The Teacher Taught

The rain was coming down very heavily one Sunday morning, and a little girl was intently looking out of the parlour window; and her eyes were quite as cloudy as the skies, because she feared the storm would prevent her going to her much — loved Sunday school. Her young heart had received the good seed of the Word, and she had learned to simply trust the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, and, although so young, she was able to say that her sins had been washed away in the precious blood of Christ.
Her mother was a Christian, and looked forward with joyful expectancy to her child growing up to be a comfort to her heart and a bright servant of Christ. But there was “one thing” that marred the joy of the little household — the father was an avowed infidel; but as he loved his little girl, and liked to please her, he had not forbidden her going to the school, and generally left his wife and daughter to do what they liked on a Sunday. On the rainy morning to which I have referred the father came in and said that it was too wet for her to think of going out.
“Please, father, I don’t think I’ll hurt if you’ll let me go.”
“My child, you’ll get wet and catch cold,” he said.
“Oh father! I can put on my waterproof, and perhaps you will lend me your big umbrella, and I’ll not get wet.” “But why do you so particularly want to go today? “asked the father.
“Well, suppose I didn’t go because it rained, and the other little girls did not go, I am sure teacher would go, and then what would she do without any little girls to teach?”
That was a question he could not answer, and he felt his little girl had the best of the argument, and he thought he would try another plan. So he said: “Suppose we have school at home today, just you and I, would you stop with me then?” She thought a little while and then asked: “Would you be teacher and superintendent both, and I be your little class?” “Oh, yes, if you like.” “Very well then, I will stop with you,” and away she went to find two Bibles and two little hymn-books. “Now, father,” she said, “you must be superintendent first, and he always gives out a hymn to begin with.” “My dear, I don’t know any of these hymns, and then I don’t know the tunes.” “Perhaps then you will let me give out a hymn.” She soon found one that she knew well. She started it in her child-like way, and the Spirit of God was driving home every word into that Christ-rejector’s heart. He could not sing. He did not know what he was bargaining for when he offered to be teacher, and as soon as the hymn was over he was going to leave the room.
“Father, we have not done yet.” “Oh, I think we have had enough,” he said, as he sat down on the chair again.
“What must we do now?” he asked. “Father, you must pray.” “My child, I cannot,” he said abruptly. “But, father, you said you would be the superintendent, and he always prays after we have sung a hymn.” “But I don’t believe in prayer.” “But, father, you said — you promised to have school,” she said, looking up pleadingly into his face.
All this time a terrible conflict was going on in his heart, which was softened under the words of the hymn that was just sung, and now what was he to do? Should he break his word, or should he yield to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit? and the beseeching look of his little girl brought him almost unconsciously upon his knees. But his heart was too full to allow words to escape his lips.
His little girl, finding he did not begin, gave him a nudge with her elbow and said, “Father, pray.” He could repress his sobs no longer, and, forgetful of his long-boasted infidelity, he gave full vent to his feelings, crying in an agony of soul. Just then the door opened, and his wife came in. She had been praying for him for years. Quickly she was at his side, and earnestly united her prayers with her husband’s; and God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shone into the infidel’s heart; for He heard the heart-breathings, and saved his precious soul. Many times did they thank God together for sending a “wet Sunday morning,” when the sunlight of the truth of God broke through the clouds of infidelity, which hindered him from seeing Jesus as “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)).
F. H. D.