Chapter 1
It was an old-fashioned cottage, small, red and plain, with windows shaded by pure white curtains, and a door sten always clean and smooth.
The path to the garden gate was very straight, and lined by rose bushes. The road that led to the busy city was much traveled by coaches, and by hay wagons carrying their loads to the city.
Those who passed by this red cottage often saw at one of the windows a pale, patient face, that never looked envious, although it could not move around among the roses, and the helpless limbs could never bound over the green grass. It was a pretty face, sickly to be sure; the eyes seemed to haunt you after they had given that earnest gaze into your own; for they were very large and gentle, filled with a look that long waiting gives one. Can then a sickly face look lovely? Yes, but that is when heavenly peace has entered it. It is when God’s love is within.
But there was often another face bide that of the sick child. It was such a rosy, round ball of a face! and the eyes laughed and the cheeks dimpled, for health gave it beauty. The boy with the rosy face was Charlie. The lame, sick boy, who was two years older, though no one would have thought so, was named Daniel.
Their father was dead, and their mother was greatly tried. Yet she was cheerful and quite happy, in spite of the weakness of poor little Daniel, who had never been well. She knew that if her dear boy died, he would go to be with Jesus.
She had most precious proof that her boy was a child of God; she had told him of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour who shed His precious blood upon Caary’s cross to wash away his sins, and He wanted Daniel to put his trust in Him. She led him to the feet of the Saviour.
She often heard him speak to the Saviour, when he thought he was alone. She was called one day to his side, when she knew by the happy expression on his face, that he knew he was saved.
“Mother,” he said, “I have found Him!”
“Found Jesus—have you trusted in Him?”
“Yes, mother, I know I have found Him and He has found me. O how good He is. I am so very happy.”
“I am so glad” was his mother’s sweet response.
“Everything looks so bright, mother,” said the child, pointing to the window. “All the trees are happy and the roses and the grass, all look so beautiful now, O, I am so glad Jesus has saved me!”
ML 06/22/1941