"May I walk a part of the way with you?" Jane asked her teacher as they left the Sunday School.
"Certainly," was the reply. On their way, Jane, who seemed overwhelmed with her subject, broke out: "Oh, I am terrified! I am miserable!"
"What is the matter?"
"You remember Mary, the girl I told you about, the one for whom you have been praying? Well, you know I used to tell her all the Bible stories you told us, but for the last three weeks she has not been allowed to speak to me. Her father and mother are devoted to their religion. She is their only child, she is dedicated, so they will not let her look at me. But now the worst of all has come.
"Last Friday as she was walking to town she noticed a bit of white paper lying on the sidewalk; but ignored it. But when she reached the store to which she was going, something inside urged her to go back and pick it up. She went and found it to be a little card. It was blank on one side, but on the other were these words: "'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?'
"She read it several times, but never having read the Bible, she was at a loss to know the meaning of the text. At last she said to herself: " 'Jane can tell me,' and back she came to me, a distance of two miles.
"Entering my room in a very nervous state, and showing me the card she said: " 'What does this mean?' I read it and replied:
"'It means what it says: "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" And in a simple way I explained the passage.'
“‘Who said that?' she asked me hurriedly.
“‘The Lord Jesus Christ,' I answered.
"Instantly she snatched the card out of my hand, and frantically rushed out of the house. I was so alarmed by her looks and actions that after some time I followed her. I met her mother at their door and asked how Mary was, and if I could see her.
“‘Oh, indeed,' she replied, 'she is a strange creature; I think her mind is going. She is walking up and down her room like one bewitched. I do not think she could see anyone;' and turning round she went into the house.
"In fact," continued Jane to her teacher, "I am quite sure she is going mad. Do pray for her that the Lord may spare her reason."
This conversation took place on Sunday evening. On Tuesday morning the teacher received a letter from Jane, which read: "Praise the Lord! Mary is converted. Oh, teacher, such a conversion; I had it all from Jane herself.
"It seems that on Friday night, after she left me, she was like a lunatic all evening, pacing up and down. Her father and mother were in a terrible state, not knowing what to do with her. She went to her room very early, saying she would be better next day. She dared not tell them the truth.
"All that night she paced her room in wild agony. To use her own words, 'Everything I looked at had these awful words written on it in enormous letters: 'Lose his own soul! Lose his own soul!' Ceiling, walls, floor; yes, my very hands contained them. I was on the verge of madness. I felt it, and did not dare lie down or put out the light.'
"Next morning she came down looking pale and miserable. 'Father asked me,' she said, `if I were any better, and I answered, Not much.' He reminded me of a party we were to have, and said `You must be all right for that, you know; would you wish to see the doctor?"No, no; there is no need,' I replied. I shall be all right by that time.'
“‘Again I asked leave to retire early, but as I closed my door, again the huge letters appeared all around me. It was no fancy, for there they stood:
" 'LOSE HIS OWN SOUL.' That whole night I spent like the one before, pacing my room, now and again trying to pray; but I had no words except, 'Lord, help me.'
“‘Next day father was very angry because I looked so ill and miserable still, and said I must see a doctor. I said if I was not better tomorrow I would.
“‘About eleven o'clock that night I heard father and mother go by to their room, and just then I remembered that Nana, my old nurse had left an old torn Bible behind which was thrown into a lumber room downstairs. At once the thought struck me that I must get it. I crept down to the room and searched among the heaps of rubbish till I found it. Bringing it to my room, I closed the door. I laid the Bible on my bed, and asked God to show me my text. Then opening it, my eyes fell on these words: " 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
"'I was greatly disappointed; I expected to see my verse when I asked God to show it to me, I said, 'That will not do; it is my own verse I want,' and closing the Book I opened it again, but at the same place.
“‘Again impatiently shutting the Bible, I cried to God to show me my verse. Once more I opened it, and again at the same verse. And this time it was no fancy: it was not the light of the lamp that fell upon the page, but oh, I saw it all—
"'God loved, God gave, I had to believe, and I had everlasting life.'
“‘I felt bursting, and could only utter a shriek of joy, which brought father and mother running into my room. They saw what it all meant, and scolded and threatened. Father took my Bible to burn it, and Mother cried. But I was happy. I had no pale face the next day, but felt so calm. I cannot explain it to you unless you have known it yourself.' "
The Sunday School teacher's heart was filled with wonder and praise as she heard this story of God's dealing with this young soul, apparently shut out from all human aid, but whom He had met and taught Himself.
"Come," 'tis Jesus gently calling,
"Ye with sin and cares oppressed;
With your guilt, howe'er appalling,
"Come, and I will give you rest"