True Stories of Conversion Only!” 01A fi h h By MRS. HARVEY-JELLIE.
O N the lonely rock of Gibraltar he stood looking over the sea, longing once more to see the old folks away in the homeland. A fine man he was—stalwart and strong, with a face that bespoke fearlessness. As the sun sent its fast departing beams across the peaceful cemetery, below the rock, the soldier turned to give one tender glance over a spot where they had laid his only child. A stillness reigned on all around, and no one was near to hear that heavy sigh, or to see the mist in the eyes of William Coombes. A few persons might be making their way up the steep path, and from beneath, now and again, he heard the faint sound of music or children’s laughter ; yet he was all unnoticed, and the scene, though grand, gave him a sense of desolation. Yonder was the African coast, ancj, between rolled the deep blue waters, speaking of naught but separation. Ten months ago his wife and he had stood beside a little grave; his very heart had seemed torn when they lowered the body of his precious boy, and .forever hid it from his sight. Then he watched the mother sicken and pass away, and he sought to harden himself; but Coombes, though strong oh parade,,fearless in duty, was sad in heart and desolate indeed. Twilight, and then the gloom would quickly follow; he must.dash the vision from before his eyes, join the fellows in the games, and forget—ah, if only he could forget the old home far away, the dear ones down there just below where he was standing! But there was not a louder laugh than his, or a more reckless gambler on Gibraltar Rock than he that night.
On the next evening a hand was laid on his shoulder as he walked along, and the doctor spoke to him: “Coombes, I want you here for a little while;” and, opening a door, he led him in.What could the soldier do as he found himself in a bright room where singing was heard! Before him stood his colonel and several well-known faces. The doctor took the lead, telling the wondrous Story of redeeming love; and to- his own astonishment he listened without resistance to prayer and praise to a God whom he had rejected as hard and cruel. William Coombes never could tell quite how it all happened, but in that hour the tenor of his life was changed, the chain of evil habits snapped; and was heard to say: “It was the voice when speaking of it afterwards | he of a higher Commander saying within : ‘Right about face.’ I was turned completely round, and life took on a new light, a new path opened before me.” The regiment was under orders for England. Most of the men were wild with excitement, and all the old courage, seasoned by grace, was needed to withstand the taunts and jeers from his. former comrades; but Coombes testified to the reality of his conversion before them all. Duties were over when for the last time he stood on the rock at evening hour, and of that time he said: “What a vision to my soul was that, when standing firmly there, I could thank my God for the ‘Rock of Ages.’ I could hear in that sea the voice of the Eternal One. Yon cemetery lost all its shadows and shone with resurrec-
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