TROUBLE AT BESSIE'S HOUSE In a little country home where six-year-old Bessie lived, there was trouble; the kind of trouble that makes your heart hurt all the time. Although Bessie's was a Christian home, where all the family knew about God, yet this great trouble made all sad, and no wonder, for Bessie's mother was very seriously ill. The doctors came every day, and there were nurses, and helpers to do the work and take care of the sick mother. Every morning the children asked, "How is Mother?" and walked softly about the house so as not to disturb her rest. Then came a day when a kind Auntie gathered them all into a room and silently led them into mother's room. She lay still and white on the bed, and every one stood back from the bed and let the children come near the bedside. She was not at all like the mother they had known a few weeks ago. They stood there weeping bitter tears, it seemed as if their hearts would break. Suddenly she opened her eyes and motioned them to come nearer. Her weak voice comforted each in turn; after that Auntie took them out of the room, and told them their mother was about to die. It was a very sad group of children that loitered lonesomely about the house and yard. Bessie slipped away from the other little children, she wanted to be alone; she wanted to talk to God for a little while. She felt she could talk to Him better if she were alone. Bessie looked about for a place where no one would be apt to see her, for she did not want any one to know of this little talk. Where could she go? All at once she knew. There was a wide cleared space down back of the long chicken house. She would not be bothered there, and she would hurry, her heart was sad. Soon she reached the cool shaded place. Here, down on her knees with tears and sobs, she prayed over and over again, "Dear God, don't let our mother die; don't let our mother die. Dear God, help her to get well." Soon the little troubled heart was comforted, and wiping away her tears she returned to the house. She did not tell any one of her prayer; but the terrible ache was gone from her heart. God was going to make it all right. When they went upstairs to bed that night Bessie crept into bed with her older sister; but it was a long time before they could sleep. They could not forget the sick mother down stairs. About two o’clock in the night, some one came to the rooms upstairs, and waking the older children told them that the crisis was past, and that their mother was not going to die; and that with good care in a few weeks she would be well. Lying in the dark, Bessie remembered the comforted feeling that crept into her heart when she was praying and now her heart was over-flowing with joy. |
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