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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35746-h.zip b/35746-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c40c46 --- /dev/null +++ b/35746-h.zip diff --git a/35746-h/35746-h.htm b/35746-h/35746-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1df1f3a --- /dev/null +++ b/35746-h/35746-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2412 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Pearl of Peace, by Mrs. Madeline Leslie. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .small {font-size: 70%;} + .big {font-size: 110%;} + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .chaptertitle {text-align: center; font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: + 0; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .poem {margin-left: 30%; text-align: left;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pearl of Peace, by Madeline Leslie + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pearl of Peace + or, The Little Peacemaker + +Author: Madeline Leslie + +Release Date: April 1, 2011 [EBook #35746] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEARL OF PEACE *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;"> +<img src="images/cover.png" width="420" height="600" alt="Cover: Mrs. Leslie's Bible Pearls." title="" /> +</div> + + + + +<h1>The Pearl of Peace:</h1> + +<div class='center'>OR,<br /> + +<span class='big'>THE LITTLE PEACE-MAKER.</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='author'><i>BY MRS. MADELINE LESLIE.</i><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the +children of God." <span class="smcap">Matthew</span> 5:9.</p></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br /> +BOSTON:<br /> +<span class='small'>PUBLISHED BY A. F. GRAVES,</span><br /> +20 CORNHILL.<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='copyright'> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by<br /> +<br /> +REV. A. R. BAKER,<br /> +<br /> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of<br /> +Massachusetts.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">J. E. Farwell & Co., Printers</span>,<br /> +37 Congress Street.<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='center'> +To<br /> +<br /> +<span class='big'>FRANK RANDALL, RUTH, MAY, RANDOLPH MORGAN,</span><br /> +<span class='big'>AND JAMES WALDINGFIELD,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class='small'>CHILDREN OF</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">D. F. APPLETON, Esq., New York</span>,<br /> +<br /> +<span class='small'>THESE "BIBLE PEARLS" ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED</span><br /> +<span class='small'>BY THE AUTHOR.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'>MRS. LESLIE'S</div> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>PEARL SERIES.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='center'><b>Series for Girls.</b><br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="For girls books"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Vol.</span> </td><td align='right'>I. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The</span> </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pearl</span> </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">of</span></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Faith.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>II. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Diligence.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>III. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Meekness.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>IV. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Forgiveness.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>V. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Contentment.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>VI. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Peace.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'>MRS. LESLIE'S</div> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>PEARL SERIES.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='center'><b>Series for Boys.</b><br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="For boys books"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Vol.</span> </td><td align='right'>I. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The</span> </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pearl</span> </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">of</span></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Love.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>II. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Charity.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>III. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Obedience.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>IV. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Penitence.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>V. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Hope.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>VI. </td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap"> Patience.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Quarrel</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Sallie's Home Troubles</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hatty's Peaceful Home</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Peace-maker</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Matilda's Conscience</span>, </td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_59">59</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Quarrel Settled</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sick Girl</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Peaceful Death</span>,</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> +<h2>The Pearl of Peace.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE QUARREL.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 50px;"> +<img src="images/i013-s.png" width="50" height="150" alt=""S" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />HE'S the meanest girl I ever +saw! If she is my cousin, I'll +say so. I wont speak to her +again this term; see if I do!"</div> + +<p>Sallie Munson was greatly excited, +and walked in quick jerks by +the side of her companion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Matilda had been repeating +to her, with some exaggeration, +the remarks of Cynthia Manning, +concerning her dress; but +Matilda did not expect or intend +to excite so much anger, and +was almost frightened at Sallie's +warmth.</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about?" +called a cheerful voice from behind. +"I've been running my breath all +away, trying to catch you; but I +couldn't make you hear my call; I +could only see Sallie gesturing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +away, as if she were practising +her exhibition piece."</p> + +<p>Matilda had only time to whisper +hurriedly, "Don't tell her a +word of what I said," when Harriet +Maynard joined them.</p> + +<p>One glance into her good-humored, +serene face, would have +put Sallie's anger to flight, if it +had not been for a sly pinch Matilda +gave her arm.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see the brook +look so lovely, girls? I should +have overtaken you sooner, only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +that I stopped at the bridge to +see the water dash over Montworth +Falls, as I have named that pretty +cascade. I threw in a piece of +wood, and over it went among the +foam just like that boat we read +of, over Niagara."</p> + +<p>She rattled away in a gay tone, +looking as smiling as a May +Queen; but at last she could not +help noticing that neither of her +companions were in good humor.</p> + +<p>"Why, what's the matter, Sallie?" +she asked, affectionately. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +look as if you were in a high +fever, and Matilda, too, is as solemn +as a church. What is it?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer; and, presently, +a shadow crept over Hatty's +smiling countenance.</p> + +<p>"Sallie, Matilda," she exclaimed, +eagerly, "you must tell. Have I +done anything? Have I hurt your +feelings?"</p> + +<p>"No; oh, no, indeed!" answered +Sallie, turning quickly to her +friend. "It's nothing that you +have anything to do with." She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +cast a quick glance down at her +own dress, eager to know whether +Hatty had also condemned it as +low and vulgar; but her friend +said, still more earnestly,—</p> + +<p>"Tell me all about it, can't +you? Do you know I begin to be +jealous of Matilda? You have +told her all your troubles."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed! Matilda told me,—I"—</p> + +<p>There was another pinch of the +arm, and she stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Well, good-bye, then; I wish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +you were going my way: but I +have the brook for company."</p> + +<p>Then she laughingly waved her +adieu, calling out after they +were at some distance, "I've finished +all those hard sums."</p> + +<p>"What a girl Hatty is," exclaimed +Sallie. "I wish I were always +as happy as she is. I don't +believe she ever cried in her life."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she's gay," answered Matilda, +"and good company; but +still I do like people that have +some feeling. She laughs a good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +deal. She knows that's her best +look. She's awful proud of her +white teeth."</p> + +<p>"Now, Matilda, that's too bad! +I don't believe she ever thinks of +that in all her life. She laughs +because she's happy; and, as for +feeling, I think she has more than +any of us. She's the best friend I +have, any way. I never get angry +when I'm with her."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to say a word +against her, I'm sure. I like her +first-rate."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I shouldn't think you +liked me first-rate, if I heard that +you called me unfeeling and +proud."</p> + +<p>Sallie drew her arm from her +companion, and walked on by herself +in a dignified manner. Before +long, Matilda reached her own +home, and, with a pleasant good-bye, +ran inside the gate.</p> + +<p>When Sallie was left to her +own reflections, her face grew +more flushed and serious than ever. +She was very angry with her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +cousin Cynthia, for criticizing her +dress. She was angry with her +mother, for obliging her to wear +a gown that looked as if it came +out of the ark. She was angry +with Matilda for repeating her +cousin's ill-natured remarks; and +she was angry with herself for +listening to them. It was only +when she thought of Hatty, sweet +Hatty Maynard, with her gay tone +and pleasant, placid smile, that her +forehead relaxed from the deep +frown which had gathered upon it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wonder," she said to herself, +"why Hatty is so much happier +than anybody else I know. She's +real poor, and has to wait on that +cross old uncle, and her deformed +sister; she dresses old-fashioned, +too; only she never seems to care. +When she has on anything odd, +she just laughs the more, and says, +gayly,—</p> + +<p>"'You know my dressmaker +doesn't visit the city often.' Well, +I suppose it's her way, and I wish +'twas my way, too."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SALLIE'S HOME TROUBLES.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 50px;"> +<img src="images/i013-s.png" width="50" height="150" alt="S" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />ALLIE MUNSON was the +daughter of a man who +had sailed as Captain of a +schooner, bound for the West +Indies, more than five years before +the date of our story. He left a +wife and seven children, of whom +Sallie was the youngest, and the +only daughter. At the time he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +left home she was just past six, +and was therefore now eleven.</div> + +<p>Five long, weary, waiting years +of watching, suspense and anxiety, +had left Mrs. Munson careworn +and old before her time. Her +eldest son was married and settled +at a distance; the second had +gone with his father as a sailor; +the sixth boy, her darling, blue-eyed +Jamie, was buried at the end +of her little garden; leaving four +children dependant on her labor +for their support. To be sure,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +Abner, the oldest at home, was +nearly seventeen; but though steady +and honest, he lacked energy and +thrift. When away from home he +was the butt and laughing-stock of +his more shrewd companions; and +so his patient mother obtained +what employment she could for +him, under her own eye, and sent +his brother Joseph, a stout, fun-loving +lad of fifteen, to work in a +neighboring tan yard.</p> + +<p>Edward and Sallie went to school +during the short sessions both in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +summer and winter, though the +care and pains it cost their mother +to fit them out in clothes and +books, I can hardly describe.