"I don't suppose there's any tea left in the cupboard, is there, Emmy? You're sure you looked carefully? I am so thirsty for a cup of tea!"
Little Emmy shook her head as she looked at her sick father anxiously. "I looked again, Daddy, it's all gone. I'll get you some water. Are you sure you don't want me to run for the doctor?"
"I should have the doctor, dear, but I cannot. It would cost at least two dollars to get him to come, and we don't have it. I don't even have enough money to buy a bit of tea."
It was all very puzzling to the little six year old girl, but in a moment her face brightened. "I know what I'll do! I'm going to ask God to send us some tea, and some money to get the doctor to come!" Then after a moment's thought she added, "And I think I'll ask Him for a pair of red shoes, too!" Emmy had had a secret longing for red shoes, and now, in their time of real need she suddenly remembered she could surely tell their heavenly Father all about it!
Emmy's mother and father had come to Mexico to be missionaries, and had not been there long before Emmy's mother died. Now, although she was still such a very little girl she was a great help to her father in many ways. There was much that she had learned to do about the house, and she often ran errands for him. Now that her father was so sick that he could not get out of bed it was frightening to Emmy. Then she remembered how foolish it was to be troubled when they only needed to tell God all about it!
Sitting out on the steps Emmy looked up and down the dusty street. It was late afternoon and the few people in sight seemed to be hurrying homeward. As she watched, a man turned from the street and came toward her house. He had a small package in his hand which he held out to her, saying, "Here's a little present for your father! We had some guests a while ago and we got some tea for them. After their visit we didn't know what to do with what we had left, for we all much prefer our good coffee. Just today I happened to remember that your father is an Englishman, and probably would enjoy it!"
Emmy thanked him joyously and ran into the house to put the tea kettle on the stove. The father drank his tea with real appreciation as he listened to her story, and together they thanked the Lord. Then Emmy announced,
"We still need money for the doctor, so I'd better go out and wait for God to send that now!"
Before long another Mexican stopped before her, and taking his wallet from his pocket he said, "I borrowed two dollars from your father a while ago, and I am able to pay him back now. Will you take this to him for me?"
"I never expected to be repaid," marveled Emmy's father. "God must have put it on his heart to bring it now when we need it!"
So it was that with her father's permission Emmy's little feet were soon flying down the street to get the doctor. The doctor brought medicine, and gave good advice, and the father was soon resting much more comfortably. When they said goodnight it had grown dark outside, and it was bed time for Emmy.
"I guess I'll have to wait 'til morning for my red shoes," she told her father as she kissed him and turned to climb into her own little bed for the night.
The next morning, after breakfast, an expectant little girl sat out on the front steps, waiting for God to send her a pair of red shoes. In the house, still on his sick bed, but feeling much more rested and refreshed, her father was thanking the Lord for His goodness to them, and praying for his motherless little girl.
Soon a man with a package under his arm approached Emmy and began to tell her this story: "Little girl, I'm a shoe maker. Quite a long time ago some tourists were visiting our town and they came to me to buy a pair of shoes for their little girl. They didn't care for the sandals or harachis most of our children wear here. I had to send away for some red leather to make her a pair of real shoes. When I was through, and they had gone on their way, I found I had enough leather left to make a second pair, so I did so. Now these shoes have been sitting on my shelf for many months and no one has wanted to buy them. I do not like to see them become old, the leather dry and cracked, with no one making use of them. Then I thought of the missionary's little girl who wears shoes. If they fit you, you may have them!"
With happy excitement Emmy pulled off her old shoes and slipped her feet into the lovely new red ones. Of course they fit! They had been made to order, special order by a loving heavenly Father in answer to the prayer of a little girl who believed in Him!