Daniel had never walked, but sat quietly by the window, or on pleasant clays his mother pushed his chair out in the yard under the trees, where he could see his little brother Charlie and other children at play, or watch the people going to the sea shore, which was near.
One day a little girl came into the, yard and talked with Daniel, while her father, who was weak and tired of riding, rested under the trees outside the gate. Their house was in the city, and they often passed the cottage when riding to the beach.
The child, whose name was Lily, felt sorry for the crippled boy, and she told him how her father, too, was ill and could not rest at night.
“Does he know Jesus?” asked Daniel. He had learned when very young of the love of Jesus, and spoke of Him as a dear Friend who made him happy.
“O, I expect he does,” said Lily, “only he never says anything about Him. Do you love Jesus?”
“Yes”, said the boy, “because He loves me, and if I say ‘Jesus’ in my heart He makes me forget my pain.”
“I will tell my father to say ‘Jesus’ too,” and Lily ran to tell what the boy had said.
But her father made no answer, only that they had better start home. That night was a dreary one again for the sick man, though in his fine home with many comforts. He wished he had not let Lily visit the cripple boy. All night he seemed to hear the words, “Just say ‘Jesus’”, and he did not want to think of that name.
But a few days after, to please Lily, he went with her to see Daniel, whom they found weaker and in bed, yet quiet and patient. They talked together, then Daniel asked very respectfully,
“Don’t you know Jesus?”
“I am afraid not, my boy.”
“It is easy—it is only ‘Come unto Me.’ Mother, please say the verse,” and the mother repeated,
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
“I would give all I own’’, said the man, “to have such rest.”
“Sir, it need cost you nothing. The salvation of God is without price to us. The Lord Jesus paid the price when He died on the cross.”
Lily’s father had traveled in many lands, but had not learned to trust the humble name of Jesus, and he could not answer Daniel or his mother, so bade them “goodbye” and he and Lily returned home, but not forgetting the sick boy’s words and his verse.
“Please, Aunt Ellen, find where it says, ‘Come unto Me’”, and Lily handed her aunt a large finely bound Bible, but it had seldom been used.
“Why, child I do not know where to look, you better go play.”
“No”, answered Lily, “Father wants to read what the sick boy said about ‘Come unto Me.’” Her aunt opened the Book and in surprise said,
“Why here it is, I opened to the very place.”
Lily eagerly took the big Bible to her father, who was now too weak to leave his bed, and watched as he slowly read over the words.
It was a few days later that Lily’s father told her he could now say ‘Jesus’ and, at last, felt rest and joy. This made the little girl happy too.
“Can I go tell Daniel?” she asked.
“Go my child, it will comfort him.”
Lily’s aunt went with her to the small cottage home. All was very quiet there. And the sad mother told them that the night before Daniel had gently said, “Good night, dear mother”, and quietly gone to sleep, not to wake again to the pain of this world, but to be with Jesus who loved him.
It comforted the mother to hear of the blessing her boy had been to Lily’s father, as he had been to all who knew him, because he had so simply trusted in Jesus.
Very soon the sick man also bade his family “goodbye”, telling them how thankful he was to know the love of Jesus, his only regret was that he had not come to Him early in life.
After the death of their loved one, Lily and her young aunt tried to honor the Lord who comforted them, and they often. visited Daniel’s mother.
“Just say Jesus.”
Do not reply “Tis yet too soon
To look to heaven or think of death,”
A flower may fade before ‘tis noon,
And life is only just a breath.
ML 01/16/1938