</p> + +<p>Once a year Mrs. Barnes, the +Captain's sister, came to the sea-shore +to spend a few days, and +always brought with her a bundle +of half-worn clothes, out of which +the widow made useful, if not +fashionable, garments for her family.</p> + +<p>It was shortly after one of these +visits, that Sallie wore to school a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +dress, made from one given her +by her aunt. It was a bright +plaid, and with great pains had +been made to fit her neatly. +Whether the boddice and sleeves +were in the prevailing mode, she +was ignorant, until informed by her +school-mate, Matilda.</p> + +<p>This young girl had some good +traits of character. She was diligent +in her studies, and prompt +in obliging a friend. But she had +one terrible failing; a love of gossip +or mischief-making, which rendered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +her dangerous to the peace +of those with whom she associated.</p> + +<p>This habit often led her much +farther than she anticipated, and +betrayed her into sundry exaggerations +which she sometimes keenly +regretted.</p> + +<p>At recess, Cynthia Manning refused +to lend a new book to Matilda; +and to show her spite, she +determined to make a quarrel between +the cousins. The two girls +lived not far apart, and usually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +walked home together in company +with Hatty.</p> + +<p>This time Matilda hurried her +friend along, and began at once +to say:</p> + +<p>"It's strange you can't have anything +new, without Cynthia being +so envious. Just because you've +got a handsome new gown, she's +so mad, she can't say enough +against it. She made all manner +of fun of it behind your back, +and called it real dowdy. 'I do +declare,' she said, tossing back her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +head, 'for all Sallie is so set up +with her new dress, I wouldn't +be seen wearing such a vulgar-looking +thing.'"</p> + +<p>This was what had made Sallie +exclaim in anger against her +cousin. The reason Matilda was +unwilling her companion should +explain why she looked feverish, +was because she well knew Hatty's +character as a peace-maker; +and her conscience loudly whispered +that she had told much +more than was true.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the girls parted, and she +went into her own home, do you +think she was happy? Are quarrelsome +people generally so? We +shall see.</p> + +<p>Matilda was the eldest of five +children. The baby, as Master +Tom, a sturdy little fellow of two +years was called, was playing near +the steps as she walked up the +path from the gate. He gave a +shout of welcome; but she pushed +over his pile of stones with her +foot, laughed at his cry of disappointment,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +and opened the door, +with a frown on her face.</p> + +<p>It was Wednesday; and the +afternoon was a holiday. She felt +quite sure there would be no play +for her, and was resolved to show +her displeasure at once.</p> + +<p>She threw her pile of books into +a chair, tossed her hat on another, +and, passing through the common +sitting-room, asked in a complaining +tone,—</p> + +<p>"Isn't dinner most ready?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Matilda!" said her mother,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +"you're just in time; run back as +quick as you can to the store, and +ask Mr. Pratt to cut you a thick +slice of ham. Your father will be +home in ten minutes, and be angry +if dinner isn't ready. There, catch +up your hat, and run quick."</p> + +<p>"It's always the way," pouted +Matilda, snatching the plate her +mother held toward her. "I +wanted to eat my dinner, and go +nutting; but I never can do any +thing."</p> + +<p>She did not hurry in the least;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +but, just outside the gate, met her +two brothers, who were quarreling +about a jack-knife, one of them +had found.</p> + +<p>Instead of trying to make peace, +she entered into the quarrel, and +soon had both of them railing at +her.</p> + +<p>When her father came from his +toil, hungry and impatient for his +dinner, his wife was fretting; and +his daughter nowhere in sight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HATTY'S PEACEFUL HOME.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 51px;"> +<img src="images/i036-n.png" width="51" height="150" alt="N" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />OW, let us follow Hatty as +she ran gayly up the narrow +lane toward her humble +home. The brook, she +loved so well, tumbled on over +the stones and pebbles at her +side, dancing and sparkling in the +sunlight, as happy as she.</div> + +<p>"Oh, how pretty these everlastings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +are!" she said to herself, +stopping to take a nearer view of +the late fall flowers; and there's +dear Esther sitting at her sewing.</p> + +<p>"Am I late?" she asked, running +into their one room, which +served for parlor, sitting-room and +kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, dear!"</p> + +<p>There was an affectionate kiss +between the two sisters, and then +Hatty, after hanging up her school +hat and sack, laid some fresh +sticks into the stove, filled the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +tea-kettle, and put some potatoes +already washed into the oven to +bake. Then she proceeded to lay +on a cloth very coarse, but white +as snow; and to set out the common +plates they used, her tongue +running merrily all the while.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Esther! I wish you could +see Montworth Falls. The water +foams, and dashes, and sparkles +so beautifully, I stood a moment +to look at it; and then I had to +run to catch the girls."</p> + +<p>Esther smiled; a patient, calm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +face hers was, almost always +lighted with that trusting, placid +smile.</p> + +<p>"I can see it," she answered, +"almost as well as if I were +there. You are my eyes, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sister!" Hatty went on, +after bringing from the cellar a +dish of cold meat and a plate of +large cucumber pickles, "the girls +are going nutting. Do you suppose +I could go? Ethel Frost +says chestnuts and shagbarks are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +ever so thick. There's one reason, +specially, why I want to go +to-day."</p> + +<p>Esther quite laughed this time.</p> + +<p>"You know I tell you everything," +Hatty went on, her face +growing a little anxious. "Sallie +Munson is in trouble. I want to +make her feel better; and I guess +I can."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear peace-maker, +you can go as well as not. You +know uncle Oliver likes nuts in +winter. They remind him of old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +times. You'd better carry them +up stairs and dry them, and then +give him a pleasant surprise."</p> + +<p>"So I will!"</p> + +<p>Hatty peeped into the oven to +see how the potatoes were coming +on, singing a line of her favorite +hymn:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Oh how happy are they<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Who their Saviour obey,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And have laid up their treasure above,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">No tongue can express,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The sweet comfort and peace,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of a soul in its earliest love."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just as the tea was drawn +(uncle Oliver was as set in his +way as an old smoker, and declared +that he couldn't live without +tea with every meal), the old +man made his appearance. He +was bent a good deal with rheumatism; +his face was wrinkled, +and his hair grew low down on +his forehead. His shaggy eyebrows +nearly met over his nose, +and his deep grey eyes looked +cold to a stranger, but, notwithstanding +all this, his nieces loved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +him. Years ago when his only +sister, who was their mother, died, +he promised her, that as well as +he knew how, he would be a +father to her daughters; and faithfully +had he kept his word.</p> + +<p>He had only a little money; but +that little was freely given for +their necessities. When they first +came to live with him, people +called him hard and crusty, an +odd stick; but Esther and Hatty +had crept into his heart and made +it soft and tender.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>For their mother's sake he had +allowed Hatty to attend church +and Sabbath school; and in this +way a blessing had come home to +all of them. Hatty was not only +eyes to her deformed sister, and +described to her the beauties of +nature which she seldom saw herself, +but she was ears to both +of them. Every word she could +remember of the Sunday teachings +was stored to be repeated +at home; and thus both the old +man and his deformed niece had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +learned to love the sacred truths +of the Bible. Indeed a blessed +peace had settled on the whole +household, a peace and contentment +at which many of their +neighbors wondered.</p> + +<p>When Hatty heard her uncle's +step, she ran to the door to welcome +him. If he had been the +handsomest man in America, she +couldn't have looked more lovingly +in his face. She playfully took +off his hat, hung it on its hook, +and then seated him at the table.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come, Esther," she exclaimed, +"dinner's ready; and here's your +chair."</p> + +<p>It was no wonder uncle Oliver +smiled as he watched her flitting +about, first to lay Esther's work on +a small table away from harm, +then to push up her chair before +her plate, snatching a kiss for her +pains, and last seating herself demurely +while the old man said +grace. It was no wonder at all +that he asked God to bless every +one of them, and continue life and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +health to the child who was the +joy of their hearts as well as the +delight of their eyes.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/i047-deco1.png" width="300" height="112" alt="Decoration" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE PEACE-MAKER.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 48px;"> +<img src="images/i048-h.png" width="48" height="150" alt="H" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />ATTY had a special reason +for hurrying through her +after-dinner work. She did +not think it right to tell +even Esther that her school-mate +had tried to make hard feeling between +cousins; but she did tell her +heavenly Father, and asked his +blessing on her effort to make +peace between them.</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then with a parting kiss to Esther, +who sat patiently at her sewing, +she ran off to call for Sallie +before Matilda joined the party.</p> + +<p>"I've come begging," she said, +laughing gayly, as she found her +friend lingering over her afternoon +task of picking beans for her +mother to bake. "Here, let me +help you; and I'll tell you what +I want. You and I are just the +same size; and I admired your +new dress so much I'm going to +get Esther to cut mine just like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +it. I want you to wear it over to +our house, and let her see it; +and then I can try it on. If it +does fit me, and I'm sure it will, +I can borrow your mother's pattern, +and that will make it so easy +for Esther, you know."</p> + +<p>Sallie's cheeks grew crimson. +She thought at first that Hatty +must be joking. She had begun +to hate that dress, but then, if +Hatty liked it, it must be pretty, +for every one in school acknowledged +Hatty's good taste.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>She sat thinking of this, while +her friend took up handful after +handful of beans, and put them +into the pan.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try, and make it +all myself," she went on gayly. +"I am old enough now; and Esther +has so much to do."</p> + +<p>"Mother will lend you her pattern," +answered Sallie, "but now +really, Hatty, do you like my +dress?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; or I wouldn't +wish mine like it; and I heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +ever so many of the girls say how +prettily it looked. Cynthia said +those bright colors were very becoming, +you're so pale, you know."</p> + +<p>"Cynthia! did she say that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, she didn't like the tight +sleeves at first; but I told her I +did; and besides it's the fashion. +You know," she added with a +merry laugh, "when the fashion +is a sensible one, we ought to +follow it."</p> + +<p>"But Hatty, Matilda says, Cynthia +talked horridly about my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +dress. I got awfully angry about +it, and said I wouldn't speak to +her again this term."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sallie! that would be unkind +and unforgiving, even if she +had done all that Matilda says; +but I do really think, Matilda is +mistaken; I heard Cynthia praise +the dress myself."