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

by A. M. Coker

Jasper shook his head. "No, no," he said; "I'm breaking up, as folk say. This cold weather has cut me very sharp, and I'm not the man I was, even three months ago. I did get up to the Hall last week, but I'd all my work to reach home again; you see, 'tis a tidy step from here to John Street. Rob terribly wanted me to go again Sunday, but my knees are so stiff with rheumatics I couldn't walk, so he stayed here and sang to me; and then Phil came in later and read to me, and told me what the preacher had been saying—about heaven, wasn't it? Ah, 'twill be beautiful to get there."

"Yes, Jasper; no shifting then. The Lord tells us we shall go no more out for ever, bless His name! But I must be off now."

"Wait half a minute, Forbes, will you? I want to speak to you about something;" and Jasper rose from his chair, and going over to the shelf, reached down the old pickle jar, that contained the savings of so many years. "There isn't so very much," he said; "but what little I have put by is here. I'd like to be buried respectably, and then, if there's anything over, why, it's for the boys, bless 'em. Only I wish you to have the handling of it, and perhaps you'd take care of it for me until I know what is to become of me."

So saying, he drew from the jar a dark canvas bag, and handed it to Forbes.

"There must be close on forty pounds, I think," he said; "but 'twill be safer with you than with me; and if I want any of it (and I do owe a trifle or two), you can just let me have it."

Forbes took the bag. "It shall be as you wish," he said; "but we'll count it first;" and untying the string, there rolled out a little stream of gold and silver, amounting altogether to £38 14s. 3d.

"Ah, I wasn't far wrong, you see; that will be something over for Rob, won't it? I think perhaps he'll want it more than Phil; but I leave all that to you. I know I can trust you, and I shall feel easier in my mind now that I've told you. Good-night, and thank you for your call."

When Forbes had gone, and Jasper was left alone he sat there over his fire, far on into the night, gazing ever and anon at the texts on his wall.

"It must be right," he said. "'He careth for you;' and it will be true of every day, and the Lord will help me through, as Forbes said."

So at last, wearied even with trying to think out his future plans, the old man feebly ascended the steps that led to his bedroom, and after an evening prayer, simple and heartfelt as a child's, he lay down, and forgot in sleep all that had been troubling him.