SOME years ago I went to visit a little girl from a children’s Bible class in the city of Edinburgh. I had heard she was lying near death, and wanted to see me, and immediately I went.
Her house was in the Canongate, up a filthy court, and at the top of a high dirty staircase. With some difficulty I found my way to it, and knocking at the door to which I was directed, waited to be let in. Again and again I knocked, but no one answered; so lifting up the latch I opened the door myself, and entered a most wretched room. A few red ashes and cinders were in the grate, and beside these was a miserable looking man, half intoxicated. I asked, “Does a little girl of the name of Christina―live here?” The man growled out something I could not understand, and pointed to a corner of the room, where in a sort of closet lay the object of my search. Her only bed was a heap of straw upon the floor, covered with a piece of coarse sacking. Some remains of blankets covered her, but those and herself were in a filthy state of dirt. My heart was moved as I looked at the poor dying little girl, left in that sad state, by godless parents; and I said, “My dear little girl I am sorry to see you in so wretched a condition.” “Wretched, sir,” she said, “Oh! I’m not wretched, sir, I’m very happy.” “Happy and lying here, and none to take care of you and help you! What makes you happy?” “Jesus, sir, makes me happy. Why, don’t you know He has dressed me for the grave!” and her pale face lighted up with a bright joyous smile. “Dressed you for the grave? What do you mean, dear child? “for I thought perhaps her mind was wandering.” Oh, don’t you remember, sir, that you told us the last time you preached to us, that Jesus dressed all His little lambs in beautiful robes, and would take them to glory. He has so dressed me. Blessed Jesus, and that makes me happy now?”
“Poor, dying, little Christina,” I thought, “thou art far better dressed than many a great one of this world.” Beautiful, blessed state, to be a new creature in Christ Jesus, longing to see Him and to be with Him forever.