For the Children

The Nothingness of Evil

One day, when quite a young child, I accompanied my father to the field where he was at work husking corn. I amused myself for a time, running back and forth through the rows of corn which towered far above my head, but presently my childish fun was changed to fear at sight of a strange man standing in my pathway ready to grasp me with his outstretched arms. I ran screaming to father, sure that the man was following, for I could hear the leaves rustling behind me. On reaching father's side, more dead than alive, I scrambled into his arms, laid my head on his shoulder, and sobbed out the words, "Oh, papa! the man is after me!" Father quickly hurried in the direction in which I pointed, and very soon came upon the innocent cause of my fright, at sight of which I began to scream again. I shall never forget father's loud, merry laugh, and his reassuring words, "Why, my little one, it is only a scarecrow;" and then to assure me still further, he unbuttoned the creature's coat, took off its hat, and showed me just a man of straw.

Many years have come and gone since that incident of childhood, and with the passing of the years, the form of the dear father has gone from our sight. But, through the sweet revelations of Christian Science, I have still a safe and sure protector, to whom I can flee in moments of fear. I turn to my heavenly Father, and am tenderly sheltered in the arms of divine Love, until I see and know that the objects of all my fears, are, after all, only figures of straw.

There is a little boy nine years of age, who has been healed of organic heart trouble by attending our Sunday School, and who is the only Scientist in his family as yet. He has his own pocket edition of Science and Health, and has just sent for his own Quarterly. His parents are wealthy people and have taken him to California and elsewhere for treatment, but without results. When he had been instructed in Science a few weeks, he was running up stairs one day, and his mother cried out, "Oh don't run so, dear; it will kill you." But his reply was, "No it won't mamma; I'm God's child now, and my heart can't fool me any longer."—F. B. J.

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The Housatonias
June 13, 1903
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