Seated by the wayside, under the shade of a tree, Nellie B.— rested with her basket by her side. She had been to the village for her mother’s errands, and the full basket was heavy enough for the little girl to carry.
Two young ladies from the city, spending their summer holidays in that pretty village, walked along the road that afternoon, and passing the quaint like figure seated by the wayside, asked if they might assist her to carry her basket along the road.
“Yes, thank you,” was the ready reply, and soon the two strangers with a hand each on the basket, carried it toward the village, while Nellie blithely tripped along by their side.
“Do you have any Sunday school here?” asked one of the strangers.
“In the village, two miles along, but not many go from here, it is too far away,” said Nellie.
The young ladies looked at each other and smiled. They had been speaking together that very afternoon, about the number of children in the village who seemed to idle away the afternoon of the Lord’s Day, and wondered if they could gather them together, in a simple class, and tell them the story of a Saviour’s love, which they themselves believed, and by which they had been saved.
Before they slept that night, they had secured an empty room, had it seated with borrowed seats, gone round the houses asking the parents to allow their children to come to a children’s service on the following afternoon, and together prayed that God who had thus opened a door to them for His blessed gospel, would work mightily in the saving. and winning of some precious souls for Himself from among the quarrymen’s children of that place.
Nellie, whose parents were considered of the “better class” in that village, and whom they hardly expected would he allowed to mingle with the rougher children at their quickly arranged meeting— was the first to enter the place on the afternoon of the Lord’s Day, twenty mites before the time, and when the villagers saw the manager’s little daughter thus lead the way, they quickly dressed and sent their children to the meeting. The two Christians were greatly cheered, alike by the numbers and interest, and intimated a second meeting for the following week.
That small beginning, gave them an entrance to the mothers in their homes during the day, whom they visited, giving them gospel papers to read, and speaking a word for the Lord as they had opportunity. God blessed their labors wonderfully. First among the children, then among the mothers, there was soul-anxiety, and quite a little ingathering of souls. Among the first to “trust in Jesus” was Nellie B.—, and she was a bright little witness for the Lord.
When the summer ended, and the Christians had to leave for home, the work of grace went on, and an earnest evangelist was sent to carry on the work. Then the men were reached, and many of the rough, ungodly quarrymen were saved to own and serve the Lord Jesus. Nellie’s parents were converted, and a gracious work was carried on for many years in that place.
In a far-off Australian home, as a Christian wife and mother, the Nellie, who as a little errand girl sat by the wayside that Saturday afternoon long ago, lives and serves the One who saved her then, in life’s early years. Has He saved you?
“Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.”
“All things are ready, COME.” Matt. 22:4, 84Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. (Matthew 22:4)
8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. (Matthew 22:8).
ML 03/10/1940