Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

CHAPTER II.

PATTIE.

Ꭺ STORY FOR LITTLE

NE afternoon, not many days after this, Pattie was sitting alone in the room which had once been the nursery, but which was now seldom entered by any of her uncle's family except Phil. She was trying to amuse herself by looking through a book of pictures which had been given to her cousin Adelaide when she was a little girl; but as she had seen them all many times before, she did not find them very amusing, and so she was quite glad when the door opened and Phil entered.

With a most disconsolate look upon his face, the lad threw himself on to a chair, and taking no notice of Pattie, put his hands into his pockets, and stretched out his legs in such a way as to show plainly that he felt himself an ill-used boy.

Pattie turned from her book to regard him intently with wide-opened eyes; and gradually becoming more and more convinced that he must be in some great trouble, ventured at last to ask him what was amiss. "What's the good of asking questions when you know you can't help one?" was the ungracious response. "If I was to tell you that one of the boys at school has a fishing-rod to sell, and that I can't buy it because I have not money enough by eighteenpence, you wouldn't care, I don't suppose. It is such a beauty, Pattie," added Phil, after a moment's pause, and in a different voice, "the very sort of one I have been longing for ever so long."

"Wouldn't uncle give you the money?" asked Pattie brightly, for it was her private opinion that her uncle's pockets were always full.

Phil shook his head moodily. "He never will give me more than my allowance. I shall have to do without it, I know," and Phil almost groaned; while Pattie's heart, which was always ready to grieve for others, grew quite sorry.

CHILDREN.

For a little time there was quite a sharp struggle within Pattie's breast between self and kindness; but at last a timid glance at Phil's downcast countenance helped kindness to win the victory. She got up and hurried away to her room, then opened the small drawer, which was yet large enough to hold all her clothes, and then emptied all the money out of her purse.

There was the bright shilling her papa had given her when she came from home, and which she had kept ever since; and there was a curious bent six pence, with a hole in it. A new fourpenny piece, the gift of Anne in the purse, and two pennies, made up the sum total of her wealth.

"I can't give the sixpence away, because it's such a funny one," whispered Pattie to herself, as she looked at first one and then another of her treasures. "Besides, mamma gave it to me, and she is ill now. Phil shall have the others; he is kind sometimes, and he wants them so badly."

Of course, Phil would not take his little cousin's money only under condition that he should pay it back the first opportunity. Pattie, watching him as he ran down the gravel path on his way to conclude the bargain, did not wish in the least that she had not been generous, for somehow or other it made her feel more as if she were in a home where it was the rule of all to be kind and loving.

Now, children, you all know that the way to win love is to be kind and loving; so you need not be surprised when I tell you that after this Phil seemed to think more of pleasing his little cousin, and to care less and less to tease her, until at last one halfholiday he proposed that she should walk with him to a wood only a short distance from her uncle's house. As you may suppose, Pattie was highly delighted, and started off on her expedition in the best of spirits; trotting contentedly a few steps behind Phil, her wide-brimmed sun hat jogging up and down

"Wouldn't the boy wait for the money?" she said, in the summer breeze. after a moment's reflection.

"Don't worry any more," answered Phil, growing very cross and unreasonable again. Girls are so stupid always; of course he won't wait. There's another boy ready to have it if I don't."

Pattie turned back to her book again, with her feelings rather hurt, but she found that she could not fix her mind upon it at all; her thoughts would fly away to two things which came to her remembrance, and which, to tell the truth, she did not want to remember. The first was, that up-stairs in her drawer she had a little money, in a funny old purse Anne had given her; while the second was a verse out of the Bible, which her mamma had taught her months ago: "Be ye kind one to another."

It was very pleasant in the wood, particularly so to little Pattie, who had never been in one before, and who kept finding new treasures of luscious mosses, berries, and flowers, until her pinafore was quite full, and she could only wish she had brought a basket with her. Then when they sat down to rest the rustling of the leaves, as the breeze crept in and out amongst them to play, made a soothing noise like music, only interrupted now and then by a rabbit or hare running somewhere near in the underwood. Pattie, listening to it, felt her heart brim over with happiness, only she did not say anything to Phil, because he would not have understood.

