A CHILD OF GOD.
A good many months had passed since Charlie lost the nickel between
the store and his home. He had often spoken about his desire to be a
real Christian. He was going to school every day, and had more than
the average of school-boy-liveliness.
Several years had passed since he and one of the little Sunday school
girls swinging in the shade of the old apple tree, had each promised
the other to begin to be a Christian while they were young in years.
The little girl was first to fulfil her promise, and was now an active
little member of the church, praising God by her daily life. He
thought more of her for her decision, but he himself was not yet a
member of the church, and was already twelve years old.
Brother Early had been preaching every night in Waynesboro for several
weeks. A good many people, who lived not too far away from Waynesboro,
often drove in to attend the meetings. Charlie was usually on hand, an
attentive listener.
On the way home one Sunday night Charlie broke the monotonous rumble of
the carriage by asking, "Mamma, do you think I'd be saved if I'd die?"
And his mamma answered, "Well Charlie, indeed I don't know what to
tell you," and no one said anything further for a moment, which seemed
ever so long.
"What do you say about it, papa?" continued Charlie in a very earnest,
pleading tone of voice.
"You have asked a pretty hard question," said his papa. "Just at this
time of your life we cannot know. God is just, and may be you'd be
saved--may be not." After several minutes, which seemed almost like
hours, as the carriage moved slowly up the hill, his mamma, ever
anxious about her boy, as all mammas are, said, "Why do you ask such
questions, Charlie?"
"Well, mamma," he answered, "I can't stand it any longer. My heart
pretty near breaks when we are at meeting. I do wish I could join the
church."
Now, his parents had talked the matter all over by themselves, and they
had decided to allow Charlie to come at this time, if he really wanted
to, and they would also encourage their son. When he had thus spoken,
they told him the words that his boyish heart had been aching to hear
for already so long a time, that he should "come now," if he wished.
The next evening Charlie lost no time in publicly coming out on the
Lord's side.
"Brother Oller," said he, "I'm coming. It's decided. I want to be
baptized and live a Christian."
The aged elder stooped to the eager boy before him, and tenderly
answered, "Well, Charlie, the Lord bless you. The lambs are always
welcome in the flock. I hope you will be able to be a valiant soldier
for Christ. The Lord bless you, my dear boy."
On the way home that night, Charlie's heart was glad within him. How
different it was from the night before. He was soon to be a soldier
for Jesus. It did not seem to take long at all to go home, and the
hills did not seem so steep, and the night did not seem so dark. He
could now see the bright side of life, better than ever before.
While his papa was out at the barn, putting away the horse and
carriage, Charlie was talking to his mamma in the house.
"I wish now we had family worship. Mamma, why don't we have family
worship, anyhow?"
"Well, I don't know, Charlie, just why we don't," said mamma.
"Well, mamma, papa ought to have it. Other members do, don't they?"
"I guess papa feels a little timid about leading in prayer," said his
mamma. "That's all the reason I know."
"Well, I tell you, I'll do my part. I'll take my turn always, if we just
can have family worship every day. Won't you ask papa? I think he will."
Sunday was the day for baptism. Two of the brethren came on a visit to
examine those to be baptized, before the day for baptism, to learn if
they were ready for the holy ordinance, and if they were willing to
take the New Testament as the rule of faith and practice, and to walk
in harmony with the church.
[Illustration: THE STREAM BELOW THE BRIDGE.]
Charlie's answers were clear and well-defined. The brethren had
quite a pleasant visit with him, and they went away feeling that
children were very fit subjects for the church, "for of such is the
kingdom of heaven."
There were thirteen baptized that day, and a large number of people
witnessed the scene. It seemed, as we read about it in the Bible, like
apostolic times, as one after another was led down into the stream of
water near the bridge, and was there buried in baptism.
When Charlie arose from his knees, while they were yet in the water,
the minister, Brother Price, greeted him with a kiss.
After the baptisms, all the people soon went away to their homes, but
of all that number, thirteen went away feeling the joy of having
entered into a blessed experience, which they had not known before.
That Sunday night the voice of prayer was heard in the home of the
Newcomers. Family worship was a daily service there from that time on.
Every evening before going to bed the little family would sing a hymn,
read a portion of Scripture, and then all kneel down together and
pray. And Charlie, true to his promise, and but a boy, yet a
_Christian_ boy, would always take his turn, in reading, in leading in
prayer, and in closing with the Lord's prayer.