'Our Lord says of little children, "I say unto you, That in heaven their
angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven,"'
continued Miss Anne. 'Stephen, do you wish her to be back again in this
sorrowful world, with Martha and you for companions, instead of the
angels?'
'Oh no!' sobbed Stephen.
'And now, why has God sent so many troubles to you, my poor Stephen? As
I told you before, we cannot understand His ways yet. But do not you see
that sorrow has made you very different to the other boys about you? Have
you not gained much wisdom that they do not possess? And would you change
your lot with any one of them? Would you even be as you were yourself
twelve months ago, before these afflictions came? We are sent into this
world for something more than food and clothing, and work and play. Our
souls must live, and they are dead if they are not brought into
submission to God's will. Even our own Lord and Saviour, "though He were
a son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." How
much more do we need to suffer before we learn obedience to the will of
God!
'Then there is Martha,' continued Miss Anne, after a pause; 'she and Bess
are both brought to repentance by the death of our little child.
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