Iron Shod by Dr. T. L. Cuyler

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 1, 1883

Iron Shod.

By Dr. T. L. Cuyler

THE safety of the mountain climber depends upon being well shod; therefore the Swiss guides wear heavy shoes with sharp spikes in the soles. On a bright July morning, a famous man of science started with two gentlemen to ascend Pitz Morterasch, a steep and lofty snow mountain in Switzerland. Though experienced mountaineers, they took with them Senni, the boldest guide in that district. After reaching the summit of Morterasch they started back, and soon arrived at a steep slope covered with a thin snow. They were lashed together with a strong rope, which was tied to each man's waist.

"Keep carefully in my steps, gentlemen," said Senni, "for a false step here might start the snow, and send us down in an avalanche."

He had hardly spoken when the whole field of ice began to slide down the icy mountain side, carrying the unlucky climbers with it at a terrible pace. A steeper slope was before them and at the end of it was a precipice. The three foremost men were almost buried in the whirling snow. Below them were the jaws of death. Everything depended on getting a foothold. Senni shouted loudly, "Halt! halt!" and with desperate energy drove his iron-nailed boots into the firm ice beneath the snow. Within a few rods of the precipice Senni got hold with his feet, and was able to bring the party all up standing, when two seconds more would have swept them into the chasm.

The hair-breadth escape shows the value of being well shod when in dangerous places. The lesson is especially needed by the young. No boy is well prepared for rough climbing, unless he is well shod with Christian principles. Sometimes temptation ices the track under him, and then he must put his foot down with an iron heel, or he is gone. A poor boy of my acquaintance signed a pledge never to taste liquor. One day his rich employer invited him to dinner. There was wine on the table, but the lad was not ashamed to say,

"No, I thank you, sir; I never touch it."

Then came on a rich pudding, which the boy tasted and found there was brandy in it, so he quickly laid the tasted morsel back on his plate. The employer discovered that the boy had "pluck" enough to stand by his convictions, and he will never be afraid to trust him. He is a sure-footed boy.

God knows what steep places lie before us. He has provided the "shoes of iron and brass" for us to put on. They are truth and honesty and faith and courage and prayer. A clear conscience will keep the head cool. And up along the hard road there is a sign-board on which is written in large bright letters, "He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely."—Dr. T. L. Cuyler.