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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7026.txt b/7026.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..728b183 --- /dev/null +++ b/7026.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3478 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Children's Edition of Touching Incidents +and Remarkable Answers to Prayer, by S. B. Shaw + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Children's Edition of Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer + +Author: S. B. Shaw + +Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7026] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 24, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILDREN'S TOUCHING INCIDENTS *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by Joel Erickson, Charles Franks, Juliet Sutherland + + + + +Children's Edition + +of + +TOUCHING INCIDENTS and REMARKABLE ANSWERS TO PRAYER + +COMPILED BY S. B. SHAW + + + +FIRST PREFACE + +For many years in our work among children, we have felt the need of +something similar to this book. + +The cuts are made especially for this work. Pictures in this book will +suggest thoughts of God and heaven and awaken desires to live pure lives +which will sooner or later result in the salvation of many of our young +readers. God bless all our readers. + +--S. B. Shaw + +We are sure these stories will interest you children (and most older +people, too). Especially good and true stories like these. In all that +we have selected there are precious lessons of kindness and sympathy and +obedience, gratitude, courage, and faithfulness: then there are two other +very important lessons which I wish you to learn. The first is that +children can be and should be true Christians, that is, have their sins +forgiven for Jesus' sake and their hearts changed so that they love God +and the right and hate everything that is wrong. The second lesson is +that we must be Christians to be ready to live or ready to die. You will +find in this book several accounts of happy deaths of Christian children, +and you will find also much that tells of the good done by happy Christian +children that lived. + +--Mrs. S. B. Shaw. + + + +DEDICATION + +When I was a little girl about nine years old, my mother gave me the +book, "Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers To Prayer," for children. +This book was published by Brother and Sister Shaw. + +I still have that book, which is about fifty-nine years old, and I have +enjoyed the stories it contained many times. One time while teaching a +Sunday School class I gave them each one of these books. They liked them +very much, but there came a time when you could not buy these books, as +other modern books took their place. But I feel that books like this one +are still needed, and I am sure that if Brother and Sister Shaw were +living they would like to see the stories sent out again to the children. +We are adding a few more true stories. + +So we are praying God's blessings upon this book and dedicating it to +the memory of Brother and Sister Shaw who printed the first book in 1895. + +Yours in Him, + +Laura M. Conkle + +(This dedication was written in 1955 for the first reprint edition.) + + + +CONTENTS + +Always Tell the Truth + +The Child Heroine of New Brunswick + +Annie and Vanie's First Real Prayer + +God Heals a Blind Girl + +"Does This Railroad Lead to Heaven?" + +The Young Martyr + +A Child's Prayer Answered + +The Converted Infidel + +The Stowaway + +The Golden Rule Exemplified + +Only One Vote + +How A Little Girl Utilized the Telephone + +Jesus Answers Ruth's Prayers + +Very Sick + +The Dying Girl's Prayer for Her Drunken Father + +Lost Treasures + +The Little Girl, Who Died to Save Her Father's Life + +"Forgotten My Soul" + +Prevailing Prayer of a Child + +The Dying News Boy + +New Shoes + +Little Jennie's Sickness and Death + +She Died for Him + +"I Don't Love You Now, Mother" + +"Little Mother" + +Robbie Goodman's Prayer + +Carletta and the Merchant + +How Three Sunday School Children Met Their Fate + +He Blesses God for the Faith of His Little Girl + +A Wonderful Children's Meeting + +"They are Not Strangers, Mama" + +Jessie Finds Jesus + +"I'll Never, Steal Again--If Father Kills Me for It" + +Six Months' Record + +A Child's Faith + +Triumphant Death of a Little Child + +The Child's Prayer + +The Cat Came Back + +How God Answered Donald's Prayer + + + +ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH + +Truthfulness is a mark of Christianity. The heathen go astray, speaking +lies as soon as they are born. In China a mother will give her boy a +reward for the best falsehood that he can tell. Beginning so early, and +regarding it such a fine thing to tell wrong stories, they become skillful +in falsehoods. Some parents in Christian America are very careless in +this matter. It made my heart ache one day when I saw a lady in a street +car trying to keep her little boy awake by telling him that, if he went +to sleep, that man who had all those teeth in his window (referring to +a dentist's office they had passed) would come into the car and pull +every tooth out of his mouth. The little fellow looked up dreadfully +scared, and did his best to keep awake: but I thought to myself, when +he finds out what a wrong story his mother has told, he will not believe +her even when she tells the truth. He will be like a little fellow of +whom I heard once, whose mother told him that if he vent to play in a +bank from which the men had been drawing sand for a building, a bear +would come out and eat him up. One day another boy tried to coax him to +go there and play, but he said, no, he was afraid of the bears. The other +boy said there were no bears. "But there be bears cause my mother said +there be bears." While they were disputing, the minister happened to +come along, and they asked him if there were bears in the sand-bank. He +told them there were none. "But," said the first little boy, "My mother +said there be bears there." "I am sorry she said so," said the minister, +"but the truth is, there are none." The child began to cry, and started +for home as fast as he could go. "O Mama!" he said, "Did you tell me a +wrong story? Did you tell me there be bears down at the sand-bank when +there aren't any?" She saw what a dreadful sin she had committed, and +she told him that she was sorry; but she was afraid that if he played +there he would get buried in the sand, and she told him that to keep him +away. "But, Mama, it is such an awful thing to tell a wrong story." "I +know it Tommy, I know it," she said, tears coming into her eyes; "and +we will ask Jesus to forgive me and I will never do it again." They knelt +down, and she was just about to pray when he said, "Wait, Mama, let me +ask Him; maybe you won't tell Him truly." That pierced her heart like a +dagger. She saw that her little boy had lost confidence in her truthfulness +even when she prayed. + +--Jennie F. Willing + + + +THE CHILD HEROINE OF NEW BRUNSWICK + +We have read a touching incident about three little children, who, last +autumn late in the season, wandered alone in a dreary region of New +Brunswick. The sun had already sunk in the west and the gloom of evening +was spreading itself over the surrounding country. + +The night came on fast; and feeling sure that they could not get home +before day break, the eldest (a girl of only six years) quietly placed +the two little ones in a sheltered nook on the sea-beach; and fearing +the cold chilly night for the younger children, Mary stripped off most +of her own clothes to keep them warm. + +She then started off to gather dry sea-weed, and whatever else she could +find, to cover them with. Having tenderly in this way wrought for some +time to make them a nest, she at last fell down exhausted with the cold, +and half bare to the cold inclement night. + +[Illustration] + +That evening the loving father and tender mother sat up wondering at +their children's long absence; the hours dragged slowly past with anxious +watching and silent listening for the well-known little pattering feet. +In vain the fond parents' eyes pierced through the darkness. At length +they roused the neighbors with their anxious inquiries after their lost +ones. All that night was passed in searching and in tears, till early +in the morning, lying fast asleep and somewhat numbed with cold, were +found little Johnny and Lizzie. But oh! a touching spectacle lay near +them; their young savior was stiff, cold, and dead on the sea-weed which +the poor little child-heroine had not strength to drag into the nook, +where those she so deeply loved, and died to save, were sleeping. Thus +this little New Brunswick girl died in her successful and self-sacrificing +endeavor to save her brother and sister. + +Does not this recall the love of the Lord Jesus Christ to you who read? +Mary went to the full extent of human love in dying for her little brother +and sister. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his +life for his friends." Yet the Lord Jesus laid down his life for his +enemies; for "scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure +for a good man some would even dare to die; but God commendeth His love +toward us," etc. He makes no mistakes. Yet how many listen to this story +with more emotion and interest than they do to the story of the cross, +where the love of Jesus, the Son of God, is told in letters of blood! + +--_Dawn of the Morning_ + + + +ANNIE AND VANIE'S FIRST REAL PRAYER + +Two sisters, one about five years of age, the other one older, were +accustomed to go each Saturday morning, some distance from home, to get +chips and shavings from a cooper shop. + +One morning with basket well filled, they were returning home when the +elder one was taken suddenly sick with cramps or cholera. She was in +great pain, and unable to proceed, much less to bear the basket home. +She sat down on the basket, and the younger one held her from falling. + +The street was a lonely one occupied by workshops, factories, etc. Every +one was busy within; not a person was seen on the street. + +The little girls were at a loss what to do. Too timid to go into any +workshop, they sat a while, as silent and quiet as the distressing pains +would allow. + +Soon the elder girl said: "You know, Annie, that a good while ago Mother +told us that if we ever got into trouble we should pray and, God would +help us. Now you help me to get down upon my knees, and hold me up, and +we will pray." + +[Illustration] + +There on the side-walk did these two little children ask God to send +some one to help them home. + +The simple and brief prayer being ended, the sick girl was again helped +up, and sat on the basket, waiting for the answers to their prayers. + +Presently Annie saw, far down the street on the opposite side, a man +come out from a factory, look around him up and down the street and go +back into the factory. + +"O sister, he has gone in again," said Annie. "Well," said Vanie, "perhaps +he is not the one God is going to send. If he is he will come back again." + +"There he comes again," said Annie. "He walks this way. He seems looking +for something. He walks slow, and is without his hat. He puts his hand +to his head, as if he did not know what to do. Oh, sister, he has gone in +again; what shall we do?" + +"That may not be the one whom God will send to help us," said Vanie. "If +he is, he will come out again." + +"Oh yes, there he is; this time with his hat on," said Annie. "He comes +this way; he walks slowly, looking around on every side. He does not see +us, perhaps the trees hide us. Now he sees us, and is coming quickly." + +A brawny German in broken accent asks: + +"O children, what is the matter?" + +"O sir," said Annie, Sister here is so sick she cannot walk and we cannot +get home." + +"Where do you live my dear?" + +"At the end of this street; you can see the house from here." + +"Never mind," said the man, "I takes you home." + +So the strong man gathered the sick child in his arms, and with her head +pillowed upon his shoulder, carried her to the place pointed out by the +younger girl. Annie ran around the house to tell her mother that there +was a man at the front door wishing to see her. The astonished mother, +with a mixture of surprise and joy, took charge of the precious burden +and the child was laid upon a bed. + +After thanking the man, she expected him to withdraw, but instead, he +stood turning his hat in his hands as one who wishes to say something, +but knows not how to begin. + +The mother observing this, repeated her thanks and finally said: "Would +you like me to pay you for bringing my child home?" + +"Oh, no," said he with tears, "God pays me! God pays me! I would like +to tell you something, but I speak English so poorly that I fear you +will not understand." + +The mother assured him that she was used to the German and could understand +him very well. + +"I am the proprietor of an ink factory," said he. "My men work by the +piece. I have to keep separate accounts with each. I pay them every +Saturday. At twelve o'clock they will be at my desk for their money. +This week I have had many hindrances and was behind with my books. I was +working hard at them with the sweat on my face, in my great anxiety to +be ready in time. Suddenly I could not see the figures; the words in the +book all ran together, and I had a plain impression on my mind that some +one in the street wished to see me. I went out, looked up and down the +street, but seeing no one, went back to my desk and wrote a little. +Presently the darkness was greater than before, and the impression +stronger than before, that someone in the street needed me. + +"Again I went out, looked up and down the street, walked a little way, +puzzled to know what I meant. Was my hard work and were the cares of +business driving me out of my wits? Unable to solve the mystery I turned +again into my shop and to my desk. + +"This time my fingers refused to grasp the pen. I found myself unable +to write a word, or make a figure; but the impression was stronger than +ever on my mind, that someone needed my help. A voice seemed to say: +'Why don't you go out as I tell you? There is need of your help.' This +time I took my hat on going out, resolved to stay till I found out whether +I was losing my senses, or there was a duty for me to do. I walked some +distance without seeing anyone, and was more and more puzzled, till I +came opposite the children, and found that there was indeed need of my +help. I cannot understand it, madam." + +As the noble German was about leaving the house, the younger girl had +the courage to say: "O mother, we prayed." + +Thus the mystery was solved, and with tear-stained cheeks, a heaving +breast, and a humble, grateful heart, the kind man went back to his +accounts. + +I have enjoyed many a happy hour in conversation with Annie in her own +house since she has a home of her own. The last I knew of Annie and Vanie +they were living in the same city, earnest Christian women. Their children +were growing up around them, who, I hope, will have like confidence in +mother, and faith in God. + +--Jeigh Arrh. + +Annie was the wife of James A. Clayton of San Jose, California. I have +enjoyed their hospitality and esteem both very highly. + +--James Rogers. + + + +GOD HEALS A BLIND GIRL + +One day we went to visit Ruth's aunt. While there, a very dear friend +of Ruth's aunt came to visit her, bringing Annie, her little four-year-old +girl who was the same age as Ruth. They had taken Annie to an eye doctor +the day before and he had said that she was blind and would always be +blind. The two children played together. Ruth would lead her by the hand +and this touched her heart very much. + +After we went home, she came to me crying, and said, "Mama, Annie is +blind. Mama, Annie can't see anything. Mama, Annie can't even see her +mama!" + +I (Ruth's mother) answered, "No, Annie can't see anything." + +"Can't Jesus make Annie see her mama?" Ruth asked. + +"Yes, Jesus can do anything," Mother told her. + +"I'll never quit praying till Jesus makes Annie see her Mama," she said. +She knelt down and prayed, and for several days she would come in from +her play ever so often and kneel down and pray and ask Jesus to make +Annie see her mama. + +In a few days we received word that Annie said "Oh, I see my mama!" From +then on she could see. + +When the girls were eight years old and Ruth had moved from that state, +her aunt (who had also moved) received a letter from Annie's mother, +saying, "Annie seems to be losing her eyesight again." She said also +that she would like for her to send Annie a new dress while she could +still see it, and if she knew where Ruth was to ask her to pray for Annie +that Jesus would not let her go blind again. Ruth was at the home of her +aunt when she received this letter. She prayed earnestly again and God +answered her prayer and gave Annie her eyesight. It was even better than +normal. + +The last time I saw Annie she was a grown woman around forty, and she +showed me how she could see to read a long way from the light, which we +could not do. Surely God did a wonderful work in answer to a little +girl's prayer. + +Children, let's pray; and when we pray, believe that God hears, and +receive the good things that he has to give us and others. + +--Essie Wilson. + + + +"DOES THIS RAILROAD LEAD TO HEAVEN?" + +In traveling we often meet with persons of different nationalities and +languages; we also meet with incidents of various character, some +sorrowful, others, joyful and instructive. One of the latter character +I witnessed recently while traveling upon the cars. The train was going +west and the time was evening. At a station a little girl about eight +years old came