Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/113

Rh she asked Kate if she would like to come to the Sabbath school. The child looked to her mother, The mother said, ‘It is the only day I have her with me; I cannot let her go.’ After several other visits, the mother consented to let her go, and so she came. I could see the intense interest the child took in her lessons. She had attended the public school during the week, but had received no religious instruction. This was all new. From her first entrance nothing could keep her away on the Sabbath till one day I missed her. I inquired of the teacher what was the matter. She said, ‘She must be sick.’ I took her address, and the next day my wife went with me to see her. We found her in a rear building upstairs. She was very sick, but her mother had to leave her to do her work. After talking with her, and prayer, I rose to bid her good by. The poor child looked so pale and thin and feeble, that I was deeply moved. I took out a ten-dollar bill, and handed it to her. She burst into tears, and said, ‘I cannot take it, sir; there are many poorer than I.’ ‘Yes,’ said I, ‘but you must take it. You need some delicacies now, and your mother will get them for you.’ I little thought that the mother had been told, if her rent were not paid on the following Friday, they would be turned into the street. The rent was six dollars a month, and Kate’s illness had run the poor widow behind. Kate recovered, and returned to school. One Sabbath evening she read to her mother the old, old story of the crucifixion of Jesus, The poor child burst into tears and said: ‘O mother, I am so happy since I learned that Jesus loved me and died for me! The minister to-day invited those who loved Jesus to come to-morrow to his house to converse with him about remembering Him at the approaching 7