The Railroad's Practical Route

Illustration 11. A railroad does not always run along the line that is the shortest distance between two terminals. It is built where there is business or possibility of building business up. It often makes abrupt turns to get to some city or town where there can be obtained profitable business.

In a transcontinental trip one notices this often. At one point we turned to the right until we were now going at right angles to the old direction. We had been traveling eastward for we were bound for the Atlantic coast, but now we were moving straight parallel with where we wanted to go.

We kept that direction for a hundred miles. Then we came to a City from which the railroad obtains more revenue than from almost any other in that State.

We went there for business reasons. When the Father sends us anywhere, He does so for business rea- sons, His business.

A family came to a small town in an out of the way place. The father picked up his service for God, just as he had in the town from which he had come. In a few months his two sons were converted and joined that Church, He said to the pastor, “I have been wondering all these months why God sent me to this out of way place. I protested against coming here.

I did not want to come here. I felt that my means warranted a more centrally located town, so that my boys might get the very best education possible. However, He plainly sent me here and now I know why He did.

My two boys are saved and I am glad He sent me here.”