Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-09-17
THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS GENE
R0T1S

THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS GENE
ROUS.
little girl was once walking with her faith
er, and they were talking together. They
were talking about being generous The faith
er told the little girl that it meant 8 to give
to others what would do them good even if
we had TO go without ourselves" He also
told her that generous people were happy
because nobody could deny himself anything,
in order to give it to another, without feeling
happy; so that no one ever lost anything by
being generous, because God would make him
happy for doing so. He then asked her if
she bcliered this. She said. "Ycs, father"
In the course of their walk they went into a
bookstore. The little girl said, Father,
want one of these new books very much."-
g So DO T. said the father; &c but cannot af-
ford to buy each of us one But here is some
money, and you may do just as you please :;
you may buy a book, and give it TO your faith
err, and 60 without yourself, or you may buy
one yourself and will 60 without Do just
as you please The little girl hung her head
and looked at the new books; but then she
thought of what her father had said about be-
ing generous, and she had faith in his words.
She quickly said g will go without and faith
err shall have the book" The book was
therefore bought And the child felt happy.
because she had believed her father, and be-
cause she had been generous The booksel-
Ter, however, overheard the conversation, and
was so much pleased at the faith and the gen
crosby of the little girl, that he gave her We
~ beautiful book
This was having faith in her father But
this is not the kind spoken of in the Bible
For a child might believe father, and have a
strong faith in him, and yet be. towards God,
a very wicked child
Mr. Cecil gives us beautiful account of the
manner in which he taught his little daug liter
what is meant by faith. 8 She was playing
once with few beads, which seemed To de-
/ light her wonderfully. Her whole soul was
absorbed in her beads. | said,
'' My dear, you have some pretty beads
there
"' Yes, papa
GO And you seem to be vastly pleased with
them
g Yes, papa
"' Well, now throw them behind the fire.
The tears started in her eyes. She looked
earnestly at me, as though she ought TO have
a reason for such a cruel sacrifice.
"' Well, my dear, Go as you please; but
| you know never told YOU TO do anything
which Ibid not think would be good for you
''She looked at me few moments longer,
and then summoning up all her fortltude-her
breast heaving with the efolt-she dashed
them into the fire.
"' Well sail |; there let them lie; you
shall hear more about them another time; but
say no more about them now.
Some days after, bought her a box full
&c - a. 1,
When returned home, opened the treasure,
and set it before her, she burst into tears OF
ecstacy. Those. my child sud |, are yours,
because you believed me when told you it
| would he better for you TO throw those two o.:
three paItry beads behind the fire. Now, thai
has brought you this treasure. But now, my
dear, remember as long as YOU live, what FAITH
Is. You threw your beads away when bid
you, because you had faith in me, that ! new
or advised you but for your good. Put the
same confidence in God Believe everything
he says in his Word Whether you under
stand it or not, have faith in him that he means
your gooI.'
This, too was faith in 4 father, but the lit
tie girl might have had it, even if she had been
a heather child. It was not the faith requi-
red in the Bible, because it was not faith in
TOd nlmSc1.
will now tell you what is faith in the care
of God. A lady and her husband were stand
ing on the deck OF ship during an awful
storm. The winds howled, and the ship was
tossed like feather over the great waves
The lady had to hold on with both hands to
keep from falling. She was very much fright
ened, and asked her husband if he was not a.
fraid. He said nothing, but in a moment af-
ter he he'd naked sword with lis point ciose
to her breast, and asked her:
Are YOU not afraid p
"NoH
"Why not? Do you not see this sword
within an inch OF your heau!''
| eyes, but an not afraid, for it is my hus-
band who holds it -
Yes SAID he, ':and it Is my Heavenly
Father who holds this storm in his hand, the
winds and the waves; and why should be
afraid No, am not afraid :"
This was faith in the care of God God was
pleased with it. Now see Was NOT the
gentleman pleased to see that his wife had 50
much faith in his love as not to be afraid,
thour III he held drawn sword to her heart
Yes, he must have been pleased. And so was
God pleased to see him put so much faith il
his care, when the storm was raging, and thu
ship seemed like being destroyed.
Todds Lectures to ChHdrea