</p> + +<p>"No, she was not mistaken," +cried Sallie in great excitement. +"She meant to make a fuss. +She's always trying to get people +into a quarrel. There, the beans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +are done; and I'm going right to +her house to tell her I've found +her out; and I want nothing more +to do with her."</p> + +<p>"But Sallie, it's time we were +going to the grove. The best nuts +will all be gone; and I want to +get good ones for uncle Oliver."</p> + +<p>"Come on, then, I'm ready. +Mother, is Edward going with +us?"</p> + +<p>"He's been gone with Ethel for +an hour. He has a chance to sell +a bushel, if he can pick them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope Matilda wont be there," +said Sallie. "If she is, I sha'n't +speak to her."</p> + +<p>"I shall," added Hatty in a decided +tone; "because, though I'm +afraid she's done wrong, I don't +think that would be the way to +cure her, I think it would be best +to let her see that we all love +each other too well to allow a few +hasty words to make us quarrel."</p> + +<p>"I hate people who are always +making a fuss."</p> + +<p>Hatty laughed. "Matilda can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +make a fuss with me," she said, +showing all her white teeth.</p> + +<p>"She tried to," answered Sallie. +"She called you proud, and said +you laughed to show your handsome +teeth; but I wouldn't hear +you talked against; and I told her +so. After that she shut her mouth +pretty quick."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I do laugh too +much," said Hatty, blushing crimson; +"but I'm so happy, I can't +help it. I hope I'm not proud, +though I try to be thankful."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're the dearest girl in +the world," exclaimed Sallie, putting +her arms tightly around her +friend's neck. "If it hadn't been +for you, I should have had a +quarrel with Cynthia; and mother +would have worried awfully about +it, for we're own cousins, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Well, dear Sallie, for my sake, +forgive Matilda too. She was to +blame for what she said; but we +must pity her. I don't think +Matilda is very happy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sallie shook her head, but presently +asked,—</p> + +<p>"What makes you always want +people to forgive? I don't see +how it will make you any happier."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes indeed it will! It +seems dreadful to me to see two +school-mates feeling unkindly to +each other; and then, you know," +she added with a deeper blush, +"who has said, 'Be of one mind, +live in peace, and the God of +love and peace shall be with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +you;' don't you remember what a +blessing is promised to the peace-makers?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't."</p> + +<p>"Why, Sallie! The minister +preached about it last winter. I +remembered ever so much of the +sermon for uncle Oliver and +Esther. You know I have to +preach it over again to them. +Esther says, she thinks it's one +of the most beautiful verses in +the Bible:"</p> + +<p>"Blessed are the peace-makers;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +for they shall be called the children +of God."</p> + +<p>Sallie remained silent for a few +moments. When they came in +sight of the grove, she caught her +friend's hand and said earnestly,—</p> + +<p>"Oh, Hatty! I wish I were like +you, and could claim that promise. +I see now why you're always so +happy. You—"</p> + +<p>"'Thou wilt keep him in perfect +peace whose mind is stayed on +thee,'" added her companion, with +a reverent glance upward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>MATILDA'S CONSCIENCE.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 63px;"> +<img src="images/i061-m.png" width="63" height="150" alt="M" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />ATILDA did not make her +appearance in the grove. +Her father was so angry at +her tardiness in bringing +the ham for his dinner that he forbade +her the pleasure. She passed +the afternoon in a very unhappy +state of mind, continually quarrelling +with her brothers and sisters,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +and stirring up strife in the +whole household.</div> + +<p>From her chamber window she +saw Hatty and Sallie walk on, arm +in arm, swinging their baskets; +and conscience whispered,—"They +will talk of you, and you have no +one but yourself to blame for all +your wretchedness."</p> + +<p>Disgusted with herself, she still +sat gazing from the window, when +serious thoughts began to arise.</p> + +<p>"Why can't I be happy?" she +asked herself. "I have a better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +home than either of those girls. +That is, the rooms look better, +and father has more money. But +things never go right. Mother +always wants errands done so +quick; and father gets angry and +cross; and the boys are so +touchy,"—</p> + +<p>"And Matilda, the eldest daughter +is worse than all the rest; +for she might be a help to her +mother, a comfort to her father, +and an example of love and peace +to the whole family."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was what conscience said; +and conscience this time was determined +to be heard.</p> + +<p>"You hate yourself now," the +inward monitor went on, "but not +so badly as you will by and by. +Every day that you indulge in +these evil passions, you will grow +worse and worse. Try to reform. +Begin to-day, and take this verse +for your motto: 'If it be possible, +as much as lieth in you, live +peaceably with all men.'"</p> + +<p>"That is Hatty's rule," exclaimed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +Matilda, starting from her seat. +"I'll try it. I'm sorry now, I +told Sallie that Cynthia didn't +like her dress. I'm afraid there'll +be a fuss about that. Sallie wont +speak; and her cousin will find +out what I said, and then the +blame will all come on me."</p> + +<p>"Where it belongs," urged conscience +again.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll never tell tales +again; that is, if I can help it. +I mean to try and be like Hatty. +Father and mother will wonder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +what has come over me; I wish +I knew what I ought to do +first."</p> + +<p>Already she felt happier than +for a long time. She ran down +to the sink, bathed her face and +eyes; then back to her room and +combed her hair, confining it in +her net, after which she joined her +mother in the sitting-room.</p> + +<p>"Where's that little apron," she +began, "that you cut out yesterday? +I'm going to make it."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Manning glanced up from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +her work in surprise. "What has +happened?" she asked herself; but +she smilingly directed her daughter +where she might find the +apron.</p> + +<p>Before her needle was threaded, +baby Tom fell from the steps and +began to scream with all his +might.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Manning started up, letting +her sewing fall to the floor. "I +sha'n't sew a stitch at this rate," +began Matilda impatiently; but +recovering herself, she exclaimed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Come here, Tommy. I'll show +you the bossy;" and they trotted +off together to the barn.</p> + +<p>The other boys were there playing +in the hay, and at any other +time Matilda would have begun +to quarrel directly; but with her +good resolves fresh in mind she +began to coax them to come off +the hay, and show her how to +make bossy stand on his feet.</p> + +<p>Her tone was so pleasant that +they came at once, wondering at +the change; and for the next half<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +hour they had a merry time together.</p> + +<p>Then she returned to the house +with the baby mounted on her +back.</p> + +<p>When her father came home to +supper, he evidently expected to +find her cross and impatient at +having been kept from accompanying +her companions to the +grove. He heard her singing before +he reached the gate, and was +not a little delighted to find his +wife sitting at her sewing, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +Matilda putting the last dishes on +the table for tea.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, this is as it ought +to be," he said heartily, as they +drew their chairs about the table. +"Wife, you said you wanted a +new gown, and here's money to +buy cloth for you and Matilda, +too. I'm always ready with the +cash for good daughters."</p> + +<p>A few hours later, when the +young girl retired to her bed, she +said to herself,—"It isn't so very +hard to do right after all. How<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +pleased father was. Now if I only +knew that Sallie wouldn't say anything +about what I told her, I +should be happier than I have +been for a month."</p> + +<p>I wish Hatty had been there +to remind her that she ought to +thank her heavenly Father for +help to keep her resolutions, else +she could not have done one right +thing. As it was, Hatty was giving +uncle Oliver and Esther an +account of her call at Mrs. Munson's; +and they were thinking,—"What<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +a blessing our dear girl +is to us, and how lonely our +cottage would be without her."</p> + +<p>The nuts, a peck of each, were +safely stored in the attic to dry, +before the old man came home +to supper; and then Hatty had +time to run to a neighbor's with +the vest Esther had just completed.</p> + +<p>In the evening they had family-prayers, +a service the two girls +commenced by themselves, but +which uncle Oliver soon joined; and +then after Hatty's account of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +afternoon, they retired to rest for +the night, the blessing which God +has promised the peace-makers +resting upon them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/i047-deco1.png" width="300" height="112" alt="Decoration" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE QUARREL SETTLED.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 50px;"> +<img src="images/i106-i.png" width="50" height="150" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />T was scarcely a week after +the nutting party, when one +morning Sallie was missing +from school. This was so +unusual that the teacher inquired +of the scholars whether any of +them knew why she was not in +her place.</div> + +<p>But no one had seen her that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +day; and as her brother Edward +was also absent, nothing could be +ascertained till night.</p> + +<p>When the teacher called, she +found the family of Mrs. Munson +greatly afflicted. Three of the +children were in bed with fever, +and the widow was scarcely able +to drag herself about.</p> + +<p>"I've had trouble on trouble," +she said, sighing. "Month after +month, for five long years, I've +stood at the door where I could see +the ocean, and watched for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +ship that never came. I've laid +one child beneath the sod, and now +it's likely three more will follow. +Still I can say,—'Thou wilt keep +him in perfect peace whose mind +is stayed on thee, because he +trusteth in thee.'"</p> + +<p>At school, both Edward and Sallie +were greatly missed, the first +question in the morning being: +"Have you heard from Mrs. Munson's? +Is Sallie better?"</p> + +<p>Hatty went about her studies +with a sad countenance. She was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +much afraid that her friend would +die without having given her heart +to the Saviour.</p> + +<p>One day, when she was going +home from school, she passed two +boys who were quarrelling terribly +about a book one of them had +lost.</p> + +<p>The young girl lingered near +them for a few moments, wishing, +yet scarcely daring to speak. At +last she said,—</p> + +<p>"Oh Ethel! how can you quarrel +when one of your companions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +is so very sick? Think if you were +to be taken down with the fever, +how sorry you would be that you +had called any one such hard +names."</p> + +<p>The boy hung his head, somewhat +ashamed, but then said,—</p> + +<p>"It's too bad to lose a new +book. I'm sure Bill took it home +with him."</p> + +<p>"I didn't. I haven't seen it +since Ethel showed it to me at recess. +I don't see why he need to +lay it to me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At recess?" murmured Ethel. +"Oh dear! Bill, wait a minute."</p> + +<p>He was off without a word, and +in ten minutes more he came running +at full speed, shouting,—</p> + +<p>"I've found it. Here 'tis, all +safe. I left it on the rock when +we were playing ball."</p> + +<p>"And now you're sorry you +charged Bill with carrying it +home," exclaimed Hatty, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am. As soon as he +spoke about recess I thought where +I laid it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>"</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it would be a +good plan to ask him to forgive +you?" inquired the little peace-maker, +drawing him aside.