The Doll That Grew

Hope had a very strange little doll. It was a doll that looked very much like a gingerbread boy—and it was stuffed with hard kernels of corn. You see, Hope lived quite a long time ago, and when she coaxed her mother for a doll her mother had to sit down and make one for her, for there were no stores nearby where she might buy one.

Although it was not a beautiful doll like the one perhaps you have, still Hope loved it very dearly, and played house with her and took her out for walks just like little girls do with their dollies today!

One day Hope and her brother James had a bad quarrel. James had been carving out a pretty little ship and was carefully cutting out one of the masts when Hope bumped into him, knocking the little ship to the floor. Several pieces were broken off, and James in an angry voice cried, "Can’t you watch where you’re going? Look what you did!"

"I don’t care if I did!" answered Hope! Of course she did care, whatever made her say that she wondered? She was so ashamed that she hurried out doors.

"I’ll fix her, I will!—the mean thing!" thought James and just then he noticed her little doll lying on a chair. Picking it up he hurried out another door and made his way to the tool shed where he got a shovel. Then he ran quickly around to the garden, and away down at the end of it where there was soft ground and nothing seemed to be planted he dug a hole and buried the doll!

“There—that’s the end of that! That’ll pay her back for breaking my things," said James to himself. "And nobody will ever know what happened to it!" But James forgot about God! God has said, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper" (Prov. 28:13), and again, "Be sure your sin will find you out!"

Many days went by, and Hope cried many tears, but no one could find the little doll. It seemed to be a mystery that couldn’t be solved—the doll had just vanished! James was not as happy as he had thought he would be either, instead he began to feel he had done a pretty mean thing. Once he even thought of digging the doll up again, but when he thought of the hard time he would have trying to explain how it happened to be so dirty he decided to leave it where it was.

A few days after a rainy spell Mother was out in the garden gathering some vegetables when she noticed a spot of fresh green down at the foot of the garden. "That’s strange," she thought, "there is nothing planted down there."

So she went closer to see—and there, just in the shape of a little doll were green blades of corn growing! The hidden sin was uncovered, just as God’s Word says it will be.

Sin hidden in the heart will just as surely be uncovered one day too, and oh!—what a sad day it will be for all who have not trusted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Why not, right today, believe on Him "In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:14).

Sandy’s Rescue

Ann was playing on the railroad track not far from her house. It was fun to jump from one wooden tie to another, and then to try to walk up on the tracks without losing her balance. Her little dog Sandy was playing with her, too.

Sandy did not know why Ann thought it was so much fun to try to walk on the tracks without losing her balance and falling off, but he was barking and having a good time because he liked to be with Ann.

Ann’s mother was busy in the basement washing clothes, and did not know that her little girl was playing in such a dangerous place.

"Toot! Toot!" Away in the distance a train was coming, but Ann was having so much fun that she did not hear it. "Toot! Toot!" it whistled again as it came nearer; and it began to clang a big bell to warn Ann to get off the tracks.

Sandy heard it first and quickly scooted off the tracks. Then Ann looked up and saw the big engine coming down upon her with all its noise and smoke. Oh! how it frightened her! Instead of running away Ann was so frightened that she just could not move!

The engineer was trying to stop the big train as fast as he could, but he knew that he would not be able to stop soon enough. So he whistled and whistled, and rang his bell. But still poor little Ann just stood upon the track with her eyes wide with fear!

Then, just in time, before the big engine struck her, something else fairly flew through the air and knocked her away, sending her rolling and tumbling down the gravelly bank!

It was her faithful little playmate—Sandy! Sandy had just reached her in time, for before he himself could jump away from the tracks the train bumped him, and sent him rolling down the bank after Ann. But the brave little dog was not badly hurt for he only had a few bruises.

How Ann loved Sandy for saving her from such a dreadful death!

Have you heard what Someone else had done to rescue you? God’s awful judgment upon sin is death—everlasting death and punishment in hell! And oh, we all deserve to die, for we all have sinned! But the Lord Jesus loved us so that He came and took God’s punishment for our sin before it could fall upon us. The Lord Jesus died that we might live forever!

Have you been "rescued" yet? "The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is His ear heavy that it cannot hear." (Isaiah 59:1).

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36).

Fritz, and the Prairie Fire!

Fritz was the little three year old boy who lived in a "soddy." A "soddy" is a house made of chunks of dirt and grass. Except for the fields his father had plowed and planted in corn and wheat there was only prairie grass as far as anyone could see in every direction. Fritz and his father and mother lived a long time ago in the early days of Nebraska.

One day while Fritz was outdoors playing, his father came running to the house shouting, "Fire! There’s a prairie fire coming this way! Come and help me quickly!"

Mother rushed to the door, and away to the east she could see smoke rising. Even in the moment she watched it seemed to come closer.

"Fritz! Oh! where is Fritz?" Mother called, but there was no answer. "He was playing on the step with his doll a moment ago. Fritz!" she called again.

"Find him quickly and then come and help me build back fires. There’s not a moment to lose!" Father called.

Mother began calling and hunting frantically about the house, the barn and shed; but there was no sign of little Fritz. The clouds of smoke were coming closer swiftly. If little Fritz were not found soon he might be trapped in the terrible fire! Mother prayed as she ran and called, for every moment was precious.

Running to the pastures she climbed upon the gate so she could see as far as possible in every direction. Was that a stone over to the left? Climbing down she ran to see, and there was Fritz, sound asleep in the tall grass with his little home-made doll in his arms.

With tears of thankfulness Mother picked up sleepy Fritz in her arms and ran to the house. Then Mother and Father fought the prairie fire until finally the danger was past. The fields were black and still smoldering on every side as they knelt and gave thanks to God for His deliverance.