Poor little Pattie! before long she was to be sobered; for Phil, looking up into a tall elm-tree, caught

"THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS.

sight of what appeared to be a wood-pigeon's nest; and quite disregarding Pattie's earnest entreaties that he would not take it, insisted upon climbing after it, while Pattie stood watching him below, her heart throbbing one minute with fear lest he should fall, and the next with sorrow for the poor bird, which would come home only to find its nest gone. At last, when Phil had climbed high enough, she saw him put out his hand to get the prize; then a feeling that it was indeed very cruel of him to rob the bird filled her heart, and she shut her eyes that she might not see him do it, and did not open them again until a moment after there was a sound of a bough breaking, and of a heavy weight falling close by her.

Now Pattie was a very little girl, and when she first saw Phil lying motionless on the ground it is no wonder that she turned quite sick and faint with fright; but the next moment she knelt down by his side begging him to speak to her. "Please do speak to me, Phil," she urged again and again; "please do open your eyes. You are only trying to frighten me, you know. Oh, do get up!" and the child sobbed with terror.

But Phil lay quite still-he was stunned by his fall; and at last Pattie knew that the only thing she could do would be to go home and tell what had happened. So with some trouble she found her way out of the wood, and then started off running as fast as she could across the fields towards her uncle's house, which she reached at last in a sad state of weariness and fright.

495

the careless boy, who had never thought or heard much of those things before, and who had felt very fearful when near to the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

So when at last Pattie's papa came to fetch his child home again, he found that she and Phil had grown very great friends, and that Phil did not seem at all pleased to have to part with her, though it would not be long before he saw her again, for after he had had a long talk with his uncle, he told Pattie that at Christmas-time he was coming up to London to see her.

"And Pattie," added Phil, in a lower voice, and half-shamefully, now I am well enough to go back to school I am going to try to be a good boy, you know."

Pattie nodded her head gravely. To be good with her meant a very difficult undertaking—sometimes, at any rate; but then it was certainly the only way to be happy.

K. S.

"THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS.

194. There is a verse in one of the prophets in which the desolation of four of the chief cities of the Philistines is distinctly foretold. Quote it.

195. The word "offence" has a twofold meaning in the Old Testament. Quote two passages showing its different meanings.

196. Quote the verse in which God is mentioned for the first time in the New Testament, and point out anything remarkable connected with it.

[ocr errors]

197. Quote a statement made by Moses which seems to justify the name Mediator" applied to him in Gal. iii. 19.

198. Quote the passage in which it is distinctly foretold that Christ should be invested with both

The days which followed were sad and gloomy ones; for after Phil had been brought home, and the doctor had seen him, it was found that he had hurt his head very badly, and for some time no one knew whether he would get well. But he did get well, although he was so ill that for some weeks Pattie was not allowed to go into his room; and when at royalty and priesthood. last one morning Anne took her in, for all she was very glad to see her cousin again, yet she could not help crying a little when she saw how white and changed Phil's face had got, and how nearly all of his rough curly hair had been cut off.

After that first morning the little girl spent more and more time in her cousin's room, whiling away with her talk and gentle play many an hour which would otherwise have passed but wearily to the boy, who had hardly ever before known what illness was, and who was therefore somewhat inclined to be impatient of his long confinement.

And, best of all, the good seed Pattie's mamma had sown in her daughter's heart was all unconsciously bringing forth fruit now; for somehow or other, since Phil had been so ill Pattie had got into the way of repeating to him the little prayers and verses she had learnt at home; and they, together with her trusting speeches about the good God and Father in heaven, were sinking down deeply into the heart of

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON PAGE 463. 178. 1 Sam. xxiv. 13.

179. Hamath-Zobah (2 Chron. viii. 3).

180. Compare 1 Kings xiii. 18 with Exod. xxxii. 4-"Thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

181. 1 Sam. xxx. 25.

182. By Amaziah, when he slew the murderers of his father, but spared their children (2 Kings xiv. 5, 6).

183. 2 Chron. xi. 15-" Those for the high places; those for the devils; those for the calves which he had made."

184. Achish, King of Gath, gave it to David. "Wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day" (1 Sam. xxvii. 6).

185. "Because of sedition" (Ezra iii. 15). 186. They met at the council in Jerusalem, as appears from Gal. ii. 9.

BIBLE NOTES.

PETER'S DRAUGHT OF FISHES (Luke v. 4—11).