</p> + +<p>He made a wry face and hesitated.</p> + +<p>"You know, you said some +awful hard things," she urged. "I +thought then he was pretty good-tempered +not to take offense."</p> + +<p>She looked in his face so eagerly +that he laughed outright.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i081.png" width="400" height="344" alt=""Look here, Bill, Hatty thinks I ought to ask your pardon." Vol. VI, p. 9." title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Look here, Bill, Hatty thinks I ought to ask your pardon."<br /><span style="margin-left: 22em;">Vol. VI, p. 9.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>"Well," he said, "for your sake, +I will. You always have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +everything your own way, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Bill," he exclaimed, +walking back to the fence where +his companion stood, and holding +out his hand, "I was wrathy and +called you names you didn't deserve. +Hatty thinks I ought to +ask your pardon."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ethel! don't tell him that. +You owned you were sorry first."</p> + +<p>"So I am; and if Bill will say +quits, I'll do him as good a turn +some other time."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right," said Bill, giving +his hand.</p> + +<p>"Here, Hatty," cried Ethel, +"you must shake hands too. +You're better than Squire Morse +to settle up quarrels."</p> + +<p>She laughed and blushed, giving +her little hand first to one, +and then to the other.</p> + +<p>"Now promise me," she said, +"that you'll never quarrel again."</p> + +<p>"That's pretty steep. I wouldn't +dare venture," cried Ethel, growing +very red.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" urged Hatty, "I always +thought you two the bravest boys +in school. Such good scholars +ought to be brave."</p> + +<p>"I promise to <i>try</i> to be peaceable," +answered Bill.</p> + +<p>"And I'll agree to think of you, +Hatty Maynard, when I want to +call hard names. I guess that will +cool off the hot blood."</p> + +<p>"You must think of somebody +better than I am," she urged, +growing very serious. "Don't you +recollect what the minister said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +about living in peace? And the +Bible tells us, to 'follow peace +with all men,' to 'follow after the +things that make for peace.' +Esther says that means, we must +be kind and affectionate, one to +another; we must show our companions +that we love them; and +if we ever do wrong, we must +ask forgiveness as you did, Ethel. +I think Bill was real generous to +forgive so quick; but I knew he +would, if you told him how sorry +you were."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come on, Bill," exclaimed +Ethel, laughing. "I guess we +sha'n't be fighting again in a +hurry, after all the compliments +we've had to-day."</p> + +<p>The next morning, when Hatty +went down from her unfurnished +attic to make a fire in the stove, +she found a string of nice, fresh +fish laid on the kitchen table. +There was a small piece of soiled +paper tied to the end of the string, +on which was written in a school +boy's hand,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"For Hatty Maynard, peace-maker +to the town of Shrewsbury; +from Ethel and Bill."</p> + +<p>"'Blessed are the peace-makers, +for they shall be called the children +of God,'" repeated Hatty, +tears gushing to her eyes. "I do +love to make peace; and I may +call myself his child."</p> + +<p>She was so full of joy that she +ran up the steep stairs again to +her low couch, and there kneeling +down, she asked her heavenly +Father to make her indeed his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +own child, and by and by to take +her to dwell with him in heaven, +where all was peace, and love, +and joy, forever and ever.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/i089-deco2.png" width="300" height="144" alt="decoration" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE SICK GIRL.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 50px;"> +<img src="images/i090-d.png" width="50" height="150" alt="D" title="" /> +<span class="caption">D</span> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />AY after day went by and +still Sallie lay in bed. Edward +and his brother were +able to sit up for a few +hours, and take a little broth; +but their sister was very, <i>very</i> ill.</div> + +<p>One afternoon a neighbor knocked +at Mr. Maynard's door and asked +for Hatty.</p> + +<p>"I have been watching with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +poor Sallie Munson," she said. +"The widow is clear worn out; +and I couldn't refuse. Sallie has +come to her senses. She thinks +she's going to die, and she wants +to see Hatty."</p> + +<p>"Why don't they send for the +minister?" asked uncle Oliver.</p> + +<p>"They have sent; but he wont +be at home till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Esther's countenance changed, +and at last she said,—</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid to have sister go; +the fever is very contagious."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I wont deny that; but +perhaps if she ties a bag of camfire +round her neck, she wont +catch it, I've got one round mine +this blessed minute; and I've made +Sarah Ann wear one ever since +the fever come into town."</p> + +<p>"Hatty'll want to go," suggested +uncle Oliver. "'Twill be just like +her not to think a mite of herself. +It's 'stonishing what harum-scarum +creaters girls be. They +don't valley their own lives a mite, +if they want to do anything."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, if you just heard Sallie +a calling, 'Hatty, dear Hatty, do +come, I'm going to die. Come +and tell me what I must do,' you'd +say 'twas heart-rending."</p> + +<p>"I suppose she will go," faltered +Esther, growing very white. "I'll +tell her as soon as she comes +home from school."</p> + +<p>"Tell her, and let her judge +for herself," muttered the old man. +"I'd rather give every cent, I'm +worth in the world than to venter +her there; but God can keep her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +from all harm. She's a good girl, +Hatty is, and knows a sight more'n +some folks."</p> + +<p>Esther did tell Hatty, and the +consequence was that she went; +but not until she had kneeled by +her straw couch once more to ask +God to bless her endeavors to do +Sallie good. She did not think of +herself. She felt sure her heavenly +Father would take care of her. +If he wished her to live longer, +he would preserve her from the +fever. If he meant to call her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +home to heaven now, she was +ready to go. In her soul all was +peace.</p> + +<p>But for her dear companion, she +was troubled. As she hurried +along, she thought how they had +loved each other; that never a +word of unkindness had separated +them; and she put up a little +prayer to God that if consistent +with his will, Sallie might be +spared to her mother for many +years.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Munson saw her running<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +toward the house, and met her at +the door.</p> + +<p>Poor Mrs. Munson! how hard +during all these weeks of anxious +care, had she tried to say, "It +is the Lord; let him do with his +own, what seemeth to him best."</p> + +<p>"Sallie wants you badly, dear," +she said, after kissing the child; +"but aren't you afraid you'll take +the fever? You know Cynthia +came down with it yesterday."</p> + +<p>"No, I hadn't heard."</p> + +<p>Hatty's chin quivered, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +widow noticing her agitation said +softly,—</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't urge you for any +thing. The minister'll be home +to-morrow. May be Sallie'll forget +it again."</p> + +<p>"Hatty! why don't Hatty come?" +called out the sick child.</p> + +<p>"I'll go now, ma'am. Is any +body with her?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody but Edward."</p> + +<p>"Will you please call him out? +I'd rather see her alone."</p> + +<p>Hatty was only thirteen years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +old; and you will not be surprised +that when she saw her companion's +pale face and wild, protruded +eyes, her heart grew faint within +her. She sank into a chair, +and covered her face with her +hands.</p> + +<p>"I knew you'd come, I knew +you'd be sorry for me," began +Sallie, talking with feverish excitement. +"Did mother tell you I +am going to die?"</p> + +<p>"No one but God can know +that," murmured Hatty, slowly rising<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +and approaching the bed. +"Esther told me you wanted to +see me, and I've come."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I called you all night; +but nobody would go. I'm afraid, +Hatty; I don't want to die. Oh, +I wish I was good."</p> + +<p>"The Bible says nobody ever +was good enough to go to heaven."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? Tell me +quick!"</p> + +<p>"I can't explain very well. I +mean that if we're ever so good, +as you call it, we couldn't get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +into heaven without Jesus. Our +goodness is badness in God's sight, +because he is so much holier than +we are; but if we love Jesus, for +his sake, God will forgive our +sins."</p> + +<p>"How can I love him? Mother +has been telling me I must accept +him as my Saviour, but I +don't know how. Oh! I wish +somebody would tell me! I'm dying, +and I can't find out anything."</p> + +<p>"Sallie, listen to me a minute. +In my last Sabbath school paper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +was an account of a little heathen +girl, who felt as you do. She +wanted to love Christ, but she +didn't know how to give her heart +to him. The missionaries talked +to her and prayed with her, but +she only cried the more. At last +one said, 'Jesus never sinned; but +you are a great sinner.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, yes! I understand that.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, you have offended God, +and he has threatened to punish +you; but now Jesus promises to +receive the punishment for you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +and for that he died on the +cross.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes! yes! yes!' cried the +heathen girl. 'I understand now. +I must make a bargain with Jesus. +I will give him all my badness, +and he will give me all his +goodness. Oh, I see! I see!! I do +love him. Oh, how good he is!'"</p> + +<p>Sallie folded her hands on her +breast and closed her eyes, though +her lips moved as if she were +praying. Presently she said softly, +"I understand now, Hatty; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +will Jesus make a bargain with +me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, he will; he says so +in the Bible."</p> + +<p>"Don't stay any longer, Hatty; +but come again if Esther will let +you. I'm going to pray now. +Shut the door tight."</p> + +<p>Hatty walked through the kitchen +without speaking. Mrs. Munson +had sat near the door and had +heard every word. She asked God +to bless his own truth to her dear, +dying daughter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was scarcely light the next +morning before Abner, Sallie's older +brother, knocked at the door +of uncle Oliver's house.</p> + +<p>"I've come with a message for +Hatty," he explained. "She's +happy now, and sings all the +verses she can think of. She +wants me to say, she's made a +bargain with Jesus, and she isn't +afraid to die."</p> + +<p>"Tell her I'll go and see her +before school," Hatty answered, her +eyes full of joyful tears.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>She did go, but the sick girl +was quietly asleep, and, more than +this, the Doctor said her symptoms +were a great deal better.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i105-deco3.png" width="150" height="122" alt="Decoration" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE PEACEFUL DEATH.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 50px;"> +<img src="images/i106-i.png" width="50" height="150" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />N three days Sallie was out +of danger, and from this +time she recovered rapidly. +The minister and her Sabbath +school teacher visited her +often, but she wondered Hatty did +not come. At last, one day when +she was able to sit up, her mother +told her Hatty had taken the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +fever the day she visited her, and +now she was very sick.</div> + +<p>"Who will take care of her?" +asked Sallie, beginning to cry.</p> + +<p>"They sent for her aunt, who +has never been near them since +their mother died, and she's there +now. She has money, and she +says the poor child shall not want +for anything that money will +buy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother! to think that I +have killed her! I feel almost +sure she will die. She's so good,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +I used to tell the girls, she ought +to go to heaven; but it is dreadful +that I killed her."