Many boys and girls are in greater danger than Fritz was in: do you believe that? The sad thing is that they do not know it! They are sound asleep in their sin!

If they do not awaken to their danger and take the Lord Jesus as their Savior they will find themselves someday in the lake of fire, receiving everlasting punishment for their sins.

Oh listen, "Awake thou that steepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Eph. 5:14).

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (punishment); but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

A Phone Call From Daddy!

Ruth’s birthday was a very happy day from beginning to end! She was four years old, and Mother had a birthday party for her—the first real birthday party she had ever had!

Eight little friends, all dressed in their best clothes, and with big smiles on their faces had knocked on her door. Ruth and her Mother invited them in, and my! what fun they all had! They played, "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," "Hide the Thimble," and they had dropped clothes pins into a milk bottle to see who could get the most in.

Then there were presents to open, and before they went home they had ice cream and cocoa, and a big cake with four lighted candles on it! When every one saw the cake they began to sing, "Happy birthday to you!" to Ruth!

"Did you have a nice birthday, Ruth?" Mother asked as Ruth was getting ready for bed that night.

"Oh, yes, Mommy!" Ruth answered. "I want to have another birthday real soon!"

Mother laughed as she said, "You’ll have to wait a little while I’m afraid!"

"But when is Daddy coming home, Mother?" Ruth went on. "I wanted Daddy to be here for my birthday so much!"

"I know you did, dear," Mother answered, "and I know Daddy would like to have been here too, but you know he is a long, long way away, having meetings and preaching to people about the Lord Jesus so that they may be saved."

Just then the telephone rang, and someone asked if he might speak to Ruth! Ruth was a little frightened but she said, "Hello!"

And there was Daddy’s voice talking to her, just as though he were right beside her, instead of hundreds of miles away! Little Ruth was so happy and excited that her voice just wouldn’t work right! It made funny little squeaky sounds when she tried to answer Daddy! Happy tears started rolling down her cheeks, and when Daddy finally said, "Good bye!" Ruth threw her arms around her Mother’s neck and laughed and cried all at once!

As Ruth was tucked into bed she felt happy all over, for Daddy’s phone call had been the nicest present of all, and it had almost made it seem as though Daddy had been there after all!

Boys and girls, there is Someone who wants to be your heavenly Father! "As many as received Him (the Lord Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12).

And did you know that our heavenly Father loves to talk to us, even more than Ruth’s father wanted to talk to her? Our whole Bible is filled with the wonderful things God has to say to us! Let us not forget to take time each day to read our Bibles, for in that way we will be listening to God’s voice!

"Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart!" (Jer. 15:16).

What Dan Feared!

Dan was a brave boy! It seemed as though there was nothing that he was afraid of!

Every morning Dan rode to school on a pony called a "buckskin bronco." He was a very pretty pony, but was full of mischief, and often tried to buck off his rider. Sometimes Dan would get a nasty fall, but he would never give up, and finally he became such a good rider that he could even ride standing up on his pony’s back!

The other children admired Dan and wished that they could ride that way too, but they were afraid to try.

Sometimes Dan would climb the windmill on their farm, and then, while the other children stood watching and holding their breath he would catch the windmill’s tail and swing out over space, far above their heads! It made the others dizzy just to watch him, and to think how dreadful it would be if he should fall!

But there was something that brave Dan was very much afraid of, even though he was such a fearless boy! I will tell you about it.

On Sundays Dan was expected to go to Sunday school and the gospel meeting with the rest of the family. It was not so bad just to go to the meetings, but while there a Christian would sometimes come up to Dan and would ask him a question. And, oh! how Dan dreaded and feared that special question, for this is what it was, "Are you saved, Dan?"

Sometimes when he was walking down a street he would see someone that he knew was a Christian coming his way, and he would quickly turn a corner, or cross the street, for he was so afraid to meet anyone who might ask him that question!

Dan grew very troubled about his sins, and began to long with all his heart to be able to answer that question, "Yes, I am a Christian, too!" but though he wanted to be saved he still feared meeting anyone who would talk to him about it!

Perhaps no one knew of Dan’s fear and longing, but the Savior knew about it, and was seeking him! I wonder if any boy or girl who is reading my story just now would be afraid to answer my question if I should ask you, "Are you saved?"

Then one day Dan just believed what God has said in His Word, that the Lord Jesus took his place, and died for his sin! Then a wonderful thing happened—Dan no longer feared that question! Instead, he was so glad when anyone would ask him, for it gave him a chance to say, "YES! I am saved!" "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," and you too, will be so glad to answer that question with a happy, "YES!"

"Stumped!"

"Bet you can’t jump the creek!" Will challenged Paul.

The boys were on their way home from school, and were enjoying a lively game of ‘Stump the Leader.’

"Just watch me and see!" Paul took a short run—then a flying leap—and SPLASH! The boys shouted with laughter to see their leader ‘stumped,’ and a very wet Paul climbed out over the slippery rocks.

Paul laughed too, for he was a good sport. But his face grew sober as he wondered what Mother would say! Then he remembered something he had forgotten in the fun of the game they had been playing—Mother had asked him to hurry straight home that night to help her. He was the oldest of five children, and Mother often needed his help. Now today he not only would be late, but soaking wet.

So it was that a sheepish Paul slipped quickly into the kitchen and up the back stairs to his room while his mother was in another room.

"What makes you so late, Paul?" she asked a few moments later when he appeared in the kitchen again, wearing dry overalls, but with suspiciously damp hair.

"Oh, the teacher asked me to stay and wash blackboards," Paul lied.

"Why didn’t you explain that your Mother needed you tonight? I’m sure someone else could have helped."

At the supper table Paul could not look at his father. Somehow whenever Father’s eyes were upon him he felt just miserable—it seemed as though he surely must know about the lie he had told!

"Why aren’t you eating, Paul?"

