Слике страница
PDF
ePub

got the school-master to write his name and mine, and the children's, in it. It is full of nice pictures too, and has all the explanations of the chapters in it; and I assure you, ma'am, I prize it very much, because it belonged to him that's gone."

As she spoke, the tears filled her eyes, and I perceived with pleasure that she was not destitute of feeling.

"I hope, Mrs. White," said I, "that there is another reason why you prize this volume. I trust you value it as the gift of that glorious Being, who has been pleased to reveal Himself in it as the Lord God gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in goodness, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and who so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

"I know, ma'am," she replied, "that it is the book of God, and I hope I try to live up to it; for though I'm poor, I live a peaceable life by the labour of my hands, and pay all my debts, and wrong no one."

"You may do all this, Mrs. White," I replied, "and a great deal more, and yet fall very far short of what this book requires. Perfect holiness of heart and life is what is demanded by the law of

God contained in his word, and yet the same word declares that there is no man that liveth and sinneth not."

"But it says too that God is just," replied the widow, "and if so, I am sure he will not expect us to do what is impossible for us to do."

"He does not require of us any thing we cannot do," I answered," he has provided a way for our salvation by the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ; and all who repent of their sins and believe on him, shall receive a full pardon and a title to eternal life. I hope, continued I, that you will examine yourself by the word of God, and I trust the Spirit of God will show your true state.

"You put me in mind of my poor husband," said the widow, as she sighed ; "he was a man of few words, but he used to talk a good deal so sometimes."

66

How long has your husband been dead," I asked?

"It will be two years the fifth of next month, ma'am. He had a sudden call, and I a sudden trouble, for he left home well in the morning and was brought home a corpse. He was at work digging in the side hill north of this, and it suddenly caved in upon him and killed him."

"I trust," said I, "that though his summons

came in an hour he thought not of, he was not unprepared?"

"Oh, ma'am," replied the widow, "he was always a good man, honest, industrious and sober; always kind to his family, and just in his dealings -he was a man, as I said, that never had much to say, but he used to go to meetings and read his Bible a good deal."

"You spoke of your children? how many have you," I inquired.

66

"I have but two living, ma'am, my eldest daughter is married and lives in the small white house you see from this window, and the other lives with me and goes out sewing. She is a weakly girl, quiet and thoughtful, and amazingly like her father. There never was a better daughter than my Catharine. I do not see as she ever does any thing wrong, but she's taken a notion that she's very wicked, and she's quite gloomy-like, and to speak plainly to you, ma'am, one reason that I don't like to take your book is that Catharine will read it, and I think she reads and thinks too much about such matters. She's not half as happy as she used to be before she took to that way. She used to be like a cricket about the house, singing and making every body about her happy, but now she has got so down spirited, and says she's such a wicked sinner,

and has all her life done so wrong, that I don't know what to make of her sometimes, I'm afraid she is not hardly in her right mind."

"Mrs. White," said I, "you must not be offended if I say that perhaps she is just coming to a better state of mind than she has ever been in. She probably thinks no worse of herself than she ought to do."

The widow looked displeased and replied, "you know nothing about Catharine, ma'am, or you would not say so. I don't believe that any one that knows her can say a word against her."

66

"My good woman, you mistake me," said I. "She may be all that is dutiful and amiable, and kind, and affectionate, and yet be destitute of the love of God. And now that she sees how much she has lived for this world, how little for God, when she reflects that she has neglected to love and serve, and give her heart to that Redeemer, who died for her salvation, she feels that she is a miserable sinner indeed. Do not prevent her from reading the Bible and good books; she will never be any happier till she feels that she is a christian enjoying the love and favour of God. Give her this tract," continued I, "handing her the one entitled, • What shall I do to be saved.' And I hope the reading of it may be blessed to her eternal good."

Though the woman did not seem to understand all I said to her, she took the tract saying, "Well, ma'am, I will give it to her." I rose to go, and after saying a few more words to her on the importance of attending to the salvation of her soul, bade her "good morning."

I then visited the other families in my district; by some of whom I was coldly received, by others kindly welcomed, and I returned home feeling that I had much to encourage me to be faithful in the discharge of my new duties.

At the end of a month I again knocked at Mrs. White's door. A feeble voice bade me walk in. By the fire, seated in a rocking chair, and supported by pillows, was a feeble looking girl of about eighteen years of age. Her hollow cheek had the bright flush upon it, which told too plainly the nature of her complaint.

"Is Mrs. White within?" I inquired.

"No ma'am," she replied, "mother has gone to get something to make a syrup for my cough." “Then you are Catharine White,” said I. "Yes ma'am, that is my name."

"You seem very unwell," I remarked, "your mother told me your health was delicate, but I did not suppose you were so feeble."

"I have only been confined to the house for

« ПретходнаНастави »