</p> + +<p>Sallie sobbed so violently that +her mother became alarmed; but +for some time she tried in vain to +soothe her.</p> + +<p>"They'll all blame me. I never +shall dare to see uncle Oliver or +Esther again. They can't live +without her. Oh, oh dear! I +wish she never had come. Mother, +do please go over there quick, +and tell them how very sorry I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +am. Hatty taught me to love the +Saviour, and how can I let her +die?"</p> + +<p>To please her child the widow +went. Hatty lay in the bedroom +adjoining the sitting-room, which +was usually occupied by uncle +Oliver. Close by her side sat +Esther, looking pale and wan as +if months instead of hours of +racking anxiety had passed over +her. Mrs. Foster was preparing +some medicine near the window, +while the old man, with a heart<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +almost broken with sorrow, was +cutting up wood at the side of the +house farthest from the chamber.</p> + +<p>As the widow entered the room, +Hatty turned her eyes to the door +and recognized her.</p> + +<p>"Are you in much pain?" she +asked, greatly moved.</p> + +<p>"Jesus helps me bear it all."</p> + +<p>This was said with a gasp.</p> + +<p>"She never complains," faltered +Esther, with quivering lips.</p> + +<p>"Sallie, how is she?" murmured +the sick girl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Much better, if she were not +so distressed about you."</p> + +<p>"I am safe with Jesus. He +gives me perfect peace."</p> + +<p>Her aunt began to weep.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry, dear aunty," she +said caressingly. "You will come +too; you and Esther, and uncle +Oliver. We shall all be there. +Mother will be there, too, for Esther +says she used to pray."</p> + +<p>She paused for a moment, quite +exhausted; but presently looked up +with a smile and added, "I shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +see Mr. Munson and tell him about +Sallie. Wont he be glad?"</p> + +<p>The widow was quite overcome +but tried to control herself.</p> + +<p>"Tell him," she said, "that I'm +almost through. I'm trying to bear +his loss with patience. Tell him +God has been true to his promise: +'As thy day is so shall thy +strength be.' I trust we shall +meet soon and never be parted +again."</p> + +<p>She stooped silently over the +sick child, kissed her, and was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +going out when Hatty whispered,—</p> + +<p>"Tell Sallie good-bye. It's all +peace here," laying her hand on +her heart. "I'm not afraid to +trust my Saviour."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster followed her to the +door. "It's a scene I never shall +forget," she said, sobbing. "Such +a lesson as that child has taught +me. Oh, if I'd only done my +duty, she might have lived for +years."</p> + +<p>"Jesus loves her and wants her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +with him," answered Mrs. Munson. +"You know he prayed his +Father that those who loved him +might be with him where he is, +that they may behold his glory. +Think how happy she will be."</p> + +<p>As hours passed on, that room +became almost like heaven. An +indescribable expression of peace +was stamped on the pale features. +Heaven had indeed come down into +her own heart. For hours she lay +in a kind of rapture. Once or +twice she sung a part of her favorite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +hymn, repeating over and +over the lines,</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"No words can express,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The sweet comfort and peace</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Of a soul in its earliest love."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Through this day and the next +the house was thronged with +schoolmates and friends, come to +take a last look of one so dear. +Matilda and Cynthia, Ethel and +Bill, pressed forward to thank her +for the example she had always +set them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What shall we do," cried +Ethel, sobbing aloud, "when our +peace-maker has gone?"</p> + +<p>With a heavenly smile she replied, +"You shall be peace-maker. +See how God keeps his promise +to me. 'They shall be called the +children of God.'</p> + +<p>"Ethel," she went on, "you've +always been like a real brother to +me. For my sake will you be +kind to Esther?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will."</p> + +<p>"And I too," sobbed Bill;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +"but we shall miss you dreadfully."</p> + +<p>"Give your hearts to Jesus, and +'twont be long before we shall +meet again."</p> + +<p>The end came at last. Hatty's +sufferings were nearly over. She +lay propped up with pillows, her +head resting against her aunt's +breast. Esther sat near, holding +her hand, which she continually +covered with kisses. Uncle Oliver +sat in his arm-chair, at the foot +of the bed, his face shaded with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +his hands, his breast heaving convulsively.</p> + +<p>The minister stood where Hatty's +eyes rested on him. He was +reading from the twenty-third +Psalm: "The Lord is my Shepherd, +I shall not want.... Yea, +though I walk through the valley +of the shadow of death, I will +fear no evil, for thou art with +me; thy rod and thy staff they +comfort me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," murmured the white +lips. "He is with me. I'm not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +afraid. He has pardoned all my +sins, and washed me in the fountain +filled with blood; I'm—going +to be—with him—forever,—I'm +so—so happy!"</p> + +<p>She lay so quiet that all feared +her soul had fled away; but presently, +with a bright smile, she +murmured,—</p> + +<p>"I—I'm going now—good-bye—all. +He gives me peace—perfect—peace;" +and then fell sweetly +asleep in Jesus. "He giveth +his beloved sleep," repeated the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +kind minister. "Look at her now! +The peace of God which passeth +all understanding dwells in her +now and forevermore."</p> + +<p>The next Sabbath her body was +carried to the church, where a +sermon was preached from her favorite +text,—"Blessed are the +peace-makers for they shall be +called the children of God."</p> + +<p>The clergyman reminded the +children of her who had so truly +and earnestly been a peace-maker, +and entreated them to follow her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +example, that they might have +peace in life and triumph in death.</p> + +<p>The influence of Hatty was long +felt. By her entreaties on her dying +bed, her aunt and uncle Oliver, +long estranged, were brought +together, and ever after lived as +she would have had them, caring +tenderly for poor Esther, till her +own peaceful death, two years +later.</p> + +<p>My dear little reader, will you +not try to be a peace-maker?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class='tnote'><div class='center'><b>Transcriber's Notes:</b></div> + +<p>Text spells the contraction "won't" without the apostrophe (wont). This was retained. </p> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_62">Page 62</a>, "peacably" changed to "peaceably" (peaceably with all men) + +</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pearl of Peace, by Madeline Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEARL OF PEACE *** + +***** This file should be named 35746-h.htm or 35746-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/7/4/35746/ + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pearl of Peace + or, The Little Peacemaker + +Author: Madeline Leslie + +Release Date: April 1, 2011 [EBook #35746] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEARL OF PEACE *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover: MRS. LESLIE'S BIBLE PEARLS.] + + + + +The Pearl of Peace: + +OR, + +THE LITTLE PEACE-MAKER. + + +_BY MRS. MADELINE LESLIE._ + + "Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be + called the children of God." MATTHEW 5:9. + + BOSTON: + PUBLISHED BY A. F. GRAVES, + 20 CORNHILL. + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by + + REV. A. R. BAKER, + + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of + Massachusetts. + + + J. E. FARWELL & CO., PRINTERS, + 37 Congress Street. + + + + + To + + FRANK RANDALL, RUTH, MAY, RANDOLPH MORGAN, + AND JAMES WALDINGFIELD, + + CHILDREN OF + + D. F. APPLETON, ESQ., NEW YORK, + + THESE "BIBLE PEARLS" ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED + BY THE AUTHOR. + + + + +MRS. LESLIE'S + +PEARL SERIES. + + +Series for Girls. + + VOL. I. THE PEARL OF FAITH. + + " II. " " " DILIGENCE. + + " III. " " " MEEKNESS. + + " IV. " " " FORGIVENESS. + + " V. " " " CONTENTMENT. + + " VI. " " " PEACE. + + + + + +MRS. LESLIE'S + +PEARL SERIES. + +Series for Boys. + + + VOL. I. THE PEARL OF LOVE. + + " II. " " " CHARITY. + + " III. " " " OBEDIENCE. + + " IV. " " " PENITENCE. + + " V. " " " HOPE. + + " VI. " " " PATIENCE. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + THE QUARREL, 11 + + CHAPTER II. + SALLIE'S HOME TROUBLES, 22 + + CHAPTER III. + HATTY'S PEACEFUL HOME, 34 + + CHAPTER IV. + THE PEACE-MAKER, 46 + + CHAPTER V. + MATILDA'S CONSCIENCE, 59 + + CHAPTER VI. + THE QUARREL SETTLED, 72 + + CHAPTER VII. + THE SICK GIRL, 86 + + CHAPTER VIII. + THE PEACEFUL DEATH, 102 + + + + +The Pearl of Peace. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE QUARREL. + + +"SHE'S the meanest girl I ever saw! If she is my cousin, I'll say so. I +wont speak to her again this term; see if I do!" + +Sallie Munson was greatly excited, and walked in quick jerks by the side +of her companion. + +Matilda had been repeating to her, with some exaggeration, the remarks +of Cynthia Manning, concerning her dress; but Matilda did not expect or +intend to excite so much anger, and was almost frightened at Sallie's +warmth. + +"What are you talking about?" called a cheerful voice from behind. "I've +been running my breath all away, trying to catch you; but I couldn't +make you hear my call; I could only see Sallie gesturing away, as if +she were practising her exhibition piece." + +Matilda had only time to whisper hurriedly, "Don't tell her a word of +what I said," when Harriet Maynard joined them. + +One glance into her good-humored, serene face, would have put Sallie's +anger to flight, if it had not been for a sly pinch Matilda gave her +arm. + +"Did you ever see the brook look so lovely, girls? I should have +overtaken you sooner, only that I stopped at the bridge to see the +water dash over Montworth Falls, as I have named that pretty cascade. I +threw in a piece of wood, and over it went among the foam just like that +boat we read of, over Niagara." + +She rattled away in a gay tone, looking as smiling as a May Queen; but +at last she could not help noticing that neither of her companions were +in good humor. + +"Why, what's the matter, Sallie?" she asked, affectionately. "You look +as if you were in a high fever, and Matilda, too, is as solemn as a +church. What is it?" + +There was no answer; and, presently, a shadow crept over Hatty's smiling +countenance. + +"Sallie, Matilda," she exclaimed, eagerly, "you must tell. Have I done +anything? Have I hurt your feelings?" + +"No; oh, no, indeed!" answered Sallie, turning quickly to her friend. +"It's nothing that you have anything to do with." She cast a quick +glance down at her own dress, eager to know whether Hatty had also +condemned it as low and vulgar; but her friend said, still more +earnestly,-- + +"Tell me all about it, can't you? Do you know I begin to be jealous of +Matilda? You have told her all your troubles." + +"No, indeed! Matilda told me,--I"-- + +There was another pinch of the arm, and she stopped suddenly. + +"Well, good-bye, then; I wish you were going my way: but I have the +brook for company." + +Then she laughingly waved her adieu, calling out after they were at some +distance, "I've finished all those hard sums." + +"What a girl Hatty is," exclaimed Sallie. "I wish I were always as happy +as she is. I don't believe she ever cried in her life." + +"Yes, she's gay," answered Matilda, "and good company; but still I do +like people that have some feeling. She laughs a good deal. She knows +that's her best look. She's awful proud of her white teeth." + +"Now, Matilda, that's too bad! I don't believe she ever thinks of that +in all her life. She laughs because she's happy; and, as for feeling, I +think she has more than any of us. She's the best friend I have, any +way. I never get angry when I'm with her." + +"I didn't mean to say a word against her, I'm sure. I like her +first-rate." + +"Well, I shouldn't think you liked me first-rate, if I heard that you +called me unfeeling and proud." + +Sallie drew her arm from her companion, and walked on by herself in a +dignified manner. Before long, Matilda reached her own home, and, with a +pleasant good-bye, ran inside the gate. + +When Sallie was left to her own reflections, her face grew more flushed +and serious than ever. She was very angry with her cousin Cynthia, for +criticizing her dress. She was angry with her mother, for obliging her +to wear a gown that looked as if it came out of the ark. She was angry +with Matilda for repeating her cousin's ill-natured remarks; and she was +angry with herself for listening to them. It was only when she thought +of Hatty, sweet Hatty Maynard, with her gay tone and pleasant, placid +smile, that her forehead relaxed from the deep frown which had gathered +upon it. + +"I wonder," she said to herself, "why Hatty is so much happier than +anybody else I know. She's real poor, and has to wait on that cross old +uncle, and her deformed sister; she dresses old-fashioned, too; only she +never seems to care. When she has on anything odd, she just laughs the +more, and says, gayly,-- + +"'You know my dressmaker doesn't visit the city often.' Well, I suppose +it's her way, and I wish 'twas my way, too." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SALLIE'S HOME TROUBLES. + + +SALLIE MUNSON was the daughter of a man who had sailed as Captain of a +schooner, bound for the West Indies, more than five years before the +date of our story. He left a wife and seven children, of whom Sallie was +the youngest, and the only daughter. At the time he left home she was +just past six, and was therefore now eleven. + +Five long, weary, waiting years of watching, suspense and anxiety, had +left Mrs. Munson careworn and old before her time. Her eldest son was +married and settled at a distance; the second had gone with his father +as a sailor; the sixth boy, her darling, blue-eyed Jamie, was buried at +the end of her little garden; leaving four children dependant on her +labor for their support. To be sure, Abner, the oldest at home, was +nearly seventeen; but though steady and honest, he lacked energy and +thrift. When away from home he was the butt and laughing-stock of his +more shrewd companions; and so his patient mother obtained what +employment she could for him, under her own eye, and sent his brother +Joseph, a stout, fun-loving lad of fifteen, to work in a neighboring tan +yard. + +Edward and Sallie went to school during the short sessions both in +summer and winter, though the care and pains it cost their mother to fit +them out in clothes and books, I can hardly describe. + +Once a year Mrs. Barnes, the Captain's sister, came to the sea-shore to +spend a few days, and always brought with her a bundle of half-worn +clothes, out of which the widow made useful, if not fashionable, +garments for her family. + +It was shortly after one of these visits, that Sallie wore to school a +dress, made from one given her by her aunt. It was a bright plaid, and +with great pains had been made to fit her neatly. Whether the boddice +and sleeves were in the prevailing mode, she was ignorant, until +informed by her school-mate, Matilda. + +This young girl had some good traits of character. She was diligent in +her studies, and prompt in obliging a friend. But she had one terrible +failing; a love of gossip or mischief-making, which rendered her +dangerous to the peace of those with whom she associated. + +This habit often led her much farther than she anticipated, and betrayed +her into sundry exaggerations which she sometimes keenly regretted. + +At recess, Cynthia Manning refused to lend a new book to Matilda; and to +show her spite, she determined to make a quarrel between the cousins. +The two girls lived not far apart, and usually walked home together in +company with Hatty. + +This time Matilda hurried her friend along, and began at once to say: + +"It's strange you can't have anything new, without Cynthia being so +envious. Just because you've got a handsome new gown, she's so mad, she +can't say enough against it. She made all manner of fun of it behind +your back, and called it real dowdy. 'I do declare,' she said, tossing +back her head, 'for all Sallie is so set up with her new dress, I +wouldn't be seen wearing such a vulgar-looking thing.'" + +This was what had made Sallie exclaim in anger against her cousin. The +reason Matilda was unwilling her companion should explain why she looked +feverish, was because she well knew Hatty's character as a peace-maker; +and her conscience loudly whispered that she had told much more than was +true. + +After the girls parted, and she went into her own home, do you think she +was happy? Are quarrelsome people generally so? We shall see. + +Matilda was the eldest of five children. The baby, as Master Tom, a +sturdy little fellow of two years was called, was playing near the steps +as she walked up the path from the gate. He gave a shout of welcome; but +she pushed over his pile of stones with her foot, laughed at his cry of +disappointment, and opened the door, with a frown on her face. + +It was Wednesday; and the afternoon was a holiday. She felt quite sure +there would be no play for her, and was resolved to show her displeasure +at once. + +She threw her pile of books into a chair, tossed her hat on another, +and, passing through the common sitting-room, asked in a complaining +tone,-- + +"Isn't dinner most ready?" + +"Oh, Matilda!" said her mother, "you're just in time; run back as quick +as you can to the store, and ask Mr. Pratt to cut you a thick slice of +ham. Your father will be home in ten minutes, and be angry if dinner +isn't ready. There, catch up your hat, and run quick." + +"It's always the way," pouted Matilda, snatching the plate her mother +held toward her. "I wanted to eat my dinner, and go nutting; but I never +can do any thing." + +She did not hurry in the least; but, just outside the gate, met her two +brothers, who were quarreling about a jack-knife, one of them had found. + +Instead of trying to make peace, she entered into the quarrel, and soon +had both of them railing at her. + +When her father came from his toil, hungry and impatient for his dinner, +his wife was fretting; and his daughter nowhere in sight. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HATTY'S PEACEFUL HOME. + + +NOW, let us follow Hatty as she ran gayly up the narrow lane toward her +humble home. The brook, she loved so well, tumbled on over the stones +and pebbles at her side, dancing and sparkling in the sunlight, as happy +as she. + +"Oh, how pretty these everlastings are!" she said to herself, stopping +to take a nearer view of the late fall flowers; and there's dear Esther +sitting at her sewing. + +"Am I late?" she asked, running into their one room, which served for +parlor, sitting-room and kitchen. + +"Oh, no, dear!" + +There was an affectionate kiss between the two sisters, and then Hatty, +after hanging up her school hat and sack, laid some fresh sticks into +the stove, filled the tea-kettle, and put some potatoes already washed +into the oven to bake. Then she proceeded to lay on a cloth very coarse, +but white as snow; and to set out the common plates they used, her +tongue running merrily all the while. + +"Oh, Esther! I wish you could see Montworth Falls. The water foams, and +dashes, and sparkles so beautifully, I stood a moment to look at it; and +then I had to run to catch the girls." + +Esther smiled; a patient, calm face hers was, almost always lighted +with that trusting, placid smile. + +"I can see it," she answered, "almost as well as if I were there. You +are my eyes, you know." + +"Oh, sister!" Hatty went on, after bringing from the cellar a dish of +cold meat and a plate of large cucumber pickles, "the girls are going +nutting. Do you suppose I could go? Ethel Frost says chestnuts and +shagbarks are ever so thick. There's one reason, specially, why I want +to go to-day." + +Esther quite laughed this time. + +"You know I tell you everything," Hatty went on, her face growing a +little anxious. "Sallie Munson is in trouble. I want to make her feel +better; and I guess I can." + +"Well, my dear peace-maker, you can go as well as not. You know uncle +Oliver likes nuts in winter. They remind him of old times. You'd better +carry them up stairs and dry them, and then give him a pleasant +surprise." + +"So I will!" + +Hatty peeped into the oven to see how the potatoes were coming on, +singing a line of her favorite hymn:-- + + "Oh how happy are they + Who their Saviour obey, + And have laid up their treasure above, + No tongue can express, + The sweet comfort and peace, + Of a soul in its earliest love." + +Just as the tea was drawn (uncle Oliver was as set in his way as an old +smoker, and declared that he couldn't live without tea with every meal), +the old man made his appearance. He was bent a good deal with +rheumatism; his face was wrinkled, and his hair grew low down on his +forehead. His shaggy eyebrows nearly met over his nose, and his deep +grey eyes looked cold to a stranger, but, notwithstanding all this, his +nieces loved him. Years ago when his only sister, who was their mother, +died, he promised her, that as well as he knew how, he would be a father +to her daughters; and faithfully had he kept his word. + +He had only a little money; but that little was freely given for their +necessities. When they first came to live with him, people called him +hard and crusty, an odd stick; but Esther and Hatty had crept into his +heart and made it soft and tender. + +For their mother's sake he had allowed Hatty to attend church and +Sabbath school; and in this way a blessing had come home to all of them. +Hatty was not only eyes to her deformed sister, and described to her the +beauties of nature which she seldom saw herself, but she was ears to +both of them. Every word she could remember of the Sunday teachings was +stored to be repeated at home; and thus both the old man and his +deformed niece had learned to love the sacred truths of the Bible. +Indeed a blessed peace had settled on the whole household, a peace and +contentment at which many of their neighbors wondered. + +When Hatty heard her uncle's step, she ran to the door to welcome him. +If he had been the handsomest man in America, she couldn't have looked +more lovingly in his face. She playfully took off his hat, hung it on +its hook, and then seated him at the table. + +"Come, Esther," she exclaimed, "dinner's ready; and here's your chair." + +It was no wonder uncle Oliver smiled as he watched her flitting about, +first to lay Esther's work on a small table away from harm, then to push +up her chair before her plate, snatching a kiss for her pains, and last +seating herself demurely while the old man said grace. It was no wonder +at all that he asked God to bless every one of them, and continue life +and health to the child who was the joy of their hearts as well as the +delight of their eyes. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE PEACE-MAKER. + + +HATTY had a special reason for hurrying through her after-dinner work. +She did not think it right to tell even Esther that her school-mate had +tried to make hard feeling between cousins; but she did tell her +heavenly Father, and asked his blessing on her effort to make peace +between them. + +Then with a parting kiss to Esther, who sat patiently at her sewing, she +ran off to call for Sallie before Matilda joined the party. + +"I've come begging," she said, laughing gayly, as she found her friend +lingering over her afternoon task of picking beans for her mother to +bake. "Here, let me help you; and I'll tell you what I want. You and I +are just the same size; and I admired your new dress so much I'm going +to get Esther to cut mine just like it. I want you to wear it over to +our house, and let her see it; and then I can try it on. If it does fit +me, and I'm sure it will, I can borrow your mother's pattern, and that +will make it so easy for Esther, you know." + +Sallie's cheeks grew crimson. She thought at first that Hatty must be +joking. She had begun to hate that dress, but then, if Hatty liked it, +it must be pretty, for every one in school acknowledged Hatty's good +taste. + +She sat thinking of this, while her friend took up handful after handful +of beans, and put them into the pan. + +"I'm going to try, and make it all myself," she went on gayly. "I am old +enough now; and Esther has so much to do." + +"Mother will lend you her pattern," answered Sallie, "but now really, +Hatty, do you like my dress?" + +"Yes, indeed; or I wouldn't wish mine like it; and I heard ever so many +of the girls say how prettily it looked. Cynthia said those bright +colors were very becoming, you're so pale, you know." + +"Cynthia! did she say that?" + +"Yes, she didn't like the tight sleeves at first; but I told her I did; +and besides it's the fashion. You know," she added with a merry laugh, +"when the fashion is a sensible one, we ought to follow it." + +"But Hatty, Matilda says, Cynthia talked horridly about my dress. I got +awfully angry about it, and said I wouldn't speak to her again this +term." + +"Oh, Sallie! that would be unkind and unforgiving, even if she had done +all that Matilda says; but I do really think, Matilda is mistaken; I +heard Cynthia praise the dress myself." + +"No, she was not mistaken," cried Sallie in great excitement. "She meant +to make a fuss. She's always trying to get people into a quarrel. There, +the beans are done; and I'm going right to her house to tell her I've +found her out; and I want nothing more to do with her." + +"But Sallie, it's time we were going to the grove. The best nuts will +all be gone; and I want to get good ones for uncle Oliver." + +"Come on, then, I'm ready. Mother, is Edward going with us?" + +"He's been gone with Ethel for an hour. He has a chance to sell a +bushel, if he can