One Saturday afternoon, little Emma came into her mother's room, and
said to her, "Mother, may I go with Abba to her Sunday school? She says,
they are all so happy there."
"My child," said her mother, "why do you wish to leave your own school
and go to a strange one?"
"Because, mother, Abba has often told me what a good school they have,
and how much she loves it."
"Well, as you are very anxious to go, I will grant your request this
once, on condition that it must never be repeated."
The next morning, this pleasant little girl was up very early to make
ready to go with her friend to the new Sabbath school.
She was delighted with all she saw and heard; and when the pastor took
her by the hand, she said to herself, "I wish mother would permit me to
come here every Sunday. I will ask her, at any rate." After the school
was dismissed, she went home, revolving in her mind what she should say
to obtain her mother's consent.
Her mother observed how thoughtful she appeared, and said to her, "Emma,
how did you like Abba's Sunday school?"
"Oh, mother! I was so happy; do let me go there. They sing so sweetly,
and the pastor was so kind. He had an affectionate word for all. Their
superintendent, too, was so pleasant, I know I should love him."
Her mother said to her, with a very sorrowful countenance, "Do you know,
my child, that they teach very erroneous doctrines there, in regard to a
future life? They teach that all will be eventually holy and happy, both
the good and the bad."
"But, mother, I should think it would make us all happy to believe so.
The minister told us that 'God is Love;' and that cannot be a bad
doctrine. I am sure I would much rather think so, than that he would
hate any of us, for you have often told me that hatred was very wicked.
I cannot think that a good and wise being would do that which you have
taught me is wrong. Then they all seem to love each other dearly. They
are like a pleasant family of brothers and sisters. Do let me go, will
you not, dear mother? I should be so happy."
Her mother said many things to convince her that it was not right to
change her school. But she was very unhappy, and said so often, "Do let
me go," that her mother consented to gratify her; thinking, perhaps,
that she would soon tire of it.
Sunday came, and Emma was nearly the first one there; so anxious was she
to be in season.
She entered the schoolroom with a bright and happy face, and when the
superintendent came to her, she said, "I have come to join your Sabbath
school. Will you receive me?"
To add to her joy, the superintendent gave her a seat in the same class
with her friend Abba, who was a very kind and good little girl; and she
found a number of others in the class who were very glad to see her
there. One little girl lent her a book to study, and when the teacher
gave her a lesson for the next Sabbath, she said, "I have a lesson now.
Fanny lent me her book, and I have already learned a lesson from it."
This pleased her teacher very much; for she thought that there were many
little girls who would have been very glad of such an excuse to put off
their lessons. Ever after, she was very constant in her attendance,
always had her lessons very perfect, and never stayed at home, even if
it chanced to be a rainy clay; for she would say, "My teacher will be
there; and I am sure if she is there, I can go. Besides, I know it will
make her very happy to see me always in my place."
In this way did this good little Emma continue to go on, acquiring
knowledge, and gaining the love and good-will of all who knew her. She
was always happy and cheerful; kind to her parents, obliging to her
brothers and sisters, ever ready to assist the poor and destitute,
having a kind word and a happy smile for all. And this she learned from
that one great and ennobling truth, that "God is Love."