"I feel sort of sick," Paul answered. It was true, too, for his guilty conscience had taken away his appetite. Excusing himself, he went upstairs and crawled into bed.

Lying in bed the words on a motto upon the wall faced him, "THOU GOD SEEST ME"!

The motto had been a gift from his father a short time ago, and Paul had proudly hung it over the foot of his bed. But now the words seemed dreadful, and climbing out of bed he turned it to the wall so he could not read it!

But it did not help, for now the words were written upon his mind, "THOU GOD SEEST ME"! Pulling the covers over his head wouldn’t shut them out either!

Finally he could stand it no longer. Slipping out of bed he knelt and told the Lord all about the sin in his heart that he knew He had already seen. As Paul prayed, the Lord reminded him that it was for his sin He had died upon the cross, and, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out"! (John 6:37).

Paul was not ashamed of his happy tears, as believing God’s Word, he received the Lord Jesus as his Savior! After a few moments he hurried down stairs to confess his lie to his mother and father, and to tell them how the Lord Jesus had saved him.

That night a happy family rejoiced together because of the words of the motto, "THOU GOD SEEST ME"!

The Stolen Candy Eggs

Aunt Edith loved to plan surprises for the three little sisters who often visited her. One Easter Sunday afternoon she invited them over to her house. When they had taken off their coats she said, "There is a basket of candy eggs hidden somewhere in this room for each one of you! You may begin hunting for them right away, and we will see who can find theirs first!"

What fun it was! This way and that they ran, looking under the couch, in the corners, behind the big clock, and oh—just everywhere!

"Oh, see! I have found mine!" cried Ruth, "Here is my name written with crinkly white frosting on the big chocolate egg!"

"And here is mine, inside the sewing basket!" called Louise. "Oh, how pretty it is!"

And then, last of all the smallest sister, Betty, found her basket tucked away behind the folds of the velvet curtains. After thanking Aunt Edith the three little girls ran happily home to show Mother and Daddy their lovely baskets.

And my, how good the big chocolate egg tasted too! Louise and Ruth took little tiny nibbles to make theirs last a long time, but Betty enjoyed hers so much she ate it all at once. After it was gone she was sorry that she had been in such a hurry, for it was hard to see the other girls still enjoying theirs!

The next day Louise and Ruth still had quite a bit of their candy eggs left. Before running out to play they each took a little bite, and then laid them carefully away. Betty stood watching and wishing, until a very wicked thought came into her mind! When she was sure her sisters were safely outside she took their eggs and ran quickly upstairs. After thinking a moment she slipped into Mother’s bedroom, and hid them far under the bureau.

When Louise and Ruth discovered that their eggs were gone they looked and hunted for them everywhere, but could not find them! Betty pretended to hunt too, but when her sisters did not see her she would slip into Mother’s room and quickly take a few bites and then run out to play.

But God has said, "Be sure your sin will find you out," and again, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper," and that was just what happened to little Betty! On Saturday, Mother was busily cleaning her bedroom, and as she swept under her bureau she found the last little scraps of the candy eggs!

Then what an unhappy time followed for Betty! After her punishment she began to realize what a shameful thing it is to be a thief, and a liar, and she realized that she needed to be saved from her sin. Then about a year later she learned that it was for her sin that the Lord Jesus had died, and she accepted Him as her Savior. Now she is truly happy for she knows that all her sins are forever washed away!

"Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon Him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

The Wild Rabbit

One day when Dick and Phil were playing "hide and seek" in a patch of tall swamp grass they stumbled upon a mother rabbit and her little baby. In a flash the mother rabbit was gone, but in a few moments the boys caught the little one.

How frightened the little fellow was as they held him carefully in their hands! "What’s the matter, little fellow?" Dick asked. "We won’t hurt you. We are going to take you home and make a little house for you, and feed you, and take good care of you. You’ll make a dandy little pet!"

Hurrying home, the boys brought the rabbit to proudly show to their mother. Then they made a small cage and placed lettuce and carrots and a dish of water inside. Then they put the baby rabbit in his new home. Anxiously they watched to see if he would eat some food, but he scurried into a corner and huddled into a tiny ball.

"Perhaps you’d better leave him alone for awhile," Mother advised. "Maybe by tomorrow he’ll eat a bit."

Two days went by and the little rabbit hardly stirred from his corner. He looked sick and miserable with fear. Though hungry he would not touch the food the boys held out coaxingly to him. Finally Mother said, "Boys, I think that your rabbit is going to die unless you take him back to the swamp and to his mother. He has a wild nature and just cannot live in your cage."

The boys hated to give up their new pet, and argued with their mother that they could give him a much better home than he would have in the woods filled with dangers. "Why," Phil said, "he would make an easy dinner for a hawk, or an owl! A weasel might get him—lots of things could happen to him. But he would be safe with us!"

But Mother answered, "That is right, but just the same you must take him back or he will die soon. He has a wild nature and cannot appreciate the good things you would like to do for him. Perhaps the little fellow can teach us a lesson, boys! God has lovingly prepared a home for us in heaven. Our heavnely home is furnished with everything to bring greatest delight and joy, but we in our sinful natures could never appreciate that home!

“If God could allow us to come into His presence, and into heaven in our sinful natures we would be most miserable. In John 3:7 the Lord Jesus says, ‘Ye must be born again.’ When we receive the Lord Jesus as our Savior we receive a new nature.

“Now take the rabbit back to the exact spot where you found him and perhaps his mother will find him again." So the boys obeyed their mother and soon the rabbit was at home again in the tall grass of the swamp.

Dick and Phil remembered the lesson the little rabbit taught them, and today they both have "new natures" for they have been "born again,"... HAVE YOU?

