A child’s faith and good will are manifested in connection with
his idea of a personal, intelligent power in the world. In the
latter part of his fourth year, a little boy was awakened one
night by a violent thunder-storm. He was much frightened, and
called to his mother with trembling voice, “Mama, God won’t let
the thunder hurt us, will He?” When assured that the lightning
was governed by God’s laws, and that there was little or no
danger, he quieted down and slept soundly during the rest of
the storm. So far as was known, this child had never been told
that God protected him under such conditions. It was evidently
an inference drawn from his own thoughts about the personal
influence he felt to pervade the world. (Text.)--GEORGE E.
DAWSON, “The Child and His Religion.”
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