aboard, carrying a budget under her arm. She then commenced +an eager scrutiny of faces, but all were strange to her. She appeared +weary, and placing her budget for a pillow, she prepared to try and +secure a little sleep. Soon the conductor came along collecting tickets +and fare. Observing him she asked him if she might lie there. The +gentlemanly conductor replied that she might, and then kindly asked for +her ticket. She informed him that she had none, when the following +conversation ensued. Said the conductor: + +"Where are you going?" + +"I am going to heaven," she answered. + +"Who pays your fare?" he asked again. + +She then said, "Mister, does this railroad lead to heaven, and does Jesus +travel on it?" + +"I think not," he answered, "Why did you think so?" + +[Illustration] + +"Why sir, before my ma died she used to sing to me of a heavenly railroad, +and you looked so nice and kind that I thought this was the road. My ma +used to sing of Jesus on the heavenly railroad, and that He paid the +fare for everybody, and that the train stopped at every station to take +people on board; but my ma don't sing to me any more. Nobody sings to +me now; and I thought I'd take the cars and go to ma. Mister, do you +sing to your little girl about the railroad that goes to heaven? You +have a little girl, haven't you?" + +He replied, weeping, "No my little dear I have no little girl now. I had +one once; but she died some time ago, and went to heaven." + +"Did she go over this railroad, and are you going to see her now?" she +asked. + +By this time every person in the coach was upon their feet, and most of +them were weeping. An attempt to describe what I witnessed is almost +futile. Some said: "God bless the little girl." Hearing some person say +that she was an angel, the little girl earnestly replied: "Yes, my ma +used to say that I would be an angel some time." + +Addressing herself once more to the conductor, she asked him, "Do you +love Jesus? I do, and if you love Him, He will let you ride to heaven +on His railroad. I am going there and I wish you would go with me. I +know Jesus will let me into heaven when I get there and He will let you +in, too, and everybody that will ride on His railroad--yes, all these +people. Wouldn't you like to see heaven and Jesus, and your little girl?" + +These words, so pathetically and innocently uttered, brought a great +gush of tears from all eyes, but most profusely from those of the +conductor. Some who were traveling on the heavenly railroad shouted aloud +for joy. + +She asked the conductor: "Mister, may I lie here until we get to heaven?" + +"Yes, dear, yes," he answered. + +"Will you wake me up then so that I may see my ma and your little girl +and Jesus?" she asked, "for I do so much want to see them all." + +The answer came in broken accents but in words very tenderly spoken "Yes, +dear angel, yes. God bless you." "Amen!" was sobbed by more than a score +of voices. + +Turning her eyes again upon the conductor, she interrogated him again, +"What shall I tell your little girl when I see her? Shall I tell her +that I saw her pa on Jesus' railroad? Shall I?" + +This brought a fresh flood of tears from all present, and the conductor +knelt by her side, and, embracing her wept the reply he could not utter. +At this juncture the brakeman called out: "H----." The conductor arose +and requested him to attend to his (the conductor's) duty at the station, +for he was engaged. That was a precious place. I thank God that I was a +witness to this scene, but I was sorry that at this point I was obliged +to leave the train. + +We learn from this incident that out of the mouths of even babes God +hath ordained strength, and that we ought to be willing to represent the +cause of our blessed Jesus even in a railroad coach. + +_The Sequel_ + +Brother Dosh:--I wish to relieve my heart by writing to you, and saying +that that angel visit on the cars was a blessing to me, although I did +not realize it in its fullness until some hours after. But blessed be +the Redeemer, I know now that I am His, and He is mine. I no longer +wonder why Christians are happy. Oh, my joy, my joy! The instrument of +my salvation has gone to God. I had purposed adopting her in the place +of my little daughter who is now in heaven. With this intention I took +her to C--b, and on my return trip I took her back to S--n, where she +left the cars. In consultation with my wife in regard to adopting her, +she replied, "Yes, certainly, and immediately, too, for there is a Divine +providence in this. Oh," said she, "I could never refuse to take under +my charge the instrument of my husband's salvation." + +I made inquiry for the child at S--n and learned that in three days after +her return she died suddenly, without any apparent disease, and her happy +soul had gone to dwell with her ma, my little girl and the angels in +heaven. I was sorry to hear of her death but my sorrow is turned to joy +when I think my angel-daughter received intelligence from earth concerning +her pa, and that he is on the heavenly railway. Oh! sir, me thinks I see +her near the Redeemer. I think I hear her sing! "I'm safe at home, and +pa and ma are coming," and I find myself sending back the reply: "Yes, +my darling we are coming and will soon be there." Oh, my dear sir, I am +glad that I ever formed your acquaintance; may the blessing of the great +God rest upon you. Please write to me, and be assured, I would be most +happy to meet you again. + +--J. M. Dosh, in _Christian Expositor_ + + + +THE YOUNG MARTYR + +On the afternoon of August 9, 1853, a little Norwegian boy, named Kund +Iverson, who lived in the city of Chicago, Illinois, was going to the +pastures for his cow as light-hearted, I suppose, as boys usually are +when going to the pasture on a summer afternoon. He came at length to a +stream of water where there was a gang of idle, ill-looking, big boys; +who, when they saw Kund, came up to him; and said they wanted him to go +into Mr. Elston's garden and steal some apples. + +"No," said Kund promptly; "I cannot steal, I am sure." + +"Well, but you've got to," they cried. + +[Illustration: THE CRIES OF THE DROWNING CHILD GREW FAINTER AND FAINTER] + + +They threatened to duck him, for these wicked big boys had often frightened +little boys into robbing gardens for them. Little boys, they thought, +were less likely to get found out. + +The threat did not frighten Kund, so to make their words good, they +seized him and dragged him into the river, and in spite of his cries and +struggles, plunged him in. But the heroic boy even with the water gurgling +and choking in his throat, never flinched, for he knew that God had said: +"Thou shalt not steal," and God's law he had made his law; and no cursing, +or threats, or cruelty of the big boys would make him give up. Provoked +by his firmness, I suppose, they determined to see if they could conquer +him. So they ducked him again but it still was, "No, no"; and they kept +him under water. Was there no one near to hear his distressing cries, +and rescue the poor child from their cruel grip? No; there was none to +rescue him; and gradually the cries of the drowning child grew fainter +and fainter, and his struggles less and less, and the boy was drowned. +He could die, but would not steal. + +A German boy who had stood near, much frightened by what he saw, ran +home to tell the news. The agonized parents hastened to the spot, and +all night they searched for the lifeless body of their lost darling. It +was found the next morning; and who shall describe their feelings as +they clasped the little form to their bosoms? Early piety had blossomed +in his little life. He loved his Bible and his Savior. His seat was +never vacant at Sunday school, and so intelligent, conscientious and +steadfast had he been. + +Perhaps the little boy used often to think how, when he grew up, he would +like to be a preacher or a missionary, and do something for his Lord and +Master. He did not know what post he might be called to occupy, even as +a little child; and as he left home that afternoon and looked his last +look in his mother's face, he thought he was only going after his cows; +and other boys, and the neighbors, if they saw him, thought so, too. They +did not then know that instead of going to the pasture he was going to +preach one of the most powerful sermons of Bible law and Bible principles +the country ever heard. They did not know that he was going to give an +example of steadfastness of purpose and of unflinching integrity, such +as should thrill the heart of this nation with wonder and admiration. +He was then only a Norwegian boy, Kund Iverson, only thirteen years old, +but his name was soon to be reckoned with martyrs and heroes. And as the +story of his moral heroism winged its way from state to state, and city +to city, and village to village, how many mothers cried with full hearts: +"May his spirit rest upon my boy!" And strong men have wept over it and +exclaimed: "God be praised for the lad!" And rich men put their hands +into their pockets and said, "Let us build him a monument; let his name +be perpetuated, for his memory is blessed." May there be a generation +of Kund Iversons, strong in their integrity, true to their Bibles ready +to die rather than do wrong. + +--_The Cynosure_ + + + +A CHILD'S PRAYER ANSWERED + +The following touching incident which drew tears from my eyes, was related +to me a short time since, by a dear friend who had it from an eyewitness +of the same. It occurred in the great city of New York, on one of the +coldest days in February. + +A little boy about ten years old was standing before a shoe-store in +Broadway barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. + +A lady riding up the street in a beautiful carriage, drawn by horses +finely caparisoned, observed the little fellow in his forlorn condition +and immediately ordered the driver to draw up and stop in front of the +store. The lady richly dressed in silk, alighted from her carriage, went +quickly to the boy, and said: + +"My little fellow why are you looking so earnestly in that window?" + +"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the reply. The lady +took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the proprietor +if he would allow one of his clerks to go and buy half a dozen pairs of +stockings for the boy. He readily assented. She then asked him if he +could give her a basin of water and a towel, and he replied: "Certainly," +and quickly brought them to her. + +She took the little fellow to the back part of the store, and, removing +her gloves knelt down, washed those little feet and dried them with the +towel. + +[Illustration] + +By this time the young man had returned with the stockings. Placing a +pair upon his feet, she purchased and gave him a pair of shoes, and tying +up the remaining pairs of stockings, gave them to him, and patting him +on the head said: "I hope my little fellow, that you now feel more comfo +rtable." + +As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her hand, and looking up +in her face, with tears in his eyes answered her question with these +words: "Are you God's wife?" + +--_Parish Register_ + + + +THE CONVERTED INFIDEL + +Some two miles from the village of C. on a road that wound in among the +hills stood a great white house. It was beautifully situated upon a +gentle slope facing the south, and overlooking a most charming landscape. +Away in the distance, a mountain lifted itself against the clear blue +sky. At its base rolled a broad, deep river. Nestling down in a valley +that intervened, reposed the charming little village with its neat +cottages, white church, little red school house and one or two mansions +that told of wealth. Here and there in the distance a pond was visible; +while farm houses and humbler dwellings dotted the picture in every +direction. + +Such was the home of three promising children, who for the last three +months had been constant members of the village Sunday School. The eldest +was a girl of some fourteen years. John, the second, was a bright, amiable +lad of eleven. The other the little rosy-cheeked, laughing Ella, with +her golden curls and sunny smile had just gathered the roses of her ninth +summer. + +The father of these interesting children was the rich Captain Lowe. He +was a man of mark, such, in many respects as are often found in rural +districts. Strictly moral, intelligent and well read, kind-hearted and +naturally benevolent, he attracted all classes of community to himself +and wielded great influence in his town. + +But, not withstanding all these excellences, Mr. Lowe was an infidel. +He ridiculed in his good-natured way, the idea of prayer, looked upon +conversion as a solemn farce, and believed the most of professing +Christians were well-meaning but deluded people. He was well versed in +all the subtle arguments of infidel writers, had studied the Bible quite +carefully, and could argue against it in the most plausible manner. +Courteous and kind to all, few could be offended at his frank avowal of +infidel principles, or resent his keen, half-jovial sarcasms upon the +peculiarities of some weak-minded, though sincere members of the church. + + +But Mr. Lowe saw and acknowledged the saving influence of the MORALITY +of Christianity. He had especially, good sense enough to confess that +the Sunday School was a noble moral enterprise. He was not blind to the +fact, abundantly proved by all our criminal records, that few children +trained under her influences ever grow up to vice and crime. Hence his +permission for his children to attend the Sunday School. + +Among the many children who knelt as penitents at the altar in the little +vestry, one bright beautiful Lord's Day, were Sarah Lowe and her brother +and sister. It was a moving sight to see that gentle girl, with a mature +thoughtfulness far beyond her years, take that younger brother and sister +by the hand, and kneel with them at the mercy-seat--a sight to heighten +the joy of angels. + +When the children had told their mother what they had done and expressed +a determination to try to be Christians; she, too, was greatly moved. +She had been early trained in the principles and belief of Christianity, +and had never renounced her early faith. Naturally confiding, with a +yielding, conciliatory spirit, she had never obtruded her sentiments +upon the notice of her husband, nor openly opposed any of his peculiar +views. But now, when her little ones gathered around her and spoke of +their new love for the Savior, their joy and peace and hope, she wept. +All the holy influences of her own childhood and youth seemed breathing +upon her heart. She remembered the faithful sermons of the old pastor +whose hands had baptized her. She remembered, too, the family altar, and +the prayers which were offered morning and evening by her sainted father. +She remembered the counsels of her good mother now in heaven. All these +memories came crowding back upon her and under their softening influences +she almost felt herself a child again. + +[Illustration: It was a moving sight to see that gentle girl take that +younger brother and sister by the hand and kneel with them at the mercy +seat--a sight to heighten the joy of angels.] + +When Mr. Lowe first became aware of the change in his children, he was +sorely puzzled to know what to do. He had given his consent for them to +attend the Sunday School, and should he now be offended because they had +yielded to its influence? Ought he not rather to have expected this? And +after all, would what they called religion make them any worse children? +Though at first quite disturbed in his feelings, he finally concluded +upon second thought to say nothing to them upon the subject, but to let +things go on as usual. + +But not so those happy young converts. They could not long hold their +peace. They must tell their father also what they had experienced. Mr. +Lowe heard them, but he made no attempt to ridicule their simple faith, +as had been his usual course with others. They were HIS children, and +none could boast of better. Still, he professed to see in their present +state of mind nothing but youthful feeling, excited by the peculiar +circumstances of the last few weeks. But when they began in their childish +ardor to exhort him also to seek the Lord, he checked their simple +earnestness with a peculiar sternness which said to them: "The act must +not be repeated." + +The next Sunday the father could not prevent a feeling of loneliness as +he saw his household leave for church. The three children, with their +mother and Joseph, the hired boy, to drive and take care of the horse; +all packed into the old commodious carriage and started off. Never before +had he such peculiar feelings as when he watched them slowly descending +the hill. + +To dissipate these emotions he took a dish of salt and started up the +hill to a "mountain pasture" where his young cattle were enclosed for +the season. It was a beautiful day in October, that queen month of the +year. A soft melancholy breathed in the mild air of the mellow "Indian +summer," and the varying hues of the surrounding forests, and the signs +of decay seen upon every side, all combined to deepen the emotions which +the circumstances of the morning had awakened. + +His sadness increased; and as his path opened out into a bright, sunny +spot far up on the steep hillside, he seated himself upon a mossy knoll +and thought. Before him lay the beautiful valley guarded on either side +by its lofty hills, and watered by its placid river. It was a lovely +picture; and as his eye rested upon the village, nestling down among its +now gorgeous shade-trees and scarlet shrubbery, he could not help thinking +of that company who were then gathered in the little