A
nd so the time slipped away. Alice and Minnie found that when once they made up their minds to regular lessons with their sister they began to take an interest in them, and were really happier than they would have been to be idle.
Soon after they began one morning, aunt Phyllis's sweet face peeped in at the door.
"Any admittance, my dears?" she asked.
"Oh, do come in!" said Agnes, springing up to welcome her.
"I have thought of something which I am burning to propose to you," said Miss Headley, coming round to kiss each in turn.
"What is it?" asked Minnie, laying down her pen and pushing back her curls.
Aunt Phyllis did not answer till she had seated herself by the fire, then she said:
"You go out for your 'constitutional' directly after your early dinner, do you not, dears?"
"Yes," said Alice, "and I wish we didn't."
Aunt Phyllis shook her head. "It is quite right, I have not come in to alter that, little puss."
Alice pouted just a very little, and Miss Headley went on:
"You come home about three, do you not?"
"Half past," said Agnes.
"What do you do then?"
"We work, or learn lessons, or gape, or are idle," said Alice, smiling a little.
Aunt Phyllis smiled too. "How should you like to bring your work in with me? I have an interesting book I want to read to you, and if Agnes is busy, or tired, she can stay at home, and I'll see to your work. Eh, Alice and Minnie?"
"Lovely!" answered Minnie.
"Awfully nice!" answered Alice.
And Agnes murmured thanks with a sigh of relief, for that hour in the day had been one of her trials.
"What work have you in hand?" asked their aunt.
"Minnie is making a doll's dress, and I have just finished some horrid white calico."
"It must be real, sensible work," said Miss Headley. "How about stockings?"
"Agnes mends those," answered Minnie; "it nearly made her cry to teach Alice, and she gave it up; and I haven't begun to learn."
Agnes looked rather ashamed.
"Oh, auntie," she explained, "I know I got out of patience, but I would ten times rather do it myself than make Alice."
"I don't believe I was very nice over it," said Alice in a low tone; "but it is nasty work!"
"Very," answered aunt Phyllis, so sympathizingly that Alice looked up amazed. "But only because you do not know how to do it. We will get over that in a little while. So both of you come in this afternoon with all the stockings you can find, and we will begin in good earnest."
"All?" said Minnie.
"Yes; then I can take my choice. I shall not give you bad ones to do first, they are too difficult for beginners."
"You are too kind, auntie," said Agnes, getting up to kiss her gratefully; then adding, "Didn't I tell you I was good for nothing? Haven't even patience to help Alice mend stockings!"
"You are not going to the looking-glass again, my child?" she whispered, smiling.
Agnes smiled too, though she was crying quietly. She knelt down and poked the fire, and got rid of her tears somehow before anyone but her aunt guessed about them, and then she turned round to the table.
"I am afraid I am hindering," said aunt Phyllis, getting up; "but I am like a child when I have a piece of news—I must tell it."
So she went, and the girls settled down again.
"Isaunt Phyllis like a child?" asked Minnie.
"I think she is," answered Agnes; "her heart always seems fresh and young."
"I wonder why?" said Alice.
"She reminds me of those words," answered Agnes, 'Like a tree planted by the rivers of waters.'"
"Why?"
"Her soul is always drawing nourishment from Jesus; that's how it is. Like the roots of the tree by the rivers of waters."
"Oh," said Minnie, looking up, "I never thought of that before!"
"Whatareyou doing?" exclaimed John, coming into the dining-room after school that morning, and bouncing down in a chair by his little sister's side.
"I'm——, but I shan't let you see, John," exclaimed Minnie, covering her little pink hands over her occupation.
Vainly, however; for she could not hide the large sheet of newspaper over which she leaned, nor the chips of red and blue paper which peeped out in every direction.
"Isee," said John, "here's an end of a matchbox, and here's a bit of yellow paper, and here's a star of red, cutout pretty well, Miss Minnie, and here's——"
"John, you are too bad," said Minnie, laying her head down as an extra protection. "I didn't wantyou to see till it's done, and I should have put it all away by one o'clock. I wish you had not come home so early." Minnie spoke in a grumbling little tone, which made John inclined to tease her more than ever.
"'John, you are too bad,' said Minnie, laying her head down as an extra protection."p. 180.
"'John, you are too bad,' said Minnie, laying her head down as an extra protection."
p. 180.
