowest  ebb ;  and,  though  the  hand  of  faith  still  held  to  the  eter<
nal  rock,  it  was  with  a  numb,  despairing  grasp.  Tom  sat,  like  one


LIFE  AMONG   THE  LOWLY.  437

^nned,  at  the  fire.  Suddenly  everything  around  him  seemed
to  fade,  and  a  vision  rose  before  him  of  one  crowned  with  tnorns,
buffeted  and  bleeding.  Tom  gazed,  in  awe  and  wonder,  at  the
majestic  patience  of  the  face ;  the  deep,  pathetic  eyes  thrilled
him  to  his  inmost  heart ;  his  soul  woke,  as,  with  floods  of  emo-
tion, he  stretched  out  his  hands  and  fell  upon  his  knees,  —  when,
gradually,  the  vision  changed :  the  sharp  thorns  became  rays  of
glory ;  and,  in  splendor  inconceivable,  he  saw  that  same  face
bending  compassionately  towards  him,  and  a  voice  said,  "He
that  overcometh  shall  sit  down  with  me  on  my  throne,  even  as  I
also  overcame,  and  am  set  down  with  my  Father  on  his  throne."
How  long  Tom  lay  there  he  knew  not.  When  he  came  to
himseU,  the  fire  was  gone  out,  his  clothes  were  wet  with  the
chiU  and  drenching  dews ;  but  the  dread  soul-crisis  was  past,
and,  in  the  joy  that  filled  him,  he  no  longer  felt  hunger,  cold,
degradation,  disappointment,  wretchedness.  From  his  deepest
soul,  he  that  hour  loosed  and  parted  from  every  hope  in  the  life
that  now  is,  and  offered  his  own  will  an  unquestioning  sacrifice
to  the  Infinite.  Tom  looked  up  to  the  silent,  ever-living  stars,
—  types  of  the  angelic  hosts  who  ever  look  down  on  man  (  and
the  solitude  of  the  night  rung  with  the  triumphant  words  of  a
hymn,  which  he  had  sung  often  in  happier  days,  but  never  with
such  feeling  as  now :  —

"The  earth  shall  be  dissolved  like  snow,
The  sun  shall  cease  to  shine ;
But  God,  who  called  me  here  below,
Shall  be  forever  mine.
