Mrs. Lee almost feared that Marcus would walk away at this proposal, as he had often done before, on similar occasions; but he sat down at his mother’s side, and listened, while Hatty repeated, in a voice of deep feeling, the hymn,—“Ashamed of Jesus.”
“Mother,” said Hatty, earnestly, when she had done speaking, “Do you think anybody in a Christian country was ever ashamed of Jesus?”
“There are few in a christian country, my dear, who would be willing to be called infidels, or heathen,” said Mrs. Lee, soberly; “and I doubt if there are any young people who have heard of Jesus, who would not shrink from the thought. Though this is quite true, there are many who are ashamed of Jesus—many children, I fear!”
“O Mother! what do you mean?” said Hatty, earnestly.
“I mean,” said Mrs. Lee, “there are many who are ashamed to have it known that they wish to serve him. They would rather their best actions should be attributed to any cause, than a desire to do His will. They hide their best feelings, and struggle to show indifference when holy things are named, in a way which proves them at heart to be ashamed of Jesus. Alas, poor foolish children! what will be their lot when he is ashamed of them, in the presence of his Father in Heaven!”
Marcus had laid his head on his mother’s hand, as he sat beside her, and now she felt the hot tears trickle over it.
Hatty was questioning in heart whether she could be so situated as to be ashamed of Jesus, when Marcus suddenly rose, and said:
“I am afraid I have been ashamed of Jesus! Let me say now to you, dear Mother, and to Hatty, that I do wish to serve Him, and I want you both to help me.
“We will together ask God for his help, which is better than any human arm, my dear son,” said Mrs. Lee, solemnly.
The mother knelt down with her children, and earnestly implored God’s blessing on their young hearts. Fervently she asked the Great Heavenly Friend so to guide and sustain them in the upward path, that they might at last be gathered to his Eternal Home, with all those that love Him in sincerity and truth.