Under the Microscope
Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott
Paperback
(TheClassics.us, Sept. 12, 2013)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... bear it, pausing every now and then to let him direct her as to what passages she should choose. They had been reading of the prodigal son, and at first Annie's voice had been smooth and steady. But as she advanced the words got thicker and the sentences broken, and soon a loud, uncontrollable sob stopped her altogether. "Isn't it beautiful?" said Stevie. "Don't you remember, Nannie, how mother told us of that so often, and made us so fond of it?" "It's more to me than any story in the Bible, Stevie," replied his sister. "I've had it on my mind to tell you about it, and I must now. I was thinking the other night that I was too bad to be saved--too wicked altogether. I tried to call on God when you were hurt that night, but it seemed as if I saw him just for a little while, and no more, and I knew I didn't deserve for him ever to receive me. And then the other day, when you were asleep, Stevie, I took up your Bible and read this. And I thought I could but try. The heavy load seemed too great for me to bear any longer, and I felt I must get rid of it, or I should die. I remembered what you once said to me that Christmas-eve, 'If only you'd try Jesus Christ for yourself.' And I thought I'd kneel down and just say what he in the parable, you know, said. And then I knelt down, and got just as far as, 'I will arise and go to my Father,' and I couldn't say any more, there came such a great swelling in my throat: I felt as if I couldn't say anything but, 'I will arise and go to my Father;' and yet I didn't feel the load gone And then there came into my mind what Jesus said on the cross, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do;' and I thought if only I could get him to say the same for me, I might get forgiven, bad as I was. And so...