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My dear little friend: I want to tell you about a little girl in
Switzerland who died to save her father's life. I hope it will lead you
to think of Him who died a dreadful death on the cross, that we might
be saved from sin and sorrow here, and at last dwell with Him in bright
mansions in the skies.
This little girl lived near a deep ravine at the foot of one of the
mountains in Switzerland. A huge rock had fallen down the mountain side,
and lodged in the ravine, and thus made a natural bridge, so that those
who wished to pass from one side of the mountain to the other, could
cross the bridge.
The mother of the child was an earnest Christian, and often told her
daughter about the blessed Savior, who died in the place of sinners,
who deserved to be punished that they might be forgiven and saved in
heaven. And she told her also that unless she came to Jesus, and trusted
in Him, she would be lost forever. At first the little girl did not care
very much about what her mother said, but at last the mother's prayer
was answered. Her little one felt herself to be a lost sinner, and that
Christ alone could save her. God's spirit taught her that Jesus had paid
the debt, and that He stood with open arms ready to receive her, and
wash her sins away. Then she felt sure that heaven would be her home
forever. Her father was not a Christian. He never gathered his loved
ones around the family altar.
One day when about to cross the deep ravine upon the rock bridge, the
mother saw that it was just ready to fall. The frost had loosened it.
She told her little child that if she ever crossed it again it would
fall, and she would be dashed in pieces.
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The next day the father told his child that he was going over to the
other side across the bridge. She told him it was not safe, but he only
laughed at her. He said he had been across it before she was born, and
that he was not afraid. When the dear little thing saw that he was
determined to go she asked if she could go with him.
While they were walking along together, she looked up into her father's
face, and said: "Father, if I should die, will you promise to love Jesus
and meet me in heaven?"
"Pshaw!" he said, "what put such a wild thought into your head? You are
not going to die, I hope. You are only a wee thing and will live many
years."
"Yes, but if I should die, will you promise to love Jesus just as I do,
and meet me in heaven?"
"But you are not going to die. Don't speak of it," he said.
"But if I should die, do promise, Father, you will be a good Christian
and come up and live with Jesus and me in heaven."
"Yes, yes!" he said at last.
When they came near the crossing-place, she said: "Father, please stand
here a minute." She loved him dearly and was willing to run the risk of
dying for him. Strange as it may seem she walked quickly and jumped upon
the loose rock, and down it went with the girl. She was crushed to death.
The trembling parent crept to the edge, and eyes dimmed with tears, gazed
wildly upon the wreck. Then he thought of all his little child had told
him about how Jesus had died to save us. He thought he had never loved
her so much. But he began to see that he had far more reason to love
Jesus who had suffered much more to save him from the "bottomless pit."
And then he thought of the promise he so carefully made to his daughter.
What could he do but kneel down and cry to God to have mercy upon him?
If they meet in heaven, do you think that daughter will be sorry that
she sacrificed her life for her father's sake? Can you not imagine that
tears often filled the eyes of that father when he spoke of his sainted
little one?
You would say that he would have been a very wicked man if he had not
loved the memory of his child. But is it not a thousand times more wicked
for you not to love Him who has loved you so much more than that little
one loved her father?
How can you help loving such a precious Savior? Will you not ask Him
to forgive you and help you to live for Him the rest of your life?
--_The Way of Faith_
"FORGOTTEN MY SOUL"
"Mother, you have forgotten my soul," so said a little girl, three years
old as her kind and careful mother was about to lay her in bed. She had
just risen from repeating the Lord's prayer. "But, Mother," she said,
"you have forgotten my soul."
"What do you mean, Anna?"
"Why,
'Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep!
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.'
"We have not said that."
The child meant nothing more, yet her words were startling. And, oh!
from how many rosy lips might they come with mournful significance!
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You, fond mother, so busy hour after hour preparing and adorning garments
for their pretty little form, have you forgotten the soul? Do you commend
it earnestly to the care of its God and Savior? Are you leading it to
commit itself, in faith and love to his keeping?--Selected.