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An interesting incident is recorded of Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit missionary. Once, on some field of labor where hundreds came with their needs, their questions, and their heart hungers, he was worn almost to utter exhaustion by days and nights of serving. At last he said to his attendant, “I must sleep! I must sleep! If I do not I shall die. If any one comes – whoever comes – waken me not. I must sleep.” He then retired into his tent, and his faithful servant began his watch. It was not long, however, till a pallid face appeared at the door. Xavier beckoned eagerly to the watcher and said in a solemn tone, “I made a mistake. I made a mistake. If a little child comes, waken me.”
There is something in this wondrously like the Master, who was never so weary but the coming of a little child awoke all his love. Once indeed his disciples, perhaps in the thoughtfulness for him, would have kept away the little ones; but Jesus rebuked them with words ever memorable and dear to the children: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.”