THE blinds were drawn; a cheerful fire burnt in the well-polished grate; a shaded lamp placed on the center table threw its light over the small but bright and pleasant sitting-room to which I want to introduce my young friends.
Two persons only were in the room, Archie Moss and his sister Elsie. Archie, a pale, delicate boy, about eleven years of age, lay on a couch, not far from the writing table where Elsie sat busily engaged in arranging some papers.
Archie had never been strong, though when quite a small boy he had been able to run about and play like other children. As he grew older, traces of what the Doctor called spinal weakness began to show themselves, and for more than two years before the time at which my story opens, most of his days had been passed on the couch, only on what he called his best days feeling strong enough to sit up for an hour or two. Very often pain and weakness obliged him to lie quite still on his back, so that you will not be surprised when I tell you the days often seemed to pass very slowly to the helpless little-boy. Archie's mother had died when he was too young to remember much about her; and as his father, Captain Moss, was very often away from home on long voyages, Archie would have been a very lonely child but for the love and care of his sister Elsie, who was ten years older than her brother, and who never seemed tired of trying to interest and amuse him; and it was from her lips Archie had learned the sweet Bible stories and Gospel hymns the little fellow loved so well.
Elsie looked up from her pile of papers, and seeing a very tired look on Archie's face, said brightly, "Please, Archie dear, don't think me unkind, I have been so busy I had almost forgotten how tired you must be. But my work is finished now. I have all these papers ready for Uncle Howard, so I am quite free now and at your service. Shall I read aloud or sing for you?”
“Not now, Elsie; I want you to talk to me. But first let me tell you what I have been thinking about. You were singing as you went about your work this morning. I don't know all the words; only four lines seem to be saying themselves over and over again to me:—
“‘Dark people from the islands
Far scattered o'er the sea,
Pale men from icy regions
Too cold for flower or tree.'
“As you sang, I thought I should like to know some boys and girls from the far-off lands about which I learn in my geography books. I wish I could have some of them come to see me; but as that can't be, I wish you would tell me all you can remember about children all over the world. I should like to know how they look; what kind of games they play at; and please don't forget to tell me if they have any day or Sunday schools to go to. But as I know you can't tell me everything at once, I think I should like to hear about Jewish children to-day. But I am not sure that I know where the Jews live now. I do not think there can be room enough in Jerusalem for all the Jews to live there.”
“You are quite right, Archie, in thinking that all the Jews do not live in Jerusalem, though the number of Jewish families who reside there is larger than it was twenty or even ten years ago. Still only a small part of the great Jewish nation is to be found in their own loved city, or even living in the countries where the Bible was written.
“You want to know where the Jews live? I think I must answer your question by telling you that there is hardly a country in the world, and very few cities or large towns, in which there are not some Jews; though in a few places laws have been passed by which they are forbidden to settle. I heard not long ago of a town in Russia in which no Jew is allowed to have a shop or house; and even when one is obliged to pass through the town on any business he must do so barefoot.”
“How strange, Elsie! But perhaps the people of that town are not Christians; for it was only last week, when we were talking about the Jews, you called them ‘The scattered nation,' and said that all Christians should love the Jews, and pray that the time may soon come when they shall know that the Savior, for whom many of them are still looking, has really come: the Lord Jesus, you know.”
“The Jews in Russia have often had a very hard and sorrowful time of it; for though most of the people of that great country call themselves Christians, I am afraid many of them have never heard the good news of salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ.
“But as you want to hear about the children, I think I must not talk any more now about the grown-up people, but tell you a true story of a little Polish girl, in which I was much interested.
“More than fifty years ago, two of the Lord's servants traveled through the Holy Land in the hope of finding places where schools for Jewish children could be opened, in which they might hear from christian teachers ‘The sweet story of old,' returning to their home in Scotland through the different countries of Europe.
“Among other visits, one was made to a family of Polish Jews. Father, mother, two sons, and a little girl about ten years of age, were all much pleased at hearing that their visitors had really seen Jerusalem and asked a great many questions.
“' Tell us,' said the father, ‘all you have seen in Jerusalem.'
“‘Did you,' asked the mother, ‘visit the Place of Wailing, and see our poor brethren who go to weep and pray there on the eve of the Sabbath?'
“The boys had learned a little Hebrew, and were quite willing to answer questions on Jewish history. Then one of the strangers, who was fond of children, finding that the little girl could speak German, drew her to his side, and asked her if she would tell him her name?
“‘My name,' the child replied, ‘is Esther.'
“Mr. B. then asked her if she had heard of a Jewish queen whose name like hers was Esther?
“Little Esther thought for a moment, then said, ‘No, I have never heard about Queen Esther. Is her story in the Bible? My mother teaches me out of the Bible.'"
“‘Will you tell me what you have learned out of the Bible?'
“‘I know the stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. I think I like the story of Joseph best.'
“‘Have you learned anything about God?'
“‘Oh yes, my mother often talks to me about God. I know that He is very great, and He is very good too. If I were ill, my father and mother, who love me so much, could not make me well; but if I prayed to God, he would help me.'
“‘Where is God, little one?'
“‘Esther pointed with her finger to the bright blue sky, and said, almost in a whisper, God is there.' Then pointing round the room, added, ‘God is in every place.'
“‘Do you know that you are a sinner?’
“At the last question a dark frown gathered on the little girl's face, and she said, ‘No, I am not a sinner; I am a daughter of Abraham. He was a good man, and the friend of God. How can I be a sinner if I am his child?’
“Though this was very sad, Mr. B. knew it was only what Esther, like many others of her nation, had been taught to believe. So he told her, in very simple words, that ‘All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).) He spoke too of the love of God in giving His Son to be a Savior. (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).)
“Esther listened very attentively, and was much pleased when at parting with her new friend, he gave her as a keepsake a shell he had found near the Sea of Galilee.
“But I see by your face, Archie, I have talked quite enough for one evening. Perhaps to-morrow I may tell you something about Jewish boys and their schools.”
“Thank you, Elsie. I have thought already of several things I want to know about the Jews, so hope you will be able to answer quite a long list of questions.”