The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-12
A Blessed.

BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom Of heaven"
"Who are they, mamma? Must we
live in small houses and wear poor
clothes to be fit for heaven ?"
"Let me tell you, Alice, what I saw
while. visiting one winter in one of our
large cities. ! was passing a very
beautiful church one Sunday where
hundreds of children were entering the
Sunday school rooms. l noticed one
timid, thinly.clad girl, perhaps nine
years old, looking wistfully toward the
door of the primary room.
"Many children hurried past her and
entered the building. Presently a
richly-dressed girl walk briskly by me.
When she came near the child she
hesitated, then said: You are a
stranger here, are you not? Were you
coming to our Sunday-school? The
child nodded 'Yes,' but seemed to
shrink away from the we'll clad speak
er. Come with me, then. What is
your name? Nellie? That is a lovely
name. Would you mind carrying my
muff? Put both hands in it. Now, 1
can carry my books much better. Let's
hurry in, as the bell will ring very
soon,'
"They FASTENED into the primary
room. and I followed them. saw her
keeping closely to the WATTS side as
they posed through the crowd of chill
dren, and heard her say, My name is
Nettie Gray Then she introduced
her charge to the teacher, who clasped
the little cold hand lovingly, and bid
Nettie take her near the register and
acquaint her with the rules of the
classroom.
Il noticed some little girls laugh and
point at the strangers thin calico dress,
plaid shawl, and summer hat, then
draw their warm winter clothes away
from her as she sat down near them.
The lesson was about the love of Jesus
for children. The stranger listened
with parted lips to the new story-to
her that their teacher explained in
earnest, simple language.
"Pointing to the bright picture of
Jesus blessing little children, she told
them how He lived upon earth to teach
children, as we'll as the elders, how to
live Alright that He was in heaven to
be their intercessor, as well as their
teachers, and that every child's pray
er was as dear to Him as minister's,
teachers, or any other grown up per-
sons. No matter how poor the gar
ments, or poverty-stricken the home,
He loves every little girl or boy just as
He did while on earth, when the disci-
Piles wanted the children to 60 away,
fearing they would trouble the dear
Jesus. He sees all that they do, in the
house and out of doors, or wherever
they are, and how we act toward each
other at school, or church, or at our
homes. How careful we should be not
to make the loving Christ sorry! Yes,
He loves every child, but He loves best
those who give their hearts.
"After the closing exercises, when
all were dismissed, Nettie still cared
for the little strangers comfort. She
to her to put both hands
within the muff, and when they
reached the street, drew her within the
shelter of her warm cape, as she notic-
ed the icy wind made the thinly-clad
child shiver.
"Then she questioned her about her
home, and told her that her mamma
and she would come very soon to see
her sick mother.
"When they parted near Nellie's
home, the waif looked into the face of
her new friend very lovingly, and said:
You look just like the angel in the
church window, the one that is kneel-
ing, as is praying, close to Jesus. l
know you're relation of His, you're
that good and kind, and Pm going to
pray to Him soon's get home, and I'm
going to ask Him to love you better and
better every day. ] know He'll do it.
I don't care If my clothes are poor, and
some of the girls laugh al my old hat,
Pm going to that Sunday-school every
cause you're there. Iwant to
grow like you, and then Jesus will take
me in His arms some day, just like He
did the children in the lesson picture"
"Oh, mamma, I see," said little
Alice, ''although Nettie had lovely
she had the Bible poor in
spirit also. And if Nellie had poor
clothes and not very nice home, she
will have the spirit pretty soon, I
think. Then they can both have the
kingdom of heaven for theirs some
day."