I SHOULD like to tell you, dear English children, about my class of girls in Spain, They were all little ones, and it was a great pleasure for me to teach them. I think I can see them now, as they used to sit before me, each in her little print skirt and jacket, and a colored handkerchief tied round her head. They did not look at all like English children.
When I first went to Spain I did not think of teaching in a Sunday-school, although I missed my former Lord's Day occupation very much, as I had always been accustomed to teach in England. One day the gentleman in whose house I was living said, "Why do you not go to the Calle San G. school?" "I did not know," replied I, "there was one." "Oh, yes," he said, "you will find there Miss M." She was a young Spanish Christian whom I knew. I went the next Sunday, and found two classes of girls and one, very large, of boys. I cannot tell you how much I wished I could teach them. I sat by Miss M., in front of the girls, but I could only say a few words, as I had not been long in the country, and was very ignorant of the language.
Her class consisted of elder girls. One of them was Magdalena. I was pleased to look at her bright eyes and intelligent face. She had been brought to know the sinner's Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, through going to school, and then her father and mother were converted.
The other class was instructed by a young teacher, who afterward left. I wished very much to take that class, but was too timid to do so alone, so I asked Magdalena to help me. But she was not always willing, for which I was sorry, because I am sure, next to prayer and reading God's word, nothing is more helpful to the Christian than to work for Jesus. Try it, dear young Christians, if you have not yet begun.
A thought came into my mind, which proved very helpful to me. I resolved to show them a large Scripture picture, and explain it to them. Perhaps it would be that of Elijah and the ravens, or Daniel in the lions' den. I used to point out the different things in the picture that seemed most interesting, and then ask questions. Verses of Scripture, too, were always repeated that seemed to refer to the subject.
I do not remember that these Spanish children ever gave me any trouble. Some of them were more intelligent than others. Dear little Feliciana listened very attentively. One day I was speaking of the Lord's love, when Feliciana said, "It is more than the love of a mother." I always thought this little one would be a child of God; and since I have returned to England, I have heard that the dear girl has come to Jesus, and that her brother, who was also in the school, has become a preacher of the truth.
Dear little English children, do you love Jesus? You have so many more advantages than these poor little Spaniards. They have not heard so much of the good news as you have, yet some of them have accepted Christ. Do not neglect this great salvation, lest in "the day of judgment" it should be "more tolerable" for these little ones than for you.
“Come to the Saviour, make no delay;
Here in our midst He's standing to-day;
Hear now His accents tenderly say,
'Will you, dear children, come?'"
M. E. T.