Lille, the capital of Northern France, after being four years under German rule, passed into the hands of the Allies on October 17th, and was the first great city to be freed from German oppression. The people of Lille had suffered every insult, every torture that Teutonic ingenuity could devise, but they welcomed their deliverers with flags innumerable, and flowers.
On the morning of their emancipation, the people arose as usual, very depressed. One English woman told the correspondent of “The Morning Post,” that she cried nearly all night, thinking she would never see our troops. But before breakfast a servant rushed in and said, “There are no Germans left in Lille.” The news flashed through all the city. Still incredulous, they ventured out, and sure enough no Germans could be seen. What happiness filled their hearts as they thronged the happy streets. And then on a glorious autumn day, the soldiers of Britain came in at the western gate of the city, with bands playing, and people cheering in thousands―none could doubt their deliverance, now. So a happy New Year has come for Lille owing to their great deliverance.
If you, my reader, would have a happy New Year, you must know what it is to be delivered out of the power of Satan. If you are still unsaved Satan has been your master all your life, and the hosts of your sins has possessed you as the Germans did Lille. When the happy day comes, and God grant it may be today, that you can say, “My sins are gone,” then you will know what deliverance is, and you will look as happy as the girl in our picture, who brought the happy tidings of salvation to the home in Lille.