Jasper's old shed, and how the light shone in

by A. M. Coker

"Why, don't you know? Haven't you heard that they're going to turn me out—out of my old place, where I've been for more than forty years? They might let it 'bide as 'tis a little while longer. I shall soon be gone, and then they can do as they like; but 'tis hard on an old man to pull his place down, and turn him out when he's close upon eighty. 'Alterations and improvements,' the man said who called here; and this old shed and all the block of buildings behind it are to be pulled down, and I've got to clear out at once, and it's almost too much for me! But there, I oughtn't to 'take on' so, because I know my Saviour will look after me. Only it came so sudden upon me, I can't get over it yet." And Jasper cast his eyes round the dingy old place that, in spite of all its discomforts and drawbacks, had become so dear to him, his home for forty years!

"Well, 'tis an upset, for certain! Of course I'd heard some talk of these new improvements; but I didn't know that 'twas really settled upon, and I am sorry for you to have to shift. Though I don't think 'twill be hard to find a better place, and then we'll soon get you moved in."

Jasper shook his head. "That's what you'll never do," he said. "My chattels can't be moved; they're like me, too old. Why, those barrels will fall to pieces if you shift 'em; and all my bits of things are too shaky to stand it. No, if I must go I must, but my things can't; and what's to become of me I don't know."

"But God does, my friend, and as your text up there says, 'He careth for you.'"

At these words Jasper brightened. "I've been forgetting," he said; "but it did seem hard not to fret. And the boys, they're nearly as much cut up as I am about it. You see we love the old place, and it's hard to go, it's hard to go; and all in a fortnight too."

"A fortnight! Ah, well, that will give us time to look about. And now, see, I've brought the text that you wanted from the Hall;" and unrolling his package, Forbes displayed the banner that Jasper had so desired.

"Ah!" he said, fixing his eyes on it, "tis beautiful every way, and I thought 'twould look so nice on my wall there, just where I could see it; but it's no use now to fix it up."

But Forbes thought differently. "We will fix it up all the same," he said. "'Twill cheer you up a bit to look at it, and I take it that the Lord is a Saviour not only from sin, but for times of trouble as well; and so He'll see you through this business too." So saying, he hung the banner up just opposite Jasper's chair, making it fast with two strong nails. Then sitting down, he drew from Jonas the story of that Christmas evening, when God's own message had come to his heart, through the boys to whom he had been such a friend.

"And to think I never found it before," he said, as he finished his recital.

"Ah, that's what we all say when we find out the joy of having the Lord Jesus, Jasper. But maybe He'll spare you a good while yet to tell others of His love."