AUNCH out into the deep, and let down | the power to collect them at any particular spot, and did collect them to minister to the matter he had before him in performing this miracle, which foreshadowed the success that would attend the labours of the apostles in drawing the net of the Gospel through the sea of the world.

your nets for a draught." The Saviour had finished teaching the people who stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, when he turned to Simon, in whose boat he was sitting, and bade him launch forth into the deep, where during the whole previous night he and his companions had toiled unsuccessfully, and had returned weary from their occupation to seek rest, after making everything ready for the next occasion on which they should go forth to their accustomed labour. He was to let down his nets for a draught. Surely there is in these words a promise that success should not be wanting, though the disciple had not just then a great expectation that he would fare better than he had done. The words are used to test the obedience of him who is about being called to a participation in the after toils and struggles of Him who now speaks to him.

"Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." At this transaction Peter is overpowered, In these words do his feelings find utterance. He and his companions become aware of something in the Lord which they had not perceived before, which filled them with astonishment and awe (verse 9). How exactly is this speech in keeping with Peter's impetuous character! He falls at Jesus's knees, for he feels that he, a sinful man, is in the presence of One who is holy. The Divine glory of Christ so deeply humbled him that the whole feeling of his sinfulness is aroused in him.

"Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men." "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken What a word of kindness was this from Him who nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the was the friend of sinners! What a reply to the net." He had heard him addressing the people, request to depart out of the sinful man's ship, or enlarging to them no doubt on the subject of his from him! Thou shalt be a catcher of men alive. early public discourses-" Repentance: for the king- This shall be thy occupation in the future, to catch dom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. iii. 17). The men for life eternal, instead of catching fish for words Peter uses are not those of one who despairs death. We may notice the language in which this of the issue. They seem to indicate traces of a promise was clothed. It was familiar to Peter; he faith already working in him, which was to increase he had been, and still was, a catcher of fish; he is mightily in the future. He had been naturally henceforth to catch men. And how great is this disheartened at the failure of his efforts during the promise, that he should draw men in such miraculous preceding night to catch fish, on which the main- draughts out of the sea of the world, for the kingdom tenance of his family depended. He had toiled all of God, as he had now made a miraculous draught the night through, the most favourable time for in his own calling of a fisherman. The direct result fishing; he had not made spasmodic efforts now and of this miracle was the effectual call of four apostles. then, but toiled unceasingly, and to no purpose. A greater calling Peter and his partners could not But his spirits revive at the encouraging words of have. They recognised it as such, and forthwith Jesus. He who had a practical knowledge of the they are resolved; they bring their ships to land, art of fishing, and of the best time at which to seek forsake all and follow Jesus. Their "all" may have for his prey, sacrifices his opinion to his faith in been of little value, but in this instance it consisted Christ. Experience had taught him that the day of their fish, nets, ships, home, habits, friends, and was no time for fishing, still he sets aside his ex- hopes. These were freely given up, in order that perience for Christ's word. they might go with Jesus whithersoever he went. It is not the value of what is given up, but the spirit in which it is given up that makes the sacrifice acceptable to him who reads the heart of man. Whenever God commands, our duty is clear; though we see not his reasons, our answer should be, "Lord, at thy word." He will bless our endeavours, we must be obedient, leaving the result to him.

“And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes." The net is thrown out in trust, and soon it swarms with fish; it threatens to break when they would draw it back again. They beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship (probably James and John), and to their servants, and they come and help them to make sure of their draught; and so abundant is the draught that the two ships are filled with it, so that they began to sink. This was the blessing that rested upon obedience. The same Lord who created the fish, had

In this miracle the sea may be taken to represent the world; the fishers, preachers; the nets, the Gospel; the ships, the churches; the draught, the success; the shore, eternity.

[graphic][merged small][merged small][graphic]

I

"I was requested to read the newspaper to him"-p. 498.

TWO STORIES IN ONE.

66

SHIRLEY HALL ASYLUM," ETC

BY WILLIAM GILBERT, AUTHOR OF "DE PROFUNDIS,"
CHAPTER XI.-THE EMERALD EARRING.

