The Little Captives


DEAR CHILDREN: I have read of the captivity

of two little girls among the Indians, which is

very touching and calculated to arouse the 

sympathies of the one who reads it. Their 

parents, brothers and sisters were cruelly 

murdered on their way to California, and they

 were taken captive and carried far off into the

 wilderness.

Here they suffered much from hunger and 

privation and harsh treatment at the hands of

 the unfeeling savages. Their grief at the loss of

 parents and friends only caused ridicule and 

threatenings from the Indians, and they could do

 nobetter than to smother their anguish in their

own hearts.

These little girls had early been taught to

pray, and now, placed as they were, beyond the

sound of prayer in such a sad condition, they

would at times steal away and pray to be

 rescued.

This they did daily. They were often sent

to gather roots and berries for the Indians to eat.

At such times they would pray to God and then

fill their baskets and return home. Anything

but strict obedience was always met with cruel

abuse. Thus they continued months and years.

But the youngest could not endure these 

privations, and she sickened and died. But God,

 who cares for every child of his, cared for her, 

and she died peacefully. Her sister felt the 

keenest anguish to be thus left alone, and more,

 she expected to see her little body burned to

 ashes, as this was their custom. But she prayed

 to God it might not be thus. The heart of the 

chief's wife was moved for her, and she begged

 it from those rough men and she was buried in a

 little garden near by. This caused her 

confidence in God to increase, and she 

continually besought

him that she might be rescued from her sad fate.

She really trusted in God, and this was all the

comfort her troubled spirit found. At last God

answered her prayers and she was restored to

her friends after five years absence of bitter 

suffering in the most rigorous bondage.

This circumstance has caused me some 

reflection.

I have thought of a little company who

have started on a more perilous journey. Their

way is surrounded with danger. There are foes

ready to destroy them unless they guard and

watch. If they are taken captive by them

their fate will be much worse than that of the 

little captive girls. But if successful, their 

journey will result far more gloriously. It will be 

an everlasting rescue from trouble, from sin and

 death.

Their Heavenly Father now guards them, and if

they listen to his counsel and pray to him as did

the two young captives, their deliverance will be

certain. Their reward will be a home in the

city of God; a right to the tree of life, and to the

water of life.

Dear children, would you enjoy that eternal

home with its fruits and flowers, walk in its

golden streets, and join in the song of bliss and

blessedness? It is for you, but you must be 

obedient to the Saviour. Draw near to him and

get your hearts filled with his love, then He

will own you in the day of his coining.





Ceresco, Michigan

 M, D. BYINGTON,