She understood the hope that had cheered Daph through years of labor and anxiety,—the hope of placing the children of her mistress again on the bosom that had nursed them, and of seeing the happy father again embrace his long lost ones. That hope was now forever gone, and Rose Stuyvesant mingled her tears with those of poor Daph, as she concluded her story.
Those real tears made Daph feel that she had found a true friend, who sympathised with her in her distress, and this in itself was a whisper of comfort.
As soon as Rose could command herself, she said, as she took the black hand in her own, “Daph, the mother who loved to teach her little ones of Jesus, has gone to be with Him. Your master, too, is now with the Heavenly King. You will still be able to give them back their children, in that better land, where there is no parting, where no sorrow ever comes.”
The negro looked earnestly in the face of the speaker, as she went on; “You must teach the little ones to love the Lord Jesus, and lead them to his home in heaven. Daph, you have that now to do, and that is worth living and striving for.”
“How shall poor Daph show the way to heaven; she don’t know it jus zactly herself,” said the poor creature, and the momentary gleam of hope faded from her face as she spoke.
“Jesus Christ has opened the door of heaven wide, for all that love Him and trust Him,” said Rose, eagerly; “His blood, shed on the cross, can wash away the sins of the whole world. The great Lord will forgive you all that is past, and receive you into heaven, for Jesus’ sake, if you really wish it.”
“What else Daph want now in dis world, but jus know de way to heaven herself, and lead de childen dere?” was the earnest reply.
Poor Daph had been entrusted with but little religious knowledge, but to that she had clung in simple faith through all her trials. She had improved the few talents that had been given her, and now came her reward in the fulness of the light of the gospel.
Again, and again her young teacher explained the way of forgiveness and eternal peace through the blood of Christ.
At last the beauty, freedom, and matchless love of the plan of redemption burst upon her, and there was joy in heaven, when the poor negro in the midst of her tears, welcomed Christ as her Saviour, and knew “the great Lord,” as her reconciled Father in heaven.