Many years ago in London, England, a large group was seated in a public dining hall, when above the usual hum of conversation was heard a sweet childish voice singing. Immediately there was a hush over the whole company, and everyone looked in the direction of the voice.
A little girl with tattered garments and bare feet--a pitiful sight--stood at the door singing:
"There is a happy land,
Far, far away.
Where saints in glory stand,
Bright, bright as day."
An angry waiter ran to the door saying, "Go away, child, and don't come back." However, one of the customers, an avowed skeptic, was touched by the forlorn little girl the waiter had so harshly ordered away. He arose and shouted at the waiter, saying, "How dare you act so harshly? What harm was she doing? Bring her back. The singing was beautiful and I want to see her!"
The waiter obeyed at once, not desiring to offend his customer. When she came, the skeptic asked her to sing again, and the child willingly commenced:
"There is a happy land,
Far, far away."
The diners were delighted and wished more, but the skeptic interrupted her, saying, "Child, your voice is divine, but I do not believe the words. There is nothing beyond death, no land bright and fair."
The child replied, "Why, sir, my mother is there."
"Your mother, child! no one has ever seen heaven. It's merely a dream."
The little singer answered, "You are mistaken, sir. Jesus is there and it is wondrous grand. Father and I will soon join Mommy and sing heaven's song together. There is no sorrow or crying or pain there and we shall never be hungry and we shall always be with Jesus."
The skeptic smiled and changed the subject by asking, "Where is your home?"
She replied, "I live with my father at Hoxton, but he is sick in bed and I earn the living by singing." The skeptic's heart was touched. "Take me to him," he said.
After a long walk, they arrived at a miserable dwelling where the father lay dying of tuberculosis. Though a skeptic, the gentleman had a kind heart and was moved to tears by the poverty and suffering, and the touching affection of the child and dying man. At once, he arranged for the invalid's care and saw that the little girl had plenty of food. However, it was not long before the father died, leaving the dear child an orphan.
The gentleman then took full responsibility in caring for her but it was soon evident that she too had tuberculosis and would soon die. He was deeply distressed and sent her to a hospital for the best possible care. He was constantly at her side, listening to her childish talk of that "happy land."
As she lay near death, she asked, "Shall I sing to you the little song that brought you to me?" "Oh yes," he said, as he took the wasted little hand in his own. She began:
"There is a happy land,
Far, far away.
Where saints in glory stand,
Bright, bright as day."
The voice was very feeble, but the song was sung with such assurance that the skeptic was deeply affected. Tears flowed freely as he realized the end was very near and he was comfortless. With great effort she raised herself up in bed, gazed into his kind face, and with a sweet smile said, "Mother and Father are there and Jesus is there. Soon I will be with them, but won't you come too? Won't you come to Jesus so you can someday be with me in that happy land? Won't you love and serve Him?" She feebly continued to sing:
"Come to that happy land,
Come, come away..."
Her last note was sung. Her short life-work was done, but her child-like faith had shattered the gentleman's skepticism. Deeply moved, he cried to God for mercy and pardon, and sought refuge in the Saviour whose precious blood cleanses from ALL sin.
Dear reader, let the last words of the little child singer turn your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ today:
"Come to that happy land,
Come, come away,
Why will you doubting stand?
Why still delay?"
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [Jesus as LORD], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou SHALT BE SAVED" (Romans 10:9).
--J.W.H.N.
