AS I think many of my young friends would like to read part of a letter I received only a few weeks ago, from one of my scholars, I will copy it for you. She writes:
“DEAR TEACHER,
“I was so glad to get your letter, and thank you very much for asking me to tell you if I am saved. I am so thankful that I can answer Yes to your question, and mamma says she thinks you would like to hear a little about my conversion.
“I was just nine years old when I came to Jesus. I am eleven now, so it is two years ago. But I think I shall always remember all about it.
“It was one evening; mamma had gone out, leaving us children in the care of a servant whose name was Ann. She was a christian girl, and mamma always felt she could trust her. We were getting tired of play, when Ann asked us if we would like to go into the kitchen and have a meeting all to ourselves.
“We said Yes, and Ann read to us out of the Bible about how much the Lord Jesus had to suffer that we might be saved. 1 could not help crying, for though I had heard it all before, I had never thought it was for my sins the Savior died. But that very night I trusted myself to 'Christ, and He saved me.
“This is quite a long letter, but I wanted you to know how a little girl in your class was saved. Please excuse mistakes, and believe me “Your very loving "AMY.”
The writer of the letter you have just read can hear the glad tidings of salvation. And now, as I know Lily and Grace will ask me for "just one more story," I am going to tell you about the way in which a deaf mute was led to a saving knowledge of Christ as her own precious Savior.
But before I tell you her story, I should like us to look together at some Bible words. We shall find them in the fourth chapter of the Book of Exodus.
Perhaps, as we have all read the chapter, we are ready to answer one or two questions and say the words were spoken by God to His servant Moses; and though the question may have seemed a strange one, I think it must have been a precious promise of support and strength to the man He was going to send and use as His messenger to the proud king of Egypt.
Bessie F. was the child of Christian parents. I think it was their love for their little girl that made it so very hard for them to believe that the child on whom father, mother, brothers and sisters lavished so much love was quite deaf. Bessie was so quick to notice, and seemed such a healthy, happy child, that it was not till she was nearly three years old they gave up the hope that she would in time learn to talk like other children.
An elder sister taught her to talk on her fingers, and found the little girl a very quick and willing pupil. She soon learned to spell words, and had made some progress in reading and writing, long before she was old enough to be placed as a weekly boarder in a school for deaf mutes.
Only the teaching of the Holy Spirit could make Bessie wise unto salvation, and those who loved her best prayed that she might be early taught of God, not only to see and own herself a lost, sinful child, but led to trust simply to the Lord Jesus.
When ten or eleven years old, Bessie always showed a great desire to go with her sister to the gospel preaching, and would pay great attention while what was said was being interpreted for her. Her questions, too, showed a real desire to understand what she was told. Her sister often felt encouraged to hope that her darling Bessie was really one of the Lord's little ones, and prayed that she might have faith and courage to confess Him.
One evening, during an address on the coming of the Lord, Bessie, who had been watching her sister's fingers with more than usual interest, burst into tears, and on her way home said on her fingers: "Jesus died for me; He loves me; and I hope He will come very soon, for He would take me. Sure? yes, I am quite sure," she added with a smile, and making the sign used by deaf mutes.
From that time she never seemed to have a doubt or fear, resting like a happy child on the word of Him who said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:27, 2827My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27‑28).) She rejoiced in the Lord, while from day to day it seemed more and more her desire to please the One who had loved her and washed her from her sins in His own blood.
She sheaved a great love for the Lord's people, often asking when strangers came to the house if they loved Christ; and when the answer was Yes, she seemed happy and at home with them, even when they did not know or understand her finger-talking.
Her love to Christ shone out in her everyday life in many ways. It was plain to those around that she was learning of Him. The thought of being with Him where He is gave her real, deep joy. She loved to speak of heaven as her home, and would say, "I don't think the Lord will leave me here long. He knows I would much rather go to heaven than stay here; though I love you all very much, I love my Savior more, and I want to see His face and hear His voice, for you know I shall not be deaf when I am at home with Christ.”
And the Lord, who as the good Shepherd cares so tenderly for His lambs, gave Bessie her desire. Her journey was only a short one, for when she was about fourteen years of age He gently took her to Himself.
From the beginning of her illness she seemed to think she would not get well, and though at times she suffered much pain, the Lord in His grace kept her in perfect peace. Her sister wrote to a friend: "It is quite a pleasure to wait on our dear Bessie, she is so cheerful and patient.”
On the last day of her life, when the watchers by her bed thought her sinking fast, she slept for a short time, and on awaking she looked round her, as if not quite sure where she was. After a few moments she spelled "Disappointed" on her fingers, then lay back with closed eyes, as if just waiting for the Lord to put her to sleep.
She had not long to wait, for in about two hours her spirit, absent from the body, was present with the Lord.
And now before you lay down this little book, and run off to your lessons or your play, I want to ask each dear boy or girl who has lingered over its pages just one question. Oh, please do not go away without answering it.
Are you saved by simple faith in the Savior, of whom you have so often heard and read? Saved for His glory, for His praise; saved to live for Him now, and soon-it may be very soon-to be with Him in the place where He now is?
The Bible tells us all may come,
And drink at mercy's stream;
That Jesus soon shall share His home
With all who trust in Him.
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