The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-26
For the Children.

| may be speaking, says DR.. Mcleod in
a sermon to youth, to some boy or girl
who is passing an unchristian child
hood, and whose hearts, beginning to see
the evil of it, and to wish that Christ
would put that evil away. For that
child's sake I will tell little history of
childhood which Christian lady once
told to me. The lady and were speak
ing of children and she said:
I" God does not despair of any child.
God can turn boys and girls who are
rude, and selfish, and untruthful, into
right-hearted children of His own. am
far from being what l ought to be. am
still very imperfect, very frail servant
of the Lord. But my childhood when
| look back to it, was as far from right as
any child's could well be. l had no
thought but for myself. l have never
since met child so selfish as then was.
My brother and sisters, my father and
mother-I cared for none of them in
comparison with myself. 1 coveted and
seized the best things. took the best
places for myself. When the younger
children came in cold and weary | would
not leave the warm corner by the fire to
help them, or give them the corner to sit
in. When anybody in the house was
sick it was worry to me to be asked to
wait In the sick-room even for half an
hour. And when was found out in
any of my selfish and unkind ways, if l
could defend myself by lie l told that
lie. One day there had been some worse
outburst of my selfshness and untruth-
f,lY III l. Al
present. Child, child, he said to me in
bitterness, have never had one hours
pleasure in you. 1t was terrible
word to come from fathers lips. I was
fourteen at the time, and old enough to
know the meaning and feel the pain OF
the word. 1t went into my soul like a
knife. crept out of sight, went into my
little room, threw myself on the floor and
tried to cry. But no tears came to my
eyes. [ only felt the sharp words cut
ting me through and through, Child
child, | have never had one hours pleas
ure in you.
" I tried to think my father wrong,
tried to think him mistaken, or unjust, or
hard. But the more I thought of his
words the more clearly l saw them to be
true. Then my thoughts went up to the
Father in heaven. Had he also never
had an hours pleasure in me? I be-
came afraid 1 thought 1 was in his
presence. And face that at distance
was in some things like my fathers, in
some other things like pictures of angels
[ had seen, seemed to look at me, and
look down into my very soul, with severe
eyes, while from the lips came the words,
= Never one hours pleasure in you
" [ do not know how [ got into bed
that night, and have no remembrance
IF what took place for the next day or
TWO. 1 could never afterwards feel that
my father loved me. And he died with
out taking back his words or showing
me any love. But I thank him for his
words. They were Gods sharp tools to
new-shape me. Ny life began to change
from the hour they were spoken. With
my whole strength l cried TO God to help
me to cast my selfshness away And
God has been very kind. AS I said, /
am still far from being what 1 ought to
be but he sends hours to me at times in
which | am free to think that even He
is well pleased with me now, for Jesus
sake.