Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-07

While thou vert teaching my lips to move
And my heart to rise in prayer,
learned the way TO a home above,
And thou shalt meet me there.
A little girl named Linda had a red mo-
rocco Bible with pictures in it, given to
her when she was six years old. She took
it mp stairs into her playroom, and there
in the midst Of her dolls, her little tea set,
aud her other toys, knecled down and said,
40 Heavenly Father make me love the
Bible better than anything else."
Linda had heard her aunt, with whom
she had lived, say that Christians preferred
the Bible to any other book. God heard
the prayer Of this little girl. She believed
that God would hear her for Jesus Christ's
sake. She felt az sure Of itas she did that
her aunt would listen to any reasonable re-
quest she made her. So Linda had what
we call faith when she prayed. When
Linda went to her aunt and said, "Read to
me, aunt, what God wishes me so do, and
/ will try to Go it," her aunt read to her
e these words of Jesus, Blessed are the
meek" "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Mat. v 8, 8 and she told her that meek
people and pcacemakers were gentle, kind,
patient people, " not easily provoked" l
Cor. xiii 5. From that time, through the
assistance Of Gods Spirit, Linda, who had
once been a little pecvish sometimes, be-
came so sweet tempered and gentle, that
every one remarked, What a lovely child
she Isl"
She was told that Jesus taught some
times by word, and sometimes by exam
pie. ale gave us a lesson Of economy"
said her aunt "when he commanded
the disciples TO gather up the fragments
that nothing be lost, after he had fed
five thousand people by his great pow.
or" After hearing this, little Linda used
to be afraid Of wasting a shred of cloth
or a bit Of breal. When making hel
dolls clothes she would take pleasure il
gathering up the fragments because Jesu,
did so, and she wanted to be like Jesus.
She read, "Children, obey your parents
Eph. vi: /; and Linda was careful to ODE,
them in the slightest things, although sh
was not with them at the time.
One day her aunt read, eco We there
fore, and teach all nations, baptizing then
N the name of the Father, and of the Scr
and &c the Holy Ghost" Mat. xviii Il
Linda SAID, "Aunt, how. many nations ha,
not been taurns the name of the Fathe
the Son, and the Holy Ghost? Why
;it4"
She Ras told that the world was vel
large, and that Christians did hot think
much as they ought of the poor hcathe'
Linda said she was sorry for those w
had no Bible. "lf they bad, aunt" 81
said, "they would know how to do rigl
but how can they, ifthey have no Bible
read 2" From that time this dear little q
was constantly making plans to send L
| have read in my little morocco Bib
the texts which aunt has marked for me,
have learned a great deal of Gods wi
ifi could buy a great many Bibles, al
mark some texts for the poor heathe
then | think they would leave off doll
wicked things"
Que day a lady came to the house, a.
said, "Ob, Linda! what little fairy she
YOU have on. They are the pretties'
ever saw" The next day, Linda sa
"Aunt, are my shoes very valuable 2"
Her aunt smiled and said, They q
very neat shoes but why do you asl
they are valuable ~ "Oh | thought
they would bring a great deal of mon
you could sell them, aunt, and l col
buy some Bibles for those who had non
This dear child walked with God
years longer, and then "she was n
for God took her" Gen. v: "a. /
she lived, what an earnest Bible distrit
utoT she would have been. But God {
led her to do His work in heaven
VIC read, that there "His servants S
serve Him" Rev. xii 2.