MRS. Clarke had a hard struggle to bring up her little family, but she did not mind how hard she worked, so that she could get food and clothing for them. Her eldest boy, Herbert, was a sharp, intelligent little fellow, and his mother had great hopes of him that he would grow up a good boy; for she taught him to be honest and truthful, and as Mrs. Clarke was a Christian, she wanted to see her children Christians too; that is, she wanted them to know Jesus as their Saviour.
When Herbert was old enough he went away to learn a trade. His master was very fond of him, and as Herbert used to tell him that he loved Jesus, because He had forgiven him all his sins, his master was not afraid to trust him to be in his office, and do many little things that he would not have trusted to an unconverted boy.
But one day Mr. Mills noticed that Herbert was very downcast, and fearing Satan may have tempted the boy to do wrong, he called him into his study and asked him what was the matter.
Herbert said there was nothing; but his face showed all was not right.
However, a little time after this, poor Herbert came to his master, and with tears in his eyes told him how he had taken a penny out of his till, and afterwards told a lie to hid it.
Mr. Mills could not help crying too, as the sorrowing boy confessed his sin. He asked him what led him to take it. Poor Herbert said, “Satan seemed to say, ‘Nobody’s looking, take a penny, you will be able to buy some nice apples at the shop round the corner’; and I looked every way, and saw nobody looking, and took it.”
“You forgot to look one way,” said Mr. Mills, “for some One was looking at you all the while, and saw you do it.”
“Who was that?” asked he.
“Have you forgotten the little text which says, ‘Thou God seest me’?”
“Oh yes! I forgot God was looking,” said the sorrow-stricken boy, “or I should not have taken it.”
Satan makes many a little boy and girl do wrong, because he says, Nobody’s looking; but if they would look up, perhaps they would remember that little word,
“Thou God seest me.”
My Little Friend.
A christian sailor, when asked why he remained so calm in a fearful storm, said, “Though I sink, I shall only drop into the hollow of my Father’s hand; for He holds all these waters there.”
Someone asked a black boy; “Who are the meek?” He answered, “Those who give soft answers to rough questions.”
ML 02/11/1900