HOP PICKING (See page 274.)THE
Little Gleaner.
A
Monthly Magazine for the Young.
1888.
LONDON:
HOULSTON AND SONS, 7, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C.;
AND E. WILMSHURST, BOOKSELLER, BLACKHEATH, S.E.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY W. H. AND L. COLLINGRIDGE,
148 AND 149, ALDERSGATE STREET, E.C.
Engraved by S. W. Partridge & Co."WELL, THEN, COME TO THE CANAL."
(See page 4.)
THE EDITOR'S NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS.
Dear young friends,—Wewish you each and all a veryHappy New Year, and, above allthings else, that it may prove to manyof you a year of grace—that is, we praythat the rich saving grace of God maybe put in the hearts of many of ourreaders who hitherto have not calledupon Him for mercy.
How many who began the year 1887 inhealth are now laid in the grave! Some,no doubt, who read this address will bethinking of others who read last year's,and who were interested in The LittleGleaner, watching for its appearancemonth by month, but who now havepassed away, and will no more read it,nor walk and talk with them again.
The other month, a wrapper in which aGleaner had been enclosed by somefriend to a person in Ireland was sent tous bearing this solemn mark, "Dead."This told us that the person to whomthe Gleaner had been sent had becomethe prey of death, and would never readanother.
Oh, how solemn that word looked andsounded to us—"dead!" and the thoughtrushed into our mind, "How did he die?Where is he? If he died in Christ, it iswell with him, for all who thus die areeternally at rest, free from sin, care,pain, and sorrow. Yea, they are 'forever with the Lord.'"
Dear reader, how is it with you? Youare spared, while some have been calledfrom time into eternity. We hope youfeel this to be a mercy, and we nowask, Have you ever been led to thethrone of grace, concerned about sin andsalvation? Has the cry ever gone fromyour heart to the Lord, "God be mercifulto me a sinner"? If not, oh, that, asthis year begins to pass away, the Spiritmay cause your heart to feel the guiltof your sin, and lead you, a poor, burdened,contrite one, to the feet of Himwho died on the cross, and whose bloodcleanses those who are thus broughtunto Him from all sin. Then you shallprove that He is "mighty to save"—yea,"able to save all those to the uttermostthat come unto God by Him."
We believe that many who will readthese words have proved the ability ofChrist Jesus to save, and that others areseeking Him, and longing to know thattheir sins are forgiven. We rejoice overthem, and pray that many more may bebrought to walk the same way, for it isthe way from sin, death, and hell, andthe way to