MEMOIRS OF ELLEN AND HENRY HOAD.
"Around the throne of God in heaven
Thousands of children stand;
Children whose sins are all forgiven—
A holy, happy band."
Of the truth of these lines there can be no doubt in the minds of God's people, and a very blessed truth it is. There is a heaven of joy and love, and in this heaven there is the throne of God, and many dear children are standing around this throne, singing praises unto God and the Lamb. Their sins forgiven, their sorrows gone, their sufferings ended, death past, joy, and peace, and glory eternal now begun, who is there that could not desire to be with them, and to be as they are? Among this happy band we hope the two young ones—brother and sister—Ellen and Henry, whose names are at the top of this page, are now standing; and to give some reason of this hope is now our object in writing these few lines.
Many, alas! have hopes of salvation and heaven for which their life and testimony can afford no solid ground for them to rest upon, and whose hope will one day make them ashamed, and, like the flickering lamps of the foolish virgins, will go out when the Bridegroom comes.
Ellen and Henry were the children of praying parents, and, both of them being members of the Church at Bodle Street, their children attended the Sabbath School connected with that cause. The mother died in 1882, of consumption, and some of the children soon manifested symptoms of the same disease. An elder sister kept house, and as the younger ones grew up, they had to go out to earn their bread.
Ellen was sent to service soon after she was twelve years old, and not living far from the school, she was permitted still to attend; and certainly she was a girl that needed no constraint in this matter, for if her duties kept her on Sundays until too late for the lessons, she would even then take her seat with the class while she listened to the sermon.
How often children manifest a dislike to the house of God, and how soon there is an enmity appearing against good things! To many, attendance both at school and the house of God is a burden, and when they grow older they cast off all restraint and run wildly into sin. To such, parental control is hateful; the wise counsels of father and mother are scorned; the family altar, if possible, avoided; and their inward idea is that, when they leave home, they shall then go on as they like, and have their fill of pleasure. If any such children are reading these lines, let them pause and tremble, for there is an Eye watching their every thought, and an Almighty Arm that can reach them; and, sooner or later, there will be a bringing into judgment, and who can say how soon?
But certainly, with Ellen, it was her delight to go to the house of God. The writer has met her many times on Sunday mornings on her way, her face bright and happy, a stronger bond than duty binding her close to God's people.