The Squirrel's Bridge

One day an artist sat sketching in a lovely woodsy spot. Before him was a pleasant little stream, and all about him were trees; pine trees, birch trees, oaks and maples.

Now and then he would look up from his picture and would rest a few moments enjoying the songs of the birds, the squirrels at play, and even the wood mice that grew brave enough to scurry close by his feet.

One time a mother squirrel with her little one caught his attention. What fun they were having! It seemed to be a game of "tag" as they chased one another from tree to tree. Coming to the edge of the stream the mother squirrel jumped lightly across, and then waited for her baby to follow.

The young squirrel ran to the edge of the stream as his mother had done, but there he hesitated. To his eyes the stream seemed far too wide and he was afraid. Mother squirrel chattered coaxingly and even scolded! Several times she jumped back and forth to show her little one how easy it was, for the stream was very narrow. But the frightened little fellow only ran up and down the bank, hunting for an easier way to cross.

Finally the mother found a way! With keen interest the artist watched as he saw her tugging at a branch that seemed too heavy for her to manage. Soon she had it in the water, and pushing with all her strength she forced it to touch the other side. In a twinkling the baby squirrel had crossed the frail bridge and was at his mother’s side.

As the squirrels disappeared into the woods the artist thought of One Who at great cost had found a way—a way to bridge the great gulf that separated us from God.

The mother squirrel’s love prompted her to find a way to bridge the stream. But, oh, how great the love that caused our Savior to be willing to make a way to bridge the distance between poor sinners and a holy God!

To make a way our Savior shed His blood on the cruel cross, for, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). No other bridge would do, no other way, for He has said, "I am the Way" (John 14:6).

If you have not yet done so, won’t you receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior and cross upon the wonderful bridge He has made?

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:13).

Before the Storm

Bruce and Reggie were the best of pals! They liked to do everything that they could together. Reggie was four years old, and Bruce was three years old.

One day Reggie said, "Let’s hunt lions and bears and things!"

"Okay!" Bruce answered bravely. “They’re in the woods, ‘course, so that’s where we’ll have to go to hunt ‘em."

Soon the two little chums were walking softly through the woods just outside of town with big stick guns over their shoulders.

"Bang! Bang! I betcha I got that squirrel" bragged Reggie.

"But where are the lions and bears?" Bruce wanted to know.

"C’mon! We’ll find ‘em. They’re in the thickest part of the woods," answered Reggie.

After a while, the boys discovered that they were hungry, and decided to go home. Turning about they started back the way they had come. After walking what seemed a very long way Reggie stopped, and said, "That’s funny! There’s getting more woods all the time! Maybe we ought to go this way." So they turned to another direction.

"I’m getting awfully tired. Aren’t we almost home?" finally Bruce asked.

"Whee! I’m tired too!" Reggie answered as they both sat down on the ground to rest. "I didn’t know we came so far."

The two boys sat leaning against a log, and before they knew it they both fell sound asleep.

At home telephones were ringing, the boys’ mothers were crying, and policemen were asking questions. The yard and street were full of friends and neighbors getting ready to start out with the policemen to hunt for Bruce and Reggie.

Finally two hundred and fifty men started out to find the lost boys. When they reached the woods they spread out into a long line and carefully began their search. Almost an hour went by when from the thickest part of the woods came a shout that soon passed along the line to every man—"FOUND!"

Bruce and Reggie were still sound asleep when two big men picked them up and started to carry them home. As they hurried homeward the sky was filling with dark clouds, and the wind was beginning to warn of a real storm coming. Less than an hour after the boys were found, a blizzard swept down upon the woods and town. But Reggie and Bruce were safe at home with their mothers!

Another storm is coming—a very terrible storm! It is God’s judgment upon those who have not believed His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! Like Bruce and Reggie, many boys and girls do not realize that they are lost in their sin, and God’s Word speaks of them as being asleep in their sin.

How wonderful that Reggie and Bruce were found before the storm broke! And, oh! it was less than an hour before the storm that they were found! Have you been found? God’s storm of wrath and judgment may be less than an hour away! "Awake thou that sleepest!" (Eph. 5:14).

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Heb. 2:3).

"The Bible Tells Me So!"

"Jesus loves me, this I know, For the Bible tells me so."

MAE was singing her favorite song as she played happily on the doorstep. Suddenly she stopped singing, and sat quietly thinking.

"Mother!" she called in a few moments. "May I have a needle and thread?"

"Why, yes, dear! But what do you want a needle and thread for?"

"Oh, I have to sew!" Mae answered.

A little later mother peeped at her daughter busy with her sewing, her little fingers clumsily trying to do their best. As she worked she was still singing her song to herself,

"Jesus loves me, this I know, For the Bible tells me so."

"You are such a busy little girl today," Mother said, smiling.

"Yes, I am," answered Mae. "I have to sew because the Bible tells me sew," and she sang the line of her song to explain it to her mother.

Are you smiling as you read of Mae’s mistake? I wonder if we are as anxious to do what the Bible tells us to do as Mae was, even though she was mistaken?

"The Bible tells me so!"

What are some of the things the Bible tells me? "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found" (Isa. 55:6). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

For boys and girls who are saved, it says many things, "Draw nigh unto God." "Keep thyself pure." "Children, obey your parents in the Lord." "In everything give thanks," and many other things.

When you sing "Jesus loves me" again, remember little Mae who was so eager to do what the Bible told her to do!

"Jesus loves me, this I know

For the Bible tells me so!

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak, but He is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so!"

A Serious Mistake!

One evening Helen was whistling gaily as she came up the path of their summer cabin, carrying a pail of milk. It was quite dark—so dark that she could scarcely see Nip and Tuck, the fluffy kitten twins that came tumbling down the path to meet her.

Laughingly she picked up Nip, the first kitten to reach her. In a few seconds the other kitten was beside her too.

