"And so I came to see, my dears, that it isn't only once in our lives that we want my Jessie's prayer; it isn't only when we first feel our need of a Saviour, but it's every day and all the day that we want to have it ready. And it's wonderful how it comes to my mind, all quick-like, just when I need it. It's the Holy Spirit, that little lass said, who puts the thought so quick in our hearts; and it has saved me from many a sinking in the water, Master Stanley. When I've been going to get into a temper, or to say and do anything as I shouldn't say or do, I've cried out in my heart, 'Lord save me,' and it has been all right; He's never failed me; no, He's never failed me once."
"Well, that's the way that little lass used to talk to us; she made it all so plain, me and Polly and Granny used to say she was the best little teacher in the world; and, when a letter came to say her father was coming to take her away, we all very near cried our eyes out. Jess couldn't eat a bit of breakfast, she couldn't indeed; and as for Polly, she looked all day as if she was going to a funeral. I kept up pretty well till we had had our last reading in Polly's Testament, and then I broke down altogether."
"'Oh, my little lass,' I says, 'who will teach us all these things when you've gone away?'"
"'Why, you'll have the Bible just the same, Mr. Jonah,' she says; 'the Bible isn't going away.'"
"'But you make it so plain, my dear,' says Granny; 'even an old body like me can take it in.'"
"Well, then she looked quite serious, and she says, as grave as can be, 'There's a better Teacher than me, Mr. Jonah. The Holy Spirit will make it all plain to you. My mother told me never to read the Bible without saying this little prayer:'"
"'"O God, send Thy Holy Spirit to teach me, for Jesus Christ's sake.
Amen."'"
"She said her mother had written it for her in her own little Bible that was lost in the wreck, Miss Hilda. But she hadn't forgotten it, and she taught it to me, and I've often said it since before I read my Bible."
"Well, we didn't like to say good-bye; but the poor father was so glad to get his little girl, we couldn't be so mean as to grudge her to him."
"He promised he would often bring her to see us, and he kept his word, Master Stanley. She comes to see me sometimes even now—bless her!"