FREDDIE went for a three months’ holiday to his aunt’s pretty country house, which was surrounded by lovely green fields. A charming stream of clear water in which there were lots of fine spotted trout, flowed through the grounds, and Freddie’s delight was to stand on the wooden bridge watching the trout leaping in the sunshine. But what I want specially to tell you about Freddie is, that he was a converted boy, and he was not as some little boys known to me are, ashamed to confess Christ as his Saviour. His aunt was very kind, and so were his cousins, but there was no daily reading of God’s Word or prayer in their home, and Freddie was much surprised at this. On the first Lord’s Day morning that Freddie was at his aunt’s, she asked him to have a walk with her by the riverside; but when she asked if he would like to look for nests among the shrubbery, the little fellow replied,
“Not. on the Lord’s Day, auntie.”
At breakfast there was no thanksgiving before food, but Freddie bowed his head and gave thanks. There was no evening prayer, but the dear boy bent his knees by his bedside before lying down. All this began to have a wonderful effect in that worldly home, and I believe was used of God to show his Christianity, to which they were strangers.
An incident happened one day which gave the dear boy’s testimony favor in the eyes of the whole household. Playing in the meadow with his little cousins one bright day, his aunt being only a few yards off, Clara a little girl of five years fell into the water. The current was pretty strong, and she was quickly borne along. Freddie heard the cry and ran to the water’s edge. There he saw Clara being carried down by the current. Quick as thought, the brave boy ran to the wooden bridge, lay down flat on the spars, and stretching down his right hand, caught Clara’s dress as she passed. He was unable to pull her up, but a loud cry brought her mother to his aid, and in a few minutes Clara was drawn out of the water. Freddie was kissed all round that night. When he was saying good-night to his aunt, he whispered,
“Jesus helped me to save Clara. I cried to Him to do it.”
That word was never forgotten. No doubt it was true, and it proved the reality of his simple trust in Christ. Years have passed, and Freddie is no longer a little boy.
In one of the busy cities he carries on a large business, and his delight is still to speak well of Jesus who saved him in his very early days. His aunt and her household are all saved and on the way to glory, and she gladly acknowledges that Freddie’s clear testimony to the Lord Jesus first turned her thoughts to Christ.
How grand it is to be saved in early days, and to be the means of pointing others to the Saviour.
Jesus calls to you, dear one,
“Everything is fully done.
Come to Me, receive My love,
Come and live with Me above.”
ML 10/05/1924