"Now, how am I to carry you both, and the pail of milk too?" Helen asked aloud as she put down her pail and put out her hand toward the second kitten.

Suddenly she realized that there was something strange about the kitten. Even in the dark he did not seem just like Tuck. Drawing her hand back quickly she looked at him carefully. The little animal close beside her on the path moved a little, and Helen could see how bushy his tail was, and yes!—he had white stripes down his back!

"Oh, Oh! Mr. Skunk, I hope you’ll be polite enough to excuse us!" thought Helen. She held her breath as she carefully picked up her pail, backed away a few steps and then gave the little woods kitten a wide circle as she passed him. When she glanced back he had disappeared in the dark.

"Was that ever a mistake to make!" she told her mother a few moments later. "I thought surely it was the kitten, and oh! I came so close to picking him up! Just think if I had!"

Many funny things happen, and often sad things too, when something is mistaken for something else. Perhaps you could tell me of something you have mistaken, too, if I were able to ask you. Let’s think for a moment of a serious mistake that many are making every day!

Sometimes boys and girls seem like Christians when they are not! Do you know what I mean? Perhaps they go to Sunday School, try to be obedient to their parents, play fair with other children, and try to help others when they can. Perhaps they fool almost everyone into thinking that they really are saved, but down in their hearts they know that they are not what they seem to be at all. They know that they are sinners, and God knows it too. Are you one of these?

Perhaps you have even tried to make yourself think that you are all right and tried not to listen to the voice that tells you that you need the Savior. Remember, "Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

The Weasel and the Owl

A scream startled me one day as I sat in a little cabin in the north woods. The scream came from somewhere very close, and sounded so like a frightened child. Looking about outside to see where it had come from I found a beautiful big, white snow-shoe rabbit lying just a few feet from the cabin. He was dead, but still warm, and at first I could see nothing about him that had caused his death.

Then I noticed two tiny red spots just behind one ear, and I knew who the murderer had been—it was the evil little weasel, called Kagax, by the natives. Kagax is truly a murderer, for he does not kill just for food, but to satisfy his lust for killing. If we were able to follow him upon one night’s hunt we would find him leaving a trail of death behind him, here a squirrel, there a nest of wood mice, a brooding mother bird and each egg broken—not to eat, but just to destroy. Again we might find him wriggled down amongst the four or five still warm bodies of young rabbits he had killed by biting through the spine, tasting only a drop or two of the blood, while he waited for the unsuspecting mother Hare to return. A partridge, another rabbit, a bull frog, a nest of young woodpeckers—and so on, through the night Kagax would destroy, his tiny eyes glowing red with his thirst for blood.

This wicked little destroyer reminds me of a greater destroyer—one whose sole purpose is to destroy the souls of men and women, boys and girls. "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

But a reckoning day comes for many a little Kagax. Heavy with the blood he has eaten, his feet no longer glide noiselessly. They might rustle the leaves, or break a twig. And should a sharp sound reach the ears of the great horned owl, in an instant a huge shadow would sweep down and hover over the sound.

Crouching beneath a fir tip for shelter, Kagax’ red eyes would meet two fierce yellow eyes. As two sets of strong curved claws drop from the shadow, with a snarl Kagax leaps upward. His teeth meet; but no blood follows the bite, only a flutter of soft brown feathers. Then one set of sharp claws grip his head; another set meet deep in his back. Kagax is jerked swiftly into the air, and his evil doing is ended forever.

What a joy it is that we can tell you the good news that there is One greater than the evil destroyer, Satan, too! “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).

We are even more helpless than the rabbit, or the frightened creatures Kagax destroyed. But we too have a Deliverer from above—One under Whose wings we may safely trust! Receive Him as your Savior!

He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust" (Psa. 91:4).

Just Out of Reach

"Git ‘long there, ye ol slow poke!" Sam coaxed, then scolded, and at last even tried pushing! But the mule stood still. In fact he didn’t even seem to notice Sam as much as the flies buzzing about his ears.

"Ah’ll make ye’ stir those bones!" threatened Sam, as he broke a strong switch from a tree and proceeded to use it. But the mule’s dignity seemed unruffled, and Sam almost wondered if his feet were growing to the ground.

Suddenly he chuckled! "Bet ah’ll fix ye’ yet!" and away he went, under a fence and into a corn field. A few moments later he was back with two ears of corn which he fastened to a stick. Climbing upon the mule’s back he held the stick over his head with the corn dangling tantalizingly before the mule’s nose—but just out of reach!

Just as he thought—the mule seemed to awaken! Lifting his head he took a step forward, then another—and another! but the corn was still just out of reach!

Strangely enough, no doubt to the mule, the corn that seemed just one step ahead took him several miles to reach! And not too strangely, Sam was at his destination when the mule finally reached the corn!

Just out of reach—just around the corner—it sometimes seems to us are pleasures and lasting happiness! If we can only make a little more money, possess a few more things, gain a bit of fame—perhaps then happiness will be ours. But as time goes by it is always the same, still just out of reach!

Do not let Satan deceive you! The satisfaction he promises will always be just out of reach. God’s Word says, "the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" (Eccl. 1:8). "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase." (Eccl. 5:10). "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).

Boys and girls, there is joy and satisfaction that you can reach! God himself says, "He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness" (Psa. 107:9).

Receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin, and you will find as David did, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more"! (Psa. 16:11).

"Lost and Found!"

"Scoot! Get out of here!"

An angry voice fell on Nipper’s ears, and a firm hand on a broom handle gave him a sweep that sent him out through the kitchen door, and scrambling down the back steps.

Poor Nipper! A cold rain was falling, and he huddled miserably in the corner of a damp shed.

Nipper was lost! He had followed a little girl home from school who had petted him and seemed friendly. But her mother had not seemed so friendly... no, not at all!

