There was once a little girl who had lost both her parents. On their death-bed, they entrusted her to the care of an old soldier. This man had a kind heart, but for a long time he had given up the practice of his religious duties.

The girl loved the old man, and used to call him her father. She was a very pious child, and her simple ways won the affection of the soldier. He always called her his little daughter, his little Saint. When he was around her, he was careful never to swear or say a bad word. He sometimes even said his prayers along with her when she asked him.

One day he went into the church. He could not tell why he went, for he had not entered a church for many years. The first person he saw there was his own little girl, kneeling like an angel before the altar.

“I wonder what she is praying for,” he said to himself. “Perhaps she is asking God for my conversion, for she has often told me that it was the only object of all her prayers.”

A tear came into his eye and flowed down his furrowed cheek; it was a tear which brought repentance with it. From that moment he became a fervent Catholic. And one day, not long afterwards, he was kneeling at the altar by the side of his darling child, receiving his Divine Savior in Holy Communion.

That morning, after praying his thanksgiving for Communion, he walked out of church, joyful and happy, with his hand firmly clasped in that of the child. As they went along, some of his old companions met him. They told him that they were astonished to see one who had led so carefree and worldly a life become so virtuous in his old age.

He answered them:

“How could I do otherwise? It is quite impossible to resist the good example of this little Saint. She would convert satan himself, if it were only possible for him to be converted.”

Such was the effect of a little girl’s good example.