The Parkerstown Delegate by Grace Livingston Hill Read Free Book Online

society had met in the south room but to pray through the whole hour. Lois and Franklin were near Harley constantly. He could not bear to have them out of his sight.
    It was the balmiest morning the spring had given them yet. The birds were trying some summer carols, and the breeze brought a few stray notes in at the open window. But to those in the room the notes had a sad sound, that told of some great change about to come. The whole family were gathered about Harley’s bed, for he had passed through a night of suffering, and Dr. Fremont had told them he could not last much longer. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked up as Lois softly entered the room, her arms full of the splendid white lilies he loved so much.
    “Lois,” he said, smiling, and putting out his thin little hand to touch the flowers, “I don’t think I can stay to the convention here after all. I’m sorry not to see the secretary and Father Endeavor, and all the delegates, but I think I can’t stay. I saw the badge in the sky again this morning; it was brighter than before, and the angel came and spoke to me, and he said there was a convention in Heaven now, and they wanted me for a delegate from Parkerstown, and I’m to stay, Lois. The delegates to that convention all stay, and it’s to get ready for the great convention when you’re all coming—the angel told me so. And I don’t feel so bad about not seeing Father Endeavor and the secretary now, for they will come to the great convention pretty soon. It’s only a little while, and I’m to see Jesus, you know. Besides, I shall be able to do real work up there, and not have to lie on a bed, as I do here. He promised me. He asked me whom I would leave to do my work for me if I went, and I told him I didn’t think it mattered about that, that I was only a little invalid boy down here, and that I had been doing pieces of other people’s work. But he said no; I had a work of my own, and that I must give it to someone else to do. I thought of you, Lois, but I decided that you had enough of your own work to do, so I told him that I thought my brother Franklin would do it. You will, won’t you Franklin? You’ll have to give yourself to Jesus, you know, and then you can do it, and you didn’t have a work of your own. So he said it would be all right. You will, won’t you, Franklin?”
    The strong young man bowed his head on the pillow beside his brother and grasped the dear little hand held out so pleadingly, promising to take the commission. Harley’s other worn white hand went feebly up to his breast, where was fastened the beloved gold pin, which he wore night and day. He took it off, and tried to fasten it in Franklin’s coat, but was too weak to do so.
    “Put it on and keep it. The angel told me I wouldn’t need it up there, because he would introduce me as the delegate from Parkerstown, and they would know all about me. I think I know what makes that pin shine so now; it’s the light from the letters in Heaven, that catches all the pins in the earth. You’ll take good care of it, Franklin, won’t you? and you’ll take my place and work with Lois. She’ll show you how I wish you would find a verse to read for me at the next consecration meeting. I’m sorry not to be there, and oh! if you would say something for me at the consecration meeting of the convention I should like it, because I can’t be there, you know; and if they should call my name I should like some answer to be made to it. Good-by, mother and father, I must go now, the light is coming in the sky again, and the angel will be here for me. I thought I caught a glimpse of the throne when the letters opened the last time, and maybe I shall see Jesus right away. Good-by.”
    And the little president of one winter passed into the “Great Convention which never breaks up,” and to the “Sabbath which has no end,” having accomplished more for Christ during his short winter than many of us do in a life-time.
     
    Weep