A FRIEND gave me the following account of the Lord's dealings with an actress, in whom he and his wife had been interested. Her home was not far from theirs, and on several occasions she had sent for him to ask his advice and counsel. He had endeavored to win her attention to divine things, but found no ear for the name of Jesus, and no desire to hear the story of His love to sinners.
However, as they became better acquainted, she told my friend a little of her history. She had had a godly mother, against whose entreaties she had insisted on adopting the stage as a profession. She had been early married to an actor, and had worked hard for years, and, though she had been remarkably attractive, was now, through failing health, obliged to give up the profession, in which she delighted. Indeed, Mrs. J. became very ill, and, as she grew worse, was made aware that she had a malady which must end fatally.
At this time the Spirit of God began a work of conviction in her soul. My friend, F. D., saw her very often, and, though she knew the story of the gospel well, she did not feel her own personal need of a Savior, and that she herself was a lost sinner, until this time of her illness. But now, she said, she could find no rest until she should know with certainty that salvation was hers.
On one of his visits, when F. D. found her in much anguish of soul as to the burden of her sins, Mrs. J. begged him to pray for her at once, saying, " You must not-mind if I pray too while you are praying. God will hear us both. I must have peace," and then, with tears, she besought the Lord to show her that her sins were forgiven. Then F. D. read many passages of Scripture, which soothed and quieted her, but she could not grasp the fact that the work was done for her.
At the next visit there was a change indeed she was calmly happy, having taken God at His word, and was resting on the faithful promise, " Whosoever believeth shall have everlasting life," and " He that believeth hath." She now took an increasing delight in hearing the Scriptures read, and in prayer, and her one desire was to learn more of Jesus.
By degrees she told F. D. and his wife of a great trouble that was weighing her down, and asked that much prayer should be made on the subject. Her husband was devoted to his profession, and was determined that their only child, a lovely little girl, the joy of their hearts, should be educated for the stage. Mrs. J. said that, since she had been brought out of darkness into light, the very thought that this child should be thrown into the surroundings which she had left was agony. But she would say, "After what God has done for me, shall I not trust Him entirely for my child?”
About this time her friends had to leave home for a while, and were most thankful to see how really Mrs. J. was “resting in the Lord and waiting patiently for Him." Meanwhile the Lord had Himself been "teaching her to profit."
On their return she greeted them with tears of mingled joy and sorrow; her prayers had been answered for her child. The little one had been taken ill with what proved to be scarlet fever; soon all hope of recovery was given up, and the Lord took her to be with Him. The mother had been enabled to tell the little one of the love of Jesus to sinners which the child eagerly drank in.
Perfect peace seemed to rest on her countenance, as she realized how fully the Lord had answered her earnest prayer in having taken her dear child to Himself. “Safe in the arms of Jesus " forever, sheltered from all the temptations of this poor world. The dear mother rapidly grew worse, and peacefully entered her rest soon after her little one had been taken, C.