32. Death of Children
Death of Children
SHEPHERD’S RUSE.—It is said that in the Eastern lands when the shepherd desires to transfer the parent sheep from one pasture to another, he takes a little lamb in his bosom and carries it to the new pasture himself. When its plaintive bleating is heard by the older sheep, they all follow it to the new pasture ground.
TWO PICTURES OF SAME BOY.—An artist who desired to produce a picture representing purity and innocence, found in a sunny-faced little boy the very type of goodness and loveliness he wanted. So he painted the boy’s picture and placed it in his study. Then he said, in substance, “Now, when I find a person whose face, because of sin and depravity, shall be the opposite of this sweet-faced child, I will produce it on canvas also, and hang it by the side of this, so producing the awful contrast between childhood’s purity and manhood’s depravity.” Years after, as he was passing a prison, he saw looking out from behind the iron bars the most sin-scarred face he had ever seen. At last he had found what he desired, a result of the marring effects of sin as shown upon the human face. He gained permission to paint the man’s picture, and then hung it by the side of the sweet-faced little boy. How great was the contrast, but mark the sequel: The two pictures, differing so widely, were really of one and the same person. The innocent-faced little boy and the sin-blackened prisoner were one and the same person. The lapse of years in a world of sin and temptation had changed the innocent child into a depraved man.
RABBI’S LOSS.—During the absence of Rabbi Meir, his two beautiful children died. His wife carried them to her room and laid them upon her bed. On reaching home, the Rabbi’s first question was for his children. “They are not far off,” the wife replied, and then addressed him thus: “Rabbi, I would propose one question: A few days ago a person entrusted some jewels to my keeping, and now He demands them; should I give them back to Him?” “What!” he exclaimed, “would you hesitate to restore to every one his own?” “No,” she answered, “but I thought it best not to restore them without acquainting you.” Then she led him to the room, and, removing the white covering from the little bodies, revealed the silent forms of his children. With tearful eyes and throbbing heart he exclaimed: “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
LET THE LITTLE GIRL COME.—When your neighbors gather for festive occasions you are pleased when they send for your children, and say, “Let the little girl come over and spend the day.” You dress her with the greatest care and send her to them with a secret pride of love, feeling that no greater compliment could be shown you than to want your children for their company. If God says: “I want your children,” should you not have faith in Him? Should you not yield to His will and let them go to Him? You have but sent them on before, sooner or later you will follow. When parents leave a little child for a few days, how eagerly it watches for the return. A dying child after exhorting her friends to meet her in Heaven, said: “I’ll be watching for you.”
HEATHEN MOTHER’S SEARCH.—A heathen mother lost her only child by death. She went to her priest and sought comfort. He bade her bring him a handful of mustard seed from a home never saddened by death. But when, with the dead child in her arms, she went from house to house, she found that sorrow, because of death, had always been there before her. Then she learned that grief comes to every human heart.