Paula the Waldensian - Eva Lecomte

stories on Sunday, and in these stories I always noticed that the heathen
people live without praying to God, and that they didn't read the Bible, and
that they didn't know how to sing any hymns, and they had no church to go
to, that is, until the missionaries came. But we are different here in this house
from the heathen because they had never heard of God." And then she added
with one of those lovely smiles that always seemed to spread a halo over her,
"All the heathen in the pictures that I saw had black skins, whereas you,
Teresa, have such a lovely white face."
Poor Teresa, placed her well-worn hands over her wrinkled
countenance, and said, "Paula, Paula, you certainly are right. So we are even
less worthy of God's mercy than they are."
Paula looked at her for a moment in silence and then, kneeling down
beside her, said, "Teresa, you just pray with me, won't you? I know the Lord
Jesus will pardon you, and He'll help you to love Him for He has promised to
give you a new heart. I'm only a little girl, but He helps me and He hears me
when I pray, for that's what He has promised, Teresa. Once my father taught
me a beautiful verse, and when my uncle returns my Bible, I'll show it to
you, but this is what it says, 'Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast
out.'"
Poor Teresa, with her head hidden in her hands, could not reply.
"Do come and kneel with me," insisted Paula, pulling her by her apron.
After a long silence suddenly Teresa fell heavily on her knees beside the bed.
Paula up to this moment appeared to have forgotten the rest of us, but now
taking both of us by the hand she invited us to kneel also.
"No," said Rosa, with an offended air, "I'll do no such thing."
"Nor will I." I said, a bit intimidated by my sister's refusal.
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