church, with its +spire pointing heavenward nor of asking himself the question: "Why are +they there?" + +While thus engaged, his attention was attracted by the peculiar chirping +of a ground sparrow near by. He turned, and but a few feet from him he +saw a large black snake, with its head raised about a foot above its +body, which lay coiled upon the ground. Its jaws were distended, its +forked tongue played around its open mouth, flashing in the sunlight +like a small lambent flame, while its eyes were intently fixed upon the +bird. There was a clear, sparkling light about those eyes that was fearful +to behold--they fairly flashed with their peculiar bending fascination. +The poor sparrow was fluttering around a circle of some few feet in +diameter, the circle becoming smaller at each gyration of the infatuated +bird. She appeared conscious of her danger, yet unable to break the spell +that bound her. Nearer and still nearer she fluttered her little wings +to those open jaws; smaller and smaller grew the circle, till at last, +with a quick convulsive cry; she fell into the mouth of the snake. + +As Mr. Lowe watched the bird he became deeply interested in her fate. +He started a number of times to destroy the reptile and thus liberate +the sparrow from her danger, but an unconquerable curiosity to see the +end restrained him. All day long the scene just described was before +him. He could not forget it nor dismiss it from his mind. The last cry +of that poor little bird sinking into the jaws of death was constantly +ringing in his ears, and the sadness of the morning increased. + +[Illustration] + +Returning to his house, he seated himself in his library and attempted +to read. What could be the matter? Usually he could command his thoughts +at will, but now he could think of nothing but the scene on the mountain, +or the little company in the house of God. Slowly passed the hours, and +many times did he find himself, in spite of his resolution not to do so, +looking down the road for the head of his dapple gray to emerge from the +valley. It seemed a long time before the rumbling of the wheels was at +length heard upon the bridge which crossed the mountain stream, followed +shortly by the old carry-all creeping slowly up the hill. + +The return of the family somewhat changed the course of his thoughts. +They did not say any thing to him about the good meeting they had enjoyed, +and who had been converted since the last Lord's day; but they talked +it all over among themselves, and how could he help hearing? He learned +all about "how good farmer Haskell talked," and "how humble and devoted +Esquire Wiseman appeared," and "how happy Benjamin and Samuel were"; +though he seemed busy with his book and pretended to take no notice of +what was said. + +It was, indeed, true then that the old lawyer had become pious. He had +heard the news before, but did not believe it. Now he had learned it as +a fact. That strong-minded man who had been a skeptic all his days, had +ridiculed and opposed religion, was now a subject of "the children's +revival." What could it mean? Was there something in religion after all? +Could it be that what these poor fanatics, as he had always called them, +said about the future world was correct? Was there a heaven, and a hell, +and a God of justice? Were his darling children right, and was he alone +wrong? Such were the thoughts of the boasted infidel, as he sat there +listening to the half-whispered conversation of his happy children. + +Little Ella came and climbed to her long accustomed place upon her +father's knee, and throwing her arms around his neck, laid her glowing +cheek, half-hidden by the clustering curls, against his own. He knew by +her appearance she had something to say but did not dare to say it. To +remove this fear, he began to question her about Sunday School. He +inquired after her teacher and who were her classmates, what she learned, +etc. Gradually the shyness wore away, and the heart of the innocent +praying child came gushing forth. She told him all that had been done +that day--what her teacher had said of the prayer meeting at noon, and +who spoke, and how many went forward for prayers. Then folding her arms +more closely around his neck, and kissing him tenderly, she added: + +"Oh, father, I do wish you had been there!" + +"Why do you wish I had been there, Ella?" + +"Oh, just to see how happy Nellie Winslow looked while her grandfather +was telling us children how much he loved the Savior, and how sorry he +was that he did not give his heart to his heavenly Father when he was +young. Then he laid his hand on Nellie's head, who was sitting by his +side, and said: 'I thank God that he ever gave me a little praying +granddaughter to lead me to the Savior.' And, father, I never in all my +life saw anyone look so happy as Nellie did." + +Mr. Lowe made no reply--how could he? Could he not see where the heart +of his darling Ella was? Could he not see that by what she had told him +about Esquire Wiseman and his pet Nellie, she meant HE should understand +how happy SHE should be if HER father was a Christian? Ella had not said +so in words--THAT was a forbidden subject--but the language of her earnest +loving look and manner was not to be mistaken; and the heart of the +infidel father was deeply stirred. He kissed the rosy cheeks of the +lovely girl, and taking his hat, left the house. He walked out into the +field. He felt strangely. Before he was aware of the fact he found his +infidelity leaving him, and the simple, artless religion of childhood +winning its way to his heart. Try as hard as he might he could not help +believing that his little Ella was a Christian. There was a reality about +her simple faith and ardent love that was truly "the evidence of things +not seen." What should he do? Should he yield to thin influence and be +led by his children to Christ? What! Captain Lowe, the boasted infidel +overcome by the weakness of excited childhood! The thought roused his +PRIDE and with an exclamation of impatience at his folly, he suddenly +wheeled about, and retracing his steps, with altered appearance, he +re-entered his house. + +His wife was alone with an open Bible before her. As he entered he saw +her hastily wipe away a tear. In passing her he glanced upon the open +page, and his eye caught the words "YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!" They went +like an arrow to his heart. "TRUTH," said a voice within, with such +fearful distinctness that he started at the fancied sound; and the +influence which he had just supposed banished from his heart returned +with ten-fold power. The strong man trembled. Leaving the sitting-room, +he ascended the stairs to his chamber. Passing Sarah's room, a voice +attracted his attention. It was the voice of prayer. He heard his own +name pronounced, and he paused to listen. + +"Oh, Lord, save my dear father. Lead him to the Savior. Let him see +that he MUST BE BORN AGAIN. Oh let not the SERPENT CHARM HIM! Save, oh, +save my dear father!" + +He could listen no longer, "_Let not the serpent charm him!_" Was +he then like that helpless little bird, who fluttering around the head +of the serpent, fell at last into the jaws of death? The thought shot a +wild torrent of newly awakened terror through his throbbing heart. + +Hastening to his chamber he threw himself into a chair. He started! The +voice of prayer again fell upon his ear. He listened. Yes, it was the +clear, sweet accents of his little pet. Ella was praying--WAS PRAYING +FOR HIM! + +"O Lord, bless my dear father. Make him a Christian, and may he and dear +mother be prepared for heaven!" + +[Illustration: They came from their places of prayer, where they had +lifted up their voices to God who had said: "Whatsoever ye shall ask the +Father in my name He will give it you."] + +Deeply moved, the father left the house and hastened to the barn. He +would fain escape from those words of piercing power. They were like +daggers in his heart. He entered the barn. Again he hears a voice. It +comes from the hay-loft, in the rich silvery tones of his own noble boy. +John had climbed up the ladder, and kneeling down upon the hay WAS PRAYING +FOR HIS FATHER. + +"O Lord, save my father!" + +It was too much for the poor convicted man, and, rushing to the house +he fell, sobbing upon his knees by the side of his wife and cried: + +"O Mary, I am a poor, lost sinner! Our children are going to heaven, and +I--I--AM GOING DOWN TO HELL! Oh, Wife, is there mercy for a wretch like +me?" + +Poor Mrs. Lowe was completely overcome. She wept for joy. That her husband +would ever be her companion in the way of holiness, she had never dared +to hope. Yes, there was mercy for even them. "Come unto me, and find +rest." Christ had said it, and her heart told her it was true. Together +they would go to this loving Savior, and their little ones should show +them the way. + +The children were called in. They came from their places of prayer, where +they had lifted up their hearts to that God who had said "WHATSOEVER YE +SHALL ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME HE WILL GIVE IT YOU." They had asked the +Spirit's influence upon the hearts of their parents, and it had been +granted. They gathered around their weeping, broken-hearted father and +penitent mother, and pointed them to the cross of Jesus. Long and earnestly +they prayed, and wept and agonized. With undoubting trust in the promises, +they waited at the mercy-seat, and their prayers were heard. Faith +conquered. The Spirit came and touched these penitent hearts with the +finger of love; and then sorrow was turned to joy--their night, dark and +cheerless and gloomy, was changed to blessed day. + +[Illustration] + +They arose from their knees, and Ella sprang to the arms of her father, +and together they rejoiced in God. + +--Brother H. P. in _Christian Advocate_ + + + +THE STOWAWAY + +On board an English steamer a little ragged boy, aged nine years, was +discovered on the fourth day of the voyage out from Liverpool to New +York, and carried before the first mate, whose duty it was to deal with +such cases. When questioned as to his object in being stowed away, and +who had brought him on board, the boy, who had a beautiful sunny face, +that looked like the very mirror of truth, replied that his step-father +did it, because he could not afford to keep him nor pay his passage to +Halifax where he had an aunt who was well off, and to whose house he was +going. + +The mate did not believe his story, in spite of the winning face and +truthful accents of the boy. He had seen too much of stowaways to be +easily deceived by them, he said; and it was his firm conviction that +the boy had been brought on board and provided with food by the sailors. + + +[Illustration] + +The little fellow was very roughly handled in consequence. Day by day +he was questioned and requestioned, but always with the same result. He +did not know a sailor on board, and his father alone had secreted and +given him the food which he ate. At last the mate, wearied by the boy's +persistence in the same story, and perhaps a little anxious to inculpate +the sailors, seized him one day by the collar, and dragging him to the +fore, told him that unless he told the truth, in ten minutes from that +time he would hang from the yard arm. He then made him sit under it on +the deck. All around him were the passengers and sailors of the midway +watch, and in front of him stood the inexorable mate, with chronometer +in his hand, and the other officers of the ship by his side. It was a +touching sight to see the pale, proud, scornful face of that noble boy; +his head erect, his beautiful eyes bright through the tears that suffused +them. When eight minutes had fled the mate told him that he had but two +minutes to live, and advised him to speak the truth and save his life. +But he replied with the utmost simplicity and sincerity, by asking the +mate if he might pray. The mate said nothing, but nodded his head, and +turned as pale as a ghost, and shook with trembling like a reed in the +wind. And then all eyes turned on him, the brave and noble fellow-- +this poor boy whom society owned not, and whose own step-father could +not care for--knelt with clasped hands and eyes upturned to heaven. There +then occurred a scene as of Pentecost. Sobs broke from strong, hard +hearts, as the mate sprang forward and clasped the boy to his bosom, and +kissed him, and blessed him, and told him how sincerely he now believed +his story and how glad he was that he had been brave enough to face death +and be willing to sacrifice his life for the truth of his word. + +--_Illustrated Weekly Telegraph_ + + + +THE GOLDEN RULE EXEMPLIFIED + +Early one morning while it was yet dark, a poor man came to my door and +informed me that he had an infant child very sick, which he was afraid +would die. He desired me to go to his home, and, if possible help them. +"For," said he, "I want to save its life, if possible." As he spoke thus +his tears ran down his face. He then added: + +"I am a poor man; but, Sir, I will pay you in work as much as you ask +if you will go." + +I said: "Yes, I will go with you as soon as I take a little refreshment." + +"Oh, sir," said he, "I was going to try to get a bushel of corn, and get +it ground to carry home, and I am afraid the child will die before I get +there. I wish you would not wait for me"; and then he added: "We want +to save the child's life if we can." + +[Illustration] + +It being some miles to his house, I didn't arrive there until the sun +was two hours high in the morning, when I found the mother holding her +sick child, and six or seven little boys and girls around her, with clean +hands and faces, looking as their mother did, lean and poor. On examining +the sick child, I discovered that it was starving to death! I said to +the mother: "You don't give milk enough for this child." + +She said: "I suppose I don't." + +"Well," said I, "you must feed it with milk." + +She answered: "I would, sir, but I can't get any to feed it with." + +I then said: "It will be well, then, for you to make a little water +gruel, and feed your child." + +To this she replied: "I was thinking I would if my husband brings home +some Indian meal. He has gone to try to get some and I am in hopes he +will make out." + +She said this with a sad countenance. I asked her with surprise: "Why +madam, have you not got anything to eat?" + +She strove to suppress a tear, and answered sorrowfully: "No sir; we +have had but little these some days." + +I said: "What are your neighbors, that you should suffer among them?" + +She said, "I suppose they are good people, but we are strangers in this +place, and don't wish to trouble any of them, if we can get along without." + +Wishing to give the child a little manna I asked for a spoon. The little +girl went to the table drawer to get one, and her mother said to her: +"Get the longest handled spoon." As she opened the drawer, I saw only +two spoons, and both with handles broken off, but one handle was a little +longer than the other. I thought to myself this is a very poor family, +but I will do the best I can to relieve them. While I was preparing the +food for the sick child, I heard the oldest boy (who was about fourteen), +say: "You shall have the biggest piece now, because I had the biggest +piece before." I turned around to see who it was that manifested such a +principle of justice, and I saw four or five children sitting in the +corner, where the oldest was dividing a roasted potato among them. And +he said to one: "You shall have the biggest piece now," etc. But the +other said: "Why, brother, you are the oldest, and you ought to have the +biggest piece." + +"No," said the other, "I had the biggest piece." + +I turned to the mother, and said: "Madam, you have potatoes to eat, I +suppose?" + +She replied, "We have had, but this is the last one we have left; and +the children have now roasted that for their breakfast." + +On hearing this, I hastened home, and informed my wife that food was +needed for the sick family. I then prescribed a gallon of milk, two +loaves of bread, some butter, meat and potatoes, and sent my boy with +these; and had the pleasure to hear in a few days that they were all well. + +--Selected. + + + +ONLY ONE VOTE + +A local option contest was going on in W--, and Mrs. Kent was trying to +influence her husband to vote "No License." Willie Kent, six years old, +was, of course on his mamma's side. The night before election Mr. Kent +went to see Willie safe in bed, and hushing his prattle, he said: "Now, +Willie, say your prayers." + +"Papa, I want to say my own words, tonight," he replied. "All right, my +boy, that is the best kind of praying," answered the father. + +Fair was the picture, as Willie, robed in white, knelt at his father's +knee and prayed reverently: "O dear Jesus, do help papa to vote No Whiskey +tomorrow. Amen." + +Morning came, the village was alive with excitement. Women's hands, made +hard by toil, were stretched to God for help in the decision. + +The day grew late and yet Mr. Kent had not been to the polls. Willie's +prayer sounded in his ears, and troubled conscience said: "Answer your +boy's petition with your ballot." + +At last he stood at the polling place with two tickets in his hand-- +one, license; the other, "No License." Sophistry, policy, avarice said: +"Vote License." Conscience echoed: "No License." After a moment's +hesitation, he threw from him the No License ticket and put the License +in the box. + +The next day it was found that the contest was so close that it needed +but one vote to carry the town for prohibition. In the afternoon, Willie +found a No License ticket, and, having heard only one vote was necessary, +he started out to find the man who