Sue and Janie were hunting for the cows that had strayed into the woods. It was hard to look for them for there were miles of big timber and often the cows would go far before stopping to rest or graze.
As the girls climbed over the logs and pushed through the thick brush they would stop every little while to listen for cow bells. After going a good distance without finding any trace of them at all, Sue noticed that the sun was going down in the west.
“Look, Janie, it will be dark before we know it. We’d better stop hunting and try to find our way home.”
Janie agreed, so they turned about and started homeward. “Oh, Sue! how dark it is already!” she cried in just a few moments. “It will soon be pitch dark, and we’re a long way from home!”
“I’m afraid so,” answered Sue. “It does get dark awfully fast here in the big woods. Let’s hurry!”
But it seemed of no use. In about half an hour they could scarcely see one another. “We’d better stop or we’ll get terribly lost,” Sue finally said. “Perhaps we’d better try calling for maybe someone is out looking for us.”
So they called, but as they listened for an answer, they heard only the hooting of an owl and an echo of their own voices. Again and again they tried, until Janie began to cry with fright.
Sue sat down on a log and tried to comfort her. “I’m not afraid,” she said; “the Lord will take care of us. Let’s just sleep right here on the ground, and we can surely find our way in the morning.”
But Janie only sobbed the more. The night grew darker and seemed to be filled with many strange sounds. Now and then they thought they heard a call, but it only proved to be an owl again. Suddenly Sue cried, “What was that? Look—look, Janie! Isn’t that a light—over there? Oh, it’s gone! No—there it is! It is a light! Listen—that’s a call—" and springing up, the girls began to shout. Immediately an answer came, and soon they found themselves in the light of their father’s lantern and in his arms. With great joy they were soon on their way home.
How many know what it is to be lost, lost in the darkness of sin. No matter how hard they tried, they could not find their way out! Then they saw a Light! It was Jesus! They heard a call! They knew a loving Father was seeking His lost child. Oh how good it was to be found!
Have you seen the Light, dear young reader? The Lord Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:1212Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12).)
Have you heard His call? “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).)
ML-07/09/1978