Do not think a fit of ill-humour had ever hung
over me so long as it did after my quarrel with
Edmond. Try all I would, I could not get over it.
What appeared to me especially strange was, that

VOL. VII

struggle as I did against my vexation-for I felt how absurd it was-and much as I endeavoured to prove to myself how ridiculous was Edmond's suspicion that I was the attraction for M. de Vernieul's visits, the

347

more did it appear to me, in spite of myself, that such might possibly be the case. The more I argued against it, the more frequently did the idea start up before me. But what annoyed me particularly was the word "mountebank," which Edmond had used when speaking of M. de Vernieul. Why should he have made use of a term so insulting? In this frame of mind I continued till the day before M. de Vernieul was to pay his visit, when my father was seized with a violent cold, which confined him to the house. My mother wrote a letter to M. de Vernieul, informing him of the circumstance, and proposing a day in the following week for their next meeting.

To say the truth, I felt some relief at the letter being written, as I now flattered myself I should have time to get over my ill-humour, and receive him with the calm civility due to an intelligent friend of my father's-nothing more. The next day my father's cold was worse, and my mother insisted on his not quitting the drawing-room, or attending to business in any way. She argued that it was an imperative necessity to nurse a cold at the commencement, it being easily cured if cared for in time, but which became the more difficult the longer neglected.

Well, my father somewhat reluctantly obeyed her. By way of making him as comfortable as possible, she had the easy chair placed by the fire, and there, with a sort of black silk skull-cap on his head, slippers on his feet, and wrapped in a dressing-gown, he was ordered to remain till she gave him permission to move. By way of making his forced inaction as little objectionable as possible, I was requested to read the newspaper to him, while my mother, her household duties being over, seated herself opposite, and went on with her knitting, paying attention to my reading the while. From time to time she cast a scrutinising glance at my father, to see if he wanted anything, or was likely to disturb the economy of the arrangements she had prepared for him. At last, without the slightest apparent cause, she came to the conclusion that he was not sufficiently wrapped up, and she hurriedly left the room. A moment after, she returned with a shawl, which she insisted on his putting over his head and shoulders, to protect him from any draught that might enter when the door was open. He mildly but fruitlessly remonstrated with her. She would hear of no opposition, and insisted on his immediately wearing the shawl. My poor father, who, when he was ill, generally submitted with the patience of a lamb to my mother's despotism—for in all cases of sickness she was despotic indeed-offered no further resistance, and my mother proceeded to place the shawl over his head and shoulders in the most approved manner. This she at last accomplished to her satisfaction, and was in the act of fastening the shawl under his chin, when the door of the drawing-room opened, and M. de Vernieul was announced.

The ridiculous appearance we made at the time came so irresistibly before me, that the newspaper helplessly dropped from my hand, and making way for M. de Vernieul to advance, I dexterously left the room, leaving my father and mother to make the best of the case they could without my assistance. To say the truth, I had another reason for vanishing with so much celerity. Although my mother had instilled into me when a child the principle that a lady should always be fit to be seen, no matter at what hour of the day, the reader-if a lady—will readily admit that a young girl may appear to better advantage in one costume than another. any rate, that was my opinion, not only when I was young, but it is so at the present day.

At

Well, ringing my bell for the servant, I rapidly made what I considered a few becoming alterations in my appearance, and wearing on my countenance as calm an expression as possible, I again entered the drawing-room, where I found M. de Vernieul already in conversation with my father. When he saw me he expressed great distress at my father's illness.

"And what makes it the more painful to me," he said, "is, that he informs me a letter was written' to me yesterday, to put off our engagement. Either the postman or the servant at my house must be very much to blame for having omitted to deliver the letter to me. I proposed returning, but your amiable parents insist on my remaining, and you see I have obeyed them."

I merely bowed, and M. de Vernieul placing a chair for me, I joined the group. I will not trouble the reader with any account of the conversation that passed; it generally ran on the most commonplace subjects. My father, on one occasion, attempted to speak on the Huguenot question, but my mother, who had come to the conclusion that the less he said the better for his cold, requested he would not fatigue himself, but wait till he was better to talk over the subject. It struck me that our visitor, although he made no remark, seemed by no means to object to my mother's theory, so that, in point of fact, the conversation was carried on by us three, my father calmly listening the while. I must say, on the whole, that trifling as the subjects brought forward might have been, our visitor made them most attractive to me, though in self-justification, I should state my mother seemed not less pleased with him than myself.

The next time he came, my father had sufficiently recovered to leave the house, and they went together to inspect the parish registers. That day he dined with us, and it was somewhat at a late hour when he left.

The day for the "assembly" was now rapidly approaching, and great indeed were the preparations made, both by my mother and myself, to do justice to the occasion. From what M. Dubarry had told us it

« PoprzedniaDalej »