"Yes; I called you all night; but nobody would go. I'm afraid, Hatty; I don't want to die. Oh, I wish I was good."
"The Bible says nobody ever was good enough to go to heaven."
"What do you mean? Tell me quick!"
"I can't explain very well. I mean that if we're ever so good, as you call it, we couldn't get into heaven without Jesus. Our goodness is badness in God's sight, because he is so much holier than we are; but if we love Jesus, for his sake, God will forgive our sins."
"How can I love him? Mother has been telling me I must accept him as my Saviour, but I don't know how. Oh! I wish somebody would tell me! I'm dying, and I can't find out anything."
"Sallie, listen to me a minute. In my last Sabbath school paper was an account of a little heathen girl, who felt as you do. She wanted to love Christ, but she didn't know how to give her heart to him. The missionaries talked to her and prayed with her, but she only cried the more. At last one said, 'Jesus never sinned; but you are a great sinner.'
"'Yes, yes! I understand that.'
"'Well, you have offended God, and he has threatened to punish you; but now Jesus promises to receive the punishment for you, and for that he died on the cross.'
"'Oh, yes! yes! yes!' cried the heathen girl. 'I understand now. I must make a bargain with Jesus. I will give him all my badness, and he will give me all his goodness. Oh, I see! I see!! I do love him. Oh, how good he is!'"
Sallie folded her hands on her breast and closed her eyes, though her lips moved as if she were praying. Presently she said softly, "I understand now, Hatty; but will Jesus make a bargain with me?"