d to die, were truly
wonderful. Especially was he impressed with one verse she read, though
he realized very little of what it meant: "Therefore be ye also ready:
for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."

When this speaker took her seat, the other lady, a young, sweet-faced
girl, arose, and said a few words. After telling of how she had been
converted, and of how the Savior had ever since supplied all the
longings of her heart and had enabled her by his grace to live a life
that was pure and spotless, she spoke of her home in heaven; and then
she told the people that God would do the same for others as He had for
her--for everyone who would give up evil habits and forsake sin, and who
would love His Son, whom He had sent to the earth to suffer and die that
all people might be saved. John listened to every word; and as the girl
sat down, he thought, "Why, I would give everything that I have in the
world to be able to say such things about myself!"

When making the announcements, the elderly lady said: "This meeting
will be continued for three weeks or more, and we want as many of you as
can to attend regularly; for there will be many portions of the Bible
explained, and we want everyone to learn what is the road to success and
to find out how to be truly happy." John at once decided that he would
attend every service; but since at the same time he felt an interest
similar to that which had inspired him to become a showman, he
remembered that bitter experience and ground his teeth. He was about to
change his decision to attend the meetings regularly, when he remembered
the words, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think
not, the Son of man cometh!"

Instantly he beheld a great panoramic view of his past life, and many of
the evils that had never before appeared to him as sin were painted with
the blackest dyes. He had not meant to be wicked, but he suddenly
realized that his life had been wasted; and he concluded that he was not
ready to meet Christ. But John believed that Christ would come to the
earth, and he felt that he would give anything to be ready to meet Him.

As John, whenever he was perplexed or troubled, had been in the habit
of doing, he reached down into his pocket and drew out a large plug of
tobacco and began biting off a piece to chew. But what was the matter?
The tobacco did not taste as it had in the past and it appealed to him
so differently. It was now actual