LITTLE Alfred had a present given him of some pretty toy soldiers, which charmed him very much; but like most children, when he grew tired of his playthings, he would pull them to pieces and see how they were made. Now his aunt had told him when he had this last new present, that if he began to destroy it, the soldiers should be taken from him, so the little boy was trying his best to take care of them.
One evening the child had his pretty soldiers out while his aunt was working in the same room, and he was busy putting up the little lead-men in rows to play a mimic battle.
Whether by accident or mischief, something happened that made him suddenly quiet, and his aunt, looking across the table, saw in Alfred’s little hand a poor soldier broken off his steed, and Alfred’s face covered with confusion.
His aunt felt bound to keep her word, so the child, having forfeited his toy, ran out of the room, while his aunt, equally full of sorrow, thought over what she could do about it, feeling that she must forgive him just this once, though she had always been very particular on every occasion to keep her word to the child.
Just then she felt his little hands touching her dress, for Alfred had crept back very quietly into the room, and with a wistful look in his large sweet eyes said, “Auntie, I am so sorry I broke my soldier!”
“Well, dear,” said his aunt, “I will forgive you this once.” When the little fellow whispered softly, “Auntie, has God touched your heart? I have been out and asked Him on the stairs to touch your heart, and to let you be willing to let me have my little soldiers again.”
“Yes, dear,” she replied, “God has heard your little prayer; go again and play, and be more careful in the future.”
Dear little child, though hardly six years of age, yet he knew to Whom he should go in his childish sorrow, and the God of heaven deigned to listen to his little petition and answered him at once.
Dear children, this is all true, what I have written, and the God to Whom little Alfred made his prayer will comfort you if you trust Him, and listen to all your little sorrows, and reward the prayer of faith, as He did when Alfred confessed his fault, and had again his box of pretty soldiers. But better still, the child’s faith was strengthened by this little circumstance, and he learned for himself that God is indeed a prayer answering God.
ML 09/23/1917