DEAR LITTLE FRIENDS. ―I am going to have my “annual treat,” by having my corner all to myself. But you will not think me selfish, as I have only a little bit of the corner for eleven months. I wish to be a very little Dot all that time, as I invite you to occupy the place. The great pleasure I have had in reading and thinking over your letters is more than I can well express. How often I have had to say after reading some of your thoughts on Scripture, “That is something new to me.” In the gold-diggings little ones sometimes find large nuggets of gold, while big men may only get some grains after much labor.
When the heart is set upon a certain thing, the eyes are very sharp to discover, and if young hearts want to find out the preciousness of Christ they know where to find it.
There is no doubt that where there is an earnest desire in a young one to know the truth as it is in Jesus the Word of God is exceedingly sweet to the taste—more than we elder ones can understand—especially if we have been tasting all sorts of things—why then, the palate gets out of order. You see what I mean.
The first time “Dot, junior,” had a spoonful of honey given him, it was a pleasure to notice the expression of his face and eyes. He could not speak, but the language expressed as he looked in his mother’s face and then at the empty spoon was very forcible. The three things were so plain: — The giver, the spoon, and the honey —thanks to his mother; the way in which it was given; and a desire for more! And I do believe if we could see each other’s faces they would be a little like that—I can speak for myself, and I think for a great many others—but we have been enjoying that which is sweeter than honey, and more valuable than all the nuggets of gold that were ever found, for honey and gold perish, and cease to yield sweetness, but the Word of God abides forever.
If we are here to write another annual letter, may it be with increasing joy. The subject for January will be, “Naaman’s little maid. It is a beautiful subject, and I should like you to ponder over it and write your very best thoughts about it. Please let me have the papers by the 5th of January.
Another thing I wish to say to you. I often hear it said about your letters, “I think father or mother has helped them.” So please send your letters just as you write them—after having gone over them carefully yourselves without a bit of anyone else’s help; so that I can say, “Now, these are Tommy Trueman’s thoughts.” Because when the very big words come out, they do not seem natural, and remind me of a little boy I call Teddy Tall-look, who was walking on stilts, which made him taller than his father.
Next year, instead of putting the names of winners in full, I shall only put the initials—by which hard word I mean the beginnings of the names, — for instance, when it is Sarah Tryhard I shall put S. T. and for Charles Careful it will be C. C., and Peter Proudheart will easily understand what P. P. means and when the address s given the writer will know who it is.
I must tell you my reason for doing this is that I am afraid of a little pride springing up, and the Editor and I know how apt we are to be proud, and we ought to do all we can to prevent that which is hateful to God.
Now I have some good news to tell you. Our kind Publisher thinks that some of you may have been a little discouraged in not receiving a prize, so he is going to give a prize every quarter to those who for three months have not been successful, and whose papers are considered to come next. This will cheer you, I am sure, and we shall go to work again with fresh courage.
Well, may the Lord bless you and keep you to Himself, and for Himself, is the ardent and loving desire of Your affectionate friend,
DOT.