Ida May

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.