Mr. World and Miss Church-Member Part 5

I took a pa.s.sing glance at the King's Highway, and saw a virtuous and holy woman on her knees in prayer, with a Bible opened before her.

She read from the Book, doubting not its words, and was pleading earnestly with G.o.d for a better understanding of them, until flash after flash of heavenly light filled her soul, making her face s.h.i.+ne with more than human glory.

To her the Devil, robed as an angel of light, made no appearance so long as I looked.

Then I asked Blackana, and he told me that Satan feared that which was sharper than a two-edged sword more than a large number of professing Christians not filled with the word of G.o.d.

"And what think you of Miss Church-Member?" I continued.

"She is a fine character," spoke Blackana as a hideous grin spread over his face.

Then I was moved with indignation, and I spoke with fire in my voice: "Give me no more deceptive words of h.e.l.l! Tell the naked truth. What is the estimate that Satan places on one who acts like Miss Church-Member?"

Blackana moved not a feature at my changed att.i.tude, but spoke calmly within the bounds of truth: "Satan considers such a one as a valuable ally to his cause, for she is now working against Jesus Christ on her imaginary road to Heaven. Nothing is more helpful to Satan than when members of the church believe that parts of the Bible are untrue. It is indeed gratifying to us," continued Blackana with a fiendish smile, "to see the twentieth century of the so-called Christian era opening with the church wrangling over her Bible more desperately than ever, and some of the learned leaders, and those of lesser light, laying the lash on him who believes that the regularly revised version of Scripture is of sufficient authority and approved of G.o.d."

Thus Blackana, in dread reluctant tones, and with his tongue still unfriendly to Christ's cause, was continuing, when a voice from above gave this startling and silencing testimony.

"_Such Scripture is an impregnable rock; and they, who by faith stand thereon, cannot be poisoned by the fiery darts which are hurled even by the latest invented guns from the Wizard City. All h.e.l.l secretly acknowledges the strength of this foundation, even though part of the church on earth refuses to do as much._"

CHAPTER V.

THE DEVIL'S p.a.w.n SHOP.

1. Miss Church-Member with her new gla.s.ses looks upon her attire and, not being satisfied with her pilgrim's robe, exchanges it for up-to-date apparel.

2. The similar action of Mr. Deacon and Mr. Elder described.

Miss Church-Member, having closed her Bible, was engaged in a close scrutiny of her attire. By the aid of her gla.s.ses she realized very keenly that her garments were out of harmony with her environments.

"Will you answer a frank question?" she modestly asked Mr. World. "Do you think my pilgrim's robe becomes me as it should?"

"A very delicate question. I should never have ventured a criticism without your invitation to do so. Sincerely, your whole attire is somewhat antiquated. It is just as faulty as the Bible. So I would advise you to wear apparel more suited to your natural charms."

"But where can such be found?" she blus.h.i.+ngly asked, offering no comment upon Mr. World's aspersion upon the Holy Scriptures.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A Scene in the Devil's p.a.w.n Shop. "Her beautiful pilgrim robe was drawn through the dust and relegated to the rear."]

"At numberless places along the way. In the distance I see an exchange store, duly authorized to do business along this Highway. If you so desire, we will proceed thither."

She a.s.sented gratefully, and soon the vehicle stopped. The two alighted and stepped into the place known along the King's Highway as the Devil's p.a.w.n Shop.

This establishment was easily accessible from either Highway, and had been in operation for thousands of years, carrying on an extensive business.

In such a place our parents p.a.w.ned a glorious inheritance for a taste of forbidden fruit, and Esau exchanged a legitimate birth-right for a mere mess of pottage.

In another similar place Judas sold his Lord and Master for thirty dirty pieces of silver; and Ananias and Sapphira p.a.w.ned their natural and spiritual lives for a little worldly profit which was held but for a few hours, and that in guilt and pain.

Satan has a p.a.w.n Shop, or an exchange store, for every phase of desire that can enter into an unsatisfied heart, or a soul unduly ambitious.