So he laid hold of one of the long golden curls which fell over the treasures, and went on while he twisted it round his fingers—
"And here's a pair of scissors, and here's the inside of the matchbox, and here's—why, here are at least a dozen babies!"
What with her hair being touched, which she particularly disliked, and what with her secret being found out, as she thought, Minnie burst into tears.
"Hey-day!" said John. "Why, Minnie, you goose, I wasn't really meaning to tease you. Look here, I'll sit still here for as long as you like, and shut my eyes up as close as a mole (if they do), while you put all that precious rubbish away; and what's more, I won't tell a soul about it; no, not if I—suffer for it."
Minnie looked up through her tears to see if John were in earnest, and found him sitting, as he said, with his eyes shut and his hands folded in front of him in a comical manner.
She gave a little laugh, and raised her head; but added, with the remains of a sob, "You're adreadfultease, John, and I did want nobody to know."
"Nobody to know," echoed John, in a mock tone; "is that a pun?"
"You know it isn't; I don't try to make puns."
"Have you put away yet, Miss Dignity?"
"Nearly. Now, John,haveyou guessed——?"
"Know everything," answered John, "just as well as I knew when I entered the room."
"How much is that?" asked Minnie.
"Everything," answered the boy. "Come, Minnie, my eyes ache with keeping shut so tight."
Minnie found it would be better to hurry her preparations than to answer the brother, who was for ever getting the best of her; so in a minute all was away, and John, with a sigh of profound relief, looked up.
Minnie left the room, and John walked to the comfortable fire and whistled.
It was not long, however, before a little step was heard on the stairs, and Minnie appeared again.
She was walking more slowly than usual, and her head was bent down, while her curls failed to hide the deep flush on her cheeks.
"John," she said slowly, "I am sorry I was cross about those boxes; I'll tell you all about it."
"I don't care to know, Minnie," said John, looking down on her; "it was only to tease you a little bit, but I didn't think you would really mind."
Minnie leaned her head against her brother's arm caressingly, and answered softly:
"I oughtn't to have minded; especially——"
"Especially what?" asked John kindly, guessing by his little sister's manner that she was very much in earnest.
"I was trying to do something for Him, you know, John, and it seemed so horrid of me to be vexed and cross over that."
"I understand," said John.
"I was making—but I will show you all about it."
Minnie went to the cupboard, and drew out the odds and ends which had attracted John's attention.
"See here," she said, spreading them out on the table, "I have been collecting all the matchboxes for months, and now I have bought these two dozen little china dolls, and Agnes gave me some white wadding; and I am going to cover the boxes with this paper, and put little ornaments at the bottom and top—so; and then—but here is one quite finished."
Minnie opened a bright little box, and there inside, on a bed of whitest, softest wool, a little china doll reposed, clothed in a wrapper of pink silk; under her head a little roll of wadding served as a pillow.
"Doesn't she look cosy?" asked Minnie, patting her complacently.
"And what's it for? How can it be for the Lord Jesus?"
"Why, don't you remember how we mendedthose toys before Christmas, and sent them to the children's ward of the hospital?"
John nodded.
"So that's just what I'm going to do now; here will be two dozen little presents, and it will make two dozen little children happy for a whole day, I shouldn't wonder."
"It is a very good thought," said John.
"And that's why I was sorry I'd been cross overthat."
"Yes," answered John thoughtfully; "but I believe, Minnie, if we were more anxious to please Him, we should be far more careful than we are abouteverything. All that we do is really working for Him, and I do believe—I'm saying it to myself, and not to you, Minnie—that if we watched more, and realized His loving presence more, we should live very differently from what we do."
Minnie slowly shut up her boxes, and when John had finished speaking she said softly, "We must try more than ever."
"And get Him to help us more than ever," added John.
Y
es, they came home.
The three months did pass away at length, and the last part of it flew much quicker than the beginning.
"We shall arrive, 'God willing,' about the end of March, as we sail by theSardiniaon the 15th; but you will get a telegram from Liverpool when we land," wrote their father.
John could understand that "God willing" better now than he did when they went away; for he had taken that "will of God" as the one object of his life.
It might be—it would be—with many failures, but "What wilt Thou?" was now his one question, and to do it his one desire.
Of strong character, with a will which was difficult to curb, he found it an inexpressible comfort to yield to One who was so strong, that there could not be a question of His power; and when oncethe great surrender had been made, he walked along holding the guiding hand with tender love and reverence.
