"And Jesus said unto them, 'I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.'
"'All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.'
"'And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent Me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.'"
Sarah paused as Adam laid down his spoon, with the remark, "I reckon them words, 'shall never hunger,' don't mean that people won't want victuals, or that they'll always get 'em when they do want."
Sarah shook her head. "It doesn't mean that at all," she said. "I wish I could make it all plain, for I feel it, only I can't put it in right words, like the preachers do, or as Uncle Richard can. Only I know that I feel something wanting, besides food and clothes and the friends at home. When I've done wrong, I feel weighed down, as if I was carrying a load, and I go and ask God to forgive me, for Jesus sake, and then I get light and happy again; or I get down-hearted, thinking I've no father, and mother isn't strong; for there are ever so many young ones at our house. Then I bethink myself that I have a Father in heaven that loves me, and a Friend in Jesus that will never forsake me, and I'm cheered up again. There's something in us that hungers for better things than meat and drink, and I expect the verse I read means that we shall get all by going to Jesus."
"Do you believe that?" asked Adam earnestly.
"Yes, Mr. Livesey, I do. Haven't I just read His very own promise?
"'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.'
"And isn't it nice to-night, you know, when I think, 'Here I am brought all of a sudden into a fresh place and among strange people, to be able to kneel down and say, "Lord, help me to take care of these little children, and keep all right and straight till the missis comes back? Lord, help me to set them a good example, and to remember that Thou God seest me."' I want to be careful of the little 'uns, and the house and money, and keep things clean and comfortable. But if I didn't ask God to help me, I might feel that I should like to be running off here and there, and neglect things."
"You don't look like that sort."
"Perhaps not. But I'm no better than anybody else in these ways, without God's help. So I go, hungering like, for bread for my soul, to make me strong in what is right; and I'm always better for going, because He keeps His word. And isn't it a comfort for you, now Mrs. Livesey's had to go away for the first time, that you can ask Him to take care of her, and know that He sees her and baby all the while, same as He sees you and the other children at home?"
Adam did not answer, but he thought about the question. Surely it should be a comfort, though he had never counted it one, while feeling very lonely in Maggie's absence. He was beginning to find out that there were many privileges open to him, of which he had never dreamed before.