Chapter 10
“My child, where are you going?” asked her aunt, as Lilly came in bringing her coat and hat.
“Going to tell the lame boy that papa can say ‘Jesus,’” she replied.
“But, my dear, it is no time to go tay,” said her aunt.
“O! yes it is, papa told me I might. I asked him and he said, ‘Go, Lilly, it will comfort the dear boy.’ So we are going in the car, and you promised to take some jellies, and then papa said I must go out, I was pale.”
“But, Lilly, don’t you know your father is very ill? Suppose he should die while you are gone.”
“O! but don’t you know he’s got Jesus now? He told me so, he don’t need me any more, he don’t need anybody; he isn’t a bit afraid, and he smiles all the time,” said the child, every word springing from her faith-filled heart, while Ellen hid her face and wept. After a little silent crying, her aunt arose and taking some jellies and other delicacies, she entered the car, and the two were driven out to the cottage of the widow.
The day was warm, and they were not much surprised to see the blinds down. Charlie sat on the door-step, his head bent upon his hand as they alighted from the car. However, the extreme quiet, and sad expression on his usually merry face, struck Lilly’s aunt with the fear that she had only left the dying to see the dead.
As they stepped in the door, the evidence was before them, for, lying on the humble bed, strewn all over with roses, the gifts of little children who had loved him, lay little Daniel. The soul had gone to Jesus, where it had longed to go. Lilly stood near, her hands clasped, her expressive countenance reflecting every shade of the mourning mother’s. Her aunt looked in silence, and in awe on the features of the dead boy, wishing most fervently that she could say that she trusted and loved the Saviour he had served.
“Will he know, do you think, that my father can say ‘Jesus’, at last?” asked Lilly solemnly.
“Perhaps so, dear,” said the widow, smiling through her tears. “He spoke of you, and of your father too, last night before he died.”
“Did he? O, what did he say?” asked Lilly.
“Tell her to put her trust in Jesus, and to serve Him.” He also said: “If I could live and get well, I would be a minister of the gospel.”
“And may I be a minister of the goel?” asked Lilly.
The widow thought a moment and then quietly answered,
“Yes, you may, you may be a minister of the gospel in many ways. When you minister to the poor for Christ’s sake; when you minister to the suffering and the sinning, you will certainly be serving the Lord. Everybody who loves the Lord Jesus can in some way serve Him. Jesus says,
“So you see not even a cup of cold water given in His name will go unrewarded. You have been a minister, my little child, for, through your ministry your father has been saved, learned to know Jesus as his Saviour,”
These words sank deep into the heart of Lilly’s young aunt, coming as they did from the lips of experience, and by the bedside of the child whose patient life had been filled with fragrance amidst so many discouraging circumstances. Returning to the car she said,
“Lilly, you and I will trust Jesus.”
It was a beautiful day, that one which two funeral processions wound their way to the cemetery. One was composed of humble people on foot, following the body of dear little Daniel, the widow’s son. The other glittering in all the pomp of wealth. Car after car drove with luxurious draped hearse.
Mr. Irving, requested that the little boy who had been instrumental in his conversion was to be buried in his own family tomb. Some of the last words of Mr. Irving’s were these,
“I have seen the beauties of all countries. I have tasted of all pleasures, I have been surrounded with every earthly good, I have loved and been beloved, but never have I known, in all the hours of my transport, anything so blissful as the Love of Christ that fills my soul in these dying moments.”
Dear reader, are you ready if called to face death? Is your soul resting on the finished work of Christ? Are you under the shelter of the blood of Jesus?
ML 08/24/1941