FOR CHILDREN

There was once in France a poor boy, who was called “Little Peter.” He was an orphan, and begged his bread from door to door. He sang very well, and people seldom sent him away emptyhanded. It was an idle and sad life which he led; but Peter had no one to care for him, and he did not know what else to do. He had the singular custom of saying on every occasion, “It comes from above.” I will tell you why.

When his father was on his death-bed — if, indeed, he had a bed, for he was very poor — he said to his son, “My dear Peter, you will now be left alone, and you will have many troubles in the world, but always remember that all comes from above; then you will find it easy to bear everything with patience.”

Little Peter understood him; and, in order not to forget the words, he often spoke them aloud. He received every gift with the words, “It comes from above.”

Ae he grew up, he used to consider what they meant. He received wisdom enough to see that, as God rules the world, we may well believe of everything that happens in the way of His Providence, “it comes from above.”

This faith of Little Peter’s often turned out for his benefit. Once, as he was passing through the town, a sudden gust of wind blew off a roof-tile, which fell on his shoulder, and struck him to the ground. His first words were, “It comes from above.” The bystanders laughed, and thought he must be out of his senses, for, of course, it could not fall from below; but they did not understand him. A minute after, the wind tore off an entire roof in the same street, which killed three men. Had Little Peter gone on, he would probably have been at that moment just where the roof fell.

Another time, a gentlemen employed him to carry a letter to a town, bidding him make all haste. On his way, he tried to jump over a ditch; but it was so wide he fell in, and was nearly drowned. The letter was lost in the mud, and could not be recovered. The gentleman was angry when Little Peter told him of the loss, and drove him out of doors with his whip. “It conies from above,” said Peter as he stood on the steps. Next day the gentleman sent for him. “See,” said he, “there are two half-crowns for you for tumbling into the ditch. Circumstances have now so changed that it would have been a great loss to me if the letter had gone safely.”

I could tell you much more about Peter. When he had become a great boy, he was still called “Little Peter.” A gentlemen who came into town, having heard his story, sent for him, in order to give him something. When Little Peter entered the room, the Englishman said, “What think you, Peter? why have I sent for you.”

“It comes from above,” replied Peter. This answer greatly pleased the genelteman. After a while, he said, “You are right. I will take you to in my service, and provide well for you. Will you agree to that?”

“It comes from above,” answered Peter. “God is very good to me. I will gladly go with you.”

So the Englishman took him away. It was a good thing for the poor boy, who had been taught no trade. Long afterwards, when his master died, he left him a large sum of money to carry on the business; and “Little Peter” became a wealthy man in Birmingham. But he still said of every occurrence,” It comes from abovel”

To Thee, Lord, I lift my eyes,
O Thou enthroned above the skies;
As servants watch their master’s hand,
Or maidens by their mistress stand.
So to the Lord our eyes we raise,
Until His mercy He displays.
To Thee, O Lord, I lift my eyes,
O Thou enthroned above the skies.

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