“I AM LOOKING for a young man to take care of my cattle,” said rancher Smith to a friend whom he came across in town. “Do you happen to know of a good one?”
“Yes I do,” was the reply. “Do you see that young fellow across the street? He is looking for work, and I know he is a very decent fellow; go and speak to him before someone else engages him.” Rancher Smith did so.
Half an hour later he fell in again with the same friend who inquired, “Well, have you settled up things with the man?”
“No!” said Smith gruffly. “The fellow seems a very decent chap as you said, and he has a good recommendation from his former boss.”
“Then why didn’t you engage him?”
“I was just going to,” replied the rancher, “when the fellow said, ‘there is one condition, sir, that I must be sure of before I come.’ "
“What is that?” I asked.
“I must have my Sunday evenings off so that I can go to gospel meetings at Morrison.”
“Bother you and your meetings!” I replied, “What do I care about that? If you are going to put your religion before my cattle, you are no good to me. And I came away and left him.”
“You made a mistake there!” said his friend. “Depend upon it, that’s a good man; go back and hire him.”
So the two ranchers returned to the young man, and before long things were settled up, and the “one condition” was granted.
Four months later when the cattle buyers were going around, Mr. Wais, a butcher and also a special friend of Smith’s, came to the farm to see Smith’s stock.
“I never saw your cattle in such fine condition before. They are certainly the best I have seen this season,” said Wallis.
“Ah! yes!” replied Smith, “Well, you see they are prayed for every morning.”
“Prayed for!” exclaimed the butcher who was a totally irreligious man. “Whatever do you mean?”
“I have a man now who prays for the cattle every morning. He prays for me too,” said the rancher, rather shamefacedly. “If you like to come down to the barn tomorrow morning, before he gets there, you can hear him for yourself. I tell you he is worth listening to.”
So early next morning the rancher and the butcher hid themselves away in the loft above the cow stalls. Soon they heard James come whistling across the barn yard. At the sound all the cattle started to low in loud, welcoming tones.
“Good sign, that!” said the rancher softly.
“It is so,” whispered the butcher. “They like him.”
James proceeded to fill the mangers with plenty of fresh alfalfa hay. When he had finished and all was silent, except for the noise of the cows chewing, James knelt down on a sack and prayed aloud.
“O! Lord,” he said, “I thank Thee for the rest of the past night, and for good health and strength for another day. I pray Thee to help me do a good day’s work for my boss, and I ask Thee to bless the cattle and rant that they may all do well. I pray Thee to have pity on my boss, and on this ungodly butcher. O! save their precious souls. For Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.”
The prayer was spoken in most reverent tones, but it was evidently offered to Someone whom James felt to be near at hand. Its effect upon the unaccustomed ears of the “ungodly butcher” was surprising. His eyes filled with tears, and his voice shook, as looking round uneasily, he whispered, “Is God here, Smith?”
“I suppose He is,” answered the rancher. “James thinks so, anyway.”
That morning prayer was answered. The hearts of both men were deeply touched by it, and soon the seeking Saviour was found by the seeking sinners.
The change in the conduct of the butcher, who had been a heavy drinker and profane swearer, was the more marked of the two conversions. It was the cause of wonder among his large circle of acquaintances and business connections. It was an eminent testimony to the power of God “to make the foulest clean.”
ML-01/18/1970