Part 2.
“George was right,” continued my old friend, “God has always been a ‘Father to the fatherless, and the God of the widow,’ but you can guess that times were not always easy. Work was none too plentiful and six bairns to feed and clothe, and only one pair of hands to earn food and rent, made me like my mother before me, sore pressed for the next meal. Sickness came into the home, and then during one year our mill only ran half time. This brought us into sore straits. One night there came a dark hour for me, and a severe trial of faith.
“It was in December, and the snow was thick on the ground. The children came in from school and play, and wanted tea. I gave them all I had, all there was in the house. After that meal I had no more bread or butter or sugar or tea or milk left; nor any more coal when the fire had burned itself out. Worst of all, there was no money to buy anything. I kept up mother’s way with the children, and after tea we had prayers. Then they all went to bed except Ellen, my eldest, who was about twelve years old, and able of course to understand more than the others. Well, she said to me, when she had put the tea things away, ‘Shall I make up the fire, mother?’
“No,’ I said, ‘You cannot do that, for we haven’t any more coal, nor yet money to buy coal with, my dear. But don’t fret (for I saw she was beginning to cry) or the children will hear you. Come here, and we will tell our Heavenly Father all about it, for I mind how thy father’s last words were that God would never forsake us; no, neither will He!’
“We knelt together by the fast dying fire and prayed. I don’t remember now what I said, only how near the enemy of souls was to me, and how again and again he brought up to me that God had forgotten me. More than once Satan nearly won the victory, and it seemed as if my faith in God must fail. But I bless Him that, near as the enemy was, Jesus was nearer, and when I cried to Him to help me, He did.
“I can’t say how long I was praying; only I lost sight of all, and forgot even my child. Then at last I felt that I had won the victory, and that in some way or other God would provide for us.
“When I opened my eyes, Ellen was fast asleep, but a candle was burning on the table, and the breakfast cloth was laid. In moving I woke Ellen, and then I said, ‘What have you laid the cloth for, child?’
“‘Why, mother,’ she said, ‘I have the table all ready for the things that will come. We shall have food by breakfast time, I am sure.’
“‘What makes you sure, my child?’
“‘Of course, food will come, mother,’ she replied, ‘for you have been reminding God of all His precious words and His promises to help all who trust Him. And you said at last, Praise the Lord, there’ll be a breakfast for the bairns in the morning.’ So I laid the cloth, for I’m sure God told you there would be breakfast—and there will be.’
“She kissed me and went to bed, but I sat up. The conflict was not quite ended,
Satan flung thoughts of discouragement and unbelief at me, but, thank God, it was in vain. I said quietly to myself:
‘When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith,
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
The heart cheering promise, ‘The Lord will provide.’
“As I rested upon His word, nature had its way with my poor tired body, and I fell asleep. Then in a dream I saw ‘Him whom my soul loveth.’ It seemed just real, for He came up to me and said, as He gently touched my hand, ‘Be of good cheer, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’
ML 11/11/1917