The next morning she went to the door and looked at
the sky. The day was perfect. The sun was
shining brightly, and a cool, gentle breeze was blowing.
Just one tiny cloud was in the sky, and that seemed
to be floating toward the sun. As she watched
the cloud, she saw it gradually increase in size,
and at last down came the rain in great drops.
Nothing further was needed to convince Bessie that
God wanted her to remain at home; and now her staying
was no longer a cross to her.
She ran to her father and explained that God did not
want her to go, telling him about her prayer and its
answer. Her childish words and simple faith touched
her father’s proud heart, but all he said was,
“It’s all right, Bessie; but you’ll
go down to the landing and say good-by to your friends,
won’t you?”
As she told the girls why she could not go with them
and watched the gay party leave the shore, she was
not sad, but happy. She kept thinking how kind
the dear Lord had been to answer her prayer so wonderfully.
When bedtime came, she rested sweetly, having no wounded
conscience to trouble or accuse her.
But how about the excursion party? They had an
ideal trip on Lake Michigan, attended the show, and
started to return. The breeze that had been so
gently blowing through the day began to increase at
sunset, and by the late hour of their return it had
become a gale. But not realizing the fierceness
of the storm, they started home. When they reached
their own harbor, they found that they could not enter
with safety; so they anchored the boat and spent the
remainder of the night on the wildly tossing waves.
In the morning the wind gradually died away, and the
weary, seasick crowd made their way home.
When Bessie learned of their serious experience, she
appreciated more than ever the Lord’s goodness
in leading her to stay at home.
SELF-CONTROL.
Mrs. Worthington was greatly encouraged when she saw
what a blessing her little girl had received from
what appeared to be a sore trial. She felt that
the time was opportune to plant the seed of self-control
within the young heart. In a little while she
found an opportunity to begin.
“Bessie,” she began when ready for the
talk, “I have some important things to tell
you today. I wish to speak of your future.
There comes a time in the life of every girl when
she must change from childhood to womanhood; she can
not always remain a child. Until this time arrives,
she is very dependent and must lean entirely upon her
parents’ advice; but as her mind begins to mature,
she should be taught the necessity of weighing matters
well and of finding out God’s will.