He did not know how he had gotten lost. For two days he had hunted for his home. No one seemed to care for a little lost dog, and the scraps of food that he found were very few. He did not know that at home the four children were crying for him, and had been hunting and calling for him.

That evening the friendly little girl told her daddy about the nice little dog that had followed her home. Then as he was reading the evening paper he suddenly asked, "Was that little dog brown and white?" "Yes, he was!"

"It says here in the ‘Lost and Found’ that someone has lost a little brown and white dog answering to the name of ‘Nipper.’ Let’s go and see if he knows that name. That is, if he is still around somewhere."

"Nipper!" the little girl called.

At once Nipper dashed from the shed, and a kind hand picked him up. After a short, confusing ride in a car, Nipper suddenly found himself at home again with the four children about him, all crying and laughing at once!

I wonder if any lost boys or girls are reading my story today? Did you know that God speaks of the "lost" and "found" in the Bible? Some boys and girls are still lost, but others have been found, and they are so happy!

God describes the lost ones very carefully. He says they have sinned and come short of His glory. They cannot find their way to heaven. They are without hope! The name they must answer to is, "Sinner"!

Someone is looking for the lost boys and girls! "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Receive Him as your Savior, and you will no longer be "LOST," but "FOUND"!

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6).

The Wrong Remedy!

“You have a very sick little girl!" the Doctor said, shaking his head. "However, I had a similar case just a short time ago that I was able to help."

Taking a bottle of medicine from his bag he placed it in the mother’s hand. "This medicine is the only medicine that will help your daughter. You must give it to her during the night exactly as I direct!" Giving the mother very careful directions, the Doctor left with the promise to call the first thing the next morning to see how his little patient was.

The next morning as the Doctor knocked upon the door he was expecting to see the little girl much improved. To his surprise the mother opened the door, sobbing so hard that she could not speak. Without a word she turned and led the way to the little girl’s room.

There upon the bed lay a motionless figure, and the Doctor immediately knew that the girl had died.

For a few moments the Doctor stood with a bowed head. Finally he said to the weeping mother, "I cannot tell you how sorry I am! I was SURE that that medicine would help her, and I fully expected to see her well on the road to recovery this morning. I just cannot understand what happened!"

Dropping his gaze to the stand beside the bed he started as though he could not believe what he saw! There stood his bottle of medicine—UNTOUCHED!

"Oh! Didn’t you understand? Didn’t I make it clear to you that you must give this medicine to your daughter exactly as I told you? That medicine would have saved her life!"

Finally the weeping mother said, "Just after you left yesterday my neighbor came in. She told me her daughter had had the very illness mine seemed to have, and she had found a medicine that had helped wonderfully. So she gave me her medicine, and I have been giving that to my daughter instead of yours all night!"

The Doctor left the house with a heavy heart, for there was nothing that he could say. His remedy had not been taken!

There is a Remedy offered for the sickness of sin. The Great Physician offers today, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

Satan would offer many substitutes for God’s remedy, but no substitute will do. Those who take his substitute will find that their sickness of sin will lead to eternal death!

Take God’s Remedy—and LIVE!

How Mother Caught the Mouse!

"I must catch that mouse!" Mother exclaimed one day.

"Just see how he has been nibbling at this cheese we were going to have for supper!"

So before bed that night Mother carefully set her trap and placed it near the cupboard. Sure enough the next morning there was a fat little mouse in her trap!

"There, now, we shouldn’t have any more trouble with our cheese disappearing," Mother said. But a few days later more cheese was gone again! Thinking of course that it must be another mouse, Mother set the trap once more.

The next morning the trap was empty, but Mother set it again for she felt that she must catch that mouse! Several mornings went by, and no mouse in the trap. Looking into the cupboard, Mother discovered that there was more cheese missing. One whole corner had been nibbled away!

"What a clever little mouse that must be!" Mother thought. "I don’t see how he gets into the cupboard at all. I’ll just have to clean out the whole cupboard and see if he is hiding somewhere inside." So Mother spent a busy day cleaning, but Mr. Mouse was nowhere to be found.

As the days went by the trap was still empty, but the cheese kept on disappearing. One day as she was thinking about it Mother took the cheese down from the cupboard and looked at it carefully. "Mm-m-m! I think I will catch my mouse pretty soon after all!" she said. "Why didn’t I think of that before?"

Calling the children in she said, "I think that I have just about caught my mouse! I have been looking at this piece of cheese, and I see that it hasn’t been nibbled away with sharp little mouse teeth as I thought. Instead it has been one of you! Who has been eating the cheese?"

"I haven’t!" both Jim and Patty said at once.

"How about you, Mary?" Mother asked her smallest daughter who shook her head, "No," but somehow had a very guilty look. "Come here, Mary!" Mary went slowly to Mother and Mother placed the nibbled edge of the cheese against her teeth. The marks exactly fit!

Mary reminds me of many boys and girls who will not admit that they are sinners. They do not see why they need to be saved. But if they will look into God’s Word they will see a picture that exactly fits them! Here is part of it: "There is none that seeketh after God... there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Rom. 3:11-12). And again, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23).

It is not a nice picture, but when we see that it does fit us, and we tell God so, then God has good news for us! Just listen to this, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Rom. 5:8).

Why Louise Was Sorry

"Bed time Louise! Come, and I’ll help you get ready," Mother called.

But Louise ran away and hid for she did not want to go to bed. Mother had to call sharply before she came.

All evening Louise had been naughty. She had been selfish with her toys, and had teased her little sister Grace. When she was finally ready for bed she ran to kiss her Daddy goodnight.

As Daddy put his arm around her he said, "My little girl has been naughty tonight! Louise, did you know that the Lord Jesus had to die because you are so naughty and sinful?"

