and rescue the poor child from their cruel grip? No; there was none to
rescue him; and gradually the cries of the drowning child grew fainter
and fainter, and his struggles less and less, and the boy was drowned.
He could die, but would not steal.

A German boy who had stood near, much frightened by what he saw, ran
home to tell the news. The agonized parents hastened to the spot, and
all night they searched for the lifeless body of their lost darling. It
was found the next morning; and who shall describe their feelings as
they clasped the little form to their bosoms? Early piety had blossomed
in his little life. He loved his Bible and his Savior. His seat was
never vacant at Sunday school, and so intelligent, conscientious and
steadfast had he been.

Perhaps the little boy used often to think how, when he grew up, he would
like to be a preacher or a missionary, and do something for his Lord and
Master. He did not know what post he might be called to occupy, even as
a little child; and as he left home that afternoon and looked his last
look in his mother's face, he thought he was only going after his cows;
and other boys, and the neighbors, if they saw him, thought so, too. They
did not then know that instead of going to the pasture he was going to
preach one of the most powerful sermons of Bible law and Bible principles
the country ever heard. They did not know that he was going to give an
example of steadfastness of purpose and of unflinching integrity, such
as should thrill the heart of this nation with wonder and admiration.
He was then only a Norwegian boy, Kund Iverson, only thirteen years old,
but his name was soon to be reckoned with martyrs and heroes. And as the
story of his moral heroism winged its way from state to state, and city
to city, and village to village, how many mothers cried with full hearts:
"May his spirit rest upon my boy!" And strong men have wept over it and