Produced by Mary Wampler, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
My sole reason for writing this book and placing it before the publicis to call the public's attention to another book, wherein iscontained the Christ truth, the understanding of which will free youfrom all your troubles.
If in sin, it shows the way out; if sick, it will heal you; ifgrief-stricken, it will mend your broken heart; if in poverty, it willgive you plenty. I speak from experience, having been sick for morethan seven years, at the edge of the grave, reduced to poverty, andall earthly hope gone. I was rescued from this inferno on earth, myhealth restored, my supply sufficient, my joy complete; surely I cansay, my cup of happiness runneth over. Truly that book sayeth—"Comeall ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
"What a beautiful Thanksgiving morning this is," said the Rev. JamesA. Williams to his son Walter, as he looked out of the dining-roomwindow. "There isn't a cloud in the sky, and this soft, balmy breezefrom the south makes one almost believe that it is a June morninginstead of the 30th of November. I know there will be a large attendanceat church this morning, which will please me very much, as I haveprepared an excellent sermon, and feel certain that the congregationwill enjoy it."
He glanced at his son as he finished speaking, and some of the joy andcheerfulness that had shown in his eyes faded away, for he saw noreturn of his joy and happiness on his child's face; all that waswritten there was sorrow, pain, and feebleness.
His son, who was nearly seventeen, had always been sickly and feeblesince birth; the best physicians had been employed, change of climatehad been tried, and everything else that promised relief, but of noavail. The best specialists had been consulted, but they gave littlehope that hereditary consumption could be cured, for the minister'swife had been similarly afflicted for many years.
The Rev. Williams thought silently for a few moments, then tried toregain his cheerfulness by changing the subject to something that mightinterest his son; so he said, "Well, wife, I suppose that turkey DeaconPhillips gave us will be done to perfection by dinner time; I ambeginning to feel hungry already, just from thinking of it and it istwo hours to dinner time yet."