Frances Ridley Havergal wrote five books for children, and a sixth one by her was published posthumously. They are true gold. The three 31-day books by her for children are Little Pillows or Good-Night Thoughts for the Little Ones, Morning Bells or Waking Thoughts for the Little Ones, and Morning Stars or Names of Christ for His Little Ones. Bruey: A Little Worker for Christ was was based on a girl whom Frances knew. The Four Happy Days is a brief, autobiographical book by F.R.H. Beginning with a story of a real cat in Frances’ family, Ben Brightboots and Other True Stories, Hymns, and Music was published after she died.
Next are the title page, list of Contents, Preface, and the first two pieces (“Days”) of Little Pillows by F.R.H.
LITTLE PILLOWS;
OR
GOOD-NIGHT THOUGHTS FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
BY
FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL.
TENTH THOUSAND.
LONDON :
J. NISBET & CO., BERNERS STREET.
1875.
To Sybil and Helena, with AUNT FANNY’S LOVE.
CONTENTS.
How “Little Pillows” came to be written
1. “Come unto Me”
2. “Accepted in the Beloved”
3. “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions”
4. “I have loved you, saith the Lord”
5. “He that keepeth thee will not slumber”
6. “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all”
7. “Peace through the blood of His cross”
8. “Whiter than snow”
9. “Ask what I shall give thee”
10. “Forget not all His benefits”
11. “It is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do”
12. “O Lord, Thou knowest”
13. “When the Comforter is come”
14. “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?”
15. “This same Jesus”
16. “Come and see”
17. “Told Him all things”
18. “Our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us”
19. “Is it nothing to you?”
20. “Yea, He is altogether lovely”
21. “Behold, He cometh!”
22. “Now then do it”
23. “I have called thee by thy name”
24. “That day when I make up my jewels”
25. “He giveth more grace”
26. “Shall never thirst”
27. “I will be surety for him”
28. “He shall go over before”
29. “At Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”
30. “This is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life”
31. “Hath He said, and shall He not do it?”
HOW “LITTLE PILLOWS” CAME TO BE WRITTEN.
A little girl was away from home on a week’s visit. We will suppose her name was Ethel. The first night, when she was tucked up in bed, and just ready for a good-night kiss, I said, “Now, shall I give you a little pillow?”
Ethel lifted her head to see what was under it, and said, “I have got one, Auntie!”
“It was another sort of pillow that I meant to give you; I wonder if you will like it?”
So then Ethel saw it was not a question of feathers and pillow-case; still she did not understand, and so she laughed and said, “Do tell me at once, Auntie, what you mean; don’t keep me waiting to guess!”
Then I told her that, just as we wanted a nice soft pillow to lay our heads down upon at night, our hearts wanted a pillow too, something to rest upon, some true, sweet word that we might go to sleep upon happily and peacefully. And that it was a good plan always to take a little text for our pillow every night. So she had one that night, and the next night.
The third night I was prevented from coming up till long after Ethel ought to have been asleep. But there were the bright eyes peeping out robin-red-breast fashion, and a reproachful little voice said, “Auntie, you have not given me any little pillow to-night!”
“Then, do you really care about having the little pillows given you, Ethel?”
“Oh, of course I do!” was the answer. She did not seem to think there could possibly be any doubt about it. Certainly the way in which she said that “of course!” showed that she had no doubt about it!
So it seemed that perhaps other little ones would like to have “little pillows” put ready for every night. For even little hearts are sometimes very weary, and want something to rest upon; and a happy little heart, happy in the love of Jesus, will always be glad to have one of His own sweet words to go to sleep upon.
So here are thirty-one “little pillows,” not to be used all at once, nor even two at a time, but one for every night in the month. The little texts are so short, that they will need no learning; but when you have read the explanation, you will be able to keep the text quite safely and quite easily in your mind.
Read the little book before you kneel down to say your evening prayers, because I hope what you read will always remind you of something to pray about. And then, when you lie down and shut your eyes, let your heart rest on the “little pillow” till “He giveth His beloved sleep.”
When you have read this little book, another will be ready for you, Morning Bells,—little chimes of Bible music to wake you up! Some of them will, I hope, ring in your ears all the day, and help you to go happily and brightly through it, following Jesus at every step.