"How Little Lily Was Saved Out of the Well."

From: Good News for Young and Old: Volume 19 (1877)

Some little time ago, whilst visiting the village of C―, ill Berkshire, I called at a cottage to see a Christian woman and her husband, when the following story was rated to me about a little girl that was sitting by the fireside. She was an adopted child, about six years of age, and her name was Elizabeth W—, but usually called “Lily”:—

A few yards from the cottage door, which was one of three or four in a row, there was a well some sixty or seventy feet in depth, and one day Lily had gone out to play in the garden, and as she was standing on some paling very near the well, her little foot slipped, and the poor child fell down the well into the water. Her screams were heard, and the man and his wife ran out; their first thought, of course, was to save the child, but how was it to be done? for the old well-rope was not strong enough to bear a man’s weight. But, my dear little readers, man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and so it proved on this occasion. He who knows the end from the beginning, without whose knowledge not even a sparrow falls to the ground, had not forgotten poor little Lily, and showed, as you will see, His wonderful care over her. The man immediately ran to a neighboring farmhouse, where he was kindly lent a strong new cart-line, with which he hastened to the well, and just at the moment two men passed down the road, and came at once to help. Lily, after falling down into the water, which was about fifteen feet deep, came up again to the surface, dreadfully frightened, but not much hurt, and, stretching out her little hands, clasped hold of some slight projection from the side of the well; and her body being partially supported by the water, she was enabled to hold on for a little while. The man, who loved little Lily, at the risk of his own life, was lowered by the other two into the well, and his wife, in the meanwhile, went into the cottage with another woman, and knelt down and prayed God to save the child and her husband. As the man neared the water, the others, who were letting him down, fearing he would be under it before they were aware, stopped lowering him, when he could see his dear Lily, apparently lifeless, and quite helpless, sinking, as he thought, for the last time. He hurriedly called out to them to lower him quickly, and to his great joy was just in time to clasp her in his arms. He was then gradually drawn up, holding his precious charge very tightly until they reached the top of the well in safety. Lily was soon restored to consciousness, and could then tell how ineffectual her attempts to save herself had been by holding on to the side of the well. On being asked what she thought when in the water, she said she thought her Father would save her; and she now calls Jesus her Saviour.

And now, my dear young readers, that I have told you how dear little Lily W—was rescued from the well, let me tell you what it reminded me of when I heard about it. I immediately thought that the little girl down in the dark well, with nothing to hold her up, or help her out, vainly trying to save herself, only to find her strength gone, and just about to sink lifeless under the water, was like all little boys and girls, and grown-up people too, who are not yet saved by God’s dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. All belong to a fallen race (Rom. 3:23²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), at a distance from the bright sunshine of God’s blessed Presence (Eph. 2:13¹³But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)), down in the darkness of this world (John 1:5⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)), many trying in vain to save themselves, only to find that they are quite helpless, without strength (Rom. 5:6⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)); but what does God’s precious Book tell us about? Oh! my dear young friends, it tells us of Jesus, the precious Saviour, and how he came all the way from heavenly glory, right down to where poor helpless sinners were to deliver them out of their dreadful condition (1. Tim. 1:15) just like the kind man went right down the well with the rope, and took up and saved poor little Lily. But before Jesus could take one little girl or boy from this dark sinful world to glory, He must first die on the cross (John 3:14¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14)) and shed His precious blood to wash their sins away (Heb. 9:22²²And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)); and now what have you to do? Why, give up trying to save yourself, and simply trust in this dear Saviour, believe on His precious Name, and, just as Lily was clasped in the strong arms of the one who came to save her, you will find yourself safe in the arms of Jesus, who came to save you, and then you will be truly able to sing: —

How loving is Jesus, who came from the sky,

In tenderest pity for sinners to die!

His hands and His feet were nailed to the tree,

And all this He suffered for sinners like me!

How gladly does Jesus free pardon impart,

For all who receive Him by faith in their heart!

No evil befalls them, their home is above,

And Jesus throws round them the arms of His love.