ONE morning at breakfast, about a week after May's return home, Mr. Graham said, “Here is a letter for you, May. It has the Sandport postmark, so it must be from one of your cousins.”
“Oh! is it from Mattie?"exclaimed May." Yes, that's her writing, I am so glad, I wanted to hear from her.”
May was pleased when she could steal away by herself to read the letter alone. Since she had left Sandport Mattie had been much in her thoughts; she had been so sorry to leave her before she had found peace. Could this letter be to say that she, too, had come to Jesus? With trembling hands she tore it open and eagerly glanced it through, and then commenced to read it carefully.
“MY DEAR MAY,
“Thank you so much for sending me the little books, they did so help me. After reading them, I prayed that I might be clothed with righteousness, and I think God has heard me, for I feel so happy. I think I have really found Jesus, and I am trusting Him to save me. I want to do some work for Him, so I am going to have a class at the Sunday school. I shall get the children to read the scriptures, and lend them our magazines. I do so miss you, especially now Bertie has gone. I am so glad you came here; perhaps if you had not I might never have come to Jesus, nor Bertie either. I often thank God that He sent you here. Good-bye, May dear, and mind you are to come and see us again soon.
“Your loving cousin,
“MATTIE HAMILTON.”
How pleased Miss Chester will be, thought May, as she finished reading the fetter, I will go and show it her.
“Miss Chester," she exclaimed, running into the schoolroom, "here's a letter from Mattie, would you like to see it?
“It contains good news, I see," said Miss Chester, with a smile, as she looked up at May's bright face.
May stood watching Miss Chester as she read the letter.
“Shall we thank God, May dear?" she said, as she returned it; "it is all His work; you planted,. but He gave the increase.'
“Miss Chester, "said May presently," if you had not taught me, I should not have helped Bertie, and then he would not have had the services; and Fred, too, you taught him, and then he got the boys at his school to read their Bibles.”
“To God be all the praise, dear, for using my poor efforts to bring so many of His lambs into the fold. There are some beautiful lines called 'The Watered Lilies,' showing how, if we want to be used by the Master, we must keep close to Him. Shall I read them to you?”
“Oh, please, Miss Chester!”
“the Watered Lilies.
"The Master stood in His garden
Among the lilies fair,
Which His own right hand had planted,
And trained with tenderest care;
"My lilies need to be watered,”
The heavenly Master said;
“Wherein shall I draw it for them,
And raise each drooping head?”
Close to His feet on the pathway,
Empty, and frail, and small,
An earthen vessel was lying
Which seemed no use at all.
But to the fountain He took it,
And filled it to the brim;
How glad was the earthen vessel
To be of use to Him
And to itself it whispered,
As He laid it aside once more;
“Still will I lie in His pathway,
Just where I did before.
Close would I keep to the Master,
Empty would I remain;
And perhaps some day He may use me,
To water His flowers again.”
If you wish to serve the Master, May, you must be like an earthen vessel and keep close to Him, and be ready for any service, no matter how small it is, that He gives you to do. Some little word you speak for Jesus, which perhaps you may think will not do much good, may by His blessing be the means of bringing hundreds of souls to Him. I will tell you a story to show what I mean.
“Here's Winnie coming," exclaimed May. "Winnie, you are just in time, Miss Chester was going to tell me a story.”
A little boy, commenced Miss Chester, named John Williams was one Sunday evening loitering at a corner of a London street, waiting for some bad companions; when a good woman who knew him, passing by to church, asked him to go with her. He went, and heard words by which he was saved. He became the "Apostle of the South Seas." I suppose he has been the means of bringing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of souls to Jesus. Think how pleased that good woman must have been, if she lived to read of his noble work.
Neither of the children spoke for a minute or two, for the story had made a great impression on them both, then Winnie broke the silence by saying—"When I am a woman, I mean to be a missionary.”
I could not wish anything better for you, my child. It is a great privilege to be able to give one's self wholly to work for Christ.”
“Do you think when I am grown up I could be a missionary also? "asked May.
“I do not know, dear; but if your will is entirely given up to Christ, He will use you, as it seems best to Him, whether it be at home or abroad.”
“Miss Chester, "said May, breaking the silence which followed," you haven't given us the parable of The Talents; ' have you got it?”
“No, dear, I gave it away; but if you like I will read to you a hymn of one of God's workers, which speaks of giving hands, feet, lips, intellect, heart and money, all to God—of using every talent we have for God's service. Here it is—
"Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise;
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
"Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee;
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
"Take my will and make it Thin,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne;
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.”
“You both, dear children, have the knowledge of Him; that is the best talent you could have. Don't hide it, look forward to the blessed time that is coming when those who serve Jesus will hear the Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
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