"Mother, Mrs. Oats is very sick!" Ruth said as she came in the door, looking very sad. "Mama, she is sick; she is awful sick. I"m sorry for her. What shall we do for her? Let"s go into the other room and pray and ask Jesus what he wants me to do."
So Mother and her little girl went into the other room and knelt down.
Ruth began to pray and ask Jesus what she should do for Mrs. Oats. And all of a sudden she jumped up and said, "Jesus told me what to do. He told me to go over and lay my hands on her and pray for her, and he would heal her." And without an answer, Ruth, who was just six years old ran out the door and didn"t stop running till she was at Mrs. Oat"s bedside.
"Turn over here, Mrs. Oats," Ruth said, as she laid her hand on Mrs.
Oats" shoulder. "I came over here to pray for you and Jesus is going to heal you."
Mrs. Oats replied, "Well, pray for me, you blessed little angel; if the Lord would hear anyone"s prayers, he would hear yours."
Ruth laid her hands on her and prayed for her and the Lord instantly healed her. She got up and dressed and came over and told Ruth"s mother what Ruth had done.
--Essie Wilson
THE DYING GIRL"S PRAYER FOR HER DRUNKEN FATHER
A child from a poor family had an intemperate father, who often used to abuse his wife and children. This child had been to the Sunday School-- had become pious. The physician told the father that his little girl would die. No! he did not believe it. Yes, she will--she must die in a few hours. The father hastened to the bedside; would not part with her, he said.
"Yes, father, you must part with me; I am going to Jesus. Promise me two things. One is, that you won"t abuse mother any more, and will drink no more whiskey."
He promised in a solemn, steady manner. The little girl"s face lighted up with joy.
"The other thing is, promise me that you will PRAY," said the child.
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"I cannot pray; don"t know how," said the poor man.
"Father, kneel down, please. There, take the words after me. I will pray-- I learned how to pray in Sunday School and G.o.d has taught me how to pray, too; my heart prays, and you must let your heart pray. Now say the words."
And she began in her simple language to pray to the Savior of sinners.
After a little he began to repeat after her; as he went on his heart was interested, and he broke out into an earnest prayer for himself; bewailed his sins, confessed and promised to forsake them; entered into covenant with G.o.d; light broke out in his darkness; how long he prayed he did not know; he seemed to have forgotten his child in his prayer. When he came to himself he raised his head from the bed on which he had rested it; there lay the little speaker, a lovely smile was upon the face, her hand was in that of the father, but she had gone to be among the angels.
--_Power of Prayer_ by Prime.
LOST TREASURES
"Come, Mamie, darling," said Mrs. Peterson, "before you go into the land of dreams you will kneel at my knee and thank your heavenly Father for what he has given you today."
Mamie came slowly towards her mother, and said, "I"ve been very naughty, and I can"t pray, Mama."
"If you"ve been naughty dear, that is the more reason that you need to pray."
"But, Mama, I don"t think G.o.d wants little girls to come to Him when they are naughty."
"You are not naughty now, my dear, are you?"
"No, I am not naughty now."
"Well, then come at once."
"What shall I say to G.o.d about it, Mama?"
"You can tell G.o.d how very sorry you are."
"What difference will that make?"
"When we have told G.o.d that we are sorry, and when he has forgiven us, then we are as happy as if we had not done wrong; but we cannot undo the mischief."
"Then, Mama, I can never be quite as rich as if I had not had a naughty hour today."
"Never, my dear; but the thought of your loss may help you to be more careful in the future, and we will ask G.o.d to keep you from sinning against him again."
--Selected
THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DIED TO SAVE HER FATHER"S LIFE
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My dear little friend: I want to tell you about a little girl in Switzerland who died to save her father"s life. I hope it will lead you to think of Him who died a dreadful death on the cross, that we might be saved from sin and sorrow here, and at last dwell with Him in bright mansions in the skies.
This little girl lived near a deep ravine at the foot of one of the mountains in Switzerland. A huge rock had fallen down the mountain side, and lodged in the ravine, and thus made a natural bridge, so that those who wished to pa.s.s from one side of the mountain to the other, could cross the bridge.
The mother of the child was an earnest Christian, and often told her daughter about the blessed Savior, who died in the place of sinners, who deserved to be punished that they might be forgiven and saved in heaven. And she told her also that unless she came to Jesus, and trusted in Him, she would be lost forever. At first the little girl did not care very much about what her mother said, but at last the mother"s prayer was answered. Her little one felt herself to be a lost sinner, and that Christ alone could save her. G.o.d"s spirit taught her that Jesus had paid the debt, and that He stood with open arms ready to receive her, and wash her sins away. Then she felt sure that heaven would be her home forever. Her father was not a Christian. He never gathered his loved ones around the family altar.
One day when about to cross the deep ravine upon the rock bridge, the mother saw that it was just ready to fall. The frost had loosened it.
She told her little child that if she ever crossed it again it would fall, and she would be dashed in pieces.
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The next day the father told his child that he was going over to the other side across the bridge. She told him it was not safe, but he only laughed at her. He said he had been across it before she was born, and that he was not afraid. When the dear little thing saw that he was determined to go she asked if she could go with him.
While they were walking along together, she looked up into her father"s face, and said: "Father, if I should die, will you promise to love Jesus and meet me in heaven?"
"Pshaw!" he said, "what put such a wild thought into your head? You are not going to die, I hope. You are only a wee thing and will live many years."
"Yes, but if I should die, will you promise to love Jesus just as I do, and meet me in heaven?"
"But you are not going to die. Don"t speak of it," he said.
"But if I should die, do promise, Father, you will be a good Christian and come up and live with Jesus and me in heaven."