Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-10-08
The Little T+agrant.


standing by the roadside A horse was feedin
near. Two children we're playing about on ii
grass When got up to them, the eldest, littl
girl came and dropped courtsey. She looked s
orlght and cheerful that thought should like t
.aik little with her, and she seemed quite as will
ing TO talk to me. Her name, she told me- wa
Eliza. 7-iT - =
ana where do you live, my dear?" asked.
don't live anywhere, sir,p she said: ave oc
about In this cart with father and motberv
Her parents, I found, were away Mt the ma,ko,.
they would soon be coming back, and then the
horse would be put in the cart, and carry them TO
another town; and this was the poor child's Hfel-
She was nine years DID, she said and her little bro
ther who sat by quite gravely listening to US, was
! six.
"Can you read. my child?" .--
30 no, sir, nobody did ever teach me- And
she looked up in my face sorrowflIy that quite
| pitied her. and said:
"Would you not like to learn?"
20 yes, sir, that shouldF' and could see the
tears come into her bright eyes. gave her little
book; you would have been glad to see how pleased
she was! She thought, perhaps, that she could
coax her father to teach her-for he was able; her
mother could not read herself.
"Have you ever heard, my DEAR about the great
God?"
80 yes sir, many a time,'
"And where is he?"
She waved her hand round slowly looked very
solemnly in my face, and said, all around as and
every rhere,"
"Does Ged see your
please, sir, / don't know!"
"Not know, my dear You may be sure that, as
ne is here, he sees you always, knows all you do
and hears every word you say"
docs he, sir?" and the poor child looked quite
frightened. / suppose she had recollected some
thing she had done wrong, and was afraid that God
would be angry with her: for she said in low
tone, almost to herself. "Then l must not say
wicked words"
20 no, Eliza, for God will be angry if you do,
and has said he will punish wicked people when
they die, forever and ever"
Eliza looked at me now without speaking, full of
fear and wonder, but as she did not quite under
stand what said; so l asked her:
"Did you never hear of helI?"
"No, SIR"
"Nor yet of heaven"
"No, sir"
"And were you never told of Jesus Christ, wEo |
came into the world to save sinners?"
"No, SIR .. ....-.-r
"Would you not like to hear all about this2"
30 yes, SIR"
And now the tears quite ran down her cheeks
never saw any one look more anxious and unhap-
py. For little while talked to her, and told
her much as she could understand about the gra-
cious Saviour who died for sinners, and said, "Suf
fer little children to come unto me;' about God,
our gracious Father, who will listen to a poor
childs prayer; and about heaven where all who love
him shall meet at last in joy. was soon obliged
to bid her good bye; and walked on, and pray
ed in my heart that God would teach and love her |
thought ofyOu, my dear children, and gave thanks
to our heavenly Father that you are able to learn |
of him and of Jesus, and of the way to be happy /
forever. -.. re rr
Are you sorry for little Eliza? 1 have told you
her story that you may understand how sad it is to
have starving, hungry soul. She was starving,
for she did not know those things which would |
nave uduc ncI truly mlScy SLe was lOT she
was most anxious to get this knowledge, and full |
of grief that there nobody to teach her. Jesus
feeds the soul. To know him is wisdom. He is
the TRUTH for if you believe and understand what
he has taught you know all those things which
were so strange and dark to poor Eliza. You have
not to say in sorrow, There is no one to teach
me, for Christ is your teacher and it is all made
plain. -
You learn of God, for Jesus has told US, when |
we pray. to say, "Our Father" You learn of heay-
en- for how often did he speak of that bright world
where Gods children shall dwell forever You |
learn the way to be saved for Christ has promised
that whosoever believes in him shall have eternal
life. You learn what you ought to do; for these
are his own words-"Thou shalt love the Lord thy |
God with all thy heart, and SOUL and strength; and
thy neighbor thyself." The Bible is full of his
teachings; it tells of all need that we may be
good and happy; and to every STRIVING soul the
Saviour says, Come and learn of me, listen to my
words, believe in my love, and you shall never be
hungry again.
"This is the true bread that cometh down from
heaven"