Louise burst into tears and sobbed as though her heart would break.

Daddy went on, "The Lord Jesus loves you, dear, and wants to save you. Mother and I pray that someday you will believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved. Now run to bed!"

Mother was waiting to sing some choruses and pray with Louise and Grace. They loved to sing motion choruses, and had a good time together. But when Louise started to pray she began to sob.

"What is it, dear?" Mother asked.

At first Louise could not speak for she was sobbing so hard, but finally she said, "Daddy said Jesus had to die because I was naughty!"

"Yes, dear, Jesus died for you because you are naughty. God punished Jesus instead of you for the naughty things you have done. He loves you so much, and that was the only way He could take your sin away."

Louise cried more and more, and finally she said through her tears, "Is Jesus dead now because I was naughty?"

Daddy had come in, and he answered, "No, dear, Jesus is not dead now. God raised Him from the grave and He is living in heaven now. Some day He will take all who love Him up to heaven to live with Him forever."

Louise finally stopped crying and prayed with her Mother. But before she finished she began to sob again.

"Louise! What is the matter now?"

"Oh, Mommy!" she sobbed, "I’m so sorry Jesus had to die because I was naughty!"

Are you sorry Jesus had to die for your sin, too? Why don’t you tell Him so, and receive Him as your Savior?

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).

The Kitten and the Snake

One day I read a story about a brave little kitten that saved a baby’s life. Would you like to hear about it?

Kitty loved a real fight! If he could not coax anything that was alive to fight with him he would pounce on whatever else he could find and have a "pretend" fight! Strangely enough he especially liked to tussle with something long and round like a broom handle, a stick, or a nice piece of fat rope.

One day Baby was playing on the porch floor with Kitty not far away. Suddenly the kitten saw something that was long and round and black! It was not a broom handle or a piece of rope for it was alive and moving across the floor toward the baby!

Kitty perhaps did not know that it was a poisonous snake that would harm the baby, but because he loved a good fight he flew at the long black snake with all his might. The snake was suddenly surprised to find the kitten on his back, biting now here, and now there with sharp teeth, and growling fiercely.

A few seconds later Mother hurried out to the porch in answer to baby’s cries. Quickly she caught the baby up to see if she had been hurt. On one little leg she saw marks of the snake’s fangs, but it was not red nor swollen. Then she saw the kitten which the snake had killed, lying on the porch floor, his little body swollen in many places from the poisonous snake bites.

Then Mother realized just what had happened. The little kitten had not given up the fight though the snake had bitten him again and again, until he was so weak that he could fight no more. Then before leaving the snake had struck once at the baby’s leg, but his poison was gone, so the baby’s life was saved!

When I read this story I thought of One who willingly took the poisonous sting of sin and death and died in my place, the Lord Jesus! The little kitten was brave, but he did not know what he was doing. The Lord Jesus knew the blackness of my sin, and yours. He knew, too, the dreadful punishment that sin deserved, and He willingly took that punishment when He died on the cross that we might live!

Now there is no poisonous sting in death for those who have taken Him as their Savior. There is Heaven, and everlasting joy! O boys and girls, have you trusted Him?

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement (punishment) of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5).

"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

Afraid of the Dark

Margaret was afraid of the dark! In the woods about their little log cabin were wolves and bears, but Margaret was not afraid of them. Often in times of danger Margaret was very brave, but still she was afraid of one thing —and that was the dark!

Margaret had not been afraid until she heard two gospel preachers who were warning those who met for meetings in the nearby schoolhouse, of the darkness of eternity without the Lord Jesus Christ. They told of the joy, light, and gladness of heaven; and they also told of the blackness of hell!

As Margaret listened a great fear grew in her heart. She began to dread going into a dark room, or looking out of a window in the night. Sometimes standing at the top of a stairway she would look down into the darkness below, and think to herself, "Hell is even darker than that! Oh!—how terrible it will be to spend all eternity in such darkness!"

Others did not understand Margaret’s fear of the dark, for they did not know that she was thinking beyond the darkness that she saw, to the blackness of hell.

One evening the preacher spoke from Matthew, chapter twenty-two, telling of the wedding feast, and the loving invitation, "All things are ready: come unto the marriage."

As she listened to the story and heard the excuses that one made after another she wondered just what excuse she would have to offer to God! Her heart answered that she had none!

Then when she heard of the one without the wedding garment on, that was cast out into outer darkness, it was almost more than she could bear. She knew that she, too, deserved to be cast out into that place of darkness, for she was still dressed in the filthy garment of her own sins in God’s sight.

Then the speaker reminded them of the Savior Who had borne the punishment of their sins, and was still calling in love, "All things are ready: come unto the marriage." "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out!" (John 6:37).

As the call of the two "Come’s" reached her heart, Margaret answered simply, "I come!"

Then what joy filled her heart as the old fear of darkness left forever. She knew the promise was true, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out!" (John 6:37).

The Adopted Puppy

"Whatever do you have there?" cried Mother Larson when her two big sons appeared on the doorstep with sheepish smiles on their faces, and holding a squirming bundle.

The wolves had been bothering the sheep in the neighborhood for several nights, and the boys had just returned from hunting them. Now to answer their mother they placed the wriggling something that was held in the leather jacket in her arms.

"Careful, Mother, just open a bit right here!" they cautioned, and as their mother did so a quivering puppy’s nose appeared, then her whole head. It was the head of a wolf Puppy!

"Boys! Have you lost your senses? Haven’t we enough trouble with wolves without bringing a live one right into our midst? I suppose you want to try to raise and tame this little thing. Well, I warn you—he’ll always be a wolf!"

"We know it’s foolish," they answered, "But somehow we just didn’t have the heart to kill it. We shot its mother, and it acted so pitiful—just sort of like it expected us to take care of it. Wasn’t a speck afraid of us either. Maybe you can kill it, Mother, if you think it ought to be done!"