would cast this one ballot against +wrong, and in his eagerness he flew along the streets. + +The saloon men were having a jubilee, and the highways were filled with +drunken rowdies. Little Willie rushed on through the unsafe crowd. + +[Illustration] + +Hark! a random pistol-shot from a drunken quarrel, a pierced heart, and +sweet Willie Kent had his death wound-- + +They carried him home to his mother. His father was summoned, and the +first swift thought that came to him, as he stood over the lifeless boy, +was: "Willie will never pray again that I vote No Whiskey." + +With a strange still grief he took in his own the quiet little hand +chilling into marble coldness, and there between the fingers, firmly +clasped, was the No License ballot with which the brave little soul +thought to change the verdict of yesterday. + +Mr. Kent started back in shame and sorrow. That vote in his hand might +have answered the prayer so lately on his lips now dumb, and perhaps +averted the awful calamity. Fathers, may not the hands of the "thousands +slain" make mute appeal to you? Your one vote is what God requires of +you. You are responsible for it being in harmony with His law as if on +it hung the great decision. + +--_The Issue_ + + + +How a Little Girl Utilized the Telephone + +A mother living not very far from the post-office in this city, tired +with watching over a sick baby, came down stairs for a moment the other +day for a few second's rest. She heard the voice of her little, +four-year-old girl in the hall by herself, and, curious to know to whom +she was talking, stopped for a moment at the half-opened door. She saw +that the little thing had pulled a chair in front of the telephone, and +stood upon it, with the piece against the side of her head. The earnestness +of the child showed that she was in no playing mood, and this was the +conversation the mother heard, while the tears stood thick in her eyes; +the little one carrying on both sides, as if she were repeating the +answers: + +[Illustration] + +"Hello." + +"Well, who's there?" + +"Is God there?" + +"Yes." + +"Is Jesus there?" + +"Yes." + +"Tell Jesus I want to speak to him." + +"Well?" + +"Is that you, Jesus?" + +"Yes. What is it?" + +"Our baby is sick, and we want you to let it get well. Won't you, now?" +No answer, and statement and question again repeated, and finally answered +by a "Yes." + +The little one put the ear-piece back on its hook, clambered down from +the chair, and with a radiant face, went for her mother, who caught her +in her arms. + +The baby whose life had been despaired of, began to mend that day and +got well. + +--_Elmira Free Press_ + + + +Jesus Answers Ruth's Prayer + +I went to sit up all night with a very sick neighbor. I took Ruth, my +little five-year-old girl along. When I started to leave the next morning, +the folks told me to leave Ruth there and they would send her home when +she awakened. Being very busy, they forgot about the child for some time, +and she got up and started home by herself. She started up the fence +which she thought led home, but she took the wrong fence and it led out +into a large pasture where there were deep canyons, bad cattle, wolves, +and other dangers. + +The neighbors missed Ruth and sent their son to find out if Ruth had got +home all right. Her parents became alarmed when they were told that she +had left two hours before. Her father started out to find his precious +child, asking God to direct him to her. After going some distance, he +heard someone talking. He stopped and listened. His heart was so glad, +for he knew it was his child. She was kneeling by a post praying. And +this is what he heard her say, "O sweet Jesus, please send my papa to +find me! I'm not afraid! I know that you wouldn't let nothing hurt your +little girl, but if my papa didn't find me, my mama would cry herself +to death and my papa would almost cry his self to death. So please, sweet +Jesus, send my papa to find me." + +"Here I am, Ruth," Papa said, as he walked toward her. + +"Oh, Papa, I knew Jesus would send you to find me!" Ruth said as she +quickly jumped up and ran to her father, throwing her arms around him. + +Mother was very happy when she saw father coming with their child, and +thanked God for caring for her. + +--Essie Wilson + + + +VERY SICK + +"Mother, Mrs. Oats is very sick!" Ruth said as she came in the door, +looking very sad. "Mama, she is sick; she is awful sick. I'm sorry for +her. What shall we do for her? Let's go into the other room and pray and +ask Jesus what he wants me to do." + +So Mother and her little girl went into the other room and knelt down. +Ruth began to pray and ask Jesus what she should do for Mrs. Oats. And +all of a sudden she jumped up and said, "Jesus told me what to do. He +told me to go over and lay my hands on her and pray for her, and he would +heal her." And without an answer, Ruth, who was just six years old ran +out the door and didn't stop running till she was at Mrs. Oat's bedside. + + +"Turn over here, Mrs. Oats," Ruth said, as she laid her hand on Mrs. +Oats' shoulder. "I came over here to pray for you and Jesus is going to +heal you." + +Mrs. Oats replied, "Well, pray for me, you blessed little angel; if the +Lord would hear anyone's prayers, he would hear yours." + +Ruth laid her hands on her and prayed for her and the Lord instantly +healed her. She got up and dressed and came over and told Ruth's mother +what Ruth had done. + +--Essie Wilson + + + +THE DYING GIRL'S PRAYER FOR HER DRUNKEN FATHER + +A child from a poor family had an intemperate father, who often used to +abuse his wife and children. This child had been to the Sunday School-- +had become pious. The physician told the father that his little girl +would die. No! he did not believe it. Yes, she will--she must die in a +few hours. The father hastened to the bedside; would not part with her, +he said. + +"Yes, father, you must part with me; I am going to Jesus. Promise me two +things. One is, that you won't abuse mother any more, and will drink no +more whiskey." + +He promised in a solemn, steady manner. The little girl's face lighted +up with joy. + +"The other thing is, promise me that you will PRAY," said the child. + +[Illustration] + +"I cannot pray; don't know how," said the poor man. + +"Father, kneel down, please. There, take the words after me. I will pray-- +I learned how to pray in Sunday School and God has taught me how to pray, +too; my heart prays, and you must let your heart pray. Now say the words." + +And she began in her simple language to pray to the Savior of sinners. +After a little he began to repeat after her; as he went on his heart was +interested, and he broke out into an earnest prayer for himself; bewailed +his sins, confessed and promised to forsake them; entered into covenant +with God; light broke out in his darkness; how long he prayed he did not +know; he seemed to have forgotten his child in his prayer. When he came +to himself he raised his head from the bed on which he had rested it; +there lay the little speaker, a lovely smile was upon the face, her hand +was in that of the father, but she had gone to be among the angels. + +--_Power of Prayer_ by Prime. + + + +LOST TREASURES + +"Come, Mamie, darling," said Mrs. Peterson, "before you go into the land +of dreams you will kneel at my knee and thank your heavenly Father for +what he has given you today." + +Mamie came slowly towards her mother, and said, "I've been very naughty, +and I can't pray, Mama." + +"If you've been naughty dear, that is the more reason that you need to +pray." + +"But, Mama, I don't think God wants little girls to come to Him when +they are naughty." + +"You are not naughty now, my dear, are you?" + +"No, I am not naughty now." + +"Well, then come at once." + +"What shall I say to God about it, Mama?" + +"You can tell God how very sorry you are." + +"What difference will that make?" + +"When we have told God that we are sorry, and when he has forgiven us, +then we are as happy as if we had not done wrong; but we cannot undo the +mischief." + +"Then, Mama, I can never be quite as rich as if I had not had a naughty +hour today." + +"Never, my dear; but the thought of your loss may help you to be more +careful in the future, and we will ask God to keep you from sinning +against him again." + +--Selected + + + +THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DIED TO SAVE HER FATHER'S LIFE + +[Illustration] + +My dear little friend: I want to tell you about a little girl in +Switzerland who died to save her father's life. I hope it will lead you +to think of Him who died a dreadful death on the cross, that we might +be saved from sin and sorrow here, and at last dwell with Him in bright +mansions in the skies. + +This little girl lived near a deep ravine at the foot of one of the +mountains in Switzerland. A huge rock had fallen down the mountain side, +and lodged in the ravine, and thus made a natural bridge, so that those +who wished to pass from one side of the mountain to the other, could +cross the bridge. + +The mother of the child was an earnest Christian, and often told her +daughter about the blessed Savior, who died in the place of sinners, +who deserved to be punished that they might be forgiven and saved in +heaven. And she told her also that unless she came to Jesus, and trusted +in Him, she would be lost forever. At first the little girl did not care +very much about what her mother said, but at last the mother's prayer +was answered. Her little one felt herself to be a lost sinner, and that +Christ alone could save her. God's spirit taught her that Jesus had paid +the debt, and that He stood with open arms ready to receive her, and +wash her sins away. Then she felt sure that heaven would be her home +forever. Her father was not a Christian. He never gathered his loved +ones around the family altar. + +One day when about to cross the deep ravine upon the rock bridge, the +mother saw that it was just ready to fall. The frost had loosened it. +She told her little child that if she ever crossed it again it would +fall, and she would be dashed in pieces. + +[Illustration] + +The next day the father told his child that he was going over to the +other side across the bridge. She told him it was not safe, but he only +laughed at her. He said he had been across it before she was born, and +that he was not afraid. When the dear little thing saw that he was +determined to go she asked if she could go with him. + +While they were walking along together, she looked up into her father's +face, and said: "Father, if I should die, will you promise to love Jesus +and meet me in heaven?" + +"Pshaw!" he said, "what put such a wild thought into your head? You are +not going to die, I hope. You are only a wee thing and will live many +years." + +"Yes, but if I should die, will you promise to love Jesus just as I do, +and meet me in heaven?" + +"But you are not going to die. Don't speak of it," he said. + +"But if I should die, do promise, Father, you will be a good Christian +and come up and live with Jesus and me in heaven." + +"Yes, yes!" he said at last. + +When they came near the crossing-place, she said: "Father, please stand +here a minute." She loved him dearly and was willing to run the risk of +dying for him. Strange as it may seem she walked quickly and jumped upon +the loose rock, and down it went with the girl. She was crushed to death. +The trembling parent crept to the edge, and eyes dimmed with tears, gazed +wildly upon the wreck. Then he thought of all his little child had told +him about how Jesus had died to save us. He thought he had never loved +her so much. But he began to see that he had far more reason to love +Jesus who had suffered much more to save him from the "bottomless pit." +And then he thought of the promise he so carefully made to his daughter. +What could he do but kneel down and cry to God to have mercy upon him? + +If they meet in heaven, do you think that daughter will be sorry that +she sacrificed her life for her father's sake? Can you not imagine that +tears often filled the eyes of that father when he spoke of his sainted +little one? + +You would say that he would have been a very wicked man if he had not +loved the memory of his child. But is it not a thousand times more wicked +for you not to love Him who has loved you so much more than that little +one loved her father? + +How can you help loving such a precious Savior? Will you not ask Him +to forgive you and help you to live for Him the rest of your life? + +--_The Way of Faith_ + + + +"FORGOTTEN MY SOUL" + +"Mother, you have forgotten my soul," so said a little girl, three years +old as her kind and careful mother was about to lay her in bed. She had +just risen from repeating the Lord's prayer. "But, Mother," she said, +"you have forgotten my soul." + +"What do you mean, Anna?" + +"Why, + + 'Now I lay me down to sleep, + I pray the Lord my soul to keep! + If I should die before I wake, + I pray the Lord my soul to take.' + +"We have not said that." + +The child meant nothing more, yet her words were startling. And, oh! +from how many rosy lips might they come with mournful significance! + +[Illustration] + +You, fond mother, so busy hour after hour preparing and adorning garments +for their pretty little form, have you forgotten the soul? Do you commend +it earnestly to the care of its God and Savior? Are you leading it to +commit itself, in faith and love to his keeping?--Selected. + + + +PREVAILING PRAYER OF A CHILD + +At the close of a prayer-meeting, the pastor observed a little girl about +twelve years of age remaining upon her knees, when most of the congregation +had retired. Thinking the child had fallen asleep, he touched her and +told her it was time to return home. To his surprise he found that she +was engaged in prayer, and he said: "All things whatsoever ye shall ask +in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." She looked up at the pastor +earnestly, and inquired: "Is that so? Does God say that?" + +[Illustration] + +He took up a Bible and read the passage aloud. She immediately began +praying: "Lord, send my father here; Lord, send my father to the chapel." +Thus she continued for about half an hour, attracting by her earnest cry +the attentions of persons who had lingered about the door. At last a man +rushed into the chapel, ran up the aisle and sank upon his knees by the +side of his child, exclaiming: "What do you want of me?" She threw her +arms about his neck, and began to pray: "Oh, Lord, convert my father!" +Soon the man's heart was melted and he began to pray for himself. The +child's father was three miles from the chapel when she began praying +for him. He was packing goods in a wagon and felt impressed with an +irresistible impulse to return home. Driving rapidly to his house, he +left the goods in his wagon and hastened to the chapel, where he found +his daughter crying mightily to God in his behalf; and he was led there +to the Savior. + +--_Foster's Encyclopedia_ + + + +THE DYING NEWS BOY + +In a dark alley in the great city of New York, a small, ragged boy might +be seen. He appeared to be about twelve years old, and had a careworn +expression on his countenance. The cold air seemed to have no pity as +it pierced through his ragged clothes, and made the flesh beneath blue +and almost frozen. + +[Illustration: "I am dying now, because I feel so queer; and I can hardly +see you. I can kinder see the angels holding out their hands for me to +come to that beautiful place they call heaven."] + +This poor boy had once a happy home. His parents died a year before, and +left him without money or friends. He was compelled to face the cold, +cruel world with but a few cents in his pocket. He tried to earn his +living by selling newspapers and other such things. This day everything +seemed to go against him, and in despair he threw himself down in the +dark alley, with his papers by his side. A few boys gathered around the +poor lad, and asked in a kind way (for a street Arab): "Say, Johnny, why +don't you go to the lodges?" (The lodge was a place where almost all the +boys stayed at night, costing but a few cents.) But the poor little lad +could only murmur that he could not stir, and called the boys about him, +saying: "I am dying now, because I feel so queer: and I can hardly see +you. Gather around me closer boys. I cannot talk so loud. I can kinder +see the angels holding out their hands for me to come to that beautiful +place called heaven. Goodbye, boys. I am to meet father and mother." +And, with these last words on his lips, the poor lad died. + +Next morning the passers-by saw a sight that would soften the most +hardened heart. There, lying on the cold stone, with his head against +the hard wall, and his eyes staring upward, was the poor little frozen +newsboy. He was taken to the chapel near by, and was interred by kind +hands. And those who performed this act will never forget the poor +forsaken lad. + +--_Golden Dawn_ + + + +NEW SHOES + +"I wonder if there can be a pair of shoes in it!" + +Little Tim sat on the ground close beside a very ugly dark-colored stone +jug. He eyed it sharply, but finding it quite impossible to see through +its sides, pulled out the cork and peered anxiously in. "Can't see +nothin', but it's so dark in there I couldn't see if there was anything. +I've a great mind to break the hateful old thing." + +He sat for awhile thinking how badly he wanted a pair of shoes to wear +to the Sunday School picnic. His mother had promised to wash and mend +his clothes, so that he might go looking very neat indeed; but the old +shoes were far past all mending and how could he go barefoot? + +Then he began counting the chances of his father being very angry when +he should find his jug broken. He did not like the idea of getting