Part 1.
IT was very dark in the nursery of a big house in one of the finest parts of an old English town. The only occupant of the room, little five-year-old Geraldine, had just waked up, and when no nurse appeared in answer to her call, she became more and more terrified as she watched the queer shadows made by the flicker of the flames in the grate and listened to the confused sound of voices and music from downstairs. At last she could stand it no longer, and, clambering out of her cot, she ran out of the dark nursery to the brightly lighted room opposite. But at the doorway she paused again, and stood doubtfully, pushing back her long fair curls, for there was a stranger in the room. The stranger looked up and smiled so kindly, that the trembling child sprang into her arms, whispering, “I’m so frightened.”
“And why are you frightened, my darling? Don’t you know God is able to take care of you in the dark as well as in the light?” answered her new friend, a sewing girl called Mary Keats.
But poor little Geraldine, though she had always had all the toys and pleasures that great riches could provide, had never heard that we have a Father in heaven who is always caring for us, and whose arms are round little children all the time they are asleep. So when Mary went on, “Have you heard about Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who watches over His little lambs?” she shook her head, and said eagerly, “Tell me about Him.”
So the poor working-girl told the sweet story of old to the little one on her knee, how Jesus, the Lord of glory, came down to earth, and was born in a manger, as a helpless babe; and how, after His wondrous childhood, He grew up and was crucified that He might wash all His little lambs in His own blood, and so make them fit to live with Him forever in heaven.
Then she repeated over and over again the text: “Jesus said, Suffer little children to come unto Me,” adding the verse:
“Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,
Bless Thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness be Thou near me—
Keep me safe till morning light.”
Geraldine listened, and then, as she tried to repeat the words after Mary, a feeling of rest and safety crept over her. Soon the little head drooped heavily, and the child had drifted away into dreamland.
Mary looked lovingly at the dear little face, and sent up an earnest prayer to the Good Shepherd that He would fold this wee lamb in His arm, and carry it in His bosom all through life. And she knew that Good Shepherd was loving that pretty girl more than she was, and was waiting and longing to receive her. Then she carried her burden across to the nursery, and depositing it in the blue-canopied cot, stole back to her work.
A few hours later the great house was all quiet, the guests had departed, and Geraldine’s mother, Lady L’Estrange, entered the nursery for a goodnight look at her little daughter. How beautiful she looked in her black velvet and diamonds, as she stood looking at the lovely little sleeper. All evening her friends had thought how gay and bright and fascinating she was, but now the merry smile was gone, and there was a sad, wistful look on her face, which revealed the void in her heart which she felt no earthly pleasure, however great, could ever fill.
Drawing aside the blue curtain she stooped to kiss her child. Geraldine half opened her eyes, but did not awake, only murmured through her sleep, “Jesus—Shepherd—bless Thy little lamb.” Her mother’s eyes filled with tears, as suddenly her memory showed her own home of years before, and her mother at whose knee she had knelt each night in prayer to that Good Shepherd. But, alas, she had never entrusted herself to His care, and had forgotten Him in her gay life, so that her little one had grown up ignorant of the love of Jesus.
Dear children, how thankful we should all be that God has given us Christian parents, so that we cannot remember a time when we did not know the story of God’s Son coming into the world to save us from our sins. What can we do to show our gratitude? Can we not tell of this love to others, who are not so fortunate as ourselves?
ML 01/09/1916