JASPER'S TROUBLE.
TRUE to his promise, Phil asked Forbes to save the text that Jasper
so desired to have; and when the Christmas decorations were taken
down from the Hall, Forbes himself put aside the crimson banner that
had hung over the platform, bearing its Christmas message, "Unto you
is born this day a Saviour;" and the next evening, when "off duty,"
made his way up to Jasper's shed, carrying with him the words that had
brought such joy to the old man's heart.
From Phil, Forbes had heard something of the story of Jasper's
conversion, and so he was glad of an excuse to go up and rejoice with
him in his new-found happiness. But on reaching the shed, and gaining
admittance only after repeated knockings, he was surprised to find
Jasper sitting with his face buried in his hands, and the tears falling
from his eyes.
"Why, Jasper, what's the meaning of this? I thought to find you brimful
of joy. What ails you, man?" and the constable laid a kindly hand on
the old man's shoulder, as he repeated his inquiry.
For a moment there was no answer, and then, raising his head, Jasper
said, "'Tis stupid of me to give way like this, but—but 'twill be the
death of me."
"Death of you! What do you mean?"
"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."
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.
The next day Jonas was surprised by a visit from Rob's mother, who came
in search of Rob. "He hasn't been home since he went to school this
morning," she said, "and I made sure he'd be here with you, Mr. Jasper;
so I looked in to see. But he doesn't seem to be here."
"Not just now, ma'am; but 'tisn't long ago he left. He had a bit of
dinner with me, and then he started off, bless his heart! to find a
place for me to move into when they turn me out of here. I believe he
has walked half over Helmstone at this job. He was at it yesterday, and
Phil too, in his spare time; they've taken it on themselves to find out
every shed there is, so that I might be fixed up again; but they won't
do it, they won't do it;" and Jasper sat down and relapsed into silence.
Mrs. Mellor stood, hardly knowing what to say. Of course she had heard
from the boys of Jasper's upset, and was sorry indeed for the old man;
so presently she ventured to say as much. "And I'm sure Phil and Rob
take it to heart dreadful. I don't know what they'd do without you, Mr.
Jasper."
Jonas turned and looked at his visitor. "I don't know what I should
do without them," he said. "They're wonderful children, those boys of
yours; and if it hadn't been for them, I'd never have known the Saviour
came seeking for me. Ah! you don't know what messages the Lord has sent
me through them; and when I get to heaven and see the dear Lord for
myself, I'll just thank Him that ever He sent them in my way, and I'll
ask Him to bless them always. I wonder now if they talk to you as they
do to me?"
Mrs. Mellor shook her head, and a tear ran down her cheeks. "They were
afraid, poor dears, to say much before their father; he would swear at
them so, though Phil often tried to read some of his Bible out loud;
but since my husband died they have sung some of their hymns and read
to me; only somehow it doesn't seem to have much meaning. It's all real
enough to them, and I only wish I was like them, for they are good
boys, and no mistake."
"Ah, Mrs. Mellor, you haven't got so many years of sin to look back
upon as I have; but the Lord has saved and forgiven me, and He'll do
the same for you. Look there!" and Jasper pointed to the Christmas
banner; that was the text that made it all plain to me. "'Unto you,'
that's me; 'this day,' that's now; 'is born a Saviour,' that's just
what I want; and it's for you too, Mrs. Mellor; and you ask the boys to
sing to you the hymns they sang to me on Christmas night, and I'm sure
He will do as much for you as He did for such a black sinner as me."
Just then Rob arrived, full of excitement because he had seen "the very
place that would do for Mr. Jasper." 'Twas much nicer than this, and
he must go in the morning and see it, and 'twas quite near the Mission
Hall, and would be lovely. And so he rattled on, trying to inspire his
old friend with his own eager expectancy.
But after Rob and his mother had gone, and Jasper was alone once more,
with his doors closed and the lamp alight, he shook his head and said
half aloud, "No, Rob, no; I'm too old to move. I don't know, I'm sure,
but 'twill all come right somehow." And then reaching down his Bible,
he opened it at its last page, and for a long time sat reading about
heaven. "And it's all for me; all ready for me," he whispered. "Lord
Jesus, I thank Thee that I'm ready too, washed and white."