WE all know how children, as well as grown people, and especially little girls, are curious to find out a secret where there is a suspicion of one. Lucy Mitchell in this was not above the weakness of her sex.
“Do you know, mamma,” she exclaimed one day, “I am sure Mina has a secret!”
Mina Harrison was the child of Mrs. Mitchell’s sister, who had lately come on a visit to Lucy.
“Why, do you think so, my dear?” replied Mrs. Mitchell, smiling; “I never met a more truthful or candid child than Mina.”
“I don’t know,” returned Lucy, shaking her wise little head. “I often see her smiling as if at something only known to herself, and once when I asked her what she was thinking about she would not tell; no, not for anything.”
“I dare say you are right,” said Mrs. Mitchell, after a pause. “I think Mina has a secret; suppose we ask her.”
“No, not for the world!” exclaimed Lucy. Then, as curiosity got the better of her alarm, she added, “Very well; do.”
In a few minutes Mina entered the room without being summoned, when her aunt said to her—
“Come here, dear. Lucy thinks you have a secret which you keep from her. She says you seem to enjoy it very much, and would not disclose your thoughts when asked; probably feeling they at least were your own.”
Mina looked surprised, but after a moment’s reflection said: “I don’t think I should have been ashamed to tell them, aunt. I was speaking to my best Friend, and hearing Him speak to me.”
Mrs. Mitchell took her niece’s hand in hers.
“You remind me of a verse in God’s Word,” she replied: “‘The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.’(Psa.25:14.) You have been well instructed, Mina. Do you know what a covenant is?”
And the little girl answered, “An agreement between two parties.
“That is—?” questioned her aunt.
The answer was very low but steady “Between God and me.”
“You have heard the secret,” said Mrs. Mitchell to Lucy; “may you, my darling, learn it by heart. May God show you His covenant for your eternal safety and joy.”
ML 07/22/1917