Blanche’s was a young girl about fourteen years old who lived in the Tyrol district of Europe some years ago. She was an only child, and neither she nor her parents knew of the Lord Jesus who had done so much for them.
Her first great sorrow was the death of her mother. Her death-bed had been a sad and sorrowful one, for though the parish clergyman visited her several times and assured her that the prayers, oil, and ashes that he offered for her were enough to secure her eternal happiness, she was not happy. There was no loving voice to tell her of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“How can I know? How can I be sure I shall ever reach heaven at all?” the mother would ask Blanche. Still no gleam of light, no word of comfort brought peace to her soul.
Her mother’s death was a shock from which Blanche did not seem to recover. She grew pale and thinner, and at last was so ill that her father became alarmed. Paul, an old and faithful servant of the family, suggested she come with him to join a party of their neighbors who were going to visit their friends who were tending their flocks upon the mountains, where he hoped the fresh air would do much to restore her health and spirits.
Paul asked her what it was that was troubling her, and she said, “I am very unhappy, and cannot forget the deated of my dear mother. The clergyman’s visit gave her no comfort. I, too, must die, and the fear of that dreadful hour seems always before my mind. I can’t eat or sleep without thinking of it.”
After a pause, she continued, “Do you remember my father’s old shepherd Walter and his daughter Sophia? She was a good and gentle girl, and my mother loved her. When Sophia became ill, I visited her the day before she died, and she did not seem afraid to die, for she looked so happy. My father was very displeased when he found me there, and then he dismissed Walter from our service. I have not seen him since then, but I often wish I could ask him what made his daughter so happy.”
“Somewhere on these hills he keeps the flocks of his present master, Gaspard Pascilin,” said Paul. “These people are different, and I have known several whose lives were happy and their deaths peaceful.”
“Do take me to see Walter,” pleaded Blanche. After walking two miles they came in sight of Walter’s master’s home. Mrs. Pascilin received Blanche most kindly, and as Walter was keeping sheep on the mountains, he would not return till sunset. But before evening, Blanche had heard the wonderful story of the love of God in the gift of His Son.
Very simply and gladly Blanche received the truth as it is in Jesus; fear and gloom gave place to joy and peace in believing. Walter gave her his daughter Sophia’s well-worn Bible.
Two weeks later she returned to her father’s house, and her health and spirits had greatly improved. Her father found her one day reading her loved Bible, and took it from her, ordering her to leave the house and never return to it unless she gave up her faith. She obeyed in tears and trembling, and old Paul, who had also found Christ as his Saviour, guided her to the home of Gaspard Pascilin, whose service he entered. A few years later Blanche became the loving wife of his only son Frederick, so proving the truth of that word, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Psa. 27:1010When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (Psalm 27:10).
“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
ML 12/27/1959