IDA MAY.
Reading edition
No little girl More bright and gay, Or happier Than Ida May As she ran off To school one day, And passed the store Of Mr. Gray, Where, near the door, Some ripe plums lay, And Satan whispered, Ida May— Take but one plum, Then run away; You’ll not be seen By Mr. Gray. Oh, had she thought One prayer to say, She’d not have sinned, Poor Ida May! She caught one up, Then ran away, And was not seen By Mr. Gray. Ah, sinful child, To disobey The Word of God— Hear, Ida May! “Thou shalt not steal!” Now hear Him say, And you have stolen From Mr. Gray. The voice of God Will you obey? It whispers now, Stop! Ida May,— ’Tis not too late, Go back, you may Return the plum To Mr. Gray. Then lift your heart To God, and pray, “Forgive the sin Of Ida May.” That still, small voice She did obey, And ran with haste To Mr. Gray, And told him all Without delay; The good man pitied Ida May. He gently wiped Her tears away; And when she left, Kind Mr. Gray Said to the child, “One moment stay— I’ll give some plums To Ida May.” “I could not eat A plum to-day!” Said Ida, then, To Mr. Gray. She went to school And all the way God saw the heart Of Ida May Was sweetly raised To Him, to pray That He would wash Her sins away— For Jesus’ sake. And God that day, Freely forgave Dear Ida May.
