MARIE and Anne were the children of English parents, but they had lived in Spain from their early childhood. When Marie was nearly seventeen, and Anne fourteen, their mother brought them over to England to be instructed in the language, and they were placed under the care of a christian lady, who lost no time in teaching them to read; and as they were very anxious to get on with their studies, and were withal very persevering, they made rapid progress, and were soon rewarded by being able to read easy English books.
But there were more important things for them to learn than reading English. They knew scarcely anything about "the old, old story of Jesus and His love." Their friend often told them beautiful stories from the Bible, to which they listened very attentively, but they seldom asked any questions, and were very silent as to their soul's condition. Yet in after days Marie told her teacher how wretched she used to feel at that very time, for a deep longing to know the pardon of all her sins, and to have the certainty of going to heaven, had taken possession of her.
One evening Marie was walking along a public road, when the sound of singing attracted her attention. Being extremely fond of music, she stood still to listen. The sound came from a hall at the road-side, where a company of people were assembled to hear the gospel preached. “How sweet it sounds!" she said, and scarcely knowing what she was doing, she stepped inside the doorway. The congregation was singing—
"Above the waves of earthly strife,
Above the ills and cares of life,
Where all is peaceful, bright, and fair,
My home is there, my home is there! "
“Ah!” thought Marie, “that home is heaven, but it isn't my home. How I wish I knew I was on my way to heaven!" But the last verse of the hymn was being sung, and the young girl's ear was bent close to the door that she might not lose one word.
“Beyond the bright and pearly gates,
Where Jesus, loving Saviour, waits,
Where all is peaceful, bright, and fair,
My home is there, my home is there!
My beautiful home, my beautiful home!
In the land where the glorified ever shall roam,
Where saints so bright wear crowns of light,
My home is there, my home is there!
The singing was over; the listener had not lost a word, and as she listened, a deeper and more earnest longing to go to that beautiful home, to be with the Lord Jesus, filled her heart.
While Marie stood against the door, it suddenly opened, and the door-keeper invited her in, so she went in and sat down.
"That night," said she, afterward, "will ever be remembered by me as a night of nights, for 'twas then that the Lord Jesus spoke peace to my soul. I saw for the first time in my life the meaning of His name of Saviour—wondrous name to me a sinner! I knew my need, and felt His power to save. What I could not do for myself, He did for me, and in such a way as to glorify His God and Father. Before I left that hall, I, too, could say, My home is there!'"
Marie's heart was filled with praise to God for His goodness to her.
“He watched over me," she would say, "all the while I was in Spain, where my mind was so dark about Himself; and then He brought me to England for the very purpose, I believe, of opening my blind eyes, and turning me from darkness to light-from the power of Satan to God."
Anne was not long in discovering a very great change in her sister, and the Lord opened her heart, too, giving her a desire to know the same precious Saviour. Neither was she long left in doubt as to His willingness to bless her. Her tears of joy, and her earnest manner when questioned as to her trust in the Lord Jesus, told as plainly as her words that her soul was saved.
“I believe I'm saved," she said, "because God's word says, Whosoever believeth on Him, hath everlasting life,' and God does mean what He says."
“True, true," said we, " and no one can ever be lost who simply believes God."
Our dear young friends became very anxious that their parents should know the Lord Jesus, too, and much prayer was offered to God on their behalf. Long letters were written to their father, and often did they entreat their mother to hearken to the gospel, which had been such good news to them.
Our young readers will be interested in hearing that Marie and Anne had never seen snow, though they had seen groves of orange trees, bearing leaf, flower, and fruit at the same time, and many strange and lovely sights in sunny Spain.
One winter day the snow fell in great abundance. Anne clapped her hands with delight, and exclaimed, " Oh, he w white, how lovely”
Marie was more thoughtful; she said— “I like to look at it; it is so very beautiful; but I love to think that a sinner washed in the blood of Jesus is whiter than snow. We saw no snow in Spain, and we did not know our Saviour there; now, how different! We can say now, Unto Him that loves us, and has washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.'"
When I last heard of Marie and Anne, they were bright and happy, waiting, like the Thessalonian saints, for the Son of God from heaven, and while awaiting His return to take them to His beautiful home, still praying for their parents' conversion, and seeking in many ways to please Him who has done such great things for them. E. E. S.