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

by A. M. Coker

It was a wonderful Sunday for Phil and Rob; they stayed there nearly all day, for the "after-breakfast" service was followed by Sunday School, both morning and afternoon, and this again by an evening mission service, to all of which they remained, hearing, almost for the first time in their lives, the old, old story, of Jesus and His love. Their teacher too, how kind he was! and how interested to know all about them, and where they lived!

"And now, boys, you can come up here every evening; there will always be something going on, and you will generally find me here; I'm Mr. Armstrong, so good-bye! I shall look out for you to-morrow; and then we'll have some singing, and a talk all round."

Hand in hand they went away when the last meeting was over—away from the warmth, and the cheeriness and the love of the Mission Hall, into the coldness and dreariness and poverty of that attic room in Preece's Place. But a very real happiness was in their hearts that night, for they had heard of a Father who loved them dearly, of a Saviour who cared for them always, of a Friend who would never leave them; and in simple childlike trust they believed it all, and that night lisped their first prayer to their Father in heaven.

All this had happened two years ago now, and the long summer wanderings took the boys away from Helmstone for months together; but no sooner did winter put an end to their journeys, and bring them back, than Phil and Rob would be found at the Mission Hall the very first night of their return.

Sharp beyond their years, they had learned a great deal when there. God was to them so very real. But this had come home to the boys in different ways. The absorbing thought in Phil's mind was God's intense hatred of and detection of sin, in every shape and form; while to Rob, God in His wonderful constant personal love was his constant joy. So they helped each other, and Phil's tender conscience was often a safeguard to Rob, while his simple confidence in the love of Jesus was a comfort to his elder brother.

But there was one great and mutual trouble: never yet had they succeeded in persuading Jonas Jasper to go with them to John Street.

"Not yet, boys, not yet; maybe I'll go one day, but it isn't much in my line."

This was always his answer, and the lads were discouraged.

But they had told Mr. Armstrong about it, and he was going to pray that God would bring him, and they were to pray about it too; and so it was quite certain Jasper would come before long.

As to their father, it was no use to ask him; he only swore if they mentioned it. But there was one comfort; he didn't hinder their going, only they weren't to bother him about it. Mother had been once or twice, and said it was all very nice; but somehow nothing seemed to give her pleasure or pain. There was a settled, cold, hopeless, indifferent air about her, that seemed to tell of a life out of which had been crushed all joy and hope and even feeling.