THREE SMALL girls went out to spend Saturday afternoon tether in the country. Tripping happily along the road, and chatting together as friends like to do, they did not see a big bull coming through a field toward them. Tossing his head up and down, it was evident he meant mischief. Suddenly the three girls were startled by a loud snort, and then they saw the infuriated animal, his tail high in the air, rushing towards them. The little girls screamed in terror, and a moment later they were seen running towards town with the bull in full chase behind them. Very soon he would overtake them, and what the consequences might have been is terrible to think.
It so happened that Charlie, the farmer’s boy, was working in a nearby field. Attracted by the girls’ screaming and seeing the wild animal dashing after them, he ran out onto the road just in time to get between the bull and the children.
For a moment Charlie hesitated; then seizing a stick which he had found, he raised it high over his head. For a moment the bull paused, but then putting his head down he made a rush at Charlie, threw him against the wall, piercing one of his legs with his horns. Poor Charlie lay there for over an hour, his leg bleeding, and unable to rise. The girls reached home safely and told their father what had happened. Immediately he set off down the road to find the boy. They took Charlie to the hospital, and though the doctor thought he would live, he said he would have to stay there for a long time.
The next day the three little girls were allowed into the ward to see the boy who had saved them from the wild bull at such a cost to himself. Twice a week they went to see him, and then one afternoon Janie, the youngest of the three, was accompanied by her father. She was a sweet little singer and in her simplicity, thinking Charlie would like to hear a hymn, she sang: “Jesus loves me; this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Charlie listened with great interest, and several of the patients in the ward sat up to catch the words of the little singer. Before Janie had finished the hymn, some of the nurses had crept into the ward and stood listening. When her hymn was ended, she was surprised to find so many listeners. Everyone was dighted, and asked her to come again, so for many weeks Janie and her two little friends visited Charlie’s ward, and sang the hymn to the other patients, “The Old, Old Story of Jesus and His love.” Janie’s father too came and read the Bible, and spoke of Him who is mighty to save.
There were some there who possibly had never heard the simple gospel before. At any rate, they had not trusted on the Lord, but God used the little singers as His messengers to carry the wonderful words of life to weary hearts there. Before Charlie left the hospital, he had trusted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and knew His saving power. Besides, three or four more there were made happy in the knowledge of salvation. For many weeks and months that hospital ward was the scene of God’s saving power, some of the patients, nurses and visitors being converted there. Janie, now grown to a tall young girl, for a long time delighted still to pay her weekly visit to “Charlie’s ward,” as they called it, and Charlie, no longer a sufferer there, went forth to make known the story of the Saviour’s love far and wide.
“Whoso putteth His trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Prov. 29:25.
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16.
“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.” John 10:11.
ML-11/27/1966