Page 4 - Good News August 2018 paper

he Trumbels [death carts]
“correction” and the father went
clattered over Parisian to the guillotine where all was
Tstreets bringing victims of soon over.
the Reign of Terror by the droves
to the crowded dungeons. The son awoke in the dungeon
expecting momentarily to be
One night in July, 1794, an old called to his death. Finally a
man roved about the dark prison fellow-prisoner told him: “An old
among his prisoner comrades. He man watched beside you all
came upon a sleeping figure and night, and when the guard called
there he looked searchingly. your name this morning, he
Could it be? Yes, it was - his own answered for you and went to his
son! Unknown to the father, the death.”
son had been seized and brought
to this despicable place. “But I am Jean Simon de
Loiserolle,” the son cried, but no
Overcome, the father sank down one would listen. With bitter
beside him, his father-heart anguish, he realised his father
mourning over the vile fate that had died for him. He waited,
had befallen his son. “What can I expecting to be called to his fate
do to save him?” he thought. at any moment, but three days
passed by, and with the
“We bear the same name,” he execution of Robespierre, the
mused. “Tomorrow I can answer Reign of Terror ended and the
for him and go to the guillotine in prisoners went free.
his place.” Praying his son would
not awaken, the father watched And Jean Simon de Loiserolle,
over him through the night. In the the son, solemnly vowed that
early hours of the morning, three every moment of his life should
soldiers stamped into the dun- be worthy of his father's supreme
geon. sacrifice.
One called, “Jean Simon de There is One, JESUS CHRIST,
Loiserolle!” Who died in our place. He took
our sins upon Himself. Shall we
The father sprang to his feet and not, too, resolve to be worthy of
answered clearly: “Here!” the price He paid for us?
On the way to the guillotine, they * * * * *
passed through the bureau where
the names were stricken off. There was One Who was willing
to die in my stead
“Jean Simon de Loiserolle, age That a soul so unworthy might
37?” the soldier intoned. live,
And the path to the cross He
“That is my name,” answered the was willing to tread
old man quickly, “but my age is All the sins of my life to forgive!
73.” -Margaret N. Freeman
“Stupid mistake!” muttered the [52 Soul-stirring Illustrations,
soldier, “73 not 37!” Billy Apostolon, Bake Book
House, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Seizing a pen, he made the 1965].