Blessed Leaf of the Review
By H. E. S. Hopkins
H. E. S. HOPKINS
(Battle Creek, Mich.) An incident related in an article entitled “Found after Many Days,” reminded me of a circumstance in my own experience, showing the power of the truth of God. My brother sent the REVIEW to my sister, with whom I was making my home. These papers were seldom taken from their wraps, and there were more than a volume of them laid upon the shelf in the closet. He also sent the Youth’s Instructor. Sister had three little boys, who took great interest in the story relating to Elder Bates’s life on the sea. Several tracts were given to me. These were scattered about on the bureau, in the drawer, and upon the shelf in my room. Finally I became tired of seeing them, being reproached every time they attracted my attention. So one day I gathered them up, and consigned them to the flames. I gathered all the REVIEWs and Instructors I could carry, and was about to serve them in the same way, when my sister, happening to look up, exclaimed: “Here! those papers are mine.” I replied, “Take them, then; I don’t want them around me any longer.” Did all this bring peace and rest to my soul?—Ah! no; for two weeks I knew not what it was to enjoy sleep. When the time came to retire, I had a terrible dread of the night; it seemed as if my pillow was composed of thorns. At last I decided that I would read some of those papers, to see what they really did say. O blessed leaf of the dear, old REVIEW! Ever since that I have prized even a little torn leaf of this precious paper.