NELLIE'S COMFORTER.
This "comforter" was a little yellow-haired girl, who carried sunshine wherever she went. Little Nellie had not seen the beautiful sunshine for six long, dark years. In a terrible accident, she had lost her sight when only six years of age, and because of the kindness and thoughtfulness of Fanny Gray to her, she called her a "comforter." Nellie's mother was poor, and every day she had to leave her poor blind girl all alone, while she worked hard to earn the dollar she brought home at night.
Every morning she dressed her neat and clean, and in summer always placed her by the window, which Fanny never failed to pass on her way to school. When she could get started in time, she would stop and read her a short chapter in her little Testament, or a bright story from her Reader. But if the last bell was ringing, she would call through the window,—
"Here, Nellie, is a yellow apple, just the color of my hair, and a flower that is the color of the sky; I hope they will comfort you until I comeback."
And all day she would smooth its little petals, and hold its cool, sweet leaves to her hot lips, and think, "What a comforter she is!"
When the noisy troops of children went rushing by to their homes at night, the footsteps she had learned to know so well always halted, and Fanny, laying her warm, chubby hand on Nelly's slender one, would say, "Did Jesus come to see you today? I asked him to."
With grateful tears, Nellie would reply, "Jesus listened to your prayer, dear Fanny, and has been sitting with me all day."
No matter how many visitors she had, how hard it rained, or how hot the sun was, she never forgot poor blind Nellie, but remembered her in some way, the whole year through. Cannot our little readers find someone to comfort with their kind and thoughtful ways? It may be someone in their own home,—a tired mother, a feeble grandmother, or a little brother or sister, who might be made sweeter and better by your loving attention. Try it, dear children, and see if Jesus doesn't give you a blessing "sweeter than honey in the honey-comb."
S. S. Advocate.
