LIZZIE'S last school-day had come, and with a merry heart, she tripped from the little cottage in a corner of the wood where she had been brought up by her aunt, to the village school, to take her place as "dux" of the class for the last time, and then say "good bye" to her old teacher who had been a good and faithful friend to her. She was now fifteen years of age, and a lady living near, who, for many years, had taken a warm interest in the orphan girl, had found a nice situation for her in the house of an aged lady, a few miles off from her aunt's. Lizzie was in high glee at the thought of being free from school-books and lessons, and of getting away to see a bit of the world. She little knew the dangers that beset the path of life, especially of one at her age, launched forth on a world unknown, and as she was, without God. The following day she was driven in a neighbor's cart to the station with her traps, to enter on her new place. After all, she could not help letting drop a tear, as she took a last look at the cottage in the wood, with the rose and honeysuckle twining round the door, where her early days had been spent, but a few minutes longer and it was out of sight. Then her thoughts were turned to her new home, wondering what it would be like, and who her fellow-servants would be. An hour brought her there, and a few minutes later, she was seated by the laundry fire, talking to a pleasant-looking maid, under whom she was to serve. Tea over, she was taken to the housekeeper, who told her what her duties would be, and then said she might take a walk round the place and see it, and perhaps M―, the laundry-maid would accompany her. It was a lovely summer evening, and everything seemed to smile upon her. They walked together along the avenue, chatting freely. Lizzie's companion was a believer, a bright one too, who made it her business to live for God, and to speak a word for Christ where-ever she found opportunity. The coming of this new girl had been a subject of prayer with her, and she had earnestly asked God to give her the joy of winning her for Christ if she was unsaved. Now, she was watching for a fitting moment to make the first effort to reach her conscience. "What a pretty place this is" said Lizzie, "I think everybody ought to be happy here." "Yes" replied the maid, "but like everything here, it has its sorrows too. Only the other day a coffin was borne along this very avenue, and laid in the tomb of one who thought he'd live to enjoy the world for many years, but, in the midst of his hopes he was cut down, and I fear he was not thinking much about his soul or eternity." The words had a strange effect on Lizzie, especially that last word, "eternity," seemed to send a shudder through her heart. She never heard anybody but a minister speak about such things before, and that not very often. "I think it’s such a grand thing to be saved and ready to go at any moment," continued the maid, "then come life or death, all is well." "I was just wondering whether you had been converted Lizzie, and I hope you will not be offended at me asking if you are." Lizzie hung her head and said nothing, so the maid went on to say, "it is now several years since the Lord saved me; I daresay I would just be about your age when I was awakened to see myself a sinner, lost and on the way to hell, and soon after I trusted the Lord Jesus and He saved me. There are several of us about the house converted, and we have some very happy times. I hope we may soon have you to join us, as one of the Lord's redeemed ones." Little more passed that night, but Lizzie felt extremely unhappy. It was not the strange place, nor the new surroundings: but the thought of that coffin passing down the avenue had raised a new thought within her breast. What if she should die and be carried down next? It was possible, and then the words of her fellow-servant about "Eternity" came up and troubled her. She slept little that night, and the following day there seemed a load upon her heart. The maid had a text-card fastened above the fireplace with a verse or two of Scripture on it, and underneath were the words, "Where will you spend eternity?" Every time that Lizzie passed the card her eye fell on these words, and at every look they seemed to take a firmer hold upon her, until the all-absorbing theme of her thoughts by day and night were, where she would go if she died, and what her portion would be in eternity. Such were the effects under God's blessing, of that simple, earnest testimony of the converted laundry-maid. Lizzie was awakened; thoroughly aroused to see her need, her danger, and her doom, but how to escape it she knew not. Poor girl! it was a legal gospel she had been accustomed to hear. She had been earnestly counseled to "say her prayers" night and morning, and to "go to Church on Sunday." Further than these, she had no idea of the way of life, but God who loved her had deliverance near.
"Will you go with me to a meeting to-night, Lizzie," asked the laundry-maid, a few mornings after Lizzie's arrival, "a servant of the Lord is coming to preach in one of the cottages not far off and several of us are going, I thought you might like to go. You will hear the glad tidings and maybe you will be saved. I'm sure you will, if you believe what you hear." Lizzie gladly consented, and that night along with her fellow-servant and several others from the house, she sat listening to the gospel. God had been working, and in the cottage that night there was a company of new-born souls, warm in their early love. At the close, several shook hands with Lizzie and asked her if she was saved. One bright girl took her arm and walked off speaking to her about Christ. They entered one of the cottages and sat down side by side; the young believer pointing, her to several portions of the Word. No one can better lead a seeking soul to Christ than a young believer, full of the love of Christ, and rejoicing in the fullness of the Gospel, and so this dear girl was used to win Lizzie's soul for Christ. John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)-that anchorage for many a doubt-tossed soul, was used of God, as the word to give her light, and to effect the second birth. She heard, believed, and could say, "I have everlasting life," as God has written. What a journey back to the house! The woods rang again with the sound of praise, and many a night after, as that little company walked home, rejoicing over sinners born of God. Lizzie's new place was now the sphere of her service for her new Master, and she herself was a new creature. The first visit to the old home had joyful tidings, and many heard, and since then some hove turned to the Lord. Years have rolled on and Lizzie is now a woman, a follower of the Lord, and often and again does she thank Him for saving her in early days, as she entered her new place.
Dear reader have you been converted to God, or do you rush on along life's path, forgetful of death and the judgment. Both will surely come, it may be soon, and in an hour when you least expect them.