The Call of the Wild (Title Accredited Jack London)

The Call of the Wild

What I have to write will be not only stern, but very direct as well. Therefore there is a need for an introduction. Last night I was reading Jack London's Call of the Wild, was wonderful work of the Alaska trial, where men's avarice and strife lead them on to search for the yellow metal called gold, and where sled dogs are abused in order to appease their masters' appetite for wealth. At chapter five I came upon three new characters: Hal, Mercedes, and Charles. London's describes them as city people who have no sense of the rugged trail that lies before them; and in all respects were driven to find gold and nothing else. At one point they stopped at an outpost where an bearded man named John Thornton meets them. He tries to give them advice about crossing the frozen river.

"Best not to cross," said Thornton, "Only a fool would do so." (paraphrasing)

Hal, the leader, ignores the advice and takes the party over the frozen strip of water. However, a quarter of mile down the ice cracks, the sled sinks in, and suddenly everyone (dogs included) disappears under the water. The bottom, as London states, had dropped out of the trail. There are Hals', Mercedes', and Charles' living in our day. They live thier lives of avarice, packing the sin on their sled in the pursuit of reaching that gold mine, called Heaven. But they have to cross the frozen river to get there, but little to they realize (or refuse to realize) that the ice isn't as strong as they think. Spring is here; winter is over, the ice is weakening, don't cross. Some of you ,like Hal ,are not listening to the John Thorntons' of the world: friends, preachers, stranger who care, and many more. You say I've come this far without God, and I'll go further without him. Only a fool would go further without God to gingerly quote Mr. Thornton. In your proud exterior you cross the river, ignoring all the advice given to you to give your life to Jesus. Suddenly the ice begins the crack, the sled sinks in, and the bottom of the trail drops out.