a +whipping for it, as was very likely, but how could he resist the temptation +of making sure about those shoes? The more he thought of them, the more +he couldn't. He sprang up and hunted around until he found a good size +brick-bat, which he flung with such vigorous hand and correct aim that +the next moment the old jug lay in pieces before his eyes. + +How eagerly he bent over them in the hope of finding not only what he +was so longing for but, perhaps, other treasure! But his poor little +heart sank as he turned over the fragments with trembling fingers. Nothing +could be found among the broken bits, wet on the inside with a bad-smelling +liquid. + +Tim sat down again and sobbed as he had never sobbed before; so hard +that he did not hear a step beside him until a voice said: + +"Well, what's all this?" + +He sprang up in great alarm. It was his father, who always slept late +in the morning, and was very seldom awake so early as this. + +[Illustration] + +"Who broke my jug?" he asked. "I did," said Tim, catching his breath +half in terror and half between his sobs. + +"Why did you?" Tim looked up. The voice did not sound quite so terrible +as he had expected. The truth was his father had been touched at sight +of the forlorn figure, so very small and so sorrowful, which had bent +over the broken jug. + +"Why," he said, "I was looking for a pair of new shoes. I want a pair +of shoes awful bad to wear at the picnic. All the other chaps wear shoes." + +"How came you to think you'd find shoes in a jug?" + +"Why Mama said so. I asked her for some new shoes and she said they had +gone into the black jug, and that lots of other things had gone into it, +too--coats and hats, and bread and meat and things--and I thought if I +broke it I'd find them all, and there ain't a thing in it--and Mama never +said what wasn't so before--and I thought 'twould be so--sure." + +And Tim, hardly able to sob out the words, feeling how keenly his trust +in mother's word had added to his great disappointment, sat down again, +and cried harder than ever. + +His father seated himself on a box in the disorderly yard and remained +quiet for so long a time that Tim at last looked timidly up. + +"I am real sorry I broke your jug, Father. I'll never do it again." + +"No, I guess you won't," he said, laying a hand on the rough little head +as he went away leaving Tim overcome with astonishment that his father +had not been angry with him. + +Two days after, on the very evening before the picnic, he handed Tim a +parcel, telling him to open it. + +"New shoes! new shoes!" he shouted. "Oh, Father, did you get a new jug +and were they in it?" + +"No, my boy, there isn't going to be a new jug. Your mother was right +all the time--the things all went into the jug; but you see getting them +out is no easy matter so I am going to keep them out after this." + +--_New York Observer_ + + + +LITTLE JENNIE'S SICKNESS AND DEATH + +Little Jennie was eight years old, March 30, 1886. The April following +she was taken very sick, and from that time until June 4, she seemed a +little suffering angel. Then Jesus, who had so blessedly sustained her +during all her sufferings took her to Himself. She would say, when able +to talk: "Mama, I do not care what I suffer, God knows best." When she +was very low, we would often see her dear lips moving, and listening, +hear her praying. She would finish her prayer and after saying "Amen" +having noticed that we were listening to her, would look up into our +faces to see if we wanted anything. + +This patience and devotion characterized her whole life. Often, when she +was at play with her sister, who was the older by five years, when some +little trouble would arise, she would take her sister by the hand and +say: "Kitty, let's tell Jesus." Then bowing her little head, she would +pour out her whole heart in prayer to God, with the fervency that is +shown by a true Christian. + +About three weeks after she was taken ill her little body was paralyzed +and drawn all out of shape it seemed. Then in a few days her little limbs +were so we could almost straighten them. What suffering she endured all +that time, no one knows but those who were with her. + +May 25th, which was Tuesday, while suffering terribly, she said: "Mama, +play and sing." I took my guitar, and without stopping to think what to +sing, began that beautiful song in the Gospel Hymns: "Nearer my home, +today, than I have been before." I could praise God just then, for I was +filled with His Spirit. She lay there looking at me with her little blue +eyes and trying in her weak voice to help me. At last she seemed soothed +by the music. But we knew that Jesus in his infinite love, had quieted +her for a time, because we were willing to submit to His will. We had +said all the time: "Lord, not my will, but thine." + +She rested quite well until about three o'clock in the afternoon; then +suddenly she spoke and her voice sounded quite strong. She said: "Oh, +Mama see those people, how funny they look! They look like poles." She +was lying so that she could look out of the window and as she spoke her +eyes seemed to rest on some object there. Then she spoke louder; "OH, +MAMMA, COME AND SEE THE LITTLE CHILDREN! I never saw so many in my life." + +I sat down on the front of the bed and said: "Jennie, is there any there +that you know?" + +She looked them over so earnestly, then said: "No, not one." I asked her +how they looked. She said: "Mama, every one has a gold crown on its head, +and they are all dressed in white." I thought that Jesus was coming for +her then. After telling me that there were none that she knew she sank +back on the pillows exhausted. But in a few moments she raised up again +and said: "Oh, Mama, hear that music! Did you ever hear such grand music? +Now, do not shut the windows tonight, will you?" I told her that I would +not. + +The next morning she called Kittie into the room and said: "Kittie, I +want to tell you what I saw last night." She then proceeded to tell her +the same as she had told me the evening before. Then she said: "Now, +Kittie, you will forgive me for ever being cross to you won't you?" + +Kittie answered, "Little darling, you have never been cross to me. Will +you forgive me, sister, for being cross to you?" + +"Darling sister," she said, "that is all right." + +Thursday night she was paralyzed in her left side so that she had no use +of it. Friday all day she lay unconscious, and that night the same. +Saturday, about ten o'clock, she commenced to whisper. We could hear her +say: "Papa, Mama." We tried to understand her, but at first could not. +She kept whispering plainer, and finally we heard her say: "Take--me-- +upstairs. I--want--to--lie--on--my--own--bed--once--more." But of course +we could not move her. Suddenly she said aloud: "I am going to die! kiss +me quick, Mama." + +I bent down and kissed her, and she looked so wretched. I said: "Jennie, +you will not have to go alone; Jesus will take you." + +She answered: "I know it. I wish that He would come this minute. Kiss me +again, Mama." + +I did so; then she wished us to sing. Again, without giving one thought, +I commenced singing the same words that I sang the Tuesday before. She +raised her right hand arm's length, and began to wave it and bow her +head. Oh! she was so happy. Then she said: "Play." They brought the +guitar, and she continued to wave her little hand, while I played and +sang the whole piece. One of her aunts, standing near the bed took hold +of her hand to stop it, but it moved just the same; and I said: "Ollie, +let go of her hand, that is the Lord's doings." After I finished, she +kissed her father, mother, and sister and bade them goodbye; then called +four other very dear friends and told them goodbye after kissing them. +She then called for a book and wanted the music teacher, who was present, +to play and sing a piece which she dearly loved. + +Before she was sick she would have little prayer meetings, and her sweet +little face would shine with happiness. She would say: "Oh, Mama, how +the Lord has blessed me." + +[Illustration: "They brought the guitar, and she continued to wave her +little hand, while I played and sang the whole piece."] + +While the dear teacher was playing and singing her favorite she was +waving her little hand. We sang three or four other pieces around her +bed. We all thought that Jesus would take her then. Oh, what joy! it was +heaven below. Jesus was there and the room was filled with glory on +account of of His presence. Two of her aunts said that it seemed as +though they were in heaven. + +She never spoke after that, but would try to make us understand by +motioning when she wanted anything. Sometimes it would take us a long +time, but she would be so patient. She was ready and waiting. She had +peace that the world cannot give, and, praise God! that the world cannot +take away. The dear little one lived until the next Tuesday afternoon, +and went to Jesus about three o'clock. That was the time she saw the +vision the Tuesday before. Tuesday morning before daylight she tried to +tell me something. I said "Sing?" She looked so happy and bowed her head. +I began singing: "I am Jesus' little lamb." She bowed her head again. +In the forenoon she kept looking at her aunts, Ollie and Belle, and +pointing up. Oh! it meant so much. It seemed to me that she was saying, +that it meant: "Meet me in heaven." Finally she motioned for me to raise +the window curtain. I did so and she looked out the window so eagerly, +as though she was expecting to see the little children. Then the little +blue eyes closed to open no more in this world, but in heaven. + +--Mrs. L. Jones. + + + +SHE DIED FOR HIM + +[Illustration] + +A poor emigrant had gone to Australia to "make his fortune," leaving a +wife and little son in England. When he had made some money, he wrote +home to his wife: "Come out to me here; I send the money for your passage; +I want to see you and my boy." The wife took ship as soon as she could, +and started for her new home. One night, as they were all asleep there +sounded the dreaded cry of "Fire, fire!" Everyone rushed on deck and the +boats were soon filled. The last one was just pushing off then a cry of +"there are two more on deck," arose. They were the mother and her son. +Alas! "Only room for one," the sailors shouted. Which was to go? The +mother thought of her far away home, her husband looking out lovingly +and longingly for his wife. Then she glanced at the boy, clinging +frightened to her skirts. She could not let him die. There was no time +to lose. Quick! quick! The flames were getting around. Snatching the +child, she held him to her a moment. "Willie, tell Father I died for +you!" Then the boy as lowered into the sailor's willing arms. She died +for him. + +--Selected. + +"I DON'T LOVE YOU NOW, MOTHER" + +A great many years ago, I knew a lady who had been sick for two years, +as you have seen many a one, all the while slowly dying with consumption. +She had one child--a little boy named Henry. + +One afternoon I was sitting by her side and it seemed as if she would +cough her life away. Her little boy stood by the post of the bed, his +blue eyes filled with tears to see her suffer so. By and by the terrible +cough ceased. Henry came and put his arms around his mother's neck, +nestled his head in his mother's bosom, and said, "Mother, I do love +you; I wish you wasn't sick." + +An hour later, the same loving, blue-eyed boy came in all aglow, stamping +the snow off his feet. + +"Oh, Mother, may I go skating? it is so nice--Ed and Charlie are going." + + +"Henry," feebly said the mother, "the ice is not hard enough yet." + +"But, Mother," very pettishly said the boy, "you are sick all the time-- +how do you know?" + +"My child, you must obey me," gently said his mother. + +"It is too bad," angrily sobbed the boy, who an hour ago had so loved +his mother. + +"I would not like to have my little boy go," said the mother, looking +sadly at the little boy's face, all covered with frowns; "you said you +loved me--be good." + +"No, I don't love you now, Mother," said the boy, going out and slamming +the door. + +Again that dreadful coughing came upon her, and _we_ thought no +more of the boy. After the coughing had commenced, I noticed tears falling +thick upon her pillow, but she sank from exhaustion into a light sleep. + + +In a little while muffled steps of men's feet were heard coming into the +house, as though carrying something; and they were carrying the almost +lifeless body of Henry. + +Angrily had he left his mother and gone to skate--disobeying her; and +then broken through the ice, sunk under the water, and now saved by a +great effort, was brought home barely alive to his sick mother. + +I closed the doors feeling more danger for her life than the child's and +coming softly in, drew back the curtains from the bed. She spoke, "I +heard them--it is Henry; oh, I knew he went--is he dead?" But she never +seemed to hear the answer I gave her. She commenced coughing--she died +in agony--strangled to death. The poor mother! The boy's disobedience +killed her. + +After a couple of hours I sought the boy's room. + +[Illustration] + +"Oh, I wish I had not told mother I did not love her. Tomorrow I will +tell her I do," said the child sobbing painfully. My heart ached; tomorrow +I knew we must tell him she was dead. We did not till the child came +fully into the room, crying, "Mother, I do love you." + +Oh! may I never see agony like that child's, as the lips he kissed gave +back no kiss, as the hands he took fell lifeless from his hand, instead +of shaking his hand as it always had, and the boy knew she was dead. + +"Mother, I do love you now," all the day he sobbed and cried, "O Mother, +Mother, forgive me." Then he would not leave his mother. "Speak to me, +Mother!" but she could never speak again, and he--the last words she had +ever heard him say, were, "Mother, I don't love you now." + +That boy's whole life was changed; sober and sad he was ever after. He +is now a gray haired old man, with one sorrow over his one act of +disobedience, one wrong word embittering all his life--with those words +ever ringing in his ears, "Mother, I don't love you now." + +Will the little ones who read this remember, if they disobey their mother, +if they are cross and naughty, they say every single time they do so, +to a tender mother's heart, by their actions if not in the words of +Henry, the very same thing, "I don't love you now, Mother." + + + +"LITTLE MOTHER" + +She was a clear-eyed, fresh-cheeked little maiden, living on the banks +of the great Mississippi, the oldest of four children, and mother's +"little woman" always. They called her so because of her quiet, matronly +care of the younger Mayfields--that was the father's name. Her own name +was the beautiful one of Elizabeth, but they shortened it to Bess. + +She was thirteen when one day Mr. Mayfield and his wife were called to +the nearest town, six miles away. "Be mother's little woman, dear," said +Mrs. Mayfield as she kissed the rosy face. Her husband added: "I leave +the children in your care, Bess; be a little mother to them." + +Bess waved her old sun-bonnet vigorously, and held up the baby Rose, +that she might watch them to the last. Old Daddy Jim and Mammy had been +detailed by Mr. Mayfield to keep an unsuspected watch on the little +nestlings, and were to sleep at the house. Thus two days went by, when +Daddy Jim and Mammy begged to be allowed to go to the quarters where the +Negroes lived, to see their daughter, "Jennie, who was pow'ful bad wid +the toothache." They declared they would be back by evening, so Bess was +willing. She put the little girls to bed and persuaded Rob to go; then +seated herself by the table with her mother's work-basket, in quaint +imitation of Mrs. Mayfield's industry in the evening time. But what was +this? Her feet touched something cold! She bent down and felt around +with her hand. A pool of water was spreading over the floor. She knew +what it was; the Mississippi had broken through the levee. What should +she do? Mammy's stories of how homes had been washed away and broken in +pieces were in her mind. "Oh, if I had a boat!" she exclaimed. "But there +isn't anything of the sort on the place." She ran wildly out to look for +Mammy; and stumbled over something sitting near the edge of the porch. +A sudden inspiration took her. Here was her boat! a very large, +old-fashioned, oblong tub. The water was now several inches deep on the +porch and she contrived to half-float, half-row the tub into the room. + +Without frightening the children she got them dressed in the warmest +clothes they had. She lined the oblong tub with a blanket, and made ready +bread and cold meat left from supper. With Rob's assistance she dragged +the tub upstairs. There was a single large window in the room, and they +set the tub directly by it, so that when the water rose the tub would +float out. There was no way for the children to reach the roof, which +was a very steep, inclined one. It did not seem long before the water +had very nearly risen to the top of the stairs leading from below. + +Bess flung the window open, and made Rob get into their novel boat; then +she lifted in Kate, and finally baby Rose, who began to cry, was given +into Rob's arms, and now the little mother, taking the basket of food, +made ready to enter, too; but, lo! there was no room for her with safety +to the rest. Bess paused a moment, drew a long breath, and kissed the +children quietly. She explained to Rob that he must guard the basket, +and that they must sit still. "Goodbye, dears. Say a prayer for sister, +Rob. If you ever see father and mother, tell them I took care of you." +Then the water seized the insecure vessel, and out into the dark