pick them." + +"I hope Matilda wont be there," said Sallie. "If she is, I sha'n't speak +to her." + +"I shall," added Hatty in a decided tone; "because, though I'm afraid +she's done wrong, I don't think that would be the way to cure her, I +think it would be best to let her see that we all love each other too +well to allow a few hasty words to make us quarrel." + +"I hate people who are always making a fuss." + +Hatty laughed. "Matilda can't make a fuss with me," she said, showing +all her white teeth. + +"She tried to," answered Sallie. "She called you proud, and said you +laughed to show your handsome teeth; but I wouldn't hear you talked +against; and I told her so. After that she shut her mouth pretty quick." + +"I'm afraid I do laugh too much," said Hatty, blushing crimson; "but I'm +so happy, I can't help it. I hope I'm not proud, though I try to be +thankful." + +"You're the dearest girl in the world," exclaimed Sallie, putting her +arms tightly around her friend's neck. "If it hadn't been for you, I +should have had a quarrel with Cynthia; and mother would have worried +awfully about it, for we're own cousins, you know." + +"Well, dear Sallie, for my sake, forgive Matilda too. She was to blame +for what she said; but we must pity her. I don't think Matilda is very +happy." + +Sallie shook her head, but presently asked,-- + +"What makes you always want people to forgive? I don't see how it will +make you any happier." + +"Oh, yes indeed it will! It seems dreadful to me to see two school-mates +feeling unkindly to each other; and then, you know," she added with a +deeper blush, "who has said, 'Be of one mind, live in peace, and the God +of love and peace shall be with you;' don't you remember what a +blessing is promised to the peace-makers?" + +"No, I don't." + +"Why, Sallie! The minister preached about it last winter. I remembered +ever so much of the sermon for uncle Oliver and Esther. You know I have +to preach it over again to them. Esther says, she thinks it's one of the +most beautiful verses in the Bible:" + +"Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of +God." + +Sallie remained silent for a few moments. When they came in sight of the +grove, she caught her friend's hand and said earnestly,-- + +"Oh, Hatty! I wish I were like you, and could claim that promise. I see +now why you're always so happy. You--" + +"'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee,'" +added her companion, with a reverent glance upward. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MATILDA'S CONSCIENCE. + + +MATILDA did not make her appearance in the grove. Her father was so +angry at her tardiness in bringing the ham for his dinner that he +forbade her the pleasure. She passed the afternoon in a very unhappy +state of mind, continually quarrelling with her brothers and sisters, +and stirring up strife in the whole household. + +From her chamber window she saw Hatty and Sallie walk on, arm in arm, +swinging their baskets; and conscience whispered,--"They will talk of +you, and you have no one but yourself to blame for all your +wretchedness." + +Disgusted with herself, she still sat gazing from the window, when +serious thoughts began to arise. + +"Why can't I be happy?" she asked herself. "I have a better home than +either of those girls. That is, the rooms look better, and father has +more money. But things never go right. Mother always wants errands done +so quick; and father gets angry and cross; and the boys are so +touchy,"-- + +"And Matilda, the eldest daughter is worse than all the rest; for she +might be a help to her mother, a comfort to her father, and an example +of love and peace to the whole family." + +This was what conscience said; and conscience this time was determined +to be heard. + +"You hate yourself now," the inward monitor went on, "but not so badly +as you will by and by. Every day that you indulge in these evil +passions, you will grow worse and worse. Try to reform. Begin to-day, +and take this verse for your motto: 'If it be possible, as much as lieth +in you, live peaceably with all men.'" + +"That is Hatty's rule," exclaimed Matilda, starting from her seat. +"I'll try it. I'm sorry now, I told Sallie that Cynthia didn't like her +dress. I'm afraid there'll be a fuss about that. Sallie wont speak; and +her cousin will find out what I said, and then the blame will all come +on me." + +"Where it belongs," urged conscience again. + +"Well, I'll never tell tales again; that is, if I can help it. I mean to +try and be like Hatty. Father and mother will wonder what has come over +me; I wish I knew what I ought to do first." + +Already she felt happier than for a long time. She ran down to the sink, +bathed her face and eyes; then back to her room and combed her hair, +confining it in her net, after which she joined her mother in the +sitting-room. + +"Where's that little apron," she began, "that you cut out yesterday? I'm +going to make it." + +Mrs. Manning glanced up from her work in surprise. "What has happened?" +she asked herself; but she smilingly directed her daughter where she +might find the apron. + +Before her needle was threaded, baby Tom fell from the steps and began +to scream with all his might. + +Mrs. Manning started up, letting her sewing fall to the floor. "I +sha'n't sew a stitch at this rate," began Matilda impatiently; but +recovering herself, she exclaimed,-- + +"Come here, Tommy. I'll show you the bossy;" and they trotted off +together to the barn. + +The other boys were there playing in the hay, and at any other time +Matilda would have begun to quarrel directly; but with her good resolves +fresh in mind she began to coax them to come off the hay, and show her +how to make bossy stand on his feet. + +Her tone was so pleasant that they came at once, wondering at the +change; and for the next half hour they had a merry time together. + +Then she returned to the house with the baby mounted on her back. + +When her father came home to supper, he evidently expected to find her +cross and impatient at having been kept from accompanying her companions +to the grove. He heard her singing before he reached the gate, and was +not a little delighted to find his wife sitting at her sewing, and +Matilda putting the last dishes on the table for tea. + +"Well, now, this is as it ought to be," he said heartily, as they drew +their chairs about the table. "Wife, you said you wanted a new gown, and +here's money to buy cloth for you and Matilda, too. I'm always ready +with the cash for good daughters." + +A few hours later, when the young girl retired to her bed, she said to +herself,--"It isn't so very hard to do right after all. How pleased +father was. Now if I only knew that Sallie wouldn't say anything about +what I told her, I should be happier than I have been for a month." + +I wish Hatty had been there to remind her that she ought to thank her +heavenly Father for help to keep her resolutions, else she could not +have done one right thing. As it was, Hatty was giving uncle Oliver and +Esther an account of her call at Mrs. Munson's; and they were +thinking,--"What a blessing our dear girl is to us, and how lonely our +cottage would be without her." + +The nuts, a peck of each, were safely stored in the attic to dry, before +the old man came home to supper; and then Hatty had time to run to a +neighbor's with the vest Esther had just completed. + +In the evening they had family-prayers, a service the two girls +commenced by themselves, but which uncle Oliver soon joined; and then +after Hatty's account of her afternoon, they retired to rest for the +night, the blessing which God has promised the peace-makers resting upon +them. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE QUARREL SETTLED. + + +IT was scarcely a week after the nutting party, when one morning Sallie +was missing from school. This was so unusual that the teacher inquired +of the scholars whether any of them knew why she was not in her place. + +But no one had seen her that day; and as her brother Edward was also +absent, nothing could be ascertained till night. + +When the teacher called, she found the family of Mrs. Munson greatly +afflicted. Three of the children were in bed with fever, and the widow +was scarcely able to drag herself about. + +"I've had trouble on trouble," she said, sighing. "Month after month, +for five long years, I've stood at the door where I could see the ocean, +and watched for the ship that never came. I've laid one child beneath +the sod, and now it's likely three more will follow. Still I can +say,--'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, +because he trusteth in thee.'" + +At school, both Edward and Sallie were greatly missed, the first +question in the morning being: "Have you heard from Mrs. Munson's? Is +Sallie better?" + +Hatty went about her studies with a sad countenance. She was much +afraid that her friend would die without having given her heart to the +Saviour. + +One day, when she was going home from school, she passed two boys who +were quarrelling terribly about a book one of them had lost. + +The young girl lingered near them for a few moments, wishing, yet +scarcely daring to speak. At last she said,-- + +"Oh Ethel! how can you quarrel when one of your companions is so very +sick? Think if you were to be taken down with the fever, how sorry you +would be that you had called any one such hard names." + +The boy hung his head, somewhat ashamed, but then said,-- + +"It's too bad to lose a new book. I'm sure Bill took it home with him." + +"I didn't. I haven't seen it since Ethel showed it to me at recess. I +don't see why he need to lay it to me." + +"At recess?" murmured Ethel. "Oh dear! Bill, wait a minute." + +He was off without a word, and in ten minutes more he came running at +full speed, shouting,-- + +"I've found it. Here 'tis, all safe. I left it on the rock when we were +playing ball." + +"And now you're sorry you charged Bill with carrying it home," exclaimed +Hatty, eagerly. + +"Yes, I am. As soon as he spoke about recess I thought where I laid +it." + +"Don't you think it would be a good plan to ask him to forgive you?" +inquired the little peace-maker, drawing him aside. + +He made a wry face and hesitated. + +"You know, you said some awful hard things," she urged. "I thought then +he was pretty good-tempered not to take offense." + +She looked in his face so eagerly that he laughed outright. + +[Illustration: "Look here, Bill, Hatty thinks I ought to ask your +pardon." Vol. VI, p. 9.] + +"Well," he said, "for your sake, I will. You always have everything +your own way, you know." + +"Look here, Bill," he exclaimed, walking back to the fence where his +companion stood, and holding out his hand, "I was wrathy and called you +names you didn't deserve. Hatty thinks I ought to ask your pardon." + +"Oh, Ethel! don't tell him that. You owned you were sorry first." + +"So I am; and if Bill will say quits, I'll do him as good a turn some +other time." + +"All right," said Bill, giving his hand. + +"Here, Hatty," cried Ethel, "you must shake hands too. You're better +than Squire Morse to settle up quarrels." + +She laughed and blushed, giving her little hand first to one, and then +to the other. + +"Now promise me," she said, "that you'll never quarrel again." + +"That's pretty steep. I wouldn't dare venture," cried Ethel, growing +very red. + +"Oh!" urged Hatty, "I always thought you two the bravest boys in school. +Such good scholars ought to be brave." + +"I promise to _try_ to be peaceable," answered Bill. + +"And I'll agree to think of you, Hatty Maynard, when I want to call hard +names. I guess that will cool off the hot blood." + +"You must think of somebody better than I am," she urged, growing very +serious. "Don't you recollect what the minister said, about living in +peace? And the Bible tells us, to 'follow peace with all men,' to +'follow after the things that make for peace.' Esther says that means, +we must be kind and affectionate, one to another; we must show our +companions that we love them; and if we ever do wrong, we must ask +forgiveness as you did, Ethel. I think Bill was real generous to forgive +so quick; but I knew he would, if you told him how sorry you were." + +"Come on, Bill," exclaimed Ethel, laughing. "I guess we sha'n't be +fighting again in a hurry, after all the compliments we've had to-day." + +The next morning, when Hatty went down from her unfurnished attic to +make a fire in the stove, she found a string of nice, fresh fish laid on +the kitchen table. There was a small piece of soiled paper tied to the +end of the string, on which was written in a school boy's hand,-- + +"For Hatty Maynard, peace-maker to the town of Shrewsbury; from Ethel +and Bill." + +"'Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of +God,'" repeated Hatty, tears gushing to her eyes. "I do love to make +peace; and I may call myself his child." + +She was so full of joy that she ran up the steep stairs again to her low +couch, and there kneeling down, she asked her heavenly Father to make +her indeed his own child, and by and by to take her to dwell with him +in heaven, where all was peace, and love, and joy, forever and ever. