HANNAH had God-fearing parents; her mother taught her at an early age to read the Bible, and when she was four years old, she could do so almost fluently. When thirteen, her parents wished that she should teach her three younger brothers, as well as pursue her own studies. Being so young, of course sometimes Hannah had to call in her father’s authority, but he decided that in school hours the brothers should obey their sister as they would any other teacher.
About this time our young friend was brought to Christ; she then became a teacher in the Sunday-school, and had a class of girls, some of whom were much older than herself.
In going to her Sunday-school, Hannah had to pass another school, and to bear the ridicule of some of the bigger scholars who attended it, and who would call out as Hannah passed,
“O, here comes the little teacher.” On one particular Sunday, a bold looking girl of about seventeen years of age, who lived near to our young friend, said in a sneering tone as Hannah passed,
“Here comes the little governess! Look at her curls!”
Hannah was naturally sensitive, and being a favorite with the children at her Sunday-class, she felt her color rise to her face. The next Sunday, on arriving at school, what was her surprise to find this very girl sitting in her class, and with every appearance of staying there!
Hannah nodded to the new corner, asking if she intended to come regularly, adding,
“I thought you attended the —school,
and we do not wish to get scholars from other schools.”
“Well, I’m cum’ere now, un here I means to stop,” was the ungracious answer.
With a flushing face the youthful teacher found the lesson, and handed a Bible to the girl; she took it, and read in her turn, but Hannah was frequently disturbed by her sneers and whispered jokes during the lesson. Our young teacher was not willing to go on reading without having order in her class; and as young people know, those who will have order, have it. But with the tall girl present this was not easy. However, Hannah did not intend to have her class infected without an effort, so at the close of school she requested the new girl to stay behind.
Emma H— stared, and reluctantly enough, again took her seat. Then Hannah whispered to the superintendent that she desired to have the key of the school left with her. So, after the school was dismissed, the key was handed to Hannah, and she quietly locked the door, put the key in her pocket, and sat down by Emma.
“What do you want me here for?” inquired Emma.
“I want to have a little talk to you, which we cannot have during school; for I want to know why you came into my class today?”
“Well, I reckon it was ‘cos I’d a mind to, and I wanted to know what the girls see in you to like; I don’t see anything. I think you are awful proud with your curls and you.”
Hannah may be excused for feeling rather badly, her heart beat and her face was aflame, and as she looked at the determined, strong girl before her, she felt her own weakness and insufficiency, but casting herself upon God for strength, she gently laid her hand upon Emma’s shoulder, and said,
“I am afraid, Emma, you are right about my being naturally proud, but I have no wish to be so. And as for my hair,” she playfully added, “well, it grows in curls. Now I want to tell you we must not talk during lesson hours, for there must be order while reading the Word of God,” and then—for the strain was too much for her—she burst into tears. “I want to love you, Emma,” she said, “and I want you to love the dear Lord Jesus and be happy as I am myself. Won’t you kneel down, and let me ask the Lord to make us love each other, and Him?”
Emma sat still, with a defiant expression on her face. She evidently did not believe any power could or would make her kneel down, or submit to a teacher so much younger than herself.
“Will you kneel?” inquired Hannah. “Very well, I cannot make you, for you are stronger than I, but my Lord can, for He is stronger than you.” So saying. Hannah fell upon her knees by the side of Emma, and taking one of Emma’s reluctant hands in hers, she prayed,
“O Thou great God, Thou seest me, and seest Emma, and art acquainted wits the reason why we are here this afternoon, O, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died to give us eternal life, and I am so glad I have come to Thee, but poor Emma does not feel, and does not seem to want to feel, the need of Thy grace. Lord. Jesus, Thou hast made me happy in Thy love. Give Thy power to subdue the rebellion in her heart, O Christ, come and reign over us both.”
“O, Miss C—, stop, do stop, I cannot bear it,” cried Emma. But Hannah went on as if she heard not, with tears and prayers, crying for the salvation of her companion.
At the close of her prayer, the first thing “the little teacher” was conscious of, was a pair of arms around her neck, and kisses upon her cheek, while poor Emma was crying for the pardon of her sins.
Upon going into school early the next Sunday, the first thing that met the eye of Hannah was Emma carrying a chair for “the little teacher,” and placing it for her, as she met her with a smile and a kindly greeting.
Emma’s subsequent life proved that she was truly changed. She had accepted Christ as her Saviour, and was happy in His love, and so could show love to others.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” ¤ Jno. 4:10, 1110Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (John 4:10‑11).
ML 11/26/1922