“They even sent greetings for me,” said the comrade.

“What they wrote to mother, I don’t know, but mother ran to grandfather, threw herself into his arms and cried and laughed.  I am sure they did not want me to understand, because they spoke English, but they will tell us all about it.  Bacha Filina said we shall have a celebration.”

“We also have a song, such a beautiful one, and that will be sung tonight, and I am sure your parents will like it,” said Petrik.

It really was a beautiful celebration.  First of all, on two spits they roasted two lambs.  Bacha Filina portioned out large pieces of the best kind of cheese to everybody.  Madame Slavkovsky handed out pears and large plums.  Stephen brought two large crocks of mineral water to wash down the roasted mutton.  Aunty Moravec divided rolls and cookies among all.  They all served Palko’s quiet, lovely mother, and his good old grandmother, and his father as well.  Then they sat around the bonfire.  Mr. Slavkovsky prayed, opened the Holy Writ, read Psalm 103, and spoke very nicely about the great forgiving love of God.  Then they sang the beautiful songs which the lady had brought.  But Palko also had to read in his Book.  He read about Cornelius who, with his whole house, received the Lord Jesus.  Palko spoke so beautifully about how sad it was that in the house of the great man, though he often prayed and did much good, he did not know the way to the true Sunshine Country, since he did not know the Lord Jesus.  How happy he was afterwards, when he and his devout knights and his obedient soldiers welcomed the Apostle Peter there, and with him also, the Lord Jesus, whom they forever received in their house and heart.  Then on a sign from the lady they started a beautiful song which Palko had not heard before, but which was very fitting to his story.

  “I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    ’Come unto Me and rest;
  Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
    Thy head upon My breast,’
  I came to Jesus as I was,
    Weary and worn and sad,
  I found in Him a resting-place,
    And He has made me glad.”

As that song sounded over the woods, it was noticeable from the faces of the hearers around the camp fire, that they all had experienced it, but especially from the serious face of Filina.  Then it was so silent that you could hear the distant bells of the sheep.  Though the sky was covered with storm-clouds, and the lightning was to be seen in the west once in a while, and in the distance the rolling of the thunder was heard, the storm was nevertheless very far away, and would not yet come there.

Suddenly Bacha Filina arose, and after he had first thanked the Lord Jesus in an audible prayer that He came and also sought and saved that which was lost, he began to explain what they were celebrating, and which pleased him most—­not only Madame Slavkovsky, but her father also was remaining in the Gemer mountains.  He said, “Tomorrow Mr. Slavkovsky will leave for America to bring his wife here.  When he has sold his farm there, he will at once return to his birthplace to leave it no more.”  Bacha’s eyes were full of tears when he gave the message, but added, “Is not that very joyful news?”