It was a bright afternoon, and a little class of girls were down at the sea-shore with their teacher, spending a few hours by the big sea waves. They romped on the sand, gathered shells, caught little crabs in the pools, and otherwise enjoyed themselves immensely. One little girl, named Bally, got away from the rest somehow, and when the train came up to the little station, she was not to be found. The others had to go, and she was left behind. There were other classes there that day from the same train, so Barty was not so much put about, but her teacher had all the tickets, her’s included, so what was she to do.
“You cannot go without a ticket, miss,” said the collector, and Barty had neither ticket nor money to buy one.
A young-man on the platform overheard the remark and putting his hand into his pocket, drew forth the money, with which he bought a return ticket, and gave it to Barty. She was all smiles then, and thanked him very much. Next day, the teacher told the story to her class, and added,
“That kind gentleman was like the Lord Jesus, who, when we had nothing to pay, paid our fare, and provided free tickets to heaven for us.”
I do not think that Barty knew her need of a Saviour that day, or saw the full meaning of Jesus paying for her, but not long after, she learned her lost condition, and when she had “nothing to pay,” took from Jesus as a free gift, a passport for glory, even that which. He purchased with His own blood.
ML 06/25/1939