ONE morning while a Sunday-school teacher was engaged with her pupils, she was informed that a young man wished to see her. She went to the door and found a well-dressed person waiting there.
As soon as he saw her he smiled and addressed her in a very familiar manner, calling her by name, offered her his hand and inquired of her welfare.
Seeing that she did not recognize him, he said:
“You do not know me?”
“No, I do not,” she said.
“I am one of your old pupils; my name is Joseph H.”
She then knew him immediately, took him to her home and had some conversation with him. She soon found, to her great joy, that he was a Christian and that her labors had not been in vain with him, though while in her class there was not the slightest appearance of such a result. No! he was truly a misbehaved, troublesome boy. He often grieved her by his misconduct and nothing seemed to move him, so hardened did he appear to be. Hence she was somewhat glad when he left the school, and when he left the town to enter the world for a living she never expected to see him again, or to hear of him. But God’s ways are not ours, neither are His thoughts ours.
“He moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform.”
What He pleases, when He pleases, how He pleases, that He does; and when He works no one can prevent Him.
In conversation Joseph referred to his behavior when at school and expressed deep sorrow for it, greatly lamenting that he had given her so much trouble. He also told her that often he and a companion, after they left the school, had gone into a field and sat down under the hedge and cried because they had given her so much trouble and behaved so badly.
After he had left the town and was a little settled, much which she had said in the Bible lesson was, by the Holy Spirit, brought home to his mind by which he was convinced that he was a lost, ruined, helpless sinner, and for months he was so deeply affected and distressed that he often despaired of salvation.
Soon after this the Lord was pleased to manifest Himself to him and showed him that He had died for him and that His blood had washed away his sins, that he was clothed in righteousness, and accepted in Him, his heart was filled with joy and he was able to rejoice in Christ and His salvation. And now for a few years he had been living a life of faith, was a Sunday-school teacher and was adorning the doctrine of God his Saviour.
His teacher rejoiced greatly with him and they had a blessed time together. They parted believing that they shall meet again in the presence of their Lord.
ML 08/25/1918