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
"Oh! Yes, we can bring all our little troubles and trials to our Lord,"
replied the young maid. "It is He who giveth rest both to the soul and
the poor weary body."
Perhaps the first time that Tom Fairley had ever asked anything from
God with a desire and hope of having what he asked for, was when he
prayed on that night for sleep. When he had done so, he thrust his
little hand under his pillow, pulled forth his silver crown-piece, and
tried to force it into the hand of his nurse.
"This is for you—you shall have it for your own, it's to make up—"
cried the boy.
"No, Master Tommy, no indeed—I thank you all the same," said Susan,
drawing back her hand with decision.
"Take it for the hungry children, then," persisted Tom.
"Not now, dear, certainly not now; you are tired and sleepy, you have
had no time to think over the matter," said Susan, who would have
deemed it wrong to take advantage of the excited state of the child,
even to help a charitable cause. "Turn round and go to sleep now, dear
boy; perhaps you may think in the morning of some quite different way
in which you would like to spend your money."
Tom was too sleepy to reply; his mind was growing calm and his eyelids
heavy. The touch of Susan's soft hand was lulling him to rest, with
the sound of her soothing voice as she repeated a simple but beautiful
verse—
"This night I lay me down to sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep;
Wake I soon, or wake I never,
I give my soul to Christ for ever."
The young nurse did not quit Tom's side till he had sunk into deep,
sweet slumber.
Susan had expected that Tom would change his mind in the morning
regarding the way of spending his crown; but she had done the boy
injustice. The heart of Tom Fairley was like rich and generous soil
which had been covered with a thick growth of weeds: there was much
that was noble in him, but it had never till then been drawn forth.
Tom was heartily sorry for having struck and bitten the gentle girl who
had so carefully and tenderly watched over his comfort. He was resolved
to make what amends he could, and as Susan would accept none of his
money for herself, he insisted that every penny of it should go in
the way which he knew would please her most. Tom refused to taste his
breakfast till Susan should have carried his crown-piece to Giles to
increase the number of invitations to be sent to destitute children.
"Well, to be sure, I never knew money grow like your shilling!"
exclaimed Giles, when Susan, with pleasure beaming in her eyes, brought
him the crown-piece to add to the little collection.
"Master Tommy gives it, and with all his heart. May he never know, dear
child, what it is to want a meal!" cried Susan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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