The golden sunlight of a beautiful evening was shedding its!a.st rays over a clump of pretty trees, with their many-tinted leaves, at the end of which was a little arbor, in which two young girls sat in earnest conversation.
“I wonder if we shall ever meet again, Chrissy,” said the younger of the two, as she clasped her companion’s hand, and looked earnestly into her face, her pretty blue eyes filled with tears. “Mother said I might give you this little book as a reembrace of the happy days we have spent together here, with best wishes from us all, and in the earnest hope that we may meet again, if not on earth, in heaven.”
The evening village bell rang as the words were spoken, and that was the signal for Chrissy to go home, so after a fond embrace and a kiss, they parted.
Chrissy was the daughter of a city merchant, whose family had been staying during the summer in a lovely country house, not far from which was the house of the manager on the estate, whose only, daughter Rosie had been invited by Chrissy’s mother, to come and keep her company. The girls had become fast friends, and now they were about to be parted for a time, as Chrissy’s family were about to return to their city home.
Rosie was an earnest little Christian; she had been truly converted, and she did not hide her light beneath a bushel. Whenever she had opportunity, she put before Chrissy the Gospel, and sought to show by her life and ways the real brightness and happiness of a true Christian. Chrissy’s parents went to church, but beyond that they professed nothing, and I fear they neither knew themselves, nor could tell their child, of Him who came to save the lost.
Rosie presented her companion with a nice volume of gospel stories, that night as they sat in the arbor, and resolved that she would specially remember Chrissy every night in prayer to God, that He would save her little companion in the far-off city. Weeks went past, and Rosie only had heard once from Chrissy and that was simply a note, telling of their arrival. She wondered what had become of her, and feared she must either have forgotten her, or that she was ill. At last the postman brought a letter for Rosie, addressed in Chrissy’s own hand-writing. She eagerly opened it, and as she read first page, was sad to learn that Chrissy had been laid aside for many days with, a severe illness. It went on to say, say through reading Rosie’s “gift book of gospel stories, and the words of Jesus as they are found in the Gospel by John,” she had “found peace, salvation and joy and could now join with her in singing,
“Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other name for me,
There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus found in Thee.”
That joy continues still, and Chrissy goes on following the Lord and seeking to testify for Him, among worldly friends.
Dear boys and girls, how is it with you? Are you sure that you are safe for eternity? Can you look forward to the world beyond, and to the meeting with God without fear? If you are not saved; if you have not heard the voice of the Son of God as Saviour, you must one day hear the voice of the Judge.
“When the solemn trump has sounded,
Heaven and earth shall flee away.
All who hate Him, must, confounded
Hear the summons of that day—
Come to judgment! Come away!”
Or come to Jesus, now.
ML 06/23/1940