Saved by love : $b A story of London streetsLeslie, Emma
General
Saved by love : $b A story of London streets
Leslie, Emma
Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Homeless girls -- Juvenile fiction
Elfie looked at her in silence for a minute or two, and when they had
got out into the street, she burst into tears. "O Susie, you don't
deserve to be called a thief," she sobbed.
Susie tried to soothe her, but explained that she was afraid people
would think her one, if they remained together, and she did not alter.
"Oh, I will, I will," said Elfie; "I can't bear to think of you loving
me, and God loving me, and being so wicked all the while. Susie, ask
him to forgive me, and let me say 'our Father' when we go home," she
added.
As soon as they reached their room, they went in and shut the door, and
kneeled down and said the Lord's Prayer together; and then Susie prayed
in simple words that God would forgive Elfie for the sake of Jesus
Christ, and help her by his Holy Spirit to lead a new life—to be honest
and truthful, and make them both love each other, and be patient, and
gentle, and kind.
Elfie was still crying when Susie got up from her knees, and she did
not lift her head for some time—not until the fire was blazing under
the tea-kettle and Susie had begun to get the tea ready.
"Shall we go to school to-night?" asked Susie a little timidly, when
Elfie drew near the table.
"To-night ain't Sunday," said Elfie.
"No; but they have school to-night, and it would help us both to learn
a little more," said Susie in the same gentle tone.
"I don't know nothing," said Elfie with a sigh. Only a day or two
before, she had told Susie she did not want to learn any more, and
would not go to school.
"You'd like to learn to read, wouldn't you, Elfie?" said Susie; "and
it'll be nice to go to school of a night, I think."
"Yes, I'll go," said Elfie; "they'll know me there, but you won't let
'em turn you agin' me, will you?" she added.
"They won't try, Elfie, when they know you're wanting to be a different
girl," said Susie. "Come and have some tea now," she added, "and I'll
tell you how I came to be in the street where you was took up."
Elfie had forgotten to ask about this in the fright and excitement.
"How did you get there?" she asked now.
Susie thought for a minute or two, and then she said, "I think God sent
me, Elfie."
"Perhaps he did," said Elfie, with drooping head, "for I'd made up my
mind never to come back to you any more when the policeman took me. I
thought it was all up then, and I might as well forget all you'd told
me, for it only made me feel bad and miserable."
"Then God sent me to bring you home, Elfie; and I've got a place too, I
think," said Susie joyfully.
"Got a place!" repeated Elfie.
"Yes; I'm to go every morning, and do all sorts of work, and learn to
be a proper servant," said Susie.
"But you'll come back every night?" said Elfie.
"Oh yes, I shall come back every night," replied Susie. "I shouldn't
like to leave you now."
"No, don't leave me," whispered Elfie. "I do want to love God, but I
shall forget all about him if you go away, Susie."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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