One morning, just as Agnes and her sisters were sitting down to lessons, a telegram was brought in by the new maid, whom Agnes had found and installed more than a month before.
"We are in Liverpool, and hope to reach you about five o'clock," it said.
Minnie and Alice got up and jumped round the room as the only suitable expression of their feelings; and as for Agnes, her thankfulness was quiet, but too deep for words.
"May I rush in and tell grandmamma?" exclaimed Alice, when her wild capers had come at last to a stop.
When she saw that Agnes gave permission, she snatched up the telegram and was off in an instant.
"I don't believe she'll wait for her hat and jacket," said Minnie, acting policeman.
"Oh, yes, she will! They are hanging in the hall."
Minnie peeped out of window, and in another moment Alice, dressed in some style, emerged from the door, ran down the steps, and was admitted to the next house.
"Must I go on with school?" asked Minnie rather forlornly.
"No; to-day is too good a day for it not to be aholiday. Clear up the books, Minnie, and surprise Alice."
Minnie did not need twice telling; and then she and Agnes went upstairs to prepare their parents' room, to see that the new Jane made a nice fire, and that everything was well aired and ready.
While they were busy Alice came back from next door with a long, heavy roll in her arms.
"The hearthrug?" questioned Agnes.
"Yes. We are not to lay it down till everything is done and the room perfectly ready. Oh, itisa beauty! I never saw such a pretty rug."
Then at one o'clock the boys came home, and great were the laments that the travellers might arrive before they returned from afternoon school; but this had to be endured, and, as Alice suggested. "Perhaps, after all, theywouldn't."
Nor did they. The boys closed up with greater speed than they had ever done before, and raced home. As they turned the corner of their street a cab was rattling along in front of them, and, half-fearing and half-hoping, they set off to outstrip it, which they managed to do, and arrived too breathless to speak, but with glowing, happy faces, in time to open the cab door, just as a shout from Minnie at the window announced the fact of the arrival to those inside the house.
"Father," said Hugh, when, late that night, aftertheir parents had come back from visiting their grandmother next door, they all sat together round the fire, as if loth to part, "Father, would you mind telling us all, now we are together, what you said to me upstairs?"
His father gave a quick look at him; for upstairs Hugh had told him all about that episode with Tom on Christmas-day.
"Would you rather, dear boy?" asked his father.
"Yes; I was not brave once, but I'll try to be brave now."
His mother held out one hand to him, the other being clasped by Agnes, while Minnie sat at their feet, leaning against them, though she disdained the idea of being in the least sleepy.
John sat by his father, his eyes shining with a serene light.
"Well, my boy," said Mr. Headley, after a moment, only pausing to draw Alice close to his side, "what I said upstairs was this, I think. Mother and I decided long ago for ourselves, that, seeing the misery which drink brings to thousands in our country, we will not, for our part, take one drop of it except as medicine. We will do our best to prove that men and women can live, and be happy too, without it. If you read the fourteenth of Romans, you will see all the arguments set down which influenced us. Feeling that this is for us a sacred duty, we have brought you up in the same way, expecting you as a matter of obedience toabstain while you are young. By-and-by you will be able to judge more wisely than you can now."
"Then explain to them where I was wrong, father."
"You failed in obedience—and in courage," added his father.
"Yes," answered Hugh very gravely, "I saw that very soon, but not as plainly as you have put it, father."
"I have sometimes felt it a great comfort in the perplexities which arise in our hearts and lives to do as Paul says—'Take the shield offaithwhereby we may quench the fiery darts of the wicked one'—and I believe it is applicable to you too, Hugh.
"When questions come up which I cannot answer, I say to myself, 'I will take refuge under my faith in my heavenly Father; if I hide underHisshadow, the fiery darts will have no power. He has said so; He knows best.'
"So you, Hugh, take refuge under your faith in your earthly father, say 'he knows best;' and while you are young it will help you to find an answer, when otherwise you might be tempted to do what you would grieve in after years to have done."
"But you don't think drinking a glass of beer or wine wrong in itself, father?"
"Wrong for me, thinking as I do; wrong for you, because of my convictions, and my commands to you concerning them."
Hugh seemed entirely satisfied; for was he not forgiven? And then they turned to other subjects, though Alice's eyes were looking wonderingly at them all.
"Mother," she said suddenly, as Mrs. Headley's white shawl fell from her shoulders, "you have a different dress on from any you had before you went away, and it——hascrêpeon it."
