Little Agatha was a Sabbath school scholar. She lived in a rural
district of Scotland. Her father's dwelling was surrounded by trees and
flowers, and near by a little sparkling rivulet wandered onward, now
murmuring along by its rocky bed and dancing over bright pebbles, and
now wending its way silently through the valley, journeying onward to
mingle with kindred waters.
Agatha loved to roam through these shady glens, and often would she
stand upon the margin of the little stream, and, gazing down, fancy that
she saw a beautiful little angel in the pure waters. She sometimes
waited a long time, hoping it might speak to her, little dreaming that
her sweet angel was but the reflection of her own innocent face and
golden ringlets from the mirrored surface. She loved the little brook,
and walked among the wild flowers upon its banks, herself as pure and
innocent as Spring's earliest blossoms. She was never lonely in her
rural bowers; for the brook, the birds, and the flowers, ever spoke to
her heart in tones of love.
But one day her teacher told her that wicked spirits were ever flying
about, trying to lead away little children into their company, and make
them as wicked as themselves. This much disquieted Agatha, for she had
never learned before that aught existed save innocence and joy. At
first, she feared to wander out alone, into the "great temple of
nature," as she was wont, lest she should meet some of those malicious
beings. She dared not look into the pure waters, fearing that, instead
of the beautiful angel which so often met her gaze, hideous forms might
rise and drag her away into their bad company.
But her heart was soon quieted again; for her teacher also told her,
that good beings come down from the Spirit-land, to watch over little
children, and drive the wicked ones away. So Agatha no longer feared to
visit her favorite haunts, for she besought the good spirits to be her
guardians. And when at night she retired to her little couch, she prayed
the kind angels to watch over and protect her from evil spirits. And her
prayer was answered, for none but good spirits ever visited the heart of
Agatha. She was always punctual at Sabbath school; and one day after
looking around in vain for one of her mates, she was very much troubled
to learn that she had been led a long way off, by a company of evil
spirits. She longed to tear the unfortunate victim from their grasp; but
her teacher told her, that the celestial beings alone could save her,
and she must pray to them.
So Agatha went home, and walked out among the flowers, thinking the
celestial spirits would delight to linger in so pure a spot, and
kneeling amid a cluster of roses, she prayed them to fly to the rescue
of her misled companion. And everywhere that Agatha thought pure enough
for the abode of the good spirits, would she go and pray that her friend
might be restored. At night she would look up to the stars, and entreat
the same good beings to come down from their pure, bright dwellings, and
lead back the straying one. Her prayers were soon answered, and when she
next went to Sabbath school, she was almost overjoyed to find her little
friend at her accustomed place. Little Mary (for she it was who had been
led away) seemed very happy to get back again. She kissed her
schoolmates, and said she would never leave them more. But she told them
a sad tale of Sin-land; how the evil ones would not suffer her to sleep,
lest, in her slumbers, the good spirits might visit her and take her
away;--that they would not let her walk among the flowers, for good
spirits are there. And for a long time they watched her very closely,
and directed her steps in their pathway.
But, at length, when she become faint and weary, the ministering angels
came to her assistance, took her in their arms, and folding her weary
limbs in their white robes, bore her back to her anxious companions. No
one rejoiced more than did Agatha, that the heavenly messengers had led
Mary back.
Their teacher said that her school was a little garden of flowers, which
she was rearing for heaven. But Agatha was the most innocent flower
there, and ready to bloom in the garden of paradise. The kind heavenly
guides thought her too pure for earth, and they would fain have her
companionship in their purer regions. So they bore her away on wings of
love to their heavenly home.
May every Sabbath school scholar be, like Agatha, led by celestial
spirits.