IN a dingy court in the lower part of the town of Gateshead, there lived a family, consisting of four children, three of whom regularly attended the Sunday school.
Little Mary Ann, the youngest but one, was eight years old, and she was truly a lamb of Jesus' flock, saved, and shining for Him. On Christmas day, we held our usual Children's treat, and Mary Ann was there. After tea was over, we told the little ones to go home and try to persuade their parents to come with them to the evening meeting.
Mary Ann ran home and most eagerly sought to induce her parents to go. For want of a shawl, her mother said she could not go. "Oh! I'll get you one," said the dear child, and off at once she ran to the house of a neighbor, and got the loan of one. How glad she was to see her father, mother, and sisters there. They heard the children repeat portions of God's Word, and after that, the Gospel was preached to them. Now both father and mother are trusting in Jesus, and rejoicing in the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins. Not many days after this, little Mary Ann caught cold, and was laid down ill. The meeting just mentioned was her last on earth. The doctor was sent for, and as he sat down at the bed-side, he said, "I have come to mend you, Mary Ann." "You cannot mend me now, doctor; Jesus is my doctor. He has mended me. I am going soon to be with Him." "Would you not like to get better and stay with your mother,” the doctor asked. "I would like mother to go with me, but I don't want to stay here." On the day of her death, she told her mother to be sure and tell the teachers and scholars of the Sunday School, to follow her body to the grave, and to sing―
"Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast.”
As the day grew on, the dear child asked what time it was. On being told it was four o'clock, she said, "I will be with Jesus at half-past five, and I should like to see father before I go." Her mother stood trimming the lamp near her bed-side, "What are you doing, mother," she asked, “I am going to light the lamp, my dear,” said the mother, "it is getting dark you know." "It is not dark here mother," said the dying child, "just come beside me mother and see the bright light here, O no, it is not dark." After twenty-five minutes, her father arrived, and took her into his arms. Then the desire of her heart seemed gratified. She said, "Will you meet me in heaven, father," he replied, "I will." She then held out her hand to her mother, and with slow and impressive tones, uttered the name, JESUS, and then she sweetly fell asleep. Saved at so early an age, and early gathered home, after bearing a brief but bright and blessed testimony to the grace that saves and satisfies the soul of a little child. Dear young reader, are you saved? If not, you may be, and the time is now. Your days, like this dear child's, may be short on earth. Soon you may have to say farewell to all you love on earth. Then you will enter the great eternity beyond. Will it be in heaven or in hell?