IT WAS Frankie’s bedtime, so his mamma put him into his little bed after he had said his evening prayer, and sat down by the bed waiting for her four-year-old little darling to go to sleep; whether the heat was too oppressive or not, I do not know, but little Frank could not sleep, so his mamma said,
“Why, darling, what is the matter with you tonight, you do not seem to be able to sleep?”
“No, mamma, I cannot sleep for thinking of Jesus who lives up in the bright blue sky. You told me that I shall see Hine someday. Well, mamma, I want to see Him. I cannot go to sleep until I give you a kiss.” The little boy clasped his mother round the neck, and gave her a nice kiss, as he said, and then he could go to sleep; for directly afterwards he was in a sound sleep, while his mamma gazed with love at his little face, for the childish words had spoken. to her heart, and she murmured thoughtfully,
“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.”
One day his mamma said he might have a party on his birthday. A few days after he stood looking through the window, for this was the day he was to receive his little visitors. Presently Frank heard the sound of cabs coming down the street, and said,
“Here they come, mamma; but I didn’t want this sort of children to come to my party, that have nice clothes and can come in cabs. I want poor children who have no nice clothes and no nice food. I will give them some of mine, and they will play with me in the dining room. That’s the sort of children for my party, those that a kind gentleman finds in the street, sleeping on the pavement, and takes to his nice home.”
As Frank finished speaking, the cabs had arrived at the door, and he went down. stairs to play with his little guests. Who knows but what he would have been more pleased to minister to the needs of those poor little ones who had no nice things He would have been happy in doing so, but God was pleased with him for thinking of the poor little ones; and, maybe, some day when he is a man, He will call him forth to labor in His vineyard, where many poor children are waiting to be fed, not only with the bread which perisheth, but with the Bread of Life.
ML 12/22/1918