CHAPTER XII.

THE GOOD-NIGHT KISS.

"TOM, dear," said Christina, when the others had separated, and Mrs. Arundel had left them to do a little shopping. "Tom, dear, I once used to think as you do."

"As I do?" said Tom, raising his eyes to the beautiful face that bent over him. "Were you ever helpless like me?"

"Not quite in the same way, dear little Tom, but quite as miserable and tired of life."

Tom breathed hard. "I did not know that you guessed I was so tired," he said reluctantly.

"No, perhaps not; but, Tom, there is Someone else who knows just how sad and tired you are."

"My mother," said Tom. "Yes; I know she does."

"No, I did not mean your mother; I meant your Saviour. It says, 'He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.'"

Tom moved restlessly away. "I have heard that so often," he said pettishly.

"Perhaps you have; but if you had ever felt it, you would know it is worth thinking about. But I was going to tell you how I came to know it.

"I was very ill, Tom. God had taken away from me what I prized more than my life, or anything else in the world; and, like you, I thought I had nothing left to care about or make me happy. One day, as I lay moaning on my bed, the Lord Jesus seemed to come and take His stand just by my side. I turned my head that way, and I seemed to feel Him there as plainly as you can feel me, Tom, now, if you shut your eyes. You know I am here, and I knew He was there.

"In my desolation, and misery, and pain, I felt sure He had something to say to me. Oh, Tom, how I listened! At first my heart beat too loudly for me to hear; but after a minute or two, the sweetness of His presence made everything else grow dim. Then He seemed to speak to me:

"'I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.'

"I listened till the words seemed to cease, and then there was deep silence. Still He stood by me for a long time, and I could feel that He was holding me, as He said, by my right hand, and was helping me.

"Then I said, 'Blessed Saviour, Thou hast loved me so much I will do Thy will, whatever it is! I leave it all to Thee!'

"Tom, dear, I gave it all up; yes, willingly. He had loved me, He had given Himself for me; could I do less? And from that moment I have never been so sad or so desolate any more."

Christina's eyes were full of tears as she gazed at the face of the suffering child beside her, and Tom was looking at her intently with eyes also blinded with tears.

"I never thought it could be because He loved me," he said, squeezing her hand tightly; "but I will try, I will try; perhaps He will stand by me too."

"He does, dear, this very day; He longs to have you rest in His loving arms. Oh, Tom, I know it! And it is such rest to feel He does best."

Tom lay quite silent, and Christina sat by him silent too. She was praying earnestly that this little sorrowful lamb might be gathered into the Shepherd's tender arms.

By-and-by, he moved slightly, and whispered, "Was the Life-boat meant for helpless children as well as strong ones?"

"Yes, indeed, dear; if they were on the wreck, they wanted saving as much as the others."

"Then I have asked the Life-boat to come very near for me, because I can't step alone; and Jesus has come close and lifted me in."

"Then you are Safe in the arms of Jesus,'" said Christina. "Oh, Tom dear, I am so very, very glad!"

* * * * * * *

"Mamma," said Tom, as his mother rose from her knees, after saying his prayers with him that night, "mamma dear, I want you to forgive me for being so often cross and tiresome."

"Forgive you, my darling!" she answered, almost crying. "Why, dear Tom, I always forgive you; I never think of it again."

"No," he answered softly, stroking her face as she again knelt down by him, "I know you have forgiven me; but that has not made me right in being so cross; I will try to be better, dear mamma."

"My own little Tom, I wish you had not so much to suffer."

"Well, mamma, I've told Jesus about it, and He has told me He'll help me; and so now I am not going to be sad about it any more."

Mrs. Arundel clasped her arms tenderly round him, and pressed him to her.

"You could not give me more joyful news, my darling," she said, while some of the happiest tears she had ever shed fell down upon his face.

"Are you crying, mamma?" he asked, putting up his little hand to feel her face. Then burying his own in her neck, he wept too, till all the pent-up sorrow and discontent of his little life seemed to melt away, and he was at peace.

At last his mother whispered, "When was it, Tom dear, you told Jesus?"

"This morning, mamma, Christina was talking to me about Him, and all at once I felt as if I must go to Him then, and I did. Dear mamma, now kiss me; give me a good-night kiss, dear mamma; a real forgiving good-night kiss!"

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