"Yes," answered her mother gently; "but my heart is not in mourning."
"But——," said Alice, not liking to ask more.
"Yes," Mrs. Headley went on, "I had a lovely two months with her; 'cheered her heart,' she said. We had time to talk together of all the way we had been led. I learned from her how faith in God can triumph when outward circumstances are anything but prosperous (for she had not let me know all these years what a struggle she had had with poverty); and then I was, through dear father's kindness, able to arrange things a little better for her, and to add several comforts to her lot. Directly I got there, dear father let me buy an invalid chair for her, and many things which eased her exceedingly, and I prepared to leave her with the prospect of her never being so straitened again; for he allowed me to arrange for her to receive that little money I have of my own, which added to her small income would make a great difference.
"But the Lord knew best; and though He let me do all this for my mother, that my heart mightbe comforted, He took the care of her into His own hands.
"Just a week before we sailed I was sitting with her one evening when she said, as quietly as we are talking now:
"'My dear, the Lord's been very good to give you to me—long ago, and now. The journey is almost over, butHeis at the end.'
"I only clasped her hand in answer; for she looked tired, and I thought she would sleep; and so she did—but it was to wake to find herself at the end of her journey, and with Him."
"Dear mother," said John, coming over to kiss her, "why did you not tell us? We have been too cheerful and noisy for you to-night."
"No," she answered. "I would not have saddened our return to you for anything. I amnotsad, children. If the dear Lord had asked me I could not have chosen anything I should like better. To have been with her for nearly two months, and then to have watched her go home, what could heart wish more?"
"Then is that why Agnes has been crying since you came?" asked Minnie, turning round to look up in her sister's tearful face.
"Perhaps," said her mother; "for Agnes guessed at once, and it has come as sad news to her; but she will rejoice in my joy soon."
"I'm glad you went," said Hugh, "even though——"
"Even though what, dear?" asked his mother.
"Even though I've had such a lot to learn while you've been gone."
"So have I," said John humbly; and Mr. Headley added:
"But the lessons learned in our Father's school are golden lessons, and can never fade away."
LONDON:JOHN F. SHAW AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.
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A SOLDIER'S SON AND THE BATTLE HE FOUGHT.Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 2/6.
"... We lay it down with a feeling of gratitude that the boys of to-day have the opportunity of reading so inspiriting a book."—The Record.
PAT, THE LIGHTHOUSE BOY.Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 2/6.
"A very pleasing story of lighthouse life, with something of the desert island charm."—The Guardian.
MARJORIE AND MURIEL; or, Two London Homes. Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 2/6.
"A capital story, very prettily got up."—Record.
HIS MOTHER'S BOOK.Crown 8vo, 2/-.
"Little Bill is so lovable, and meets with such interesting friends, that everybody may read about him with pleasure."—Spectator.
LITTLE FREDDIE; or, Friends in Need. Crown 8vo, 2/-.
"There is real pathos in this story."—Liverpool Courier.
BERTIE CLIFTON; or, Paul's Little Schoolfellow. Crown 8vo, 2/-.
"Seldom have we perused a tale of the length of this with so much pleasure."The Schoolmaster.
FRIENDS OR FOES?A Story for Boys and Girls. Cr. 8vo, 2/6.
"This very pleasant and thoroughly wholesome story."—Spectator.
RUTH'S LITTLE LADY.Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 2/-.
"A delightful study of children, their joys and sorrows."—Athenæum.
OUR WINNIE; or, When the Swallows Go. Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 1/6.
"The beautiful life of little Winnie is one which all children will do well to take as an example."—Banner.
SHADOWLAND; or, What Lindis Accomplished. Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 1/6.
"A charming story for children, very prettily got up."—Record.
Author of "Sun, Moon, and Stars," &c.
OLD COMRADES.Large Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 2/6, gilt edges.
"Dorothy Tracy is one of the most delightful young ladies to whom we have ever been introduced."—Bookseller.
"An excellent story for girls by one of their favourite writers."Pall Mall Gazette.
LIFE TANGLES; or, The Journal of Dorothea Frith. Large Cr. 8vo, 3/6.
"A most wholesome book for girls."—Saturday Review.
"A very well written tale; not sensational, but thoroughly interesting."Freeman.
LIFE IN A NUTSHELL: A Story. Crown 8vo, 2/6.
"A very refreshing tale of devotion and care."—Record.
"The story of a girl's life and love pleasantly told."—Athenæum.
