BS
February, 194
PEOPLE IN THE CASTLE CROMWELL CASTLE and the estate . . . the life and influence of a child of God. THE EARL . . . any young person who has received Christ as his Saviour. THE GUEST . . . the Holy Spirit who lives in the heart of every truly born-again child of God. THE VISITORS . . . God's children who serve and love Him. at home or on the foreign field. THE KING . . . the Lord Jesus who in tender love will some day judge our works and service. If while we live here we choose His will and plan for our lives. He will be happy at that future time, and so will we.
Casfie for the King
By FRANCES NOBLE PHA IR
I N THE great fireplace the cheer ful flames leaped and danced, casting their flickering shadows upon the rich furnishings of t h e study of Cromwell Castle. In t h e dimly lighted room they shone upon the faces of the two men sitting in easy chairs before the hearth, a n d seemed to catch and reflect the joy shining in the face of the young Earl of Cromwell as he talked. It seemed to him that they shone like a halo around thè head of the man opposite, revealing the pure beauty, the peace and kindness of his guest’s noble face. The Earl was very young and he poured out his plans with boyish en thusiasm to the older man. It really was wonderful to be young, and to inherit from his father the great estate, the crowning glory of which was Cromwell Castle. But to be chosen by a wise and powerful King as a member of his court; to be given his title of Earl by royal decree, and to have and hold his estate for the plea sure and use of his gracious majesty the King—that was life indeed!
and he closed his eyes to sleep, the thought that was uppermost in the Earl’s mind was this: “How silent my guest is!” It was a \vonderful day that fo l lowed. Through the clear air, in the golden sunshine, over hill and val ley, through woods and desert places the two men rode together. Always the young man was talking, point ing- out . . . “This is to be the field for all kinds of games and for feats of skill; . , . bridle paths will lead through these woods which must be cleared of their underbrush; . . . this valley is to be walled in and an arti ficial lake made; . . . the w o o d s skirting the south shore will be used for hunting; . . . these broad fields under cultivation will raise food for the royal household . . . over there the kitchen gardens will be greatly enlarged; . . . and the low hills be yond w ill be pastureland for sheep and cattle . . . ” Their day’s trip was ended now and as they walked westward on the broad terrace surrounding the castle, toward the sunset—for the castle faced ‘the western sea—the Earl’s companion said quietly, “And y e t
Some day in person his King would- stand within those walls and look out over the fertile fields and far- reaching woodlands; would enjoy the beautiful, broad lawns and terraces around the castle. To be sure they were not very beautiful yet. Indeed the whole estate was in much need of care and cultivation, and the cas tle itself seemed too small to enter tain the Ruler and Lord of all the land. As these thoughts sped through the young man’s mind his voice faltered for a moment and he questioned a bit wistfully, “I . . . I . . . do I un derstand the King has granted me the honor of your presence to prepare my earldom for his use and enjoy ment?” The warm, quick smile that lighted the face of his guest rejoiced his heart, and not waiting for an answer he hurried on: "It is true things are not doing so well now, but with your help I am sure everything will go better." He did not notice that his guest made no reply, but he himself talked on, far into the night, pf his plans for the King’s pleasure. But later, when the lights were out,
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