DYING TO SAVE

The Brave Smith

In the principality of Hohenlohe, in Germany, is a small village called Ragenbach, where, about twenty years ago, the following heart-breaking but also heroic event took place. One afternoon, in the early spring, in the market-room, of Ragenbach, several men and women having assembled from the village, sat at their ease, none anticipating what would happen on that eventful day. The smith formed one of the cheerful company — a strong, vigorous man, with a resolute countenance and daring mien, but also with such a good-natured smile upon his lips, that every one who saw him admired him. Every evil-disposed person shunned him, for the valiant smith would allow nothing wrong in his presence; and few could equal his strength of body.

The brave smith sat near the door, chatting with one of his neighbors, when all at once the door sprang open, and a large dog came staggering into the room — a great, strong, powerful beast, with a ferocious, frightful aspect. His head was hanging down ,and his eyes bloodshot; his red-colored tongue hanging half-way out of his mouth, and his tail dropped between his legs. Thus the ferocious beast entered the room, out of which there was no escape but by one door. Scarcely had the smith’s neighbor, who was bathkeeper of the place, seen the animal, when he became deathly pale, sprang up, and exclaimed with a horrid voice, “The clog is mad!”

Then rose an outcry! The room was full of men and women, and the foaming beast stood before the only entrance; no one could leave without passing him. He snapped savagely right and lelt, and on one could pass him without being bitten. This increased the horrible confusion. All sprang up, and shrank from the furious dog, with agonizing countenances. Who should deliver them from him? The smith also stood among them, and as he saw the anguish of the people, it flashed across his mind, how many of his happy and contented neighbors would be made miserable by a mad dog, and he formed a resolution the like of which scarcely is to be found in the history of the human race for high-mindedncss and nobleness. Certainly his brown cheek paled a little, but his eyes sparkled as with divine lire, and an elevated resolution shone from the smooth brow of the simple-minded man.

“Back all!” thundered he with his deep, strong voice. “Let no one stir, for no one can vanguish the beast but me. One victim must fall, in order to save the rest, and I will be that victim; I will hold the brute, and whilst I do so, make your escape.” The smith had scarcely spoken these words, when the dog started towards the shrieking people: but he went not far. “With God’s help!” cried the smith, and he rushed upon the foaming beast, seized him with an iron grasp, and dashed him to the floor.

Oh! what a terrible struggle followed! The dog bit furiously on every side in the most frightful manner. His long teeth tore the arms and thighs of the heroic smith, but he would not let him loose. Regardless alike of the excessive pain and the horrible death which must ensue, he held down with an iron grasp the snapping, biting, howling brute, until all had escaped - till all, all were rescued and in safety. He then flung the half-strangled beast from him against the wall, and dripping with blood and venomous loam, he left the room, locking the door after him. Some persons shot the dog through the windows. But oh! merciful God! what will become of the brave, unfortunate smith?

Weeping and lamenting, the people surrounded him who had saved their lives at the expense of his own. “Be quiet my friends, do not weep for me, for I have only performed my duty. When I am dead, think of me with love, and now pray for me that God will not let me suffer long or too much. I will take care that no further mischief shall occur through me, for I must certainly become mad.” He went straight to his workshop, and selected a long chain, the heaviest and firmest of his whole stock. He then, with his own hands, welded it upon his own limbs, and around the anvil so firmly, that no power on earth could break it. “There,” said he, “it is done,” after silently contemplating the work. “Now you are secure and I inoffensive so long as I live; bring me my food. The rest I leave to God; into His hands I commend my spirit.” Nothing could save the brave smith — neither tears, lamentations, nor prayers. Madness seized him, and after nine days he died. Yes, he died but his memory will live from generation to generation and will be venerated to the end of time.

The Bible says, “Scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” “But,” a child of God may be enabled to say, “God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Reader, arc you a child of God? do you lie-long to the mourners in Zion? Do you fight in Jesus’ strength against the great armies of your soul-enemies? If so, Jesus has conquered your foes, though it cost Him His precious life. Yea, “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” The brave smith sacrificed his life to save his friends. This was a noble act indeed on his part, and we may readily believe that those whom he thus saved from suffering and from death would remember his great self-sacrifice with grateful affection and sorrow as long as they lived. But Jesus died to save those who were His enemies. This was great love indeed; and surely all who are redeemed by His blood should remember the great love wherewith He has loved them, and seek to honor His name and spread His praise. Sinner, remember that, if you live and die in your sins, Satan, the devouring lion — sin, death, and hell — will be your destruction. Oh, think! Way you be alarmed! Be deeply convicted of sin and woe! May you feel a need of the great Redeemer Christ Jesus! Remember then, “Christ died for the ungodly.”

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