A STUDENT who was staying in lodgings had a little box sent him one night by the last post, containing a good slice of wedding cake; but, being a wise man, he put it on the mantelpiece, intending to eat some of it in the morning.
However, he forgot all about it for several days (about a week, I believe), and then it came back to his mind, and he took down the box to eat it (not the box, but the cake!). What was his surprise and dismay to find on opening the box, not the cake, but merely a few crumbs left.
So he rang the bell, and his landlady appeared, and he told her what had happened.
"O I am afraid it must be my little Nelly, as she comes here before breakfast to dust your room, sir."
When Nelly, ten years old, came back from school, her mother spoke about the cake, and said,
"I am so sorry, my child, I fear you must have stolen the cake."
"O, no, mother," said the naughty girl, "it must have been a mouse that took it."
On Sunday morning there was a tap at the door, and my friend called out, "Come in." Nelly stood in the doorway looking very much ashamed, and, with tears trick_ ling down her cheeks, said,
"Please, sir, I was the mouse that took the cake!" And then she confessed how she opened the box, and took just a very little bit, but the next morning a bigger piece, and so on, till at last it was nearly all gone. I think Nelly will not forget the talk and prayer that morning.
Perhaps some young reader has got on to the slippery ice of falsehood or theft; if so, beware! for you are in terrible danger of slipping right over the precipice and being lost.
"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." Isa. 55:6, 7. Turn to Him now and be saved and blest.
"Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight." Prov. 12:22.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
Messages of God’s Love 2/21/1932