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE SICK GIRL. + + +DAY after day went by and still Sallie lay in bed. Edward and his +brother were able to sit up for a few hours, and take a little broth; +but their sister was very, _very_ ill. + +One afternoon a neighbor knocked at Mr. Maynard's door and asked for +Hatty. + +"I have been watching with poor Sallie Munson," she said. "The widow is +clear worn out; and I couldn't refuse. Sallie has come to her senses. +She thinks she's going to die, and she wants to see Hatty." + +"Why don't they send for the minister?" asked uncle Oliver. + +"They have sent; but he wont be at home till to-morrow." + +Esther's countenance changed, and at last she said,-- + +"I'm afraid to have sister go; the fever is very contagious." + +"Well, I wont deny that; but perhaps if she ties a bag of camfire round +her neck, she wont catch it, I've got one round mine this blessed +minute; and I've made Sarah Ann wear one ever since the fever come into +town." + +"Hatty'll want to go," suggested uncle Oliver. "'Twill be just like her +not to think a mite of herself. It's 'stonishing what harum-scarum +creaters girls be. They don't valley their own lives a mite, if they +want to do anything." + +"Well, if you just heard Sallie a calling, 'Hatty, dear Hatty, do come, +I'm going to die. Come and tell me what I must do,' you'd say 'twas +heart-rending." + +"I suppose she will go," faltered Esther, growing very white. "I'll tell +her as soon as she comes home from school." + +"Tell her, and let her judge for herself," muttered the old man. "I'd +rather give every cent, I'm worth in the world than to venter her there; +but God can keep her from all harm. She's a good girl, Hatty is, and +knows a sight more'n some folks." + +Esther did tell Hatty, and the consequence was that she went; but not +until she had kneeled by her straw couch once more to ask God to bless +her endeavors to do Sallie good. She did not think of herself. She felt +sure her heavenly Father would take care of her. If he wished her to +live longer, he would preserve her from the fever. If he meant to call +her home to heaven now, she was ready to go. In her soul all was peace. + +But for her dear companion, she was troubled. As she hurried along, she +thought how they had loved each other; that never a word of unkindness +had separated them; and she put up a little prayer to God that if +consistent with his will, Sallie might be spared to her mother for many +years. + +Mrs. Munson saw her running toward the house, and met her at the door. + +Poor Mrs. Munson! how hard during all these weeks of anxious care, had +she tried to say, "It is the Lord; let him do with his own, what seemeth +to him best." + +"Sallie wants you badly, dear," she said, after kissing the child; "but +aren't you afraid you'll take the fever? You know Cynthia came down with +it yesterday." + +"No, I hadn't heard." + +Hatty's chin quivered, and the widow noticing her agitation said +softly,-- + +"I wouldn't urge you for any thing. The minister'll be home to-morrow. +May be Sallie'll forget it again." + +"Hatty! why don't Hatty come?" called out the sick child. + +"I'll go now, ma'am. Is any body with her?" + +"Nobody but Edward." + +"Will you please call him out? I'd rather see her alone." + +Hatty was only thirteen years old; and you will not be surprised that +when she saw her companion's pale face and wild, protruded eyes, her +heart grew faint within her. She sank into a chair, and covered her face +with her hands. + +"I knew you'd come, I knew you'd be sorry for me," began Sallie, talking +with feverish excitement. "Did mother tell you I am going to die?" + +"No one but God can know that," murmured Hatty, slowly rising and +approaching the bed. "Esther told me you wanted to see me, and I've +come." + +"Yes; I called you all night; but nobody would go. I'm afraid, Hatty; I +don't want to die. Oh, I wish I was good." + +"The Bible says nobody ever was good enough to go to heaven." + +"What do you mean? Tell me quick!" + +"I can't explain very well. I mean that if we're ever so good, as you +call it, we couldn't get into heaven without Jesus. Our goodness is +badness in God's sight, because he is so much holier than we are; but if +we love Jesus, for his sake, God will forgive our sins." + +"How can I love him? Mother has been telling me I must accept him as my +Saviour, but I don't know how. Oh! I wish somebody would tell me! I'm +dying, and I can't find out anything." + +"Sallie, listen to me a minute. In my last Sabbath school paper was an +account of a little heathen girl, who felt as you do. She wanted to love +Christ, but she didn't know how to give her heart to him. The +missionaries talked to her and prayed with her, but she only cried the +more. At last one said, 'Jesus never sinned; but you are a great +sinner.' + +"'Yes, yes! I understand that.' + +"'Well, you have offended God, and he has threatened to punish you; but +now Jesus promises to receive the punishment for you, and for that he +died on the cross.' + +"'Oh, yes! yes! yes!' cried the heathen girl. 'I understand now. I must +make a bargain with Jesus. I will give him all my badness, and he will +give me all his goodness. Oh, I see! I see!! I do love him. Oh, how good +he is!'" + +Sallie folded her hands on her breast and closed her eyes, though her +lips moved as if she were praying. Presently she said softly, "I +understand now, Hatty; but will Jesus make a bargain with me?" + +"Yes, yes, he will; he says so in the Bible." + +"Don't stay any longer, Hatty; but come again if Esther will let you. +I'm going to pray now. Shut the door tight." + +Hatty walked through the kitchen without speaking. Mrs. Munson had sat +near the door and had heard every word. She asked God to bless his own +truth to her dear, dying daughter. + +It was scarcely light the next morning before Abner, Sallie's older +brother, knocked at the door of uncle Oliver's house. + +"I've come with a message for Hatty," he explained. "She's happy now, +and sings all the verses she can think of. She wants me to say, she's +made a bargain with Jesus, and she isn't afraid to die." + +"Tell her I'll go and see her before school," Hatty answered, her eyes +full of joyful tears. + +She did go, but the sick girl was quietly asleep, and, more than this, +the Doctor said her symptoms were a great deal better. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE PEACEFUL DEATH. + + +IN three days Sallie was out of danger, and from this time she recovered +rapidly. The minister and her Sabbath school teacher visited her often, +but she wondered Hatty did not come. At last, one day when she was able +to sit up, her mother told her Hatty had taken the fever the day she +visited her, and now she was very sick. + +"Who will take care of her?" asked Sallie, beginning to cry. + +"They sent for her aunt, who has never been near them since their mother +died, and she's there now. She has money, and she says the poor child +shall not want for anything that money will buy." + +"Oh, mother! to think that I have killed her! I feel almost sure she +will die. She's so good, I used to tell the girls, she ought to go to +heaven; but it is dreadful that I killed her." + +Sallie sobbed so violently that her mother became alarmed; but for some +time she tried in vain to soothe her. + +"They'll all blame me. I never shall dare to see uncle Oliver or Esther +again. They can't live without her. Oh, oh dear! I wish she never had +come. Mother, do please go over there quick, and tell them how very +sorry I am. Hatty taught me to love the Saviour, and how can I let her +die?" + +To please her child the widow went. Hatty lay in the bedroom adjoining +the sitting-room, which was usually occupied by uncle Oliver. Close by +her side sat Esther, looking pale and wan as if months instead of hours +of racking anxiety had passed over her. Mrs. Foster was preparing some +medicine near the window, while the old man, with a heart almost broken +with sorrow, was cutting up wood at the side of the house farthest from +the chamber. + +As the widow entered the room, Hatty turned her eyes to the door and +recognized her. + +"Are you in much pain?" she asked, greatly moved. + +"Jesus helps me bear it all." + +This was said with a gasp. + +"She never complains," faltered Esther, with quivering lips. + +"Sallie, how is she?" murmured the sick girl. + +"Much better, if she were not so distressed about you." + +"I am safe with Jesus. He gives me perfect peace." + +Her aunt began to weep. + +"Don't cry, dear aunty," she said caressingly. "You will come too; you +and Esther, and uncle Oliver. We shall all be there. Mother will be +there, too, for Esther says she used to pray." + +She paused for a moment, quite exhausted; but presently looked up with a +smile and added, "I shall see Mr. Munson and tell him about Sallie. +Wont he be glad?" + +The widow was quite overcome but tried to control herself. + +"Tell him," she said, "that I'm almost through. I'm trying to bear his +loss with patience. Tell him God has been true to his promise: 'As thy +day is so shall thy strength be.' I trust we shall meet soon and never +be parted again." + +She stooped silently over the sick child, kissed her, and was going out +when Hatty whispered,-- + +"Tell Sallie good-bye. It's all peace here," laying her hand on her +heart. "I'm not afraid to trust my Saviour." + +Mrs. Foster followed her to the door. "It's a scene I never shall +forget," she said, sobbing. "Such a lesson as that child has taught me. +Oh, if I'd only done my duty, she might have lived for years." + +"Jesus loves her and wants her with him," answered Mrs. Munson. "You +know he prayed his Father that those who loved him might be with him +where he is, that they may behold his glory. Think how happy she will +be." + +As hours passed on, that room became almost like heaven. An +indescribable expression of peace was stamped on the pale features. +Heaven had indeed come down into her own heart. For hours she lay in a +kind of rapture. Once or twice she sung a part of her favorite hymn, +repeating over and over the lines, + + "No words can express, + The sweet comfort and peace + Of a soul in its earliest love." + +Through this day and the next the house was thronged with schoolmates +and friends, come to take a last look of one so dear. Matilda and +Cynthia, Ethel and Bill, pressed forward to thank her for the example +she had always set them. + +"What shall we do," cried Ethel, sobbing aloud, "when our peace-maker +has gone?" + +With a heavenly smile she replied, "You shall be peace-maker. See how +God keeps his promise to me. 'They shall be called the children of God.' + +"Ethel," she went on, "you've always been like a real brother to me. For +my sake will you be kind to Esther?" + +"Yes, I will." + +"And I too," sobbed Bill; "but we shall miss you dreadfully." + +"Give your hearts to Jesus, and 'twont be long before we shall meet +again." + +The end came at last. Hatty's sufferings were nearly over. She lay +propped up with pillows, her head resting against her aunt's breast. +Esther sat near, holding her hand, which she continually covered with +kisses. Uncle Oliver sat in his arm-chair, at the foot of the bed, his +face shaded with his hands, his breast heaving convulsively. + +The minister stood where Hatty's eyes rested on him. He was reading from +the twenty-third Psalm: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.... +Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will +fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort +me." + +"Yes, yes," murmured the white lips. "He is with me. I'm not afraid. He +has pardoned all my sins, and washed me in the fountain filled with +blood; I'm--going to be--with him--forever,--I'm so--so happy!" + +She lay so quiet that all feared her soul had fled away; but presently, +with a bright smile, she murmured,-- + +"I--I'm going now--good-bye--all. He gives me peace--perfect--peace;" +and then fell sweetly asleep in Jesus. "He giveth his beloved sleep," +repeated the kind minister. "Look at her now! The peace of God which +passeth all understanding dwells in her now and forevermore." + +The next Sabbath her body was carried to the church, where a sermon was +preached from her favorite text,--"Blessed are the peace-makers for they +shall be called the children of God." + +The clergyman reminded the children of her who had so truly and +earnestly been a peace-maker, and entreated them to follow her example, +that they might have peace in life and triumph in death. + +The influence of Hatty was long felt. By her entreaties on her dying +bed, her aunt and uncle Oliver, long estranged, were brought together, +and ever after lived as she would have had them, caring tenderly for +poor Esther, till her own peaceful death, two years later. + +My dear little reader, will you not try to be a peace-maker? + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Text spells the contraction "won't" without the apostrophe (wont). This +was retained. + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 62, "peacably" changed to "peaceably" (peaceably with all men) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pearl of Peace, by Madeline Leslie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEARL OF PEACE *** + +***** This file should be named 35746.txt or 35746.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/7/4/35746/ + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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