During the World War, which broke out in Europe in the year of 1914, the soldiers destroyed the property of many people. One of those who suffered loss was a wealthy lady who lived in Russia. She was one of the nobility. Because of her noble life, her friends often called her “The Princess.”
When the soldiers came, they destroyed her home and took all her money, about fifty thousand dollars. Her son was killed, and her son’s wife died of the plague. They left to her care three little girls, one fourteen years of age, one eight, and the other six.
The grandmother with her three grandchildren had to work from morning till night to earn money to buy a little bread and milk. After a while, the work stopped. It seemed to them that they must starve. One day after dinner they were without any food for the next meal.
“We have nothing for lunch tonight,” said the little girl. “What shall we do, Grandmother?”
“The Great Father will take care of us, my darling,” the grandmother answered.
Then they all knelt down and asked God to help them find something for supper.
“Dear Lord, don’t send us just a piece of bread. Send us a whole loaf. For You know, Lord, we need a whole loaf,” was the prayer of the youngest child.
During the afternoon they went about their duties as usual. Evening came, but no food, and they had no money with which to buy any. They set the empty table, and sat down to it in their chairs.
“Shall we thank the Great Father for the food before we see it?” the children asked.
“Yes,” answered the grandmother.
The children believed that God would surely send them food. They folded their little hands and gave thanks.
Just then there was a knock at the door. It was opened, and there stood a man, a friend who had known them when they had plenty. He also had been wealthy, but the war had robbed him of all his wealth. He had come on foot more than eighteen miles, through deep snow, to see them. He had walked the whole afternoon.
“I hardly know why I have come,” he said, as he walked into the room. “But I felt that I ought to visit my old friend.” Then, turning to the children, he said, “Children, you don’t know what I have brought you.”
“Yes, we do!” said the little girl, smiling.
“What have I brought?” he asked.
“You have brought us a loaf of bread—not a piece of bread, but a whole loaf,” she answered.
“Well, well!” said the visitor, “how did you know that?”
“Because we prayed to God to send us a loaf of bread,” the little girl said; “and we asked Him to send us a full, large loaf, for we needed it.”
“Well,” said the gentleman, “that is just what I have brought. Now I know why I came.”
Then out from under his great coat, he drew one of those long loaves which the bakers in Europe make. Surely God had sent him in answer to the prayer of a little child.
Cockleshells, True Education Series, Adapted from “Providences of the Great War,” 33–35.