Ondrejko became more quiet and thoughtful.  He liked the talks with Palko very much.  He believed everything, even that the Lord Jesus is constantly present.  Therefore it is necessary to be always washed and clean and dressed decently, and also that it is necessary to give one’s heart to the Lord Jesus when He wants it, and that He takes the heart and cleanses it.  Before Palko realized it, the Lord Jesus had one servant more.  And thus His Holy Word was fulfilled; “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matt. 11:25).  No one can find out how it happens; it passes human understanding, how the caterpillar in the dried-up cocoon takes a new life with the arrival of Spring.  Before they reached that part in that precious Book where it begins to tell of the sufferings of and, finally, the death of the Lord Jesus, Ondrejko felt in his heart that all happened for him also.  He could not quite explain it, and no one expected him to, but he knew it in his heart.

Once, when he went with Palko to his hut, he prayed that the Lord Jesus would forgive him everything and asked Him to come into his heart.  Ondrejko thereupon believed without fail that it happened, because it is still true today, “If thou shalt believe, thou shalt see the glory of God.”  Therefore what he believed, he also had.  Ondrejko de Gemer already had suffered much on this earth.  He suffered many heart-aches for the want of a father or mother.  Many nights he cried about it when no one heard him.  Very few realize how much pain a little child may suffer from sorrow and hopelessness from lack of love.  Before Ondrejko came to Filina he often used to wonder what would become of him, since he had nobody, although both of his parents were living.  Would he always have to live with strange people?  A book could be written of the thoughts of that forsaken little soul while he was building castles and bridges, and when people thought he was deeply interested in his play.  Fortunately Palko Lesina arrived, and through his daily talk made it plain to his little comrade that Someone good and beautiful lives, and that this beautiful and good One also loved him, little forsaken Ondrejko de Gemer, whom even his father did not love, and He wanted to live with him always, that Ondrejko need not feel forsaken anymore.  Now he had Someone to bring his complaints to, and he could confide everything to Him, yea, everything.  How beautiful that was!  Yes, verily, the Lord Jesus now had one servant more.

Even the herdsmen sighed to Bacha, “How shall we ever get along without Palko Lesina?  Ever since the boy has been with us, it seems that the sunrise looks more beautiful and the dew is richer on the ground.”

“He is a blessed boy,” admitted Filina with a sigh.  Oh, how very much he needed this boy!  Therefore when, instead of Lesina, a letter came, he was much relieved.  Lesina wrote that he would not be able to come back till six weeks later, and asked Bacha to keep Palko with him in the meantime, that he would be useful in every way.  He didn’t want to let the boy come home alone because it was so far, and he was his only child.  When that letter came, the boys jumped for joy, and Fido helped them, but the greatest joy after all was that of Filina himself.