HERE was a little girl named Hannah, who lived with her parents a long way from any place where the gospel was preached, and she was not able to go so far. But once in a while a preacher used to go to the outskirts of the city, and those who lived in that district could attend without going so many miles.
Well, once when the preacher came to the part near where Hannah lived, she was very anxious to go and hear the preaching.
Her parents were very poor, and Hannah’s clothes were thought too shabby for her to sit with the other people. This, however, did not baffle Hannah, her desire was so great to hear the preacher, that she asked if she might stay in the kitchen, and listen there, instead of going into the parlor, as the meeting was to be held in a farmhouse. This was agreed to, and though a great many from the neighborhood came to hear the preaching, no one was more attentive than Hannah, as she hid herself behind the kitchen door.
She had never been to a Sunday School, and she never before had heard that Jesus Christ had died on the cross for sinners. The text was John 4:2929Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29).
“Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?”
The sermon was all about the Lord Jesus Christ, and every word seemed to enter the soul of Hannah.
Hannah was a changed girl, and she used to delight to tell her playmates about Jesus; and when she had learned a hymn, she used to teach it to others. One day she invited her playfellows to meet her by a great rock where they used to play. When there, she said to them, “I do not think I shall live a great while, but I am not afraid to die I have given myself to Christ.”
A short time after this, on returning from a visit to her grandmother, she lay down on her mother’s bed, and said,
“I think I shall never go out again; I shall not live long, but I am not afraid to die.”
Her mother thought this very strange, for the child did not seem to be very sick. But she grew worse, and the doctor and minister came. Her face brightened up, when she saw the minister, who asked, among other things, “And are you not afraid to die, my child?”
“I can trust myself with my blessed Saviour,” was her reply.
“But, Hannah, would you not rather get well, and live with your parents and brothers and sisters?” he added.
“O, no! sir,” she said; Christ is best, and I love Him best.”
She was very anxious about her father and mother, who were not believers. Her illness was short, but her departure was a happy one. She was so in love with her Saviour, that she had no desire to get well and stay here. She had never been to the Sunday School, and had never heard the gospel preached but once, and yet she was saved.
After reading this account, ought we not all to be careful how we listen the next time we hear the gospel, that we as well as Hannah may get blessing thereby, for we know not what a day may bring forth, or how soon we may be called to leave this earth! Then where shall we spend our never-ending eternity? With Christ in glory; or with fiends in despair?
ML 06/18/1916