ONE cold day in dark and gloomy December, when it was much more pleasant to stay indoors than go out into the streets, and when persons whose business or occupation compelled them to leave their homes, were careful to wrap themselves in warm garments to keep out the cold, Mr. Shepherd, a Glasgow merchant and a decided Christian, having to attend a meeting in town, buttoned up his overcoat, started off on an errand of love and mercy.
Having turned a corner where the lofty buildings afforded shelter from the fierce wind then blowing, his keen eye caught sight of a poor ragged boy huddled up in an angle of the wall, trying to escape from the biting blast; and pitying the poor ragged boy, asked him why he did not run home.
“Home,” ejaculated Charlie, “I have no home.”
“Where is your father!”
“Oh, I do not know; I never saw him; he went away before I was born?”
“Have you no mother either?”
“Yes, I have a kind, good mother. She used to take care of me, wrap me up in her warm shawl, kiss me, fold me in her arms and say how fondly she loved me; but those happy days are gone now. She worked for me as long as she was able, but then she was taken sick, and could not work any longer. Someone sent her to the hospital. I can only see her once a week; she looks so pale and sorrowful, and that makes me feel very miserable. I wish I was a man, then I could work for her, get bread and clothes, and a house to live in, and get mother home from the hospital again, so that I could see her every day.”
“Poor boy! If I give you my card, and tell you how to go, do you think you could find my house?”
Charlie said he would try. Mr. Shepherd then gave him his card, instructed him how to find his home, told him to ring the door bell, and hand the card to the servant who opened it, when he would be asked in and get some food to eat: he was also told to stay until Mr. Shepherd returned home. Charlie was so delighted that a good, kind gentleman had spoken to him, and asked him to go where he was to get something to eat, that he set off, defying the cold. He soon turned the corner, ran to the end of a very long road, crossed a bridge, and there he saw the fine house to which he had been directed.
Charlie looked at the beautiful mansion, and then at his own tattered garments. He quite lost sight of the fact that he had been commanded to go boldly to the door and ring the bell, by the owner of the house, and feared that if he went they would call him, as he had often been called before, a ragged urchin, and tell him to go away. “I will wait till the gentleman comes himself,” said Charlie. He was soon cold, hungry and miserable again; but he dared not go to the door. After waiting a long time, Mr. Shepherd did come at last, but Charlie was now ashamed to be seen, as he had not done what he was asked to do.
He hid himself behind a tree till Mr. Shepherd had passed into the house; he would have run away, only he had no home to, go to, and he did not know what to do. Mr. Shepherd inquired for Charlie as soon as he got home, and was quite surprised to hear that no poor boy had called at the house; but the servant said he had noticed a ragged boy near the house some time ago. The servant was then sent out to seek Charlie, and found him, as Mr. Shepherd had first noticed him,—shivering with cold. He was now quite willing to go in with the servant—it was only the fear of being turned away that prevented him from ringing at first. When brought into the house, Mr. Shepherd said; “What a foolish boy you are. I asked you to ring at the door; had you done this, you would have been warmed and fed by now. You did not believe me.”
“Oh, yes,” said Charlie, “I did, but I was afraid.”
Mr. Shepherd rang a bell for a servant.
Charlie had as much bread, roast beef, and plum pudding as he could eat, and was then seated by the fire to warm himself, while Mr. Shepherd talked to him.
“Charlie,” said Mr. Shepherd, “have you been wondering why I asked you to my house?”
“Yes,” Charlie replied, “nobody has ever been so good to me, except my mother.”
“Well, let me tell you now that it was the affection that you manifested for your poor sick mother that awakened in me a concern for you and her. I mean to help you both if I can, but I must know you better before I can tell what I am to do. You need a warm bath, and clothes to keep out the cold; and we will see about more important concerns after. Charlie, have you ever been taught about God, and Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners?”
Charlie said his mother had often taught him and prayed with him; but he thought God was far away in heaven, and we could not know much about Him till we died.
Mr. Shepherd tried to show him that God is near us always, and hears us when we pray, and answers us too, if we only believe Him; “but your conduct today reminds me forcibly of the way many persons treat the offer of God’s mercy. I asked you to ring at my door, but instead of doing so, you looked at your clothes and thought you were not fit to come in. God offers salvation to all who believe in Jesus; but many do not receive it, they look at their unfitness, instead of taking God at His word; and His word says to every poor sinner, both young and old, rich and poor, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.’”
Selected.
ML 06/03/1900