They brought him home to a little Iowa city to die. The day after his
arrival the pastor was summoned to his bedside, when the young man
related the circumstances of his conversion. The pastor said, "Then you
are not afraid to die?" "No," said he, "_not afraid, but not ready_."

When asked why he was not ready, he replied: "I have done nothing for my
Master. I have won no souls for him. Could I have six months more to
live that I might bring some souls to Jesus, and thus not go into his
presence empty-handed, I would be satisfied to die. _I am not afraid to
die, but not ready._" Just then the door of the room opened, and the
dying boy's father, an old, white-haired man who had been absent from
home and had not seen his son since his return, came in. The old man was
not a Christian. Then occurred a pathetic scene. The young man threw his
arms about his father's neck, and drew him down upon his knees at the
bedside, urged him to give himself to God, and then, with shortening
breath, uttered such a prayer of intercession as is seldom heard. The
old man sobbed aloud, yielded to Christ, declared his faith, and the
dying boy had won one soul for his Master. In a few hours he had gone
into the presence of the King; _but not empty-handed_.

O ye to whom God has given the strength and vigor of manhood and
womanhood, and who have pledged your allegiance to the Christ of
Calvary, are you winning any souls for your Master? Or are you going
into his presence _empty-handed_? What if in the judgment-day it shall
be seen that some souls who might have been saved have been lost through
your neglect? What if it shall then be seen that the crown of many stars
which you might have won is given to another? And what, if in the great
day of his appearing you shall be found, having gathered no sheaves and
_empty-handed_?