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Themes: Christ the Substitute D.D. "Mom?" Ellen called from the bottom of the stairs. "Can I take Mittens over to Katie's house? It's not raining any more." Mittens was Ellen's new kitten. Katie was Ellen's best friend. Purring softly, Mittens rubbed against Ellen's feet.
"Go ahead," came the reply from upstairs. "Dad will be late coming home tonight, so take your time."
Ellen scooped up Mittens and dashed out of the house, letting the door slam behind her. She ran toward Old Mrs. Simon's house. Everyone knew that Old Mrs. Simon disliked children and pets of every kind-especially in her yard! Normally Ellen would have taken the long way to Katie's house, but today she was in such a hurry to show off her new kitten, she decided to take a chance with Old Mrs. Simon. Ellen glanced behind her before darting across the yard and flower bed.
"Ooh!" Ellen exclaimed as her foot sank deep into the mud. She reached out with both arms to catch her balance, but fell just short of the fence. As she did, Mittens leaped from her hands, landing between the tulips and the daffodils in Mrs. Simon's flower bed.
"Mittens! Come back, Mittens!" Ellen exclaimed sitting on top of Mrs. Simon's now squashed pansies. Mittens had already found her way out of the flower bed and onto the fresh moist grass where she jumped and pounced. Ellen was not as worried about Mittens as she was about the mess she had made of Old Mrs. Simon's flowers. As carefully as she could, without squashing any more flowers, Ellen climbed out of the garden.
"What a mess! I sure hope Mrs. Simon isn't home!" Ellen quickly tried to make the flowers that she had squashed stand tall again. Meanwhile, Mittens had found something to chase. It was about as thick as a rope, sliding quickly through the grass. She pounced, but it would slide away. Curious, she ran and pounced again. This time, the 'rope' arched out of the grass and sank its fangs into Mittens' front paw. The 'rope' was a snake!
"Meee-ow!" Mittens' cry startled Ellen, who turned from fixing the flower bed in time to see the snake arch again and bite Mittens' side. Poor Mittens' was too weak run! She lay on her side as the snake bit her again and again. But the snake did not stop with Mittens. It slithered through the grass toward Ellen, who knelt stiffly beside the flower bed. Terrified, Ellen screamed and began to run, but not fast enough! She felt the sharp pain of the snake's fangs sinking into her leg just above her ankle. The snake slithered off as Mrs. Simon rushed into the yard. What a commotion followed! Ambulances, doctors, nurses! Later that evening, Ellen left the hospital with a bandage around her ankle. Mittens had died from the poisonous bites of the snake, but Ellen lived because there was no poison left when the snake bit her. Just as Mittens died so that Ellen would live, the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins so that you can live. Accept Him as your Saviour, and you will have eternal life!
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Brian Elliott