night +it floated. + +[Illustration: ] + +The next day Mr. Mayfield, who, with his neighbors, scoured the broad +lake of eddying water that represented the Mississippi, discovered the +tub lodged in the branches of a sycamore with the children weeping and +chilled, but safe. + +And Bess? Ah, where was Bess, the "little mother," who in that brief +moment resigned herself to death? They found her later, floating on the +water with her brave childish face turned to the sky; and as strong arms +lifted her into the boat, the tears from every eye paid worthy tribute +to the "little mother." + +--_Detroit Free Press_ + + + +ROBBIE GOODMAN'S PRAYER + +"What can be the matter with Walter," thought Mama Ellis as she sat +sewing in her pleasant sitting-room. "He came in so very quietly, closed +the door gently and I think I even heard him go to the closet to hang +up his books. Oh! dear. I hope he isn't going to have another attack of +'Grippe,'" and Mrs. Ellis shivered as she glanced out at the snow-covered +landscape. As her eyes turned once more to the warm, luxurious room in +which she was seated, the portieres were pushed aside and a little boy of +ten years of age entered. Little Walter was all that remained of four +beautiful children, who, only a year ago, romped gaily through the large +halls. That dread disease, diphtheria, had stolen the older brother and +laughing little sisters in one short week's time, so that now, as the sad +anniversary came near to hand, Mrs. Ellis' heart ached for her lost +birdlings and yearned more jealously than ever over her remaining little +one. Today his usually merry face was very grave and he looked very +thoughtful as he gave his mother her kiss and allowed himself to be drawn +upon her lap. + +"What ails mother's Pet? Is he sick?" she asked anxiously. + +"No, Mother dear, I'm not sick, but I feel so sad at heart. You see," +he continued in answer to her questioning look, "Robbie Goodman and I +always walk together going and coming from school, and I have noticed +that he has never worn any overcoat this winter, but you know its been +unusually warm and I thought perhaps his mother did not make him wrap +up like you did me, but this morning it was so cold and he was just +shivering, but he never had on any overcoat--just his mittens and muffler +and cap were his wraps. Of course I noticed it, for nearly everyone else +was all bundled up; but I didn't say anything as I did not want to be +impolite. After awhile he said, 'My, I am so cold,' and I said: 'Where's +your overcoat?' Then he told me it was too small and his papa can't buy +him any this winter so he is afraid he will have to stop school. His +mama says she would cut his papa's up for him, only then he would not +have any; and of course he must have one to wear when he goes to the +chapel and to see sick people. Even that one is thin and patched. He +says he and his little sisters have been praying so hard for an overcoat +for him and shoes for them, but they did not come at Christmas like they +thought they would, and they are real discouraged. + +"Tonight, Mother," continued Walter, "he had an awful cold and coughed +just like our Harry did last year," and the long pent up tears flowed +from the child's eyes. As mother and son dried their tears, the child +looked up with perfect confidence as he said, "The Lord will answer +Robbie's prayer, won't he. Mama?" + +[Illustration] + +"Yes darling," said Mrs. Ellis; and sent the child off to the play room. + + +"By the way, my dear," remarked Mrs. Ellis as they sat chatting at the +tea-table after Walter had retired, "what has become of that preacher +Goodman who preached for us once on trial?" + +"Oh, he has a mission down on the other side of the city, but he lives +on this side as Moore gives him the house rent free. I met him the other +day. He looked very needy. The man had wonderful talents and might have +a rich congregation and improve himself; but he is persistent in his +ideas concerning this holiness movement, and of course a large church +like ours wants something to attract and interest instead of such +egotistical discourses. I, for one, go to sleep under them." And Mr. +Ellis drew himself up with a pompous air as he went into the library, +whither his wife presently followed. + +He had picked up a newspaper and was apparently absorbed, but Mrs. Ellis +had not had her say, so she continued "Walter was telling me about the +little boy. He--" + +"Oh, yes," interrupted her husband, "he met me in the hall and poured +out the whole story. The child's nerves were all wrought up, too. He +should not be allowed to worry over such things. He wants me to give up +buying him the fur-trimmed overcoat and get a coat and shoes for Goodman's +children, as they were praying so hard for them, but I have enough to +do without clothing other people's children. If Goodman would quit his +cranky notions and use his talents for people who could understand him, +instead of preaching to those ragamuffins he might now be receiving a +magnificent salary and clothing himself and family decently." + +"But Paul," said Mrs. Ellis, "Surely you would not have Mr. Goodman +sacrifice his convictions simply for money and praise, when you yourself, +are convinced that his doctrines are sound? Besides he must be doing a +good work down among the poor classes of the city as it appears the rich +don't want him." + +"Then let the poor give enough to keep him." + +"They do give far beyond their means but the Lord calls on such as us +to give. I know it has been an unusually hard year but the Lord has +blessed us and He will hold us to an account. I feel very sad as the +anniversary of our darlings' departure draws near and I dread to think +of any little ones suffering while we could so easily help them." + +"I don't see how you can feel that we have been so blessed. When the +house is so quiet and I think of those white graves in the cemetery I +confess I feel very bitter." + +"Paul, my dear husband, don't feel that way. Just think of our three +treasures in heaven, an added claim to that glorious realm, away from +this cold and suffering. Remember also that we have one left, to live +for, to train. And, Paul, let us train him for the Master and in such a +way that we may never have the feeling that it were better if he, too, +had departed when he was pure and innocent. Let us encourage benevolence +and gentleness and if he wishes to go without the fur-trimmed coat, why +not do as he asks?" Mrs. Ellis kissed her husband and quietly left the +room. + +Long and late, Paul Ellis sat there and many things, ghosts of the past, +rose before him. As the midnight chimes rang out he knelt and prayed. +"Oh, Lord, forgive me. I have gone astray and turned to my own way. I +have been prejudiced. It was my influence which turned the tide against +Robert Goodman. Thou knowest. Now, if Thou wilt only forgive and help +me I will walk in the light as Thou sendest it, even consenting to be +called a 'holiness crank.'" + +[Illustration: ] + +A few days afterward Robert Goodman received a large package from an +unknown friend containing a warm overcoat and three pairs of shoes. His +father also received a present. It came through the mail and was an +honest confession of a wrong done him, also a check for one hundred +dollars. One year later this church gave a unanimous call to Brother +Goodman and the revival which broke out that winter was unprecedented +in the annals of that church. Verily, "A little child shall lead them." + + +--Luella Watson Kinder, in _Christian Witness_ + + + +CARLETTA AND THE MERCHANT + +"If I could only have your faith, gladly would I--but I was born a +skeptic. I cannot look upon God and the future as _you_ do." + +So said John Harvey as he walked with a friend under a dripping umbrella. +John Harvey was a skeptic of thirty years standing and apparently hardened +in his unbelief. Everybody had given him up as hopeless. Reasoning ever +so calmly made no impression on the rocky soil of his heart. Alas! it +was sad, very sad! + +But one friend had never given him up. When spoken to about him-- +"I will talk with and pray for that man until I die," he said; "and I +will have faith that he may yet come out of darkness into the marvelous +light." + +And thus whenever he met him (John Harvey was always ready for a "talk,") +Mr. Hawkins pressed home the truth. In answer, on that stormy night, he +said: "God can change a skeptic, John. He has more power over your heart +than you, and I mean still to pray for you." + +"Oh, I have no objections, none in the world--seeing is believing, you +know. I'm ready for any miracle; but I tell you it would take nothing +short of a miracle to convince me. Let's change the subject. I'm hungry +and it's too far to go up town to supper on this stormy night. Here's a +restaurant: let us stop here." + +How warm and pleasant it looked in the long, brilliant dining saloon! + +The two merchants had eaten, and were just on the point of rising when +a strain of soft music came through the open door--a child's sweet voice. + +"'Pon my word, that is pretty," said John Harvey; "what purity in those +tones!" + +"Out of here, you little baggage!" cried a hoarse voice, and one of the +waiters pointed angrily to the door. + +"Let her come in," said John Harvey. + +"We don't allow them in this place, sir," said the waiter, "but she can +go into the reading-room." + +"Well, let her go somewhere. I want to hear her," responded the gentleman. + +All this time the two had seen the shadow of something hovering backwards +and forwards on the edge of the door; now they followed a slight little +figure, wrapped in a patched cloak, patched hood, and leaving the mark +of wet feet as she walked. Curious to see her face--she was very +small--John Harvey lured her to the farthest part of the great room where +there were but few gentlemen, and then motioned her to sing. The little +one looked timidly up. Her cheek was of olive darkness, but a flush +rested there, and out of the thinnest face, under the arch of broad +temples, deepened by masses of the blackest hair looked two eyes whose +softness and tender pleading would have touched the hardest heart. + +"That little thing is sick, I believe," said John Harvey, compassionately. +"What do you sing, child?" he added. + +"I sing Italian or a little English." + +John Harvey looked at her shoes. "Why," he exclaimed, and his lips +quivered, "her feet are wet to her ankles; she will catch her death of +cold." + +By this time the child had begun to sing, pushing back her hood, and +folding before her her little thin fingers. Her voice was wonderful; and +simple and common as were both air and words, the pathos of the tones +drew together several of the merchants in the reading-room. The little +song commenced thus: + + "There is a happy land, + Far, far away." + +Never could the voice, the manner, of that child be forgotten. There +almost seemed a halo around her head; and when she had finished, her +great speaking eyes turned toward John Harvey. + +"Look here, child; where did you learn that song?" he asked. + +"At the Sunday School, Sir." + +"And you don't suppose there is a happy land?" + +"I know there is; I'm going to sing there," she said, so quickly, so +decidedly that the men looked at each other. + +"Going to sing there?" + +"Yes, sir. Mother said so. She used to sing to me until she was very +sick. Then she said she wasn't going to sing any more on earth, but up +in heaven." + +"Well--and what then?" + +"And then she died, sir," said the child; tears brimming down the dark +cheek now ominously flushed scarlet. + +John Harvey was silent for a few moments. + +Presently he said: "Well, if she died, my little girl, you may live, you +know." + +"Oh, no, sir! no, sir! I'd rather go there; and be with mother. Sometimes +I have a dreadful pain in my side and cough as she did. There won't be +any pain up there, sir; it's a beautiful world!" + +"How do you know?" faltered on the lips of the skeptic. + +"My mother told me so, sir." + +Words how impressive! manner how child-like, and yet so wise! + +John Harvey had had a praying mother. His chest labored for a moment-- +the sobs that struggled for utterance could be heard even in their +depths--and still those large, soft, lustrous eyes, like magnets impelled +his glance toward them. + +"Child you must have a pair of shoes." John Harvey's voice was husky. + +Hands were thrust in pockets, purses pulled out, and the astonished child +held in her little palm more money than she had ever seen before. + +"Her father is a poor, consumptive organ-grinder," whispered one. "I +suppose he's too sick to be out tonight." + +Along the soggy street went the child, under the protection of John +Harvey, but not with shoes that drank the water at every step. Warmth +and comfort were hers now. Down in the deep den-like lanes of the city +walked the man, a little cold hand in his. At an open door they stopped; +up broken, creaking stairs they climbed. Another doorway was opened, and +a wheezing voice called out of the dim arch, "Carletta!" + +"O Father! Father! see what I have brought you! Look at me! Look at me" +and down went the silver, and venting her joy, the poor child fell; +crying and laughing together, into the old man's arms. + +Was he a man? + +A face dark and hollow, all overgrown with hair black as night and +uncombed--a pair of wild eyes--a body bent nearly double--hands like claws. + +"Did he give you all this, my child?" + +"They all did, Father; now you shall have soup and oranges." + +"Thank you, sir--I'm sick, you see--all gone, sir!--had to send the poor +child out, or we'd starve. God bless you, sir! I wish I was well enough +to play you a tune," and he looked wistfully towards the corner where +stood the old organ, baize-covered, the baize in tatters. + +One month after that the two men met again as if by agreement, and walked +slowly down town. Treading innumerable passages they came to the gloomy +building where lived Carletta's father. + +No--not _lived there_, for as they paused a moment out came two or +three men bearing a pine coffin. In the coffin slept the old organ-grinder. + +"It was very sudden, sir," said a woman, who recognized his benefactor. +"Yesterday the little girl was took sick and it seemed as if he drooped +right away. He died at six last night." + +The two men went silently up stairs. The room was empty of everything +save a bed, a chair and a nurse provided by John Harvey. The child lay +there, not white, but pale as marble, with a strange polish on her brow. + + +"Well my little one, are you better?" + +"Oh no, sir; Father is gone up there and I am going." + +Up _there_! John Harvey turned unconsciously towards his friend. + +"Did you ever hear of Jesus?" asked John Harvey's friend. + +"Oh yes." + +"Do you know who he was?" + +"_Good Jesus_," murmured the child. + +"Hawkins, this breaks me down," said John Harvey and he placed his +handkerchief to his eyes. + +"Don't cry, don't cry; I can't cry, I'm so glad," said the child +exultingly. + +"What are you glad for, my dear?" asked John Harvey's friend. + +"To get away from here," she said deliberately. "I used to be so cold +in the winter, for we didn't have fire sometimes; but mother used to hug +me close and sing about heaven. Mother told me to never mind and kissed +me and said if I was His, the Savior would love me and one of these days +would give me a better home, and so I gave myself to Him, for I wanted +a better home. And, oh, I shall sing there and be so happy!" + +With a little sigh she closed her eyes. + +"Harvey, are faith and hope nothing?" asked Mr. Hawkins. + +"Don't speak to me, Hawkins; to be as that little child I would give all +I have." + +"And to be like her you need give nothing--only your stubborn will, your +skeptical doubts, and the heart that will never know rest till at the +feet of Christ." + +There was no answer. Presently the hands moved, the arms were raised, +the eyes opened--yet, glazed though they were they turned still upward. + + +[Illustration] + +"See!" she cried; "Oh, there is mother! and angels! and they are all +singing." Her voice faltered, but the celestial brightness lingered yet +on her face. + +"There is no doubting the soul-triumph there," whispered Mr. Hawkins. + +"It is wonderful," replied John Harvey, looking on both with awe and +tenderness. "Is she gone?" + +He sprang from his chair as if he would detain her; but the chest and +forehead were marble now, the eyes had lost the fire of life; she must +have died as she lay looking at them. + +"She was always a sweet little thing," said the nurse softly. + +John Harvey stood as if spell-bound. There was a touch on his arm; he +started. + +"John," said his friend, with an affectionate look, "shall we pray?" + +[Illustration] + +For a minute there was no answer--then came tears; the whole frame of +the subdued skeptic shook as he said--it was almost a cry: "Yes, pray, +pray!" + +And from the side of the dead child went up agonizing pleadings to the +throne of God. And that prayer was answered--the miracle was wrought-- +the lion became a lamb--the doubter a believer--the skeptic a Christian! + + +--A Tract. + + + +HOW THREE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN MET THEIR FATE + +[Illustration: "The children saw their fate. They then knelt down and +commenced to pray."] + +When the Lawrence Mills were on fire a number of years ago--I don't mean +on fire, but when the mill fell in--the great mill fell in, and after +it had fallen in, the ruins caught fire, there was only one room left +entire, and in it were three Mission Sunday School children imprisoned. +The neighbors and all hands got their shovels and picks and crowbars and +were working to set the children free. It came on night and they had not +yet reached the children. When they were near them, by some mischance +the lantern broke, and the ruins caught fire. They tried to put it out, +but could not succeed. They could talk with the children, and even pass +to them some refreshments, and encourage them to keep up. But, alas, the +flames drew nearer and nearer to the prison. Superhuman were the efforts +made to rescue the children; the men bravely fought back the flames; but +the fire gained fresh strength, and returned to claim its victims. Then +piercing shrieks arose when the spectators saw that the efforts of the +firemen were hopeless. The children saw their fate. They then knelt down +and commenced to sing the little hymn we have all been taught in our +Sunday School days. Oh! how sweet: "Let others seek a home below, which +flames devour and waves overflow." The flames had now reached them; the +stifling smoke began to pour into their little room, and they began to +sink, one by one, upon the floor. A few moments more and the fire circled +around them, and their souls were taken into the bosom of Christ. Yes, +let others seek a home below if they will, but seek ye the Kingdom of +God with all your hearts. + +--Moody's Anecdotes + + + +HE BLESSES GOD FOR THE FAITH OF HIS LITTLE GIRL + +"I came home one night very late," says Brother Matthew Hale Smith (in +his "Marvels of Prayer"), "and had gone to bed to seek needed rest. The +friend with whom I boarded awoke me out of my first refreshing sleep, +and informed me that a little girl wanted to see me. I turned over in +bed and said: + +"'I am very tired, tell her to come in the morning and I will see her.' + + +"My friend soon returned and said: + +"'I think you had better get up. The girl is a poor little suffering +thing. She is thinly clad, is without bonnet or shoes. She has seated +herself on the doorstep and says she must see you and will wait till you +get up.' + +"I dressed myself and opening the outside door I saw one of the most +forlorn-looking little girls I ever beheld. Want, sorrow, suffering, +neglect, seemed to struggle for the mastery. She looked up to my face +and said: + +"'Are you the man that preached last night and said that Christ could +save to the uttermost?