In the
campaign of Napoleon in |
But in the
little cottage there was none of this bustle. The poor crippled boy could not
move from his bed. The widowed mother had no friends intimate enough to spare
a thought for her in this time of trouble, when every one thought only of
those nearest to him and of himself. What chance in flight was there for
herself and her young children, among whom one was the poor crippled boy? |
It was
evening, and the sound of distant voices and of preparation had died away.
The poor boy was wakeful with urging his mother to leave him to his fate, now
dreading lest she should take him at his word, and leave him behind. |
The
neighbors are just going away; I hear them no longer,” he said. “I am so
selfish, I have kept you here. Take the little girls with you; it is not too
late. And I am safe; who will hurt a poor helpless boy?” |
“We are
all safe,” answered the mother; “God will not leave us, though all else
forsake us.” |
“But what
can help us?’ persisted the boy. “Who can defend us from their cruelty? Such
stories as I have heard of the ravages of these men! They are not men; they are
wild beasts. Oh, why was I made so weak - so weak as to be utterly useless?
No strength to defend, no strength to fly.” |
“There is
a sure wall for the defenseless,” answered his mother “God will build us up a
sure wall.” |
“You are
my strength now,” said the boy; ‘ I thank God that you did not desert me. I
am so weak, I cling to you. Do not leave me, indeed! I fancy I can see the
cruel soldiers hurrying in. We are too poor to satisfy them, and they would
pour their vengeance upon us! And yet you ought to leave me! What right have
I to keep you here? And I shall suffer more if I see you suffer.” |
“God will
be our refuge and defense still," said the mother and at length, with
low, quieting words, she stilled the anxious boy, till he, too, slept like his
sisters. The morning came of the day that was to bring the dreaded enemy. The
mother and children opened their eyes to find that a “sure wall" had
indeed been built for their defense. The snow had begun to fall the evening
before. Through the night it had collected rapidly. A “stormy wind,
fulfilling His word” had blown the snow into drifts against the low house, so
that it had entirely covered it -- a protecting wall, built by Him who holds
the very winds in his fists, and who ever pities those who trust in Him. A
low shed behind protected the way to the outhouse, here the animals were, and
for a few days the mother and her children kept themselves alive within their
cottage, shut in and concealed by the heavy barricade of snow. |
It was
during that time that the dreaded scourge passed over the village. Every
house was ransacked; all the wealthier ones deprived of their luxuries, and
the poorer ones robbed of their necessaries. But the low-roofed cottage lay
sheltered beneath its wall of snow, which, in the silent night, had gathered
about it. God had protected the defenseless with a “sure wall.” --Guiding
Hand, by H.L. Hastings. |
|
Touching
Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer By S. B. SHAW. |
|
From: http://www.ccel.org/ |