Part 1.
LITTLE Henry was born in India, which, as you know, is a country very far away from us, over the sea.
The natives of India are in many respects a fine race of people, but, sad to say, most of them are heathen. They do not know the true God, nor do they believe in His Son Jesus Christ, but they worship gods of wood and stone and clay. They also believe that the great river Ganges, which flows through their country is a goddess called Gunga, and that the waters of the river can take away sin.
Henry’s father and mother, however, were not natives of India, but English people, for India is under the supremacy of England, and many English live there. But little Henry never could remember either father or mother, for his father was killed in battle when he was only a few months old, and his mother died shortly afterwards. Before her death she committed her babe to God who has promised to be the “Father of the fatherless,” knowing that He could and would provide for the helpless little one.
As soon as she was dead, Henry was taken to the home of a rich lady, who lived not far off. She gave orders that he should have all he required, but she never suffered. him to give her the least trouble. And who do you think took care of this poor little baby now? Well, God raised him up a faithful, friend. This friend was a man by the name of Boosey, who had lived as a servant, with Henry’s father, for many years. When Henry was a very little baby, this good servant or “bearer,” as he was called in that country, attended to s him night and day, dressed and washed him, fed him and carried him out in his arms, as tenderly as if he had been his own child. He never left his little master, except to get his food, for at night he slept on a mat at the foot of his cot and all day long he was carrying him about or playing with him, or feeding Shim, or putting him to sleep.
Was it any wonder that the poor little orphan loved his bearer, better than anyone else? that the first word he uttered was Boosey, and that he often put his arms round the neck of his faithful friend, and laid his fair little head against his swarthy cheeks.
As Henry grew older he did not learn to speak English, but the language of his bearer, and in every way he acted like a little native, and worst of all, he was never taught anything about the true God, whom his own mother had loved and served, but the native servants told him many stories of their false, gods, all of which he believed.
When Henry was five years old, however, the faithful God to whom his dying mother had committed him, raised him up another friend. His first friend had cared for his body, but this new friend cared for his soul, and which do you think, dear children, is the most important? We may live down here, in this beautiful and yet sorrowful world, for many years, but the longest life must come to an end, and then what? “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The “great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.” Will you stand before that throne? Why not listen now to the voice of Jesus, who says to each child, who has a never dying soul. He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment.”
ML 11/18/1906