Little Faith, The Child of the Toy Stall

by Mrs. O. F. Walton
Available from Amazon
*****

Little Faith lived and worked with a man she called her father. His wife had taken her in when her own mother died, and she had lived with them and helped their family until John Robinson’s wife died. Then his drunken mother in law, Mrs. Gubbins, came to “care” for the children, and she resented John’s providing for one who was not even his child, especially in their poor circumstances. But Mr. Robinson said that he and his wife had loved little Faith, and he was not going to turn her out. After Mrs. Gubbins complained again to him one night about Faith, she decided to leave; Mrs. Gubbins would be happier, and so would her dear father, for he would not have to be vexed by hearing complaints about her. She left that night, and tried to find someone who needed a servant, but there seemed to be nothing for her. She stepped into a church building to peer at her father through a window unseen. She was sad, lonely, cold and hungry, and she despaired of the Lord seeing to her needs or helping her in any way. Listening to the message afterwards, she fell asleep, but was startled awake by the words, “Little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” She thought Jesus and told the minister about her, and spoke to him afterwards, promising never to doubt Him again. She found that he had only been reading the words of Scripture, but he said that the Lord must have wanted to use that to get her attention. From there, little Faith’s world began to look brighter. She believed in God’s promises, and although everything did not immediately turn out, she trusted in His care.

This was such a sweet, tender little story, perfect for children and adults.

Saved at Sea

by Mrs. O. F. Walton
Available from Lamplighter Publishing and Amazon
*****
Alick Fergusson lived with his grandfather on a small island off the coast of Scotland. His grandfather was the keeper of the lighthouse, and Jem Millar, his assistant, and his family were the Fergusson’s only neighbors. They lived their life on the island, tending their gardens, keeping the light going, and rescuing shipwrecked people whenever they could. Only once a month were they allowed to leave the island to go shop and take care of affairs in the village, and Jem and Sandy Fergusson took turns. They did have a “general store” boat that came out once a week to sell provisions.

In a powerful storm one night, the men from the island were trying to rescue passengers who were shipwrecked on Ainslie Crag. They were unable to get close, and the violence of the waves finally destroyed the boat right in front of them, but not before a little girl had been thrown to them through the storm. They looked for survivors, but there were none to be found. They assumed that the little girl’s family had drowned with the others there, and the Fergussons made her a part of their family. She soon won their hearts, and they hated to think of parting with her. When they again went to the mainland, they notified the officials there that only one survivor had been rescued from the wreck, and gave the name found on the hem of her dress.

Later two men came to the island, whom Alick and his grandfather feared had found relatives of the girl, and were going to take her away. However, one was the owner of the ship, and had come to meet them and the little girl. He asked them if they were founded on the Rock. Sandy assured him that if they were not, the lighthouse and other buildings would never last the first storm that blew over; they were not buildings were not on the sand seen by the shore, but on the solid rock of the island. When the man left, he sent back a piece of paper with the words, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand: all other ground is sinking sand.”

Puzzled, they talked it over with Jem Millar, and he said he thought he understood. He was heading to the mainland soon, but before he left, he told Alick that he knew he was on the Rock. It was well for him, because he never returned, having missed his step on the dock in the fog.

In the course of the rest of the book, a new man with links to the Fergussons’ past comes to take Jem’s place. Sandy is asked, “If your house was built on the sand down by the shore, what would you do?” He responded that he would tear it down, piece by piece, and rebuild it on the rock. He came to see that the good works he was counting on to get him into heaven were a sandy foundation, and he chose to rebuild his life on Christ. Alick also believed in Him.

After a while, it was discovered that the little girl’s parents were not with her on the ship, after all. They came to claim her, and although the Fergussons hated to part with her, they were happy to see her with her parents again. Alick, after all, did not have to part with her. Grateful for the islanders’ kindness, the girl’s parents took him with them, and sent him to school. He left the island, knowing on Whom to build his life.

A sweet, touching story.

The Lost Clue

by Mrs. O.F. Walton
Available from Lamplighter Publishing
*****

Captain Kenneth Fortescue was a young man who kept his background a secret; the background that his father was uneducated and backward, but had wanted better things for his son. He was called home when his father was dying and told two things: first, that his father had lost all his money in a mine which flooded and failed, including money he had invested for a widow and her children whom he had been charged to care for; he wanted Ken to personally tell them he had lost their money. Second, that there was an important letter for Ken in a safe, which he could open only after his father had died.

When Ken’s father died a few days later, he looked for the letter, but nothing was in the envelope but a piece of blank paper. He later found that it had been stolen by the conniving housekeeper, who with her brother, knowing it was important, wanted to see if they could make money out of it.

When Ken went to tell the widow and her family their loss, he promised to send them money out of whatever he made until the amount lost was returned. He also was impressed with the family, particularly Marjorie.

Since his father’s income had failed, Ken could not afford to remain a captain, and left the military. His high class friends no longer wanted to associate with him, especially as he was now not a suitable marriage candidate.

Eventually, of course, the letter turns up, telling Ken about his true heritage, although the people who had stolen the letter had obliterated the name in case it fell into his hands. The story is quite a page turner, and best of all, the Lord shows Himself faithful and good to those who trust in Him. There is nothing lacking in the plot or pace, but it is also very wholesome, and encouraging to the Christian reader. I highly recommend this book.