“Sir, you don’t know what pleasure they give me. I am very glad you gave me that little book of Hymns for Children.”
A severe fit of coughing interrupted her speech for a while. The woman held her head. It was distressing to observe her struggle for breath, and almost, as it were, for life.
“Poor dear!” said the woman; “I wish I could help thee, and ease thy pains; but they will not last for ever.”
“God helps me,” said the girl, recovering her breath; “God helps me—he will carry me through. Sir, you look frightened. I am not afraid—this is nothing—I am better now. Thank you, dame, thank you. I am very troublesome; but the Lord will bless you for this and all your kindness to me: yes, sir, and yours too. Now talk to me again about the sacrament.”
“What is required, Jenny, of them who come to the Lord’s Supper? There are five things named in the Catechism; do you remember what is the first?”
She paused, and then said, with a solemn and intelligent look,—
“To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins.”
“I hope and think that you know what this means,
Jenny. The Lord has given you the spirit of repentance.”
“No one knows, sir, what the thoughts of past sin have been to me. Yes, the Lord knows, and that is enough; and I hope he forgives me for Christ’s sake. His blood cleanseth from all sin. Sir, I sometimes think of my sins till I tremble, and it makes me cry to think that I have offended such a God; and then he comforts me again with sweet thoughts about Christ.”