A LITTLE girl who must be called by her pet name of “Litti (for this is a true story, and I am going to tell you about a real living child), had one day been greatly frightened by hearing some silly tales of ghosts and hobgoblins from her nursemaid. It is very wrong to frighten children in this way, and I would advise our young readers not to listen to anything of the kind.
Poor little Litti was so much disturbed in her mind that as she went up to bed that night she started from her own shadow on the wall, and fancied she heard other footsteps on the stairs. So she did, for her aunt, who did not know the cause of alarm, but saw something was wrong with the child, followed her to her room, and dismissing the maid, undressed her little charge herself.
Litti was comfortably tucked in, but Litti could not go to sleep. Directly her aunt made a motion to leave the room, the blue eyes unclosed and the child became watchful. Once she whispered—
“Aunt Jane, you are not going away?”
“Hurry and go to sleep, or I shall have to call Martha to take my place,” was the reply.
You may think this did not help poor Litti. Her aunt, perceiving that something was really troubling her, said:
“Suppose you ask God to make you forget whatever is keeping you awake.”
Litti knelt up in bed and did as she was directed. Then she laid down again, the blue eyes closed, and she was soon fast asleep.
Young friends, do you know this way of getting rid of a trouble? Try it. Pray about everything. Pray at all times, and everywhere.
The Lord attends when children pray;
A whisper He can hear;
He knows not only what we say,
But what we wish or fear.
‘Tis not enough to bend the knee,
And words of prayer to say;
The heart must with the lips agree,
Or else we do not pray.
He sees us when we are alone,
Though no one else can see;
And all our thoughts to Him are known,
Whatever they may be.
ML 08/20/1916