'That was a beautiful thought of Pastor Von Bodelschwingh, of the
Colony of Mercy in Germany. "Mr. Man" told me about him in one of
the very few long talks we had together. He had a home for adults
and children of ailing mind and body, and when he wanted a new house
for the little ones, and there was no money to build or equip it, he
asked every parent in Germany for a thank-offering to the Lord of one
penny for each well child. Within a short fortnight four hundred
thousand pennies flowed in--four hundred thousand thank-offerings for
children strong and well. The good pastor's wish was realised, and
his Baby Castle an accomplished fact. Not only did the four hundred
thousand pennies come, but the appeal for them stimulated a new sense
of gratitude among all the parents who responded, so that there came
pretty, touching messages from all sides, such as: "Four pennies for
four living children; for a child in heaven, two." "Six pennies for
a happy home." "One penny for the child we never had." "Five
pennies for a good wife."
'Ah! never, surely, was a Baby Castle framed of such lovely timber as
this! It seems as if heaven's sweet air must play about the towers,
and heaven's sunshine stream in at every window, of a house built
from turret to foundation-stone of such royal material.
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