ONE bitter cold winter, a poor Christian woman who had long been struggling against illness and poverty, was left without a cent of money. She was obliged to tell her little boy, who was also a believer and her only son, that she could give him no breakfast that morning, for she had not a loaf of bread in the house. She was therefore, very much surprised, when after having been out of the room, he presently returned and began as usual to lay the little white cloth on the table, get out the plates and cups, and put everything in readiness for breakfast.
“Why Frank,” said his mother, “what are you doing that for; did you not hear me say that we have not a bit of bread in the house?”
“Yes, Mother, but I have been asking God to send us some, and I know He will hear me, because He says He will,” answered the little boy with a cheerful smile.
Soon they heard the sound of horses’ feet coming up the road, and going to the door, Frank perceived a man leading a horse slowly along. He stopped at the gate and said,
“Look here, my boy, my horse has lost two shoes, and I have still twelve miles to go; take him to the blacksmith’s shop over the way, and when you have brought him back safely, I will reward you for your trouble. Will you allow me to rest in your cottage in the meantime?” he added to the poor widow, who appeared in the doorway.
“Surely, sir, and welcome, too,” she answered, and hastened to set a chair for him.
They soon got into conversation.
“I fear I am keeping you from your breakfast, my good woman,” he said, seeing that there was nothing on the table but plates and cups, “pray do just as if you were alone.”
At length the poor woman was obliged to tell him the real state of affairs. When little Frank came back with the horse, the man mounted quickly, and rode off, having first dropped a coin into the boy’s hand.
“You shall hear from me again,” he said as he galloped away.
O, how eagerly Frank ran to show his mother what God had sent him! What was his surprise when with tears of joy the poor widow held up a bank note, exclaiming,
“O, my child! how could I doubt the Lord for one moment! You were right, you were right, my boy.”
The happy mother and still happier son knelt down and returned most hearty thanks to their heavenly Father for His goodness to them.
“I knew He would send us something,” said little Frank, “I knew He would, because He said so.”
O that we all had this dear boy’s faith in God’s promises. Then, indeed would we find the truth of David’s words,
ML 12/24/1933