Rosa's Quest: Or, The Way to the Beautiful LandWright, Anna Potter
Religion
Rosa's Quest: Or, The Way to the Beautiful Land
Wright, Anna Potter
Christian life -- Juvenile fiction
"You and the old man step up here out of the wind by this building, and
tell me your trouble. Are you lost?"
"No, sir, we ain't lost, but just can't find the way."
"Not lost, but can't find the way? How is it? I don't understand. Maybe
I can help you, if you will explain."
At this Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs, and for several minutes
could not answer.
At last, with many a pause, the whole story was told.
"And oh," she added, with all the earnestness of which her intense
nature was capable, "can you really tell us? Please, oh, please do, for
I can't stand it any longer without mother, and she's looking for me,
'cause Jesus paid the fare. I just must go!"
[Illustration: Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs. [Page 60.)]
"Ah, sweet baby," he faltered, his massive frame shaking with emotion,
"I've a mother in the beautiful land looking for me, too!
"Long years ago I promised to meet her there, but, no, I've never found
the way. I cannot tell you."
"If the way's so hard to find, how do folks get there? And lots of them
are going, for the lady said so. I do wish mother'd come back for
grandpa and me"; and again the child broke into sobs.
"Don't cry any more, little one. They say the way is easy to find. Let
me think a minute; maybe I can help you after all. There's a big church
on the corner there, and I know the pastor loves poor people. If you
should go there tomorrow, he would tell you the way, I know.
"Now cheer up, and get back to your home as soon as possible. It will be
getting dark presently, and you will half freeze. I will walk down to
the corner with you, and point out the church."
Rosa's hopes were beginning to rise once more, but upon beholding the
massive stone structure indicated by the policeman, she felt less
sanguine.
"Are you real sure, mister, we could find the way if we'd go in there?"
at length she said.
"Yes, I know it, for the pastor has wanted many times to teach me the
way, and I wouldn't let him."
Rosa had no idea who or what the pastor might be, and forgot to
inquire, because of her unutterable surprise.
It was simply unthinkable that any one could deliberately refuse the
information which she and grandpa so earnestly coveted.
"Mister p'liceman, why didn't you want to know the way?" she gasped,
impulsively grasping his big, brawny hand. "Wouldn't you like to know
now?"
"Yes, little one, I would, and by God's help I will. But come, you must
be gone! It is almost dark. I'll watch for you in the morning, and take
you to the door. Be sure not to disappoint me. Goodbye!"
That evening in the quiet of his room a wonderful thing happened.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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