Tiny One Teaches Ted
Mother came up the stairs quickly, stopping to snap the light on as she entered Ted’s room. “ Afraid!” she ex claimed as she sat down in the low rocker beside Ted’s bed. “Why, my dear little son, there is no need to be afraid to be alone even in the dark, for the Lord Jesus is with us wherever we are, and no harm can come to us while He is watching over us.” “ I can’t see Him though, ” argued Ted. “ No,” answered Mother, “you can’t see Him, but He is caring for you just the same.” Ted sat up in bed looking puzzled and a bit thoughtful. “ Let me tell you a story, Ted,” Mother offered. “ Is it a true one?” he asked. “ Yes,” answered Mother. “ Then I’ll like it,” Ted agreed. Mother moved her chair closer to the bed and her voice was low as she began. “ One early spring two linnets searched long and carefully for a very good place to build their nest. They finally decided that the top of the red berry bush in front of the dining room window of a small white house would be just right, and they set to work quickly gathering twigs, string and other things to make their new home strong and comfortable. “ The lady who lived in the house loved birds, and she was very happy one day when she peeked cautiously through the window and saw five small eggs in the nest. Then, a few days later, there were three tiny fluffy birds, and the next day there were four with just one small egg left. It was two days before the last egg hatched and Tiny One joined his brothers and sisters. “My, how Mother and Father Lin net worked to keep their five little ones fed and comfortable! It seemed as if there was always food or water to be brought, and then, of course, Mother Linnet had to spend a great deal of time at first in the nest keep ing everybody warm and safe. She paid special attention to Tiny One for he was the youngest and smallest of the five. “ Several times each day the lady in the small white house left her work to see how the Linnet family was getting along, and she was glad when the feathers began to grow on the small bodies. Then later it was fun to watch the little ones stand up in the nest to stretch their legs and ex
ercise their wings. Tiny One tried real hard, but he could never do quite as well as his brothers and sisters; for his wings and legs were not quite as strong as those of the rest. “ Then one afternoon when Mother and Father Linnet had flown to the tall tree nearby, Mother Linnet be gan to call in a low chirp as if to say, ‘Come to me. Come to me.’ “ Everybody in the nest heard her, and soon one of Tiny One’s brothers climbed out of the nest onto the near est branch of the red berry bush. When Mother Linnet called again, he flew straight to the tall tree. Then the three others followed, and it was Tiny One’s turn. He got to the edge of the nest just as Mother Linnet flew to him, chirping. Perhaps she said, ‘You’re not quite strong enough to fly yet. You must wait until morning. Father and I will be near in the tall tree helping your brothers and sisters to sit safely on the branches and we will be watching over you, too.’ “ Then Mother Linnet flew back to the rest of the family in the tall tree, and Tiny One settled down in the nest. “When it was dark, the lady in the small white house turned on the light and looked through the window to see if Tiny One was safe. “ There he was, all alone in the dark with his head tucked under his wing, sound asleep. He knew that someone who loved him was near and that he was safe. “Tiny One must have slept very well for as soon as the lady in the small white house got up the next morning she looked again, and Tiny One was still fast asleep. “ Soon Mother Linnet called him. He woke up, stretched, listened, step ped to the edge of the nest, then hopped out on the branch and flew as fast as he could to the tall tree where the rest of his family were.” Ted leaned back on his pillow as Mother continued, “ You see, Ted, Tiny One could not see his mother and father but he knew they were near-by in the tall tree watching over him and he was not afraid. The Lord Jesus has said in His Word, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ That means He is always caring for us no matter where we are. Let’s trust Him to do that.” “ Yes, Mother, I will do that,” sighed Ted as he snuggled under the soft blankets. “ You can turn out the light and go downstairs. I’m not afraid anymore.”
By Anita Fletcher
M o t h e r ,” called Ted from his upstairs bedroom. “Moth-er-r.” Mother answered from the foot of the stairs. “ Ted, it’s already after nine o’clock, and you must be quiet and get to sleep right away.” “ But Moth-er—,” whimpered Ted, “ it’s so lonesome up here and dark, and besides I’m afraid.”
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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