IT was the time of the visitation of that 1terrible scourge, the cholera, and people were dying every day in frightful numbers. The young and old alike fell victims, some being ill only a few hours. There was a general panic, and it was surprising to find how all the places of worship were crowded. Alas, many were at meetings one evening and dead, if not buried, before the next. In the village near to which little Rosie, the subject of our narrative, lived, there had been but few cases; although in a town, a few miles distant, hundreds had died.
One hot day in August, Rosie put on a light dress and set off to take a long walk with her aunt. She came back feeling rather tired, but, after supper, retired to rest apparently quite well. About one o’clock in the morning, she awoke with a strange feeling of pain and faintness. She managed, however, to drag her aching limbs across the corridor to her mother’s bedroom, and, with some difficulty, succeeded in awaking her parents; but even as she did so, the sickness and pain were so overpowering that her father and mother had to carry her back to her room. And then, oh, what a scene occurred! The child was prostrate with agony, sickness continued without a moment’s intermission, and cold sweats bedewed her shivering limbs. The rosy face was as pallid as that of a corpse, and nothing seemed to afford the slightest relief.
Hours passed by, and the little girl grew weaker and weaker, but her pain of body was as nothing to the agony of her mind. Rosie was the only daughter of pious parents, and many times had the Holy Spirit striven with her, but she had resisted Him. She used to reason in the following manner: “I am healthy and young, and a long life is no doubt before me. Why religion? Some people who profess to be Christians look so gloomy that I do not want to be one of such. I like fun, and mine shall be a merry life; if I had true religion I am afraid it would oblige me to give up some of the things of which I am so particularly fond.”
Poor child! she had never come to Jesus, and now she lay trembling on the brink G. another world― “Afraid to die.” As she lay perspiring with pain and groaning with anguish, how earnestly did she cry to God, “Oh God, for Christ’s sake do not let me die now; I am afraid to die, I am not saved. And oh! I cannot believe on Thee now, I cannot think for pain. Oh! Christ, please to let me live, and then I will serve Thee.” There were groans between each whispered word, and still she prayed.
It was a night never to be forgotten; though young the child knew her sins made her quite unprepared to stand before God. The knowledge of His holiness gave her deep distress; for Rosie had been taught at an early age to read the Bible.
Perhaps our young readers may imagine that little Rosie was a great sinner. Certainly, in her outward conduct she was not so; she was naturally of a merry disposition, so that her love of fun and frolic often brought her into trouble, yet she was a lover of truth and honesty, and had a thorough contempt for all sorts of meanness and deception. Also, she was far more obedient to her parents than is the case with many children in these days of want of reverence, and of rudeness to elders, but Rosie’s sins stood before her revealed in the light of an awakened and affrighted conscience. She knew herself vile, and that she had not been washed in the blood of Christ.
Oh! how Rosie promised to love and serve God, if He would let her get well again. God who is rich in mercy, heard her cries and spared her life; gradually the violence of the disease abated, and she recovered; but ma’ none of my young readers ever know such an agony as Rosie suffered on that awful night.
You may ask, “Did Rosie become a Christian upon her recovery?” We answer. “Nothing is so deceitful as the human heart;” the word of God declares, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Rosie’s promises of amendment were all made in her own strength, so that she found it impossible to keep her vows.
While the terror was still fresh upon her mind, she was indeed more serious than usual; but as her health and animation returned, she neglected prayer, and did not give herself up to love and serve God. “Oh!” does some kind reader exclaim, “will she be lost at last?” We joyfully answer, “No,” for two or three years after her illness the Lord Jesus sought and found His lost sheep, and brought her penitent to His feet. She then gave herself to the Lord to be His forever. She heard the Saviour say, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out;” so the child believed His words, and they became an anchor to her soul, sure and steadfast. How could she be afraid? for the Bible declares that heaven and earth shall pass away, but not one jot or tittle of God’s word shall fail.
Rosie is very fond of the words, “It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.” She has tasted some of that fullness. She has found in Christ strength in weakness, joy in sorrow, help in distress, comfort in loneliness, and a sweet resting-place when weary and tired. She does not now fear death, for she believes in Him who hath said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and “Because I live ye shall live also.”
Little reader, are you a Christian? Have you come to Jesus for salvation? If death were to stare you in the face would you be afraid to die? “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)), but the name of Jesus.
Rosie is living, and this day bids me tell you children that, ever since she was brought to Jesus and found her all in Him, He has been to her “the chiefest among ten-thousand” and the “altogether lovely.” And all through the more than twenty years since she has known Christ, He has been manifesting His sweetness in many ways until this very day. She would rather part with all she has on earth than part with the Saviour.
Oh! my dear children, come at once—today, and He will make you happy. R. C. C.