IDA'S SECRET; or, The Towers of Ickledale. Crown 8vo, 2/6.
"Agnes Giberne has never written a prettier tale. The characters are made to live, and there is a refreshing tone running throughout the whole."—Record.
WON AT LAST; or, Mrs. Briscoe's Nephews. Large Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 3/6.
"The treatment is so admirable, we can understand Miss Giberne's book being a help to many."—Athenæum.
THE EARLS OF THE VILLAGE.Large Crown 8vo, 2/6.
"A pathetic tale of country life, in which the fortunes of a family are followed out with a skill that never fails to interest."—Scotsman.
THE OLD HOUSE IN THE CITY; or, Not Forsaken. Cr. 8vo, 2/6.
"An admirable book for girls. The narrative is simply written, but there is a good deal of quiet force that deserves special notice."—Teachers' Aid.
FLOSS SILVERTHORN; or, The Master's Little Handmaid. Crown 8vo, 2/6.
"An admirable study of a simple-hearted, well-reared, and self-sacrificing child."—Spectator.
MADGE HARDWICKE; or, The Mists of the Valley. Cr. 8vo, 2/6.
"An extremely interesting book, and one that can be read with profit by all."—The Schoolmaster.
WILL FOSTER OF THE FERRY.Crown 8vo, 2/6.
"We are glad to see this capital story in a new shape."—Record.
TOO DEARLY BOUGHT.Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 1/6.
MISS PRIMROSE.Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 1/6.
A TRUE GENTLEWOMAN.The Story of Dame Margaret Hoby. Large Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 5/-.
"A charming gift book, especially to girls in their teens."—The Record.
"The life-story of a beautiful and high-minded woman."—The Christian.
THE END CROWNS ALL.A Story of Life. Large Cr. 8vo, 5/-.
"A most exciting story of modern life, pervaded, as Mrs. Marshall's tales always are, by a thoroughly wholesome tone."—Record.
"Lively and light; as nearly a novelette as need be."—Times.
BISHOP'S CRANWORTH; or, Rosamund's Lamp. Large Cr. 8vo. Illustrated, 5/-.
"This is a delightful story, with a considerable flavour of romance."—Baptist.
"A delightful tale for girls."—Record.
LITTLE QUEENIE. A Story of Child-life Sixty Years Ago. Large Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 3/6, gilt edges.
"Little Queenie is particularly pleasing."—Saturday Review.
DEAN'S COURT; or, Lady-bird and her Friends. Large Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 3/6.
"A bright story of child-life."—Scotsman.
"Lady-bird Is one of the most charming of Mrs. Marshall's child heroines."Bookseller.
BLUEBELL.A Story of Child-life Nowadays. Large Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 3/6.
"... Children will be captivated with it."—Footsteps of Truth.
"One of Mrs. Marshall's best stories."—British Weekly.
"Charming in style and high in tone."—Guardian.
LITTLE MISS JOY.Crown 8vo, Illustrated, 2/6.
"A pretty picture of childish influence."—Brighton Gazette.
HURLY-BURLY; or, After a Storm comes a Calm. Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, 2/-.
"Simply and touchingly told."—Aberdeen Journal.
"A bright attractive story."—Alliance News.
CURLEY'S CRYSTAL; or, a Light Heart Lives Long. Crown 8vo. Illustrated, 1/6.
"The vehicle of good thought as to life and its duties."—The Christian.
ROBERT'S RACE; or, More Haste Less Speed. Crown 8vo. Illustrated, 1/6.
"A capital little book for boys."—English Churchman.
PETER'S PROMISES; or, Look before you Leap. Crown 8vo. Illustrated, 1/6.
"A pleasing story told with much pathetic power."—Record.
CLEMENT AND GEORGIE; or, Manners makyth Man. Cr. 8vo. Illustrated, 1/6.
A LITTLE CURIOSITY.With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 1/6.
London: JOHN F SHAW & Co., 48,Paternoster Row, E.C.
TRANSCRIBER NOTES:Obvious spelling and punctuation errors repaired.Page 103: "any-rate" changed to "anyrate"Page 138: "spellbound" changed to "spell-bound"Numerous mismatched quotes and end quote missing punctuation errors ignored.
Obvious spelling and punctuation errors repaired.Page 103: "any-rate" changed to "anyrate"Page 138: "spellbound" changed to "spell-bound"
Numerous mismatched quotes and end quote missing punctuation errors ignored.