THE GOLD THREAD
A Story for the Young
By the Rev. NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D.
ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S CHAPLAINS
ALEXANDER STRAHAN, PUBLISHER 56 LUDGATE HILL, LONDON 1867
[Eighth Edition]
CONTENTS.
| TO MY CHILDREN. | |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| THE WANDERER—WOLF THE SWINEHERD | 1 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| THE ROBBER'S TOWER | 12 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| THE JOURNEY HOME—THE BIRD WITH THE GOLD EGGS—TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES | 23 |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| THE GREAT LION—THE LITTLE SQUIRREL—AN OLD FRIEND—THE BLOODHOUND—THE LAST TEMPTATION | 35 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| THE GREEN ISLAND OF THE LAKE, AND THE RETURN | 51 |
TO MY CHILDREN.
I dedicate this story to you, because it was for you I first wrote it, and toyou I first read it among the green hills of Moffat. It was afterwards printedin Good Words, and now you see it again appears as a little book for otherchildren, who, I hope, will like it as much as you do.
I wish to help and encourage you, and all who read this story, to learn thegreat lesson which it is intended to teach; that lesson is, that we shouldalways trust God and do what is right, and thus hold fast ourgold threadin spite of every temptation and danger, being certain that in this way onlywill God lead us in safety and peace to His home.
Now, God gives each of you this gold thread to hold fast in your own house orin school, in the nursery or in the play-ground, on every day and in everyplace. His voice in your heart, and in His Word, will also tell you always whatis right, if you only listen to it. You, too, will be constantly tempted in someway or other to give up your gold thread, and to be selfish, disobedient, lazy,or untruthful. Many things, in short, will tempt you to do your own will ratherthan God's will.
You already know, and I hope you will always love and remember, those truestories in the Bible about the good men of the olden time, whose lives are therewritten. Now, what shewed that they were good? It was this, that they trustedGod, and did what was right. If they ever let this theirgold thread go, they lost their way and became unhappy; but when they held itfast, it led them in a way of peace and safety. To see how true this is, youhave only to recall such stories as those of Noah, Abraham, Joseph,