Mr. Sutton lived in the city of Pemberton many years ago. He had no boys or girls of his own, but there was nothing that he enjoyed more than to gather a group of children about him and tell them of the Lord Jesus who loved and died for little children.
One day as he was passing down one of the streets in the poorest section of the city, he noticed a very forlorn-looking little girl, sitting on the front steps of a little home. He just could not pass her by, so he went and sat down beside her and in a very short time they were chatting away like old friends. He found out that her name was Mary, and that both her father and her mother spent most of their time drinking. He felt so sorry for the little girl, that he invited her to his own home, and there supplied her with a complete new set of clothes, and invited her to come to Sunday school.
Mary was thrilled with her new clothes, and also delighted with the thought of attending Sunday school, which she had never done before. Sure enough, the next Sunday Mary turned up with the rest of the scholars. Not only was she very quick at learning the verses, but she also memorized a number of familiar Sunday school hymns.
After having attended Sunday school for about three weeks, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour. The very next week she appeared once again at Sunday school but this time she was dressed in poor rags.
What do you suppose had happened? Her mother and father had sold her nice new clothes and spent the money on drink. This happened more than once. But each time Mr. Sutton would see that she was again clothed properly.
Now comes the saddest part of our story. Although Mary was just a very young girl, she worked in a factory where cloth was manufactured. Not many weeks after Mary had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, there was a great crash in the middle of town, and the mill in which Mary worked, collapsed. People came running from all directions to see if they could help those who were trapped inside and Mr. Sutton was among the number. One by one the injured girls were carried out of the factory, until at last the cry of “fire” was raised.
The ruins were soon wrapped in smoke and flames. Above all the noise and confusion that quickly followed, there was heard the voice of singing. What do you suppose it was? Dear little Mary, trapped in the ruins, had raised her voice in singing one of the hymns which she had learned at Sunday school. Bright, clear, and fearless, her voice rang out,
“My heavenly home is bright and fair,
We’ll be gathered home;
No death nor sighing visit there,
We’ll be gathered home.
We’ll wait ‘till Jesus comes,
And we’ll be gathered home.”
Mr. Sutton stood with the tears streaming down his face, and listened to that brave singing, until her voice was lost in silence. He knew that his little friend Mary had been truly gathered home, and as he stood there, he bowed his head and thanked the Lord that Mary had given her heart to the Lord.
This story ought to be an encouragement to every Sunday school teacher, to continue faithfully sowing the seed, and to remember, the Word of God which says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:99And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9).
This story should also be a lesson to every boy or girl who reads it, that you might question your own heart. Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour? Are you sheltered by His precious blood?
ML 07/22/1956