This eBook was produced by Joel Erickson <joel@oneporpoise.com>,
Charles Franks <charlz@lvcablemodem.com>, and Juliet Sutherland
by Eva Lecomte
Adapted and translated from the Spanish Version by W. M. Strong
I Hope and trust that the young people who read this book will have as muchjoy in the reading of it as I have had in its writing.
Paula's Saviour wishes to be your Saviour too. Paula was by no meansperfect, but she did love God with all her heart and her neighbor asherself.
This simple country girl, young and strong, yet so tender-hearted andforgetful of self, appears to me sometimes like one of the clear brooks ofmy beloved land, pure and fresh, slipping noiselessly between floweredbanks of forget-me-nots. It was by love that she "conquered"—as we shallsee!
If some day you should come to my country, do not forget that I would havegreat joy in seeing any of those who have read this book. I live in thelittle town of Villar at the bottom of the valley, where on every sidethere are hills and mountains as far as the eye can reach. To me it is theloveliest country in the world and I am sure that Paula thought so too.
And so good-bye, dear young reader! I must not keep you any longer, for Iam sure you have a great desire to know about Paula; and anyway, I supposeyou will have done what I would have done at your age, namely, read thestory first, and left my poor preface to the last—for which I have alreadypardoned you!
And now, may God bless you, Paula dear, as you walk among these my youngfriends who read about you! My prayer is that you may shed over them thesame sweet ray of celestial light that you have already shed over others.
Villar-Pellice, France.
Translator's note:
"Paula" was originally written in French and translated from thence intoSpanish; and the present translator having discovered this literary andspiritual jewel, felt that it should be given also to the young people ofthe English-speaking world, not only that they might know Paula herself,but that, through her, they might become more intimately acquainted withPaula's Saviour and accept Him as their own Redeemer and Lord.
Coihueco, Chile, South America, 1940.