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'Well, I was there, and I want you to come right down to my house and +try to save my poor father.' + +"'What's the matter with your father?' + +"'He's a very good father when he don't drink. He's out of work and he +drinks awfully. He's almost killed my poor mother; but if Jesus can save +to the uttermost, He can save him. And I want you to come right to our +house now.' + +"I took my hat and followed my little guide who trotted on before, halting +as she turned the corners to see that I was coming. Oh, what a miserable +den her home was! A low, dark, underground room, the floor all slush and +mud--not a chair, table, or bed to be seen. A bitter cold night and not +a spark of fire on the hob and the room not only cold but dark. In the +corner on a little dirty straw lay a woman. Her head was bound up, and +she was moaning as if in agony. As we darkened the doorway a feeble voice +said: 'Oh, my child! my child! why have you brought a stranger into this +horrible place?' Her story was a sad one, but soon told. Her husband, +out of work, maddened with drink and made desperate, had stabbed her +because she did not provide him with a supper that was not in the house. +He was then upstairs and she was expecting every moment that he would +come down and complete the bloody work he had begun. While the conversation +was going on the fiend made his appearance. A fiend he looked. He +brandished the knife, still wet with the blood of his wife. + +"The missionary, like the man among the tombs, had himself belonged to +the desperate classes. He was converted at the mouth of a coal pit. He +knew the disease and the remedy--knew how to handle a man on the borders +of delirium tremens. + +"Subdued by the tender tones, the mad man calmed down, and took a seat +on a box. But the talk was interrupted by the little girl, who approached +the missionary, and said: 'Don't talk to father; it won't do any good. +If talking would have saved him, he would have been saved long ago. +Mother has talked to him so much and so good. You must ask Jesus, who +saves to the uttermost, to save my poor father.' + +"Rebuked by the faith of the little girl, the missionary and the miserable +sinner knelt down together. He prayed as he never prayed before; he +entreated and interceded, in tones so tender and fervent that it melted +the desperate man, who cried for mercy. And mercy came. He bowed in +penitence before the Lord and lay down that night on his pallet of straw +a pardoned soul. + +"Relief came to that dwelling. The wife was lifted from her dirty couch, +and her home was made comfortable. On Sunday, the reformed man took the +hand of his little girl and entered the infant class to learn something +about the Savior 'who saves to the uttermost.' He entered upon a new +life. His reform was thorough. He found good employment, for when sober +he was an excellent workman; and next to his Savior, he blesses God for +the faith of his little girl, who believed in a Savior able to save to +the uttermost all that come unto God by him." + + + +A WONDERFUL CHILDREN'S MEETING + +[Illustration: She had not talked long until nearly every child in the +room was in tears.] + +Several years ago, when residing at G----, we became acquainted with +Sister W---- who was especially fond of children. Her own were grown, +and desiring to make a home for some homeless child, she went to the +county farm, where there were several, in search of one. Among the +children there she found a beautiful, little, bright-eyed girl, about +nine years old, named Ida. Her heart went out to her at once and she +expressed to the lady in charge her desire to take Ida, and her willingness +to care for her as she would if she were her own child. + +But the matron said "Oh, you have no idea what a terrible child she is! +We can do nothing with her, she is stubborn and has an awful temper and +it is impossible to control her. We are intending to send her to the +Girl's Reform School." + +Sister W---- who was an earnest Christian, was surprised but not +discouraged. She could not bear the thought of such a little child being +sent to such a place and so she said to the matron: "Well, I'd like to +take her with me and see if I cannot help her to be good." + +"Well," said the matron, "you can try her if you want to, but you will +be glad to bring her back again." + +Acting upon this permission, Sister W---- talked with Ida and easily +gained her consent to go with her. Not many days had passed before she +found that there was considerable reason for what the matron had said. +Ida was hard to control and at times became terribly angry without cause; +but Sister W---- prayed for her and dealt patiently and tenderly with +her and told her how Jesus loved her, and would help her to be good if +she would only give him her heart. Her prayers and loving labor were not +in vain and it was not very long until little Ida was converted. The +change was so great that all who were with her could plainly see that +Jesus had indeed given her a new heart. + +Soon after this we had charge of a children's meeting held in a mission +hall in G----. Among the children gathered there were many of the worst +boys in town. Little Ida was present. We knew how much Jesus had done +for her and felt led of the Spirit to ask her to lead the meeting. She +looked up at us much surprised but her little heart was full of the love +of God and she consented to do the best she could. Words cannot describe +what followed. In tears, Ida told, in her own touching way, how Jesus +had saved her--just what a naughty girl she had been before she was +converted but how Jesus had "taken the angry all away" and given her a +new heart so that she loved everybody and loved to do what was right. +Then she pled with them to give their hearts to God, and told them how +Jesus died on the cross for them, and how He loved them and wanted to +save them. + +She had not talked long until nearly every child in the room was in +tears, and how shall we describe that touching scene? We had an altar +service. Ida knelt with those who were seeking and prayed for them and +told them how to find Jesus; and right there many were converted and +gave bright, clear testimonies that their sins were forgiven and Jesus +had given them new hearts. Thus did God that day honor a little girl's +testimony and exhortation and fulfill His own work, "A little child shall +lead them." + +Very often do we call to mind that scene, and we find it one of the +sweetest of the memories of years of evangelistic work. + +--Editor. + + + +"THEY ARE NOT STRANGERS, MAMA" + +Not long ago I stood by the death-bed of a little girl. From her birth +she had been afraid of death. Every fiber of her body and soul recoiled +from the thought of it, "Don't let me die," she said; "don't let me die. +Hold me fast Oh, I can't go!" + +"Jennie" I said, "You have two little brothers in the other world, and +there are thousands of tenderhearted people over there, who will love +you and take care of you." + +But she cried out again despairingly: "Don't let me go; they are strangers +over there." She was a little country girl, strong limbed, fleet of foot, +tanned in the face; she was raised on the frontier, the fields were her +home. In vain we tried to reconcile her to the death that was inevitable. +"Hold me fast," she cried; "don't let me go." But even as she was pleading, +her little hands relaxed their clinging hold from my waist, and lifted +themselves eagerly aloft; lifted themselves with such straining effort, +that they lifted the wasted little body from its reclining position among +the pillows. Her face was turned upward, but it was her eyes that told +the story. They were filled with the light of Divine recognition. They +saw something plainly that we could not see; and they grew brighter and +brighter, and her little hand quivered in eagerness to go, where strange +portals had opened upon her astonished vision. But even in that supreme +moment she did not forget to leave a word of comfort for those who would +gladly have died in her place: "Mama," she was saying, "Mama, they are +not strangers. I'm not afraid." And every instant the light burned more +gloriously in her blue eyes till at last it seemed as if her soul leaped +forth upon its radiant waves; and in that moment her trembling form +relapsed among its pillows and she was gone. + +--_Chicago Woman's World_ + + + +JESSIE FINDING JESUS + +A little girl in a wretched tenement in New York stood by her mother's +death-bed, and heard her last words: "Jessie, find Jesus." + +When her mother was buried, her father took to drink, and Jessie was +left to such care as a poor neighbor could give her. One day she wandered +off unnoticed, with a little basket in her hand, and tugged through one +street after another, not knowing where she went. She had started out +to find Jesus. At last she stopped from utter weariness, in front of a +saloon. A young man staggered out of the door, and almost stumbled over +her. He uttered passionately the name of Him whom she was seeking. "Where +is He?" she inquired eagerly. He looked at her in amazement. + +"What did you say?" he asked. + +"Will you please tell me where Jesus Christ is? for I _must_ find +Him"--this time with great earnestness. + +The young man looked at her curiously for a minute without speaking, and +then his face sobered; and he said in a broken, husky voice, hopelessly: +"I don't know, child; I don't know where he is." + +[Illustration] + +At length the little girl's wanderings brought her to the park. A woman +evidently a Jewess, was leaning against the railing, looking disconsolately +at the green grass and the trees. + +Jessie went up to her timidly. "Perhaps she can tell me where He is," +was the child's thought. In a low, hesitating voice, she asked the woman: +"Do you know Jesus Christ?" + +The Jewess turned fiercely to face her questioner and in a tone of +suppressed passion, exclaimed: "Jesus Christ is dead!" Poor Jessie trudged +on, but soon a rude boy jostled against her, and snatching her basket +from her hand, threw it into the street. + +[Illustration] + +Crying, she ran to pick it up. The horses of a passing street car trampled +her under their feet--and she knew no more till she found herself stretched +on a hospital bed. + +When the doctors came that night, they knew she could not live until +morning. In the middle of the night, after she had been lying very still +for a long time, apparently asleep, she suddenly opened her eyes and the +nurse, bending over her, heard her whisper, while her face lighted up +with a smile that had some of heaven's own gladness in it: "Oh, Jesus, I +have found you at last!" + +Then the tiny lips were hushed, but the questioning spirit had received +an answer. + +--Selected. + + + +"I'LL NEVER STEAL AGAIN--IF FATHER KILLS ME FOR IT" + +A friend of mine, seeking for objects of charity, got into the room of +a tenement house. It was vacant. He saw a ladder pushed through the +ceiling. Thinking that perhaps some poor creature had crept up there, +he climbed the ladder, drew himself up through the hole and found himself +under the rafters. There was no light but that which came through a +bull's-eye in the place of a tile. Soon he saw a heap of chips and +shavings, and on them a boy about ten years old. + +"Boy, what are you doing there?" + +"Hush! don't tell anybody--please, sir." + +"What are you doing here?" + +"Don't tell anybody, sir; I'm hiding." + +"What are you hiding from?" + +"Don't tell anybody, if you please, sir." + +"Where's your mother?" + +"Mother is dead." + +"Where's your father?" + +"Hush! don't tell him! don't tell him! but look here!" He turned himself +on his face and through the rags of his jacket and shirt my friend saw +the boy's flesh was bruised and the skin broken. + +[Illustration] + +"Why, boy, who beat you like that?" + +"Father did, sir." + +"What did your father beat you like that for?" + +"Father got drunk sir, and beat me 'cos I wouldn't steal." + +"Did you ever steal?" + +"Yes, sir, I was a street thief once." + +"And why don't you steal any more?" + +"Please, sir, I went to the mission school, and they told me there of +God and of Heaven and of Jesus and they taught me, 'Thou shalt not steal,' +and I'll never steal again, if father kills me for it. But, please sir, +don't tell him." + +"My boy, you mast not stay here; you will die. Now you wait patiently +here for a little time; I'm going away to see a lady. We will get a +better place for you than this." + +"Thank you sir, but please, sir, would you like to hear me sing a little +hymn?" + +Bruised, battered, forlorn; friendless, motherless; hiding away from an +infuriated father he had a little hymn to sing. + +"Yes, I will hear you sing your little hymn." He raised himself on his +elbow and then sang: + + "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, + Look upon a little child; + Suffer me to come to Thee. + Fain would I to Thee be brought, + Gracious Lord, forbid it not; + In the Kingdom of Thy grace + Give a little child a place." + +"That's the little hymn, sir; Goodbye." + +The gentleman went away, came back again in less than two hours and +climbed the ladder. There were the chips and there was the little toy +with one hand by his side and the other tucked in his bosom underneath +the little ragged shirt--dead. + +-John B. Gough. + + + +SIX MONTHS' RECORD + +Very tiny and pale the little girl looked as she stood before those three +grave and dignified gentlemen. She had been ushered into Brother Gordon's +study, where he was holding counsel with two of his deacons, and now, +upon inquiry into the nature of her errand a little shyly she stated +that she desired to be baptized. + +"You are quite too young to be baptized," said one of the deacons, "you +had better run home, and let us talk to your mother." + +She showed no sign of running however, as her wistful blue eyes traveled +from one face to another of the three gentlemen sitting in their +comfortable chairs; she only drew a step nearer to Brother Gordon. He +arose, and with gentle courtesy that ever marked him, placed her in a +small chair close beside himself. + +"Now, my child, tell me your name, and where you live." + +"Winnie Lewis sir, and I live on ---- Street. I go to Sunday school." + +"You do; and who is your teacher?" + +"Miss ----. She is very good to me." + +"And you want to be baptized." + +The child's face glowed as she leaned eagerly toward him, clasping her +hands, but all she said was, "Yes, sir." + +"She cannot be more than six years old," said one of the deacons, disapp +rovingly. + +Brother Gordon said nothing, but quietly regarded the small, earnest +face, now becoming a little downcast. "I am nine years old; older than +I look," she said. + +"It is unusual for anyone to be baptized so young," he said, thoughtfully, +"We might pray for you though." + +[Illustration] + +The brother did not seem to hear as he asked, "You know what being +baptized means, Winnie?" + +"Yes sir"; and she answered a few questions that proved she comprehended +the meaning of the step she wished to take. She had slipped off her +chair, and now stood close to Brother Gordon's knee. + +"I want to obey all of God's Word. You said last Sunday, sir, that the +lambs should be in the fold." + +"I did," he answered, with one of his own lovely smiles. "It is surely +not for us to keep them out. Go home now, my child. I will see about it." + +The cloud lifted from the child's face, and her expression, as she passed +through the door he opened for her, was