'
"Then she gives it to Him, and she is happy, and her whole face is
changed, and she is not at all afraid to die.
"Now, do you see that man? He is just out of prison. What was he in
prison for? For beating his wife. Oh! what a villain, what a coward!
How cruel he looks! Respectable people, and kind people, don't like
to go near him, they are afraid of him. What a strong, brutal face he
has! But the blessed Jesus isn't afraid. See, He is standing by this
bad man, and He says, 'Give me thy heart.'
"'Oh! go away,' says the man; 'do go away, my heart is too bad.'
"I'll not go away without thy heart,' says Jesus; ''tis not too bad
for me.'
"And then the man, just because he can't help it, gives this heart,
and hard as stone it is, to Jesus, and Jesus gives it back to him
quite soft and tender, and there's no fear that _he_ will beat
his wife again.
"Now, look where Jesus is; standing by the side of a little child--of
a little, young, tender child. That little heart has not had time
to grow hard, and Jesus says, 'Give it to Me. I'll keep it soft
always. It shall always be fit for the kingdom of heaven;' and the
little child smiles, for she can't help it, and she gives her baby
heart away at once. Oh! how glad Jesus is! What a beautiful sight!
look at her face; is not it all sunshine? I think I see just such a
little child there in front of me."
Here the preacher paused, and pointed to Cecile, whose eyes,
brilliant with excitement, were fixed on his face.
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