CHAPTER XLVIII. LYNCH LAW.

Theraysoftheafternoonsunwereshiningthroughthefringyneedlesofthepines.Thesoundofthewoodpeckerreverberatedthroughthestillnessoftheforest,answeringtothousandwoodlandnotes.Suddenly,alongthedistantpath,avoiceisheardsinging,andthesoundcomesstrangelyontheearthroughthedreamystillness:— "JesusChristhaslivedanddied— Whatisalltheworldbeside? ThistoknowisallIneed, Thistoknowislifeindeed. OtherwisdomseekInone— Teachmethis,andthisalone: Christformehaslivedanddied, Christformewascrucified." And,asthelastlinesfallupontheear,afigure,ridingslowlyonhorseback,comesroundthebendoftheforestpath.ItisfatherDickson.Itwasthehabitofthisgoodman,muchofwhoselifewasspentinsolitaryjourneyings,tousetheforestarchesforthatpurposeforwhichtheyseemedsowelldesigned,asagreatcathedralofprayerandpraise.Hewasridingwiththereinslooseoverthehorse'sneck,andapocket-Bibleinhishand.Occasionallyhebrokeoutintosnatchesofsong,liketheonewhichweheardhimsingingafewmomentsago.Asheridesalongnow,heseemsabsorbedinmentalprayer.FatherDickson,intruth,hadcausetopray.Theplainnessofspeechwhichhefeltboundtousehaddrawndownuponhimoppositionandopprobrium,andalienatedsomeofhisbestfriends.Thesupportwhichmanyhadbeenwillingtocontributetohispovertywasentirelywithdrawn.Hiswife,infeeblehealth,wastoilingdailybeyondherstrengthandhungerhadlookedinatthedoor,buteachdayprayerhaddrivenitaway.Thepetition,"GiveusTHISDAYourdailybread,"hadnotyetfailedtobringananswer,buttherewasnobreadforto-morrow.Manyfriendlyadvisershadtoldhimthat,ifhewouldrelinquishafutileanduselessundertaking,heshouldhaveenoughandtospare.Hehadbeenconferredwithbytheeldersinavacantchurch,inthetownofE.,whosaidtohim,"Weenjoyyourpreachingwhenyouletalonecontrovertedtopicsandifyou'llagreetoconfineyourselfsolelytotheGospel,andsaynothingonanyofthedelicateandexcitingsubjectsoftheday,weshallrejoiceinyourministrations."Theypleadedwithhimhispoverty,andthepoorhealthofhiswife,andthenecessitiesofhischildrenbutheanswered,"'Manshallnotlivebybreadalone.'Godisabletofeedme,andhewilldoit."Theywentaway,sayingthathewasafool,thathewascrazy.Hewasnotthefirstwhosebrethrenhadsaid,"Heisbesidehimself." Asherodealongthroughtheforestpaths,hetalkedofhiswantstohisMaster."Thouknowest,"hesaid,"howIsuffer.Thouknowesthowfeeblemypoorwifeis,andhowitdistressesusbothtohaveourchildrengrowupwithouteducation.Wecastourselvesonthee.Letusnotdenytheeletusnotbetraythee.Thouhadstnotwheretolaythyheadletusnotmurmur.Thediscipleisnotabovehismaster,northeservantabovehislord."Andthenhesang:— "Jesus,Imycrosshavetaken, Alltoleaveandfollowthee Naked,poor,despised,forsaken, Thoumyallhenceforthshaltbe! Lettheworlddespiseandleaveme— TheyhaveleftmySaviourtoo Humanlooksandwordsdeceiveme— Thouartnot,likethem,untrue! And,whilethoushaltsmileuponme, Godofwisdom,power,andmight, Foesmayhateandfriendsdisownme, Showthyfaceandallisbright!" And,ashesangandprayed,thatstrangejoyarosewithinhimwhich,likethesweetnessofnightflowers,isbornofdarknessandtribulation.Thesoulhathinitsomewhatofthedivine,inthatitcanhavejoyinendurancebeyondthejoyofindulgence. Theymistakewhosupposethatthehighesthappinessliesinwishesaccomplished—inprosperity,wealth,favor,andsuccess.Therehasbeenajoyindungeonsandonrackspassingthejoyofharvest.Ajoystrangeandsolemn,mysteriouseventoitspossessor.Awhitestonedroppedfromthatsignet-ring,peace,whichadyingSaviourtookfromhisownbosom,andbequeathedtothosewhoendurethecross,despisingtheshame. AsfatherDicksonrodeon,heliftedhisvoice,insolemnexultation:— "Soul,thenknowthyfullsalvation Riseo'erfear,doubt,andcare Joytofind,ineverystation, Somethingstilltodoorbear. Thinkwhatspiritdwellswithinthee ThinkwhatFather'ssmilesarethine ThinkthatJesusdiedtowinthee Childofheaven,wiltthourepine?" AtthismomentDr.Cushingintheabundantcomfortsofhishome,mighthaveenviedfatherDicksoninhisdesertionandpoverty.Forthatpeaceseldomvisitedhim.Hestruggledwearilyalongthewaysofduty,neverfulfillinghishighestidealweariedbyconfusingaccusationsofconscience,anddeeminghimselfhappyonlybecause,havingneverlivedinanyotherstate,heknewnotwhathappinesswaslike.Healternatelycondemnedhisbrother'srashness,andsighedashethoughtofhisuncompromisingspiritualityandonceortwicehehadwrittenhimafriendlyletterofcaution,inclosinghimafive-dollarbill,wishingthathemightsucceed,beggingthathewouldbecareful,andendingwiththepiouswishthatwemightallbeguidedarightwhichsupplication,inmanycases,answersthepurpose,inaman'sinnerlegisla