Part 2
SUSAN Morley made many efforts to see little Bessie’s stepmother but without success. When she called at the house, she nearly always found the child locked in, but she had many happy talks with her, through the closed door, and week by week, the little girl learned the verses which her kind teacher slipped under the door, and was treasuring up in her heart a store of precious texts which no one could take away from her. After some time, Susan managed to send her a Bible by her little friend, Jane, and the joy of the child at having one of her own, was unbounded. “I can read all about Jesus now,” she said, “and perhaps someday mother will let me read to her.”
But one evening, a few months later, as Susan was sitting in her own home, little Jane came running in, the tears pouring down her pale frightened face. As soon as she could speak, she said, “Bessie’s mother has sent for you, Bessie has been badly hurt, and is in the hospital, and asking for ‘teacher’.” Susan was ready in a moment, and set off with her little companion for the hospital, where she found poor little Bessie in the accident ward, the doctor and nurse standing beside her, with very grave faces. She had been run over by a wagon, while out selling violets; both legs were broken, and no hope of her recovery was entertained. Susan bent over the little sufferer, and said gently, He shall carry the lambs in His bosom. The child’s eyes opened for a moment; and she smiled as the familiar words fell on her ear, and held out her hand to her teacher. Then looking up with a bright smile, she whispered, “I’m so happy. Tell mother, I’m going to Jesus, and I hope she’ll come too.” She made an effort to say, “He shall gather the lambs, with His arm,” and then with one little sigh, turning her head on the pillow, she was gently gathered into the fold of the Good Shepherd above.
But little Bessie’s life had not been without effect on her stepmother. Soon after the child’s death, she began to read, in earnest; the Bible Bessie had loved so dearly, and as soon as her little twins were old enough, she brought them to the school, that they too, might learn about Jesus and the way to heaven. She often grieved over her unkind treatment of little Bessie, but her kind friend, Susan Morley, pointed her to the Saviour, and told her that “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin,” and that the Lord does not despise a broken and a contrite heart. And there is good reason to believe that this poor woman was one of those repentant sinners, over whom there is “joy in heaven.” Dear little Bessie, her life was a short one, but in it, she brought forth fruit to the glory of God, and we can now say of her, that being dead, she yet speaketh. Heb. 11:44By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4).
ML 03/28/1909