A YOUNG girl came bounding into the room with a little note, saying,
“Here, Johnnie, is an invitation for you to Mrs. V’s,” and in a moment little Johnnie’s eyes sparkled at the thought of such a treat.
“But is it for me?” he said to his sister, for though the little fellow had often heard of the wonders of the magic-lantern, and of the cakes at Mrs. V’s children’s parties, he had never been invited before in all his life. And why do you think he had not been asked before?
His brothers and sisters had often been. Was he a very naughty boy? Was he a poor, little, sick child? These were not the reasons. Johnnie was too little to be asked before, but this year the invitation, so neatly written upon the pretty pink paper, said,
“All the children.” So there could be no mistake; Johnnie was one of the children—one of the all; he was therefore quite sure he was invited, and you may guess he was full of glee.
He counted the days, almost the hours, till the wonderful evening should come; he talked about it to his mother, his nurse, and to everybody he met when he was out for a walk; he even told some persons whom he had never seen before, that he was going to Mrs. V’s; he had only one fear, and that was, lest perhaps anything should happen to hinder him in going. Indeed, I feel sure little Johnnie enjoyed himself more in thinking about going to the party, than the party itself, and fancied it would be much more wonderful than it really was.
The Bible is God’s letter to us; it is full of the story of His love; in it the way of salvation, and of happiness is plainly and simply told, and all its blessings are ours the moment we stretch out the hand of faith, and take God’s Word as His very word to us.
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Math. 11:28.
“Come!” ‘tis Jesus gently calling,
“Ye with care and toil oppressed,
With your guilt howe’er appalling—
Come, and I will give you rest.”
For your sin He “once has suffered,”
On the cross the work was done,
And the word by God now uttered
To each weary soul is, “Come!”
ML 02/24/1924