ONE night, after our cottage meeting, Mrs. B., whose aunt had adopted little Anetta as her child, said to me, “Anetta is very ill, and has asked to see you several times; we fear she may not live over tonight.”
I had heard before of this dear little girl, who had attended our simple meetings with many other children. One day she had been playing the game which children know well, of pulling her fingers to hear the joints crack, and, while so doing, had injured one of her fingers so badly that the doctor said it must be cut off or it would cause her death; and now Anetta was very ill. I at once followed Mrs. B. to the house where the little girl was. There lay the dear child, propped up with pillows, her face distinctly showing that her young life was drawing to a close. She was so thin that one could almost see the bones through the transparent skin; but oh, what a sweet smile was on her face! ―I shall never forget it; it spoke of a brighter place than this poor world.
I read the beautiful verses in Revelation 7:9-179After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:9‑17) that tell us of heaven, and spoke about the beautiful place, and of how fond we all were in our meetings of singing about it, as in the pretty hymns―
“There is rest for little children,
Above the bright blue sky,”
And―
“There is a happy land,
Far, far away.”
But who are those who were to be there? Those who had their robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb. Dear Anetta liked so much to hear what I was saying. I then quoted that sweet hymn―
“Jesus, who lives above the sky,
Came down to be a man and die,”
and asked the dear child, “Anetta, are you happy?”
“Oh, yes,” she said.
“And you do love Jesus?”
“Oh, yes, I do.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because He died for me,” was the grand reply.
Anxious to test the dear little one, I asked again, “How do you know that He died for you?”
“Because the Bible says so,” was her answer, so clearly and so trustfully given.
Oh, what a beautiful testimony of perfect trust in the Lord! And are not these His own words: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”?
The following day I found Anetta weaker, but oh so bright and happy. She knew she was going home to Jesus, so I asked her whether she was sorry to go.
“Oh no, but” ―and she paused― “I am sorry for mamma.” So we prayed that the mother might have strength given her to bear up under the sad trial.
The poor mother, who was a widow, burst into tears, and said she did not know how to bear it, for Anetta was her only treasure down here, and it was so hard to lose her. She then told me that she had been saying to Anetta how hard it was of God to take her away, and the dear child had said quite sternly, “Mamma, you must not say that; God loves us, and does everything for our good. Perhaps we have not loved Him as much as we ought, and so He is taking me away to make you think more about Him. But it won’t be for long, mamma dear; Jesus will soon call you too. I think it is so good of the Lord Jesus to take me first, because He knows you can manage better for a little time alone than I could.”
The following day I was called away from home for a fortnight, and just before I left I saw my dear little friend again and bade her “good-bye.” She quite hoped to see me again on my return, but I felt sure it would not be until we were together round the throne, singing glory to the Lamb who was slain for us; and she passed away into the presence of her Lord and Saviour ten days afterward.
Just before Anetta died, she told her mother she had been dreaming sweetly about Jesus, and that He was calling for her. The doctor and the neighbors all spoke about Anetta’s happy face and sweet ways, and after her death her mother found among her belongings a number of texts she had written out in pencil which were special favorites of hers.
May the Lord, in His grace, use this little account of Anetta’s early death to speak to you, dear children; for the things we see are but for a time, and how vain it is to be occupied with the pleasures of this world, and to forget that “Now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation.” J. S. A.