IN our picture this week we see three children on a rustic bridge, evidently gone out to have a good time fishing and in the woods. They little think of the danger they are in; how easy it would be for them to slip off and fall into the water. It reminds me of a little incident I once read, but there was this difference, there were stepping stones across the little stream instead of a bridge.
A mother was knitting under the porch of her house one autumn afternoon. Her boy was playing with other children on the village meadow.
Beyond the meadow was the river, and on the opposite bank of it was a wood frill of nuts and sweet-smelling leaves and flowers. “Let us cross to the wood” said one of the bigger children.
“I shall cross too,” said the little boy whose mother was knitting at the door.
There were stepping stones all the way across, and the little party got safely to the other side.
But the clouds had been darkening over the sky since the morning, and now it began to rain. First it came in heavy drops, then there was a peal of thunder, then torrents of rain came down. The bigger children hurried back to the ford, and one by one got over safely.
The little boy was last. The river had by this time risen. The stepping stones were beginning to be covered. The little fellow took one step, then a second, then he came to a stone over which the river was flowing swiftly, and his heart failed. He wrung his hands with fear and cried with a piercing cry.
The mother saw him, and ran to him, but she was too late. She could not reach him, as a broad, black flood of water came thundering between her boy and her.
“My child! my child!” she cried. “Mother! mother; come for me” cried the boy.
At that moment a young shepherd, leading his flock from the hills saw the danger of the child. He left his sheep and ran to the river. He stepped from stone to stone, but in the center the flood had carried some away. He plunged into the stream and swam over to the boy. With one arm he clasped the child, with the other one he grappled with the flood and brought the boy to his mother.
That was a boy who found a saviour, and what the brave young shepherd saved him from was death.
But God was the real Saviour that day. He sent the shepherd at the very tight moment. He made him brave and strong.
Death is constantly coming near to the little ones; but by brave swimmers, faithful nurses, wise doctors, loving mothers, by kind friends and unseen angels, He brings deliverance.
And He has given Jesus to save us from death more terrible than the death which threatened the little boy. He saves from the second death, which those who die in their sins must endure forever.
Jesus will save you from being shut out of heaven, nothing that’s naughty can enter there.
You have often been naughty, but Jesus will save you and wash your sins away, and open the door of heaven to you, if you will trust Him. He is willing to save you now, just as you are. Cast yourself into His arms. He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”
ML 02/21/1909