Tucking Him In

A Colporteur says: ― “One night, when the men had got into bed my co-worker went round with a cheery word for each. Stopping to tuck one man in, to the amusement of the rest, he said: ‘Once a man, twice a child. Ah, my lad, I expect your mother has tucked you in like that many and many a time.’ ‘She did,’ said the soldier, his voice softening with the memory of his mother. ‘Aye,’ the Colporteur went on, ‘and I expect she taught you to kneel down before getting into bed, and say, “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild”; or, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.” ‘Yes, that she did,’ was the quiet response, while a sudden silence came over the scene. For the Colporteur had passed on to speak of a love even stronger and more tender than that of a mother’s. It was a straight, homely talk of the sinner’s need and the Saviour’s sacrifice to meet it, but simple and direct as it was, not a man there was ever likely to forget it.”