IN BOSTON one day a pale-faced little girl walked hurriedly into a bookstore and said to the man at the counter: “Please, sir, I want a book that’s got ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me’ in it; and how much is it, sir? I’m in a great hurry.”
The bookseller looked down at the little child and taking her thin hand in his said, “What do you want the book for, my dear, and why are you in such a hurry?”
“Well, sir, I went to Sunday School last Sunday and the teacher read about the Good Shepherd who loved little children and who said those words. And the teacher told us about a beautiful home where He takes care of His little children and makes them all happy, and I want to go there.”
“But why are you in such a hurry?” he asked her again.
“Because I may not be here very long and besides, she went on, “the lady that takes care of me, if she knew I was going to spend my money that way, she’d take it away from me, so I’m in a hurry to buy the Book.”
The bookseller wiped his glasses and taking a Bible from the shelf he said kindly, “I’ll find you the words you want, my dear; listen while I read them.” Then turning to Luke 18:15, 1615And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:15‑16) he read: “And they brought unto Him also infants, that He would touch them: but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” And then he told her about the Good Shepherd, how He came down from heaven to seek and to save the lost sheep; how He suffered and died for sinners that we might live, and he told her about the bright and beautiful home in heaven which He has prepared for all those who love Him.
“Oh how nice that is!” said the earnest little listener. “He says, ‘Come.’ I’d like to see Him.”
The kind Christian bookseller turned away to hide the tears that were running down his cheeks. “You can keep your ten cents,” he said, “but you come here every day and I’ll read to you some more out of this Book.”
The little girl thanked him and hurried away. The next day, and the next, and many days passed but the little child never came to hear about Jesus again. Some time after a coarse-looking woman came into the bookstore and addressing the bookseller said, “Dixie’s gone! She died talking about the Good Shepherd and she said that you were to have these ten cents for the missionary box at your Sunday school.”
Throwing the ten cents on the counter, she hurried out of the store.
The ten cents were put into the missionary box. Next Sunday the story of little Dixie was told to the Sunday school. So many hearts were touched that day that we believe some of the children came to the Saviour and devoted their lives to help finding out lost sheep and bringing them to the Lord Jesus.
ML-09/23/1973