p. 25 | The Parent's Reward by Clifford G. Howell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1907

The Parent's Reward

By Clifford G. Howell

TO-DAY as I walked home from the schoolroom, two of my pupils were a little distance in advance of me, walking with their arms around each other; and I thought of the letter I received the other day from their father, who is hundreds of miles away. He said, in part, as follows:—

“It will be seventeen years the twenty-sixth of this month since our home was made happy by a little visitor that came to stay with us. How glad we were to welcome her to our poor home! Years have passed, and the home is still poor; yet I trust to reach a better one by and by, and want that little visitor to come and see us there. O, it does my soul good to hear from your hand, Brother Howell, of those true, Christ-like principles in her that I could see when only a little prattling girl! They were acted out in her willingness to do for others,—never too tired to help her papa with his work if he asked her.

“Before two years had come and gone, another little black-eyed visitor asked to stay in that humble home. She said: ‘I will be company for this one you have. There is not much difference in our ages. It will be so nice for us to be together. Will you be kind enough to give us dollies and toys?’

“You can not realize my anxiety for their future welfare. But the precious thought passes through my mind day after day as I toil along in this dreary old world to earn a few dollars to apply on the education of my children, that I am investing in the bank of heaven. By saving my children, they, in turn, may be educated to help save others.”

As I think of this humble worker, toiling for such a purpose, I am reminded of a few sentences we learned in one of our classes a short time ago:—

“The work of many may appear to be restricted by circumstances; but wherever it is, if performed with faith and diligence, it will be felt to the uttermost parts of the earth. . . . The humblest worker, moved by the Holy Spirit, will touch invisible chords, whose vibrations will ring to the ends of the earth, and make melody through eternal ages.” What a “school of music” is this! I want to take a few terms of lessons myself. And as I see these girls bending their

efforts to gain an education, and becoming more earnest, thoughtful, and cheerful, I feel that the prayers of their father are being answered, and his labors for them rewarded. This great and glorious message that has called us out of the world, is to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.”

CLIFFORD G. HOWELL.