Jimmy was the grandson of a poor Scotch shepherd named Robin. The old man was nearly eighty years of age. His wife, and sons, and daughters, were all dead, and he had no one to comfort him in his declining days save little Jimmy, who during the day tended the flock, and when the evening was come, would read aloud of that Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.
Robin had a dog named Watch, which had always been of great service among the sheep, and this faithful animal accompanied Jimmy every morning. Together they looked after the sheep, and very often Jimmy would play with his much-loved mate.
One day Jimmy had left the flock, and on his return found that four of the sheep were missing.
Hastening home he told his grandfather. “The sheep are probably gone to the right side of the mountain to reach the other pastures,” said the old man. “Go and look for them there, my child, and make haste, for it will snow soon; then bring home your flock quickly.”
Away the boy hastened. The snow began to fall, slowly at first, and Then more and more quickly, until almost everything was hidden from view.
At home old Robin had begun to repent of his having sent the boy alone, for he well knew that if Jimmy were to lose himself on the mountain in the snow he would probably be frozen to death before the morning. For a long while the old man sat near the window, listening anxiously for the expected foot-fall. The clock struck seven, and the darkness deepened. Then the old man fell on his knees, and prayed to God to restore his poor child.
He was about to start to call on a neighbor named Mackie, when he heard a scratching at the door. It was Watch. Poor dog! When Robin opened the door, he ran a little distance and then came back. He wanted to lead the way to where his young master was.
Robin now hastened without delay to his neighbor Mackie, who, on hearing what was the matter, started off at once to find the missing boy.
“Go on ahead, Watch,” he said to the faithful dog. “I’ll follow you,” and on they went rapidly, though not so fast as the dog would have liked. Watch was always in front. Suddenly he stopped, and Mackie heard him whining loudly and bitterly. Pressing on, Mackie saw the dog scraping furiously in the snow. A moment after he heard a feeble voice saying, “Help me; save me!” and there was little Jimmy’s head above the snow.
With some difficulty Mackie took him out, and carried him rejoicing toward his home. There Jimmy was received with a glad heart by the kindly neighbor’s wife, and at once put to bed. They rubbed his benumbed limbs, and gave him some hot porridge. Old Robin, his heart lifted up in thanksgivings to God now that his boy was found and his prayer answered, watched all the time near his bed.
The next morning Jimmy was much recovered, and while Watch lay at his feet by the breakfast table, he told the story of all that had befallen them.
Jimmy had searched for the missing sheep along the mountain side, while the snow fell ever thicker and faster. Tired and weary, he had stumbled, and then fell into the hole where he had been found. Watch at first tried to drag him out, but when this failed, he ran off to the cottage and scratched to bring help. When left all alone Jimmy had cried to God to take him out of that dreadful place.
Thus two prayers were answered — the old man praying in his cottage, and Jimmie in that mountain snowdrift. Both cried to God in their trouble, and were heard.
“They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.”
There is no sorrow, no trial, no diffulty in which the believer cannot look up to God, and count upon His loving kindness and tender care.
Does the reader enjoy this confidence in God? Have you trusted in His beloved Son as your Saviour? If not you are still lost in your sins, but the loving Shepherd is seeking you, for “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). Hear His voice saying to you now,
ML 12/13/1959