The Man with the Book; or, The Bible Among the People.Weylland, John Matthias
History
The Man with the Book; or, The Bible Among the People.
Weylland, John Matthias
City missions; London City Mission
Then she threw herself back as though exhausted, but her face assumed an
expression of intense happiness. After a few minutes the question was
asked, "And how did you learn that hymn?" "A little girl at the tramps'
lodging, at Ipswich," she replied, "went to Sunday-school, and took me
with her for three Sundays: the lady saw I was ill, and kissed me, and
told me how to say that hymn, and it makes me so happy. And I am going
to Him soon," she whispered, gazing up with evident delight. "You must
not talk any more, dear," said the visitor, "but I will now pray to
Jesus, to whom the angels in heaven are singing, and ask Him to make you
very good now, and then to take you to be with Him in glory." "Ask
_Him_," whispered the child, "to make father and mother good: they get
drunk and frighten me so, and say such wicked words." The request was
complied with, and He who has told His disciples to "ask that they may
receive," was petitioned, in simple language but in earnest prayer, to
bless the child and to save the parents.
A few necessaries were that evening sent for the child; and two days
after the Missionary again ascended that dark staircase: he did so with
pleasure, because he felt that in that dismal room there was a little
one who loved the Saviour, and who would soon be called to His presence
and personally blessed by Him. The door was opened by the mother, who
burst into tears and turned away; upon glancing toward the bed of rags,
the visitor was startled at seeing a small elm coffin in its place, and
inquired when the child died. "Late in the night when you were here,"
the mother replied, sobbing. "She was in great pain, and sat up in the
bed and took out her little book, and said the hymn she was so fond of--
'Come, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne;'
and then her cough came on, and she fell back in the bed and died like a
lamb." While they were speaking, the father, a low-looking tramp, came
in; and the Missionary told them of the child's request that he would
pray for them that they might be made good. Both of them cried with
intense feeling, and then they knelt beside that little coffin, while
prayer, deep earnest prayer, was offered for their salvation. That
evening, and for several months after, they attended the meeting in the
Widow's room, and before they left the place for a settled life, not a
tramp's, the man gave proof of his reformation, and the woman that she
had believed to the saving of her soul.
In that day when the Lord shall give to each of His servants according
as their work shall be, the lady who taught that beggar child a hymn
about His love and glory, and won her heart to Him with a kiss of
Christian charity, will in no wise lose her reward.
The Book in the Court.
ITS TRUTH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account