This one, into which Mr. World escorted Miss Church-Member, is intended for those who become dissatisfied with the dress of righteousness, or for any who wish a change in any part of their apparel. It proved intensely interesting to Miss Church-Member, with her new-found ambitions, to walk through the aisles of this great department store, each department being used for a separate kind of apparel.

The entire p.a.w.n Shop was full of old curiosities which had never been redeemed. These, and more recent specimens, told the story of many a faithless pilgrim. In the footwear department I saw many a "preparation of the gospel of peace" which had been p.a.w.ned for shoes of worldliness, and elsewhere I saw the garments of truth which had been girt about the loins of the saints, but which had been exchanged for robes of vanity.

There were also many antiquated pilgrims' robes which had been given for more fas.h.i.+onable attire.

Miss Church-Member became more and more ashamed of her own robe as she saw how many already had effected the exchange which she was now contemplating.

One of the shrewd attendants, observing the impatience of Miss Church-Member and the significant look of Mr. World, approached her and offered to render such a.s.sistance as she might desire.

"I am feeling wretchedly out of place and out of style in my present condition. Can I not be dressed in a way more consistent with my station?"

"We can readily and easily supply all your fancies," answered the attendant with a graceful bow and a smile which gave re-a.s.surance to Miss Church-Member.

The sad transformation was effected in a manner well pleasing to the Prince of Darkness. Her beautiful pilgrim's robe was drawn through the dust and relegated to the rear.

My own heart saddened as I beheld the changed appearance of Miss Church-Member, who had just taken one more step in her downward course, and who was still vainly imagining that she was on the road to Heaven.

I saw, with disgust, her fantastically feathered hat of conceit, her broad sleeves of self-righteousness, her ruby bracelets and necklace of vanity, her flowing garments of personal liberty, and her shoes of fas.h.i.+onable infidelity.

Then they made a strong effort to induce her to p.a.w.n her Bible, but to no purpose, for she had clung to it so long that it had become a precious souvenir with which she declared she would never part. Thus I saw how some wors.h.i.+p the Bible who do not wors.h.i.+p G.o.d.

Finally they emerged from the p.a.w.n Shop, and glided along in their mysterious carriage more rapidly and smoothly than ever. The two happy companions, free from their former embarra.s.sment, now enjoyed the scenes of life along the way with increasing pleasure. The moving ma.s.ses, in their diversified employments, yielded constant entertainment.

Miss Church-Member was soon agreeably surprised to see Mr. Deacon and Mr. Elder, who served in the same church to which she belonged. The carriage overtook them in a rather isolated place and stopped at their side, in obedience to the will of Miss Church-Member.

"Can it possibly be that I meet two of my church officers at this unexpected time and place? How came it about that you also have chosen this 'Broader and Better Way' to Heaven?"

The two men were slightly abashed at first and stood speechless as if in doubt what to say, or as if they were unable to recognize her.

"Ho! ho!" cried Mr. Deacon, "here is Miss Church-Member who sits in one of our front pews."

"Her appearance is wonderfully improved however," added Mr. Elder in an undertone.

"How came you to adopt this dress and be in such close fellows.h.i.+p with Mr. World?" asked Mr. Deacon.

"I am now in the midst of my missionary work, endeavoring to lead Mr.

World into church members.h.i.+p," were her glib words of explanation, though, somehow, they were unsatisfying to her ear; but she was rapidly learning to stifle such unpleasant qualms of conscience.

"She is doing a grand work," said Mr. Deacon to Mr. Elder with gestures of approbation.

"Are you any better than you were since such an elevating influence has been thrown about you?" asked Mr. Elder, as he turned to Mr. World.

"Happy for me that Miss Church-Member ever undertook my case, for I am now nearer joining the church than ever before."

The two church-officials offered their hands to Mr. World in warm congratulation, and then praised Miss Church-Member for her timely efforts which they felt sure would terminate in his conversion.