one of entire peace. + +The next week Winnie's desire was granted. Except for occasional +information from Miss ---- that she was doing well, Brother Gordon heard +no more of her for six months. + +Then he was summoned to her funeral. + +It was one of June's hottest days. As the minister made his way along +the narrow street where Winnie had lived, he wished for a moment that +he had asked his assistant to come in his place; but as he neared the +house, the crowd filled him with wonder; progress was hindered, and as +perforce he paused for a moment, his eye fell on a crippled lad crying +bitterly as he sat on a low door-step. + +"Did you know Winnie Lewis, my lad?" he asked. + +"Know her, is it sir? Never a week passed but what she came twice or +thrice with a picture or book, mayhaps an apple for me, an' it's owing +to her an' no clargy at all that I'll ever follow her blessed footsteps +to heaven. She'd read me from her own Bible whenever she came, an' now +she's gone there'll be none at all to help me, for mother's dead an' +dad's drunk, an' the sunshine's gone from Mike's sky intirely with Winnie, +sir." + +A burst of sobs choked the boy; Brother Gordon passed on, after promising +him a visit very soon, and made his way through the crowd of tear-stained, +sorrowful faces. The Brother came to a stop on the narrow passageway of +the little house. A woman stood beside him drying her fast falling tears +while a wee child hid his face in her skirts and wept. + +"Was Winnie a relative of yours?" the brother asked. + +"No, sir; but the blessed child was at our house constantly, and when +Bob here was sick she nursed and tended him and her hymns quieted him +when nothing else seemed to do it. It was just the same with all the +neighbors. She took tracts to them all and has prayed with them ever +since she was converted, which was three years ago, when she was but six +years of age, sir. What she's been to us all no one but the Lord will +ever know and now she lies there." + +Recognized at last, Brother Gordon was led to the room where the child +lay at rest, looking almost younger than when he had seen her in his +study six months before. An old bent woman was crying aloud by the coffin. + +"I never thought she'd go afore I did. She used regular to read an' sing +to me every evening, an' it was her talk an' prayers that made a Christian +of me: you could a'most go to heaven on one of her prayers." + +"Mother, mother come away," said a young man putting his arm around her +to lead her back. "You'll see her again." + +"I know, I know: she said she'd wait for me at the gate," she sobbed as +she followed him; "but I miss her sore now." + +"It's the old lady as Mrs. Lewis lived with sir," said a young lad +standing next to Brother Gordon, as one and another still pressed up +towards the little casket for a last look at the beloved face. "She was +a Unitarian, and she could not hold out against Winnie's prayers and +pleadings to love Jesus, and she's been trusting in Him now for quite +awhile. A mighty good thing it is, too." + +"You are right, my lad," replied the minister. "Do you trust Him, too?" + +"Winnie taught me, sir," the lad made answer, and sudden tears filled +his eyes. + +[Illustration: "Mother, mother, come away." said a young man, putting +his arm around her to lead her back. "You'll see her again."] + +A silence fell on those assembled, and, marveling at such testimony, +Brother Gordon proceeded with the service feeling as if there was little +more he could say of one whose deeds thus spoke for her. Loving hands +had laid flowers all around the child who had led them. One tiny lassie +placed a dandelion in the small waxen fingers and now stood, abandoned +to grief beside the still form that bore the impress of absolute purity. +The service over, again and again was the coffin lid waved back by some +one longing for another look, and they seemed as if they could not let +her go. + +The next day a good-looking man came to Brother Gordon's house and was +admitted into his study. + +"I am Winnie's uncle, sir," he said simply. "She never rested till she +made me promise to get saved, and I've come." + +"Will you tell me about it, my friend?" said Brother Gordon. + +"Well, you see, sir, it was this way. Winnie always had been uncommonly +fond of me; and so was I of her,"--his voice broke a little--"and I'd +never been saved, never felt, as I believed, quite right. Yet I knew her +religion was true enough, and a half hour before she died she had the +whole family with her, telling them she was going to Jesus, and she took +my hand between her little ones and said, 'Uncle John, you will love +Jesus and meet me in Heaven, won't you?' What could I do? It broke me +all up, and I've come to ask you, sir; what to do so's to keep my promise +to Winnie, for she was an angel if there ever was one. Why, sir, we were +all sitting with her in the dark, and there was a light about that child +as though it shone from Heaven. We all noticed it, every one of us, and +when she drew her last breath and left us, the radiance went, too; it was +gone, quite gone." + +The man wept like a child, and for a minute Brother Gordon did not speak. +Within a month the uncle was thoroughly converted, baptized, and a sincere +follower of Christ. In the evening after this baptism, Brother Gordon +sat reading in his study, thinking of his little child. "It is truly a +wonderful record! Would we had more like her. Why do we not help the +children to get saved, letting them feel that they are really one with +us? We need their help fully as much as they need ours. 'Take heed that +ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in +heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in +Heaven.'" + +--L. C. W. _Copyright by B. Wood_, 1895. + + + +A CHILD'S FAITH + +Johnny Hall was a poor boy. His mother worked hard for their daily bread. +"Please give me something to eat, for I am very hungry," he said to her +one evening. + +His mother let the work that she was sewing fall upon her knees, and +drew Johnny toward her. As she kissed him the tears fell fast on his +face, while she said, "Johnny, my dear, I have not a penny in the world. +There is not a morsel of bread in the house, and I cannot give you any +tonight." + +Johnny did not cry when he heard this. He was only a little fellow but +he had learned the lesson of trusting in God's promises. He had great +faith in the sweet words of Jesus when he said, "Whatsoever ye shall ask +the Father in my name he will give it you." + +"Never mind, mama; I shall soon be asleep, and then I shall not feel +hungry. But you must sit here and sew, hungry and cold. Poor mama!" he +said, as he threw his arms around her neck and kissed her many times to +comfort her. + +Then he knelt down at his mother's knee to say his prayers after her. +They said "Our Father," till they came to the petition, "Give us this +day our daily bread." The way in which his mother said these words made +Johnny's heart ache. He stopped and looked at her, and repeated with his +eyes full of tears. "Give us this day our daily bread." + +[Illustration.] + +When they got through he looked at his mother and said, "Now mother, do +not be afraid. We shall never be hungry any more. God is our Father. He +has promised to hear us, and I am sure he will." + +Then he went to bed. Before midnight he woke up, while his mother was +still at work, and asked if the bread had come yet. She said "No; but I +am sure it will come." + +In the morning, before Johnny was awake, a gentleman called who wanted +his mother to come to his house and take charge of his two motherless +children. She agreed to go. He left some money with her. She went out +at once to buy some things for breakfast; and when Johnny awoke, the +bread was there, and all that he needed! + +Johnny is now a man, but he has never wanted bread from that day; and +whenever he was afraid since then, he has remembered God's promises, and +trusted in him. + +--_Lutheran Herald_ + + + +TRIUMPHANT DEATH OF A LITTLE CHILD + +Some years ago we knew a Brother and Sister G----, who told of the +remarkable experience of their little girl, only seven years old, who +had a short time ago gone home to heaven. The parents were devoted +Christians who had taught their children to love and honor God. During +little Ella's illness she manifested wonderful patience and told of her +love for Jesus. The morning she died she called her papa and mama to her +side and said: "I have been in heaven all night. My room is full of +angels and Jesus is here. I'm going to heaven." Then she asked them to +promise to meet her there. As soon as they could control their feelings +they made her the promise. Then she kissed them and called for her little +brother and sister and other friends. She talked with each one in turn, +telling them in substance, the same she had told her papa and mama, +asking each one to make her the same promise, and kissing each one +good-bye. That was a touching scene. Those who were there said it seemed +more like heaven than earth to be in her presence. In the midst of many +tears all promised her they would surely meet her in that bright and +beautiful home to which she was going. Just before she died she asked +her mama to dress her in white and also to dress her doll in white and +put it by her side in her coffin. Then she folded her own little hands +and closed her eyes and said, "Jesus is calling me and I must go now. +Good-bye," and she was gone. + +Little Ella's death was glorious and she is not the only one that has +left us such bright, joyous testimony. We have ourselves known of many +children and older ones who had quite similar experiences. And though +we may not all see, before we die, all that Ella saw, if we love Jesus +and do what he asks us to, he will surely fulfill to each of us his +promise: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a +place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where +I am, there you may be also." + +--Editor + +[Illustration: "I have been in heaven all night. My room is full of +angels and Jesus is here."] + + + +THE CHILD'S PRAYER + + [Illustration.] + + Into her chamber went + A little girl one day, + And by a chair she knelt, + And thus began to pray:-- + + "Jesus, my eyes I close, + Thy form I cannot see; + If Thou art near me, Lord, + I pray Thee to speak to me." + + A still, small voice she heard within her soul-- + "What is it child? I hear thee; tell the whole." + + "I pray thee, Lord," she said, + "That Thou wilt condescend + To tarry in my heart + And ever be my Friend. + + "The path of life is dark, + I would not go astray; + Oh, let me have Thy hand + To lead me in the way." + + "Fear not; I will not leave thee, child, alone." + She thought she felt a soft hand press her own. + + "They tell me, Lord, that all + The living pass away; + The aged soon must die, + And even children may. + + "Oh, let my parents live + Till I a woman grow; + For if they die, what can + A little orphan do?" + + "Fear not, my child; whatever ill may come + I'll not forsake thee till I bring thee home." + + Her little prayer was said, + And from her chamber now + She passed forth with the light + Of heaven upon her brow. + + "Mother, I've seen the Lord, + His hand in mine I felt, + And, oh, I heard Him say, + As by my chair I knelt-- + + "'Fear not, my child; whatever ill may come + I'll not forsake thee till I bring thee home.'" + + + +THE CAT CAME BACK + +Jimmy was lying on an old cot out in the orchard, getting some of the +nice spring sunshine on his thin body. There was an anxious frown on his +face now, and every little while he would turn on his side, look through +the orchard, and call "Kittv kitty! kitty! Annette, Come, Ann-ette." + +But Annette did not come. His mother came and reminded him that Annette +was very old indeed, and it might be that she would never come again. + +"She was here yesterday, Mother," he answered her, and the big tears +came to his eyes "She felt perfectly fine then." + +"I know, but she's an old cat. She never strays away of her own accord, +and certainlv no one would steal an old blind cat." + +Later on during the day a man came walking up to their house. He introduced +himself as the new neighbor who just moved across the little creek. He +made inquiries as to where he could buy fresh vegetables and milk. And +just as he was about to leave he remarked, "I did a strange thing early +this morning. There was an old cat came over to my place. One ear was +almost gone and it was blind. I'm not much of a hand to make way with +things, but I felt so sorry for that poor old animal that I killed it." + + +"Oh!" With a strangled sob Jimmy quickly left the room. + +His mother explained to the man it had been their old pet. He was very +sorry, but of course that did not bring the cat back. + +"When I saw it, I just banged it over the head with a stick and then +buried it. You will never know how badly I feel about it." + +When he was gone, mother went out to find Jimmy and comfort him. He was +out in the orchard on his knees. Quietly she went up and knelt beside +him, slipping her arm about his shoulder. + +He turned to her at once. "Mother, there's something funny about Annette. +I've been praying and I feel all happy inside. It's just as if she wasn't +dead at all!" + +"What would we ever do without our Comforter, son?" she said. "He does +help us bear our burdens in a wonderful way." + +"I'll say he does. This morning I felt so bad I didn't know what to do, +and then when that man said--he had killed Annette--I thought I just +could not stand it. And here I am happy as anything again. And just +because I took it all to Jesus. I think Annette is all right now." + +"She was very old, son. It wouldn't have been much longer anyway. +Why--why--Jimmy!" + +But Jimmy was running swiftly across the field toward an old blind cat +that was staggering in his direction. + +Apparently the new neighbor had only stunned the cat and she had dug her +way out of the shallow hole and come home again. + +It was years before she really died, and long before she presented Jimmy +with a very tiny kitten with two whole ears and two very bright eyes. + +This story may sound strange to you, so perhaps I had better add that +it is really true. + +--Mary M. Naylor. + + + +HOW GOD ANSWERED DONALD'S PRAYER + +God often uses children to win grown folks for Christ. Little children +not only have a deep faith but a childlike trust in believing that God +answers their prayers. "All that ye ask in my name, _believing, that +ye shall receive_." + +As a young girl, I went to Sunday School and learned about Jesus. Although +I knew about my Savior and what He had done to save me, yet I never +accepted Him as _my own Redeemer_ and Friend. + +As years went by, I went into sin and shared in the common sins of worldly +people. I knew better than to do the things I did, but sin is a miry +clay pulling its victims down deeper and deeper. For ten years I never +entered a church house except to attend my father's funeral. I saw him +go into eternity without being able to point him to the "Lamb of God +which taketh away the sin of the world." + +During these years I had married and God had given us a dear little boy. +Donald began to attend Sunday School early in years. Often on Sunday +mornings he would get ready for Sunday School after a sleepless night. +Wild parties were a part of the ungodly life we lived in our home. +Sometimes I took him to the church house door and there he would beg me +to come in and meet the Christian people who, he said, would be so glad +to see me. + +Donald learned much of the Scriptures. He would pray and ask God's +blessings at the table. In Aug. 1932 we were living in Minneapolis. One +evening in particular I shall not forget. I was in an apartment below +the one in which we lived, partaking in a drunken party. Donald was then +12 years old. He suffered over my sins and came to the door to call me. +I promised him to come up soon, but I continued on for some hours with +the drunken crowd. When I did come up to our apartment I found Donald +on his knees by his bed with his Testament and an old hymn book of my +mother-in-law's. The books were open on the bed. He looked up through +his tears and said, "Mother, I am praying for you." I looked at the +Testament and hymnal which were wet with tears that he had shed for his +ungodly mother. On September 15th, following this experience I went to +a mission. That night a group of Christians united in asking God for my +soul. When the song, "Lord, I'm coming home," was sung after the service +I made my way to the altar. While kneeling there I felt someone very +close to my side. It was Donald who was praying for his mother. God heard +my prayer to be saved. He was merciful and washed away my sins. Psalm +51 has become precious to me. + +God saved me for service. I marvel at his grace and mercy toward me. I +cannot cease to thank Him for picking me up out of the miry clay. I am +thankful also for my little boy who never ceased to pray for his mother. +Now, my life is in God's hands. I want to help others find the Savior. +I am especially burdened for others in the bondage of sin as I was. But +even more than that, I am burdened for children who have no opportunity +of knowing Jesus as their personal Savior. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Children's Edition of Touching +Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer, by S. B. Shaw + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILDREN'S TOUCHING INCIDENTS *** + +This file should be named 7026.txt or 7026.zip + +This eBook was produced byJoel Erickson, Charles Franks, Juliet Sutherland + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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