The children gave no answer.
“It can do nothing,” said Mrs. Mordaunt. “You all see it has no power whatever; and in this, too, the seed is like us. What then can save it?”
There was a pause of a minute, and then Amy ventured to ask, “Does not God watch over it?”
“He does, my child,” replied Mrs. Mordaunt. “But do you remember why I said the plants are cared for without asking?”
“Because they cannot ask.”
“But we can ask. What is it called to ask anything of God?”
“To pray,” said all the children.
“Yes; that is what you may all do. Our Saviour calls himself the great husbandman or gardener; and now that he has risen and reigns on high, if you ask him, he will not disdain to watch over the little seed of good sown in your hearts. He will send the Holy Spirit, like the rain to young corn, to strengthen all that is good in you; and he will enable you, feeble as you are, to keep down all bad feelings, and tempers, and habits, which would choke the seed.
“So there are three things for you to remember: the seed is sown in your hearts, and must bring forth fruit in your lives; you have enemies within and without to fight with far stronger than any of you; and you have a Friend far stronger than all your enemies, who will give you the victory if you seek his aid. And shall I give you a little grain of precious seed to bear home with you?”
The children all wished it.