ANNA was in the habit of taking off her gloves as soon as she got outside the door; and very often her mother had told her not to do it; still she did it again and again. One day Anna, her parents and myself went out driving. She wore a pair of handsome, new gloves. When we had ridden for about half an hour, she noticed that one of her gloves was gone. Her father was very angry at her disobedience, and said that she must get out of the buggy, and look for it. We would ride on and Anna could wait for our return, or else go home if she wished.
It was a lovely day in the month of June, and Anna knew the way home very well, so that it was quite safe for her; still I did not like the idea of leaving her behind alone. She was very timid and nervous as I knew, so I asked her father if I might remain and help her in the search. He, however, thought it was better not, and we rode on.
We were about two hours on the way, when we turned homeward. My thoughts were often with little Anna, wondering if she had found her glove, and if she had gone home; and I kept looking for the spot where we had left her. At last we reached it; but there was no Anna. We drove on, and in another quarter of an hour saw her standing by the roadside. She looked very happy, but her swollen, reel face showed plainly what she had gone through. She held up her glove, and told us that a man had found it, and given it back to her.
When we reached home. Anna went to her room, and I did not see her again until after supper.
I had gone to my room to dress, as I was going to a Bible-reading in a near-by village, and Anna came to me to ask if she might go with me. I said, “Yes,” as I knew that her mother wished it. She ran away to put on her hat, and came quickly back again. There was something unusual in her way of acting, and I was curious to know what was going on in her mind. I had not long to wait, as we were scarcely out of the house when she said, joyfully,
“O, I am so happy, now I know Jesus!”
“How did that happen, Anna?” I asked: “tell me.” Then she told me the following, which I will give you in her own words.
“When the buggy left, I felt very, lonely, and I was afraid; but all at once I thought to myself, if it is true what Auntie tells me so often, that Jesus is always near us, and knows all about us. and loves us so much, then surely He knows, that I am here, and He knows too, where my glove is. I will ask Him, and find out of it is really true. I fell on my knees, and prayed:
‘O, Lord Jesus! did You really die for me? Do You really live now in heaven? Is it true that You love me? O, dear Lord Jesus! think of me, and let me find my glove!’
I was so happy when I was on my knees, and I felt, that Jesus was really near me, that He was listening to what I was saying, and when I stood up, I was sure that I would find my glove. I was not at all afraid any more, and it seemed as if everything around me looked more beautiful than it did before.
I walked on some distance, looking around for my glove. Some moments later, a man came to me, and said;
‘Well, little girl, what are you looking for?’ I told him that I had lost a new, brown leather glove. He smiled, and said: ‘Well, I think this must be it,’ and he handed it to me. I was so glad, and thanked him again and again. When he went away, I knelt down behind the hedge and thanked the Lord Jesus for His great love, for I knew that it was through Him that the man had given me my glove, and that He had heard my prayer. I did not go home, because I thought it so pleasant to stand there in the sunshine, thinking of His goodness. and of how He was always near me. You see,” she added, “I, too, know your Saviour, the Lord Jesus, and now He is mine, also.”
ML 07/16/1922