The little wolf baby had snuggled down into the warmth of Mother Larson’s lap, and she answered, "Warm a bit of milk for it. It looks half starved!"

As the boys obeyed, and then watched their mother teaching it with a rag that she dipped into the milk and then placed in its mouth to suck, they knew that the little wolf puppy was adopted for the time being at least!

The Larson dog immediately took to the little thing, too, and in no time he learned to trot about the farm at the dog’s heels, rounding up the cattle and sheep with him, chasing the cat up the tree, and sleeping with a watchful ear and eye to guard the Larson farm. In a few months he seemed so like any other dog that the Larsons had ceased to think of him as a wolf. Even the baby loved him, and was learning to walk by holding tightly to his tail as he tried to steady his little feet.

When the wolf puppy was about a year old, there came a night when the moon was full, and the night was crisp and cold. Some strange feeling seemed to stir within his heart, and he trotted out alone to the hill behind the barn, and gave a long mournful howl to the moon.

Whether others of his own kind heard and answered, the Larsons never knew, but the next morning there were other wolf tracks about the barnyard, and the wolf puppy was gone, never to return.

The wolf puppy had grown to act like a dog, live like a dog, and had even grown to look somewhat like a dog. But he had been born a wolf—and he would die a wolf!

Every boy and girl born into this world, has been born a sinner. They may live in what is known as a Christian country, even have Christian parents. They may go to the same places of worship Christians go to, speak and act like Christians, and still be only sinners, for they were BORN SINNERS. The wolf puppy could never be truly anything but a wolf, for that is what he had been born. You who may be reading my little story can never be anything other than a SINNER, for you were BORN that way—unless you are BORN AGAIN!

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again" (John 3:7).

Little "Nuisance"!

"It is a little daughter, Master. Will you accept her?"

The nurse knelt before the Chinese father and laid a small bundle at his feet.

"A girl?" the father asked, turning away with disappointment. "Just a worthless girl—just another nuisance!"

The father did not even bother to glance again at the small bundle. If only it had been a boy! Girls were such a nuisance—there were far too many in the world already, it seemed to him. Yes, indeed, just a nuisance! Another mouth to fill with rice!

"Just a nuisance!" was repeated so often that soon "Nuisance" became the name of this poor little Chinese girl!

Nuisance was not thrown into the river as many Chinese baby girls are, but her life was a very hard one. She learned what it meant to work, and work hard, at an age when little girls in this country think of nothing but to play. Punishments and scoldings were frequent. Then one day while she was still a small girl, her father decided to sell her for a slave!

How frightened little Nuisance was the day her father took her away to the slave market! It was hard not to cry as rough men came up to handle and feel of her to see if she were strong and well to make a good slave. With downcast eyes she did not even see the quiet man who finally bought her, and led her away. Though her life had never been a happy one, still she was leaving all that she had ever known, and just what terror the future might have in store for her she did not know, but feared.

Imagine her surprise when she heard her new master speaking kindly and lovingly to her! She was brought to a lovely home where she was told she was not to live as a servant, but as the daughter of the man who had bought her to set her free!

As little Nuisance found herself loved and cared for it seemed to her that no greater love could ever be shown to her. But one day the man who had bought her told her of the great love of the Savior who had seen her not only as a little slave girl, but had seen her in the bondage of sin, and in His wondrous love had died that He might deliver her from the power of Satan.

"Truly, truly, I have been bought by love!" the little Chinese girl wept with joy.

After some years she became a faithful missionary to her own people. How she loved to tell especially the other poor neglected girls of the great LOVE of the Savior for them, for had He not delivered her—one who had been but a nuisance, and in the bondage of both slavery and sin!

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:14-15).

Just an Old Scarecrow?

"I’m not afraid of the devil! Do you know what I think? I think he’s just an old scarecrow!"

The listening boys were half shocked and half admiring as they thought over Warren’s boast. Warren continued, "I think that the devil is just something like the ‘bogie man,’ you know, something grown-ups think they can use to scare kids into being good with. Yes, sir! just an old scarecrow, and as for me, I’m not scared! What’s more, I’m not so sure there’s a hell either!"

Warren went on his way with a swagger, leaving his friends quite impressed. He was a leader among them, and in many ways a fine boy. But Warren was not a Christian, although his parents were, and his frequent swearing and careless attitude towards the things of God made them pray much for him.

One night, shortly after his boast, Warren was out hunting for the cows during a thunder storm. Of all places, he found them in the old grave yard next to the church!

It was dark and wet, and it was hard to round them up and start them for home with only the flashes of lightning to guide them. But in spite of stumbling over the tomb stones, all was going quite well, until a streak of lightning showed that one perverse cow had started off in a direction of her own. As Warren plunged into the darkness after her he swore angrily.

But no sooner had the words left his mouth when he began to feel himself falling—not just down a slope—but straight down! In a flash a great horror of fear was upon him. He thought he was falling straight down into hell! The swear words flashed into his mind that he had just used, and Warren felt that God in judgment had opened the mouth of hell, the bottomless pit, at his very feet!

Then his feet struck the bottom, and aided by the terrible fear of Satan at his very heels he managed to scramble out of the hole in a few moments.

The next day Warren learned that he had fallen into a freshly dug grave hole that had not been used, and had been carelessly left uncovered. But although the mystery was solved, the experience had made a much more thoughtful and sober boy of Warren. He realized now that in his heart he did fear Satan and hell, and that he was not at all ready or willing to go there.

So it was that God prepared his heart for the "good news" that the Lord Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man; for he learned that not only were Satan and hell real, but through God’s own Word he found how real the Lord Jesus and his salvation were! "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death... that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9).

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21).

Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.

The Doll That Grew