Читать книгу Wee Wee Songs for Our Little Pets - Leila Lee - Страница 10

Table of Contents

“Brother, may I unpack your trunk?” said little Minnie Bell.

“O yes, my dear; how glad I am to get home safe and well;

I’ve been in California for more than three long years,

But I’m safely home at last, in spite of mother’s fears.”

“Yes, Alfred, it has seemed, to dear mamma and me,

A long, long time, and we are glad your happy face to see;

Morning and evening, do you know? when we knelt down to pray,

Mamma has asked, that God would bless and guard you while away.

“And God has kindly heard her prayer, and kept you safe and well.”

She worked awhile,—at length, she said, “Dear Alfred, please to tell

Where you have put your Bible? I’ve unpacked the trunk with care,

And I have laid upon the bed most all the clothes you wear.

“I’ve looked at every article, and yet I have not seen

A Bible or a Testament; brother, what can it mean?

I fear that you have been without a Bible all the way;

Is it in California, or have you lost it,—say?”

“You little chatter-box, do see the presents I have brought;

This for mamma, and that for you; Why! really I had thought

The beautiful new dress I bought would please my sister well;

How do you like this India fan, I ask you, Minnie Bell?”

“O, it is very beautiful! I thank you, Alfred, dear;

But yet you have not told me, what most I wish to hear.”

“Well, Minnie,” said her brother, “if really you must know,

When I sailed for California my Bible did not go.

“I know ’twas wrong to leave it out, for never have I seen

A Bible or a Testament in any place I’ve been;

We did not often think of God when we were digging gold;

That is the truth; now, Minnie dear, pray don’t begin to scold.”

“Forgotten God for three long years! Alfred, can this be true?

Dear brother, were you not afraid of God’s forgetting you?”

He took the dear child in his arms, and bursting into tears,

“My conduct has been wrong,” he said, “how sinful it appears!”

Just then his mother entered, with her heart quite full of joy

And gratitude to God above, who had kept her darling boy;

She had been alone to thank him, and offer up a prayer

That God who had preserved her son, would keep him in his care.

“Dear mother, will you pray,” said he, “and read in God’s own Word

That story of the Prodigal, which I have often heard;

For I have wandered far away, but now desire to come

And love and serve that Being who hath safely brought me home?”

Her prayer was heard; and Alfred Bell is now a Christian man,

Serving his God with faithfulness, and doing all he can

That those who go to distant lands, to search for mines of gold,

May find within God’s holy Word a mine of wealth untold.