One cold December evening a party of worldly young men were going to dine together in a fashionable hotel. As they were about to enter, one of the party caught sight of a crippled peddler. The old man had a basket of tapes and buttons slung over his shoulder and offered them for sale to the passers-by. Pointing him out to the rest of his party, the young man said: "Let us give the old chap a feed.”
They all agreed quickly that it would be great fun. Without more ado they ushered him into the hotel dining room along with themselves, and gave him a seat at the table that was prepared for them.
When they had dined, they took turns telling humorous stories and singing gay songs. Their humble guest partook of their warmhearted hospitality with quiet thankfulness; but at last they insisted on his making some acknowledgment. They shouted: "It is your turn now. Give us a song! Tune up.”
With a silent prayer to God to help him testify for Him to that careless company, the old man sang: "My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine, For Thee all the pleasures of sin I resign; My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou! If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.”
By the time he had sung the first verse, the noisy hilarity had given place to perfect silence; so the old man, inwardly crying for strength, sang on.
"I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree. I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
"I would love Thee in life, I would love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath And say, when the death dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.”
The old man's voice quivered with emotion as he bravely sang; but the once gay room now wore a faded look to the listening guests, and the feast had lost something of its appeal. Some of the well-to-do young men felt themselves poor indeed as they realized that their needy guest had riches of a more satisfying sort.
"In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright.
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow—
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
The party soon broke up quietly, and the eyes of some of them were full of tears as they bade their guest good-by.
Next day the old cripple stood with his wares in his accustomed place. A lady drove up in a fine equipage and, getting out, came to him. Her son had been at the dinner on the previous evening and was in great distress of soul after hearing him sing as he did. She asked if the old man would come to her house and talk to her boy.
Gladly the old man went with her and lovingly and faithfully presented the Savior. Before he left the house the young man had accepted Him and was saved.