ELIZA, Peter, John and little Freda were alone a few clays while their father was away for work. The mother had died a few months before, and Eliza took care of all as best she could. Their small home was on the side of a mountain, as is often built by the Swiss, and not near any other.
It was springtime and the valley below was green, but the rocks and bushes above were still covered with snow.
After supper the boys shut in the goats and gathered sticks for the fire, while Eliza put Baby Freda in her cradle, at dark all were ha bed.
While the children slept, a great heap, of snow slid don tile mountain, covering over the small cottage, so there was not even the chimney to be seen!
When the children awoke it was so very dark in the rooms they thought it must still be night, but little Freda cried, and the boys said they were hungry, so Eliza lighted the lamp, and started a fire to warm the milk, but the smoke came into the room; the boys tried to open the door, but could push it only a crack and snow fell into the room; and the same, when they tried to open the windows.
The light of their small lamp was going out for want of oil. So the children could only sit in the dark and wait, but it got no lighter.
Eliza told the boys she had heard how snow sometimes covered houses; they tried again to push open the door, but could not, so could only hope for their father to find them. They sang and amused the little one as well as they could. Eliza told the boys Bible stories, and found bread and cheese for all when hungry.
At last they again went to bed again they awoke, and all was just as dark.
But at last there was a dim noise; soon it was louder; then they heard shouts, the boys answered. The sound seemed near the door; soon they could push it open and there was their father, shovel in hand!
When he had found his house covered with snow he had gone for a shovel and help, and he and a neighbor had worked several hours, fearing also the roof might have broken by the force of the snow. So to see them safe made him happy as they. How glad they were, too, of the daylight!
The boys helped clear away more snow, At last the father sat in the doorway resting and holding little Freda; the boys stood by looking across the valley toward the sunset whose bright colors seemed more beautiful than ever before, because of their long time of darkness.
“What was the verse Mother liked about the King coming in the gates?” asked John. The father did not know, but asked Eliza for their mother’s Bible, and together they found the marked verses,
“Lift up your heads, O, ye gates, even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in,” Psalm 24:7-107Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:7‑10).
The father had learned of the Lord when young, but for a long time had been careless of Him and His Word. That night lie confessed it to the Lord, and afterward always read from the Bible to the children, and made them a happier home.
So Eliza knew their long dark night had brought good. Even serious troubles are used by God to teach people to trust Him. There is to be a time when sorrows will be past.
When you see the gold of a beautiful sunset, you can think of that time which the Swiss children and all who love the Lord Jesus will see. But to enjoy that time we must first here confess Him as our Saviour.
ML 07/25/1937