LITTLE Maggie lived in a country farm-house, a little distance from the town. She was I sometimes sent with letters for the post, and other errands among the shops in town; and wherever she went, Rover, the big watch-dog, always accompanied her. He was very fond of Maggie, and would walk dose by her side the whole way. There was no fear of anybody interfering with her so long as Rover was by her side, or if they had attempted to do so, they would have dearly paid for it. And well did Maggie know this, and so she placed full confidence in her keeper. Even in the dark nights, she would come and go, without the slightest fear, so strong was her confidence in Rover's protective power. This went on for several years, until Maggie had grown up to be a big girl, and shall I tell you what then took place? It was a very sad day at the farm when it became known that Maggie's father had died. He was a saved man, and loved the Lord Jesus, and so he went to be with Him. But they greatly missed him at the farm, and especially Maggie. She had often heard her father speak about going to heaven, and how a sinner could be made fit for that holy place; and then he earnestly prayed before he died that they all might be saved, and meet him there. Now he had gone, and Maggie at least was beginning to think about her soul. She loved her father so much, and it came to her one day while thinking about him in this way: "What if I should never see my father again? He was saved, and he has gone to be with Jesus; and I too must be saved, else I cannot go there." Such were Maggie's thoughts, and daily they gave her more concern. She knew the Gospel well, and very often thought she believed on Jesus; but still the fear remained, that after all she might not get to heaven.
One Sunday night, she went to hear the Gospel preached. The message that night was exactly what she needed; and the preacher clearly showed, that when once a sinner puts his trust in Jesus, he need not fear, for God will save and keep that soul secure forever. Isaiah sings, "I will trust and not be afraid" (Isa. 12:33Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3)); and David says, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me" (Psa. 23).
Maggie saw it all. She used to trust herself so implicitly to Rover coming along the road in the, dark nights, that she feared no evil, and so surely she might trust the Lord Jesus with her soul and fear as little. And so Maggie trusted herself to Jesus, and she was saved. The fears and doubts were all gone now, for she knew that a mightier than Rover was now her Friend and Keeper, even Him who has said. "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness" (Isa. 41:1010Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)). Dear young reader, have you trusted your soul to Jesus?