CARRIE was a happy little Italian girl of ten years, with a pair of black sparkling eyes, and curly hair. She attended a Sunday-class conducted by a Christian lady, who told the little Italian children the story of Jesus' love. One day, Carrie came to the class, downcast and sad. The kind teacher took the little girl apart from the other children, and said to her, "My dear Carrie, you look very sad to-day, what is the matter." The little girl looked up mournfully into her face, and said, "Because, teacher dear, I've been thinking about what you said." "What were you thinking about, Carrie?" said the teacher. "Oh, teacher, I was wondering whether Jesus cares for me or not; do you think He does?" said the little girl, the tear coming to her eye. "Yes, Carrie, Jesus loves you. Did He not come down from His happy home to show His love for sinners? And did He not say, when He was down here, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me?’ How then can you doubt whether He loves you? Can you repeat the verse that tells you so, Carrie?" Carrie repeated the verse slowly over, which she had learned at school―"Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:1414But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)). "Well, Carrie, who do you think that means, you or me? Does Jesus invite big folks like me, or little ones like you, to come to Him?" The little girl clapped her hands with delight, and said, "It's for me, teacher, and not for you; for you are not a child, it's for me, for me. Jesus loves me, I know it now." From that day, Carrie believed that Jesus loved her, and she loved Jesus in return. She became a lamb of the Good Shepherd's flock, and followed Him. Now, dear children, if this little Italian child, who had so few opportunities of knowing and hearing about Jesus, compared with you, was so anxious to know if Jesus loved her, why should not you? But, perhaps you know quite well that Jesus loves you, for you have often sung―
"Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.”
Well then, let me ask, have you, like Carrie, believed the glad tidings, and received His love into your heart? Have you said, "It's for me, for me," and come to Him trusting His love, and accepting Him as your own, and only Savior. If you have, the result will be that you will love Him in return, and follow Him, saying, "I love Him, because He first loved me.”