THE cold, dark days of winter were almost gone, and the bright rays of sunshine seemed to say, "The spring is coming." Some of these rays of sunshine found their way through the parlor window of a small neat-looking house, down a quiet side street, leading from a busy London thoroughfare.
Let us enter that snug parlor. The room was comfortably furnished, and clean. Its only occupants were two young girls. Susie, the elder of the two, stood with her back to the window, busily engaged in washing up the dinner things, while Ella, a pale delicate-looking girl, about fourteen years of age, lay on a sofa near the fire, with half-closed eyes, and a weary face that told its own tale of weakness and pain.
Both had been silent for a little time, when Ella broke the silence by saying, "Susie dear, I want you very much to do something for me; please be quick and sweep up the hearth, and put everything in the room tidy, for I feel almost sure that Miss Brown will be here this afternoon; she said she would come the very first time she was free, and I think she will be here to-day.”
Susie, who had just finished putting away the dishes, answered, by saying, "You think a deal of Miss Brown, Ella. I like to hear her talk, for she is a kind, pleasant-speaking lady; but you know I never was in her Bible class, so perhaps that is the reason I don't watch and look for her coming as you do.”
“You are right, Susie, I do love my teacher very much, and I think I have good reason for my love. I don't mind telling you," and as she spoke, a bright flush mounted to Ella's pale cheeks and brow, "it was Miss Brown who led me to Christ. She told me in such a simple loving way, of all He had done and suffered for sinners, that I could not help feeling I wanted to love and trust Him. At first I did not understand how I could go to Him for salvation; but my dear teacher showed me from God's word, that to come to Jesus was just to trust Him, to believe in Him as my own Savior; and He has kept me in peace all the time I have been so ill, and even when I was at the worst. One day I heard the doctor telling aunt he did not think I should get better; I was not afraid, for I knew Jesus had died for me, and I should go to Him.”
Tears were in Susie's eyes, but she only said, "You are a strange girl, Ella, but I wish I were more like you; yes, I do.”
“Here she comes," was Ella's delighted cry, as the shadow of a passing form for an instant fell across the couch, and Susie hurried to the door, just in time to save Ella's expected visitor the trouble of knocking.
A few words of kindly greeting and thanks to Susie, and a loving kiss to Ella, then Miss Brown asked her to guess the contents of a paper parcel she had brought.
Ella said she did not know, but the shape was very much like that of a flower pot. Ella's guess being correct, the paper and string were quickly removed, and as Miss Brown displayed a pot of snowdrops, their pure white blossoms shooting up among the pale green leaves, Susie exclaimed, "What beauties!" while Ella could only express her pleasure by a long sigh of delight.
Miss Brown said, "I thought of you, dear Ella, when, just before the cold weather began, I planted half a dozen snowdrop bulbs in the dark brown earth. For many days nothing was to be seen, but still I watered and waited in faith and hope, for I knew that work, I could not see, was going on under the surface. Tiny rootlets were making their way downwards, and leaf and flower shoots were pushing upwards to light and air.
“At last, one morning, my patience was rewarded by seeing little green spikes peeping out here and there from the earth, and ever since, I have watered and tended them for you, looking for the day when I should have the pleasure of bringing them to you, to whisper their own sweet message, not only of the coming spring, but also of your heavenly Father's love, for God who makes each tiny leaf and flower so beautiful in its season, will not forget His children. You are getting better now, Ella, and I hope that, through God's blessing, health and strength will come back to you with the spring flowers.”
“You are very kind, Miss Brown, but there is one thing, please, I want very much to ask you about. If we love the Lord Jesus, don't you think we ought to want to die and go to Him?'”
Miss Brown could hardly help smiling, Ella's question seemed such a strange one; but she answered gently, “I think, dear Ella, we can give a better proof of love to Christ by being willing to stay or go, just as He pleases. But I will read you some words written by a very true, whole-hearted servant of Christ. They form part of a letter written by Paul to the Christians, at a place called Philippi," and taking a Testament from her pocket, Miss Brown read, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor; yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."(Phil. 1:21-2421For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. (Philippians 1:21‑24).)
“So you see, Ella, Paul was not in any hurry to go, much as he loved Christ, and longed for the joy of being forever with the Lord; he was not impatient, he was willing to wait and work just as long as his Master pleased. He left it all with the Lord, and I think, dear, the same Savior would have us take our lives thankfully and trustfully as a gift from His own hand, and ask for grace to use them for His glory. But are you not almost forgetting His own words? I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.' (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3).)
“It is not so much our going to be with the Lord as His coming for us, that He looks for us to have the hope of, fresh and bright in our souls He who says, 'Surely I come quickly' (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)), would have our hearts answer, by saying, ‘Even so, come, Lord Jesus.'
“I should like both Susie and yourself to look out all the verses you can find in your Bibles about the Lord's coming, so that if He should tarry till next week, and I am able to come again, we may have another talk about the Lord's return.”
“Oh, we shall like doing that," said both the girls, and Ella added, "It will be just like having a bible class at home, won't it, teacher?”
Miss Brown replied, "Yes, dear, I think it will be very much the same, but I must say good-bye now, as I shall be needed at home.”
“Please come again very soon," were the farewell words of both Susie and Ella, as Miss Brown rose to go.
I do not know anything about Miss Brown's next visit, or whether the girls ever found out the text she asked them to, but perhaps my readers would like to search their Bibles and see what they can find on the same subject, and doubtless this will prove both interesting and profitable.
ANGELS throng the starry heaven,
Praising God with chorus high,
For the gift that He has given,
Unto rebels doom'd to die!
Shepherds in the field abiding,
Hear that Christ, a babe, is born;
Angels tell the wondrous tiding,
Bidding them no longer mourn.
Come and look within the manger,
See the Savior meekly lie,
Come to earth a homeless stranger
That He might for sinners die.
Happy they who now adore Him!
While He's still despised of men;
For when all shall bow before Him,
Such He'll crown with glory then.