A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.
A PRIMARY Sunday-school teacher had been talking to her class about home-department work, and how they could help it along in their homes. One little girl who was a Christian, but whose parents were not, came to the teacher after school, and asked if there was not some way by which she could start a home department in her home. The teacher replied that there was, and, taking the child's little Testament, marked here and there a verse. Then she told her to take the Testament to the breakfast table, and, at the proper time, ask her father if she might read a verse aloud, and, if he did not object, to read one of the marked verses. She was then to ask if she might say a little prayer, and, if she was allowed, to kneel down by her chair, and say, "Our Father," etc. It was a trying moment for the little girl on Monday morning; but she was true to her promise. The father did not object, and the verse was read; neither was there objection to the little prayer. With child-like faith she prayed in the presence of the father and mother, both of whom, however, remained seated at the table. Tuesday, Wednesday, and the days following, it was the same, until Sunday came. The little girl told her teacher how she had been able to carry out her promise, and asked to have some more verses marked for her to read the following week. This was done, and the little home missionary took up her work again. Before that week was ended, both father and mother were on their knees by the side of their little girl when prayer time came. How long this continued I do not know; but not a great while afterward the little girl was taken seriously ill. Her father, entering her room one day, saw her weeping, and asked her the cause. She replied: "Papa, I am not afraid to die, for I know Jesus will take me home; but I have just been wondering who will read the verse and say the prayer at the table when I am gone." The heart-broken father could not stand that. Taking up his little girl in his arms, he pressed a kiss upon her lips, and said: "Those verses shall be read, and prayer offered every morning, if I do it myself." Soon after this his little girl was taken away, but the promise was kept, and the father and mother received into the church. "And a little child led them."—New York Merchant.