The battle of life : $b or, What is a ChristianA. L. O. E.
Religion
The battle of life : $b or, What is a Christian
A. L. O. E.
Children's stories, English; Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
When Susan came to the fourth petition in the Lord's Prayer, Jessy
looked pleasantly into her face and observed, "God always gives me
daily bread, and meat, and nice things besides; won't God be pleased
that I am going to give some to the poor little hungry children?"
Susan kissed the child, and replied, "The Lord is always pleased when
we try to do His will, by being kind to His poor."
When the fifth petition in the prayer was explained, again Jessy looked
full into the eyes of her nurse. "Can you forgive Tom out and out?"
asked the child.
"I can—I do," replied Susan.
"I can't, and I don't," cried Jessy.
"Oh, dear Missie, we must pray for the spirit of forgiveness, for
without it we dare not hope to be forgiven by God. The Lord has taught
us mercy and love to those who have wronged us; not only by His words,
but by His blessed example."
And then to her quiet, attentive hearer Susan told that touching story
of prayer even for murderers, which, while it is a lofty theme for
angels, falls sweetly on the ear of a child.
Susan did not speak long, for she feared to weary Jessy. The servant
did not know what force her own gentleness and kindness gave to her
words. Jessy felt that Susan, who thought and talked about holy things,
was a very different person in her conduct and ways from what Betsy
had been—she who never cared for religion. Even a child could draw
the conclusion that what made Susan good must be good—that what made
Susan happy would be likely to make herself happy; and a wish arose in
Jessy's heart that she might grow more like Susan. The tiny night-light
was already casting its radiance around.
After Jessy had laid her little head on her pillow, Susan put Master
Tommy to bed. The little boy still seemed sulky, neither attempted to
say his prayers, nor bade good-night to his nurse. He carried his money
with him to his bed, and thrust it under his pillow.
"Master Tom," said Susan, gently, as she bent over the child, "I could
not bear to go to sleep till I had asked forgiveness of God, and of any
one whom I might have treated unkindly."
Tom made no reply, but pulled his coverlet over his head, and turned
his face to the wall.
The boy was struggling against the better feelings which were rising up
in his heart. The teaching and example of Susan had made quite as deep
an impression upon Tow as upon his sister, but pride and temper were
strong within him. Tom fell asleep muttering to himself that he was not
sorry, he did not care! As for begging pardon—that was a thing which he
had never done in his life, except when he had been in immediate fear
of a flogging from his father.
CHAPTER V.
Silver Turned into Gold.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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