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diff --git a/77064-h/77064-h.htm b/77064-h/77064-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ed69e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/77064-h/77064-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3979 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + +<head> + +<link rel="icon" href="images/img-cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + +<meta charset="utf-8"> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Wood Cottage, by M. E. Drewsen +</title> + +<style> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 1.5em } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.contents {text-indent: -3%; + margin-left: 5% } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 2em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +.smcap { font-variant: small-caps } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.capcenter { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + font-weight: normal; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center } + +img.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77064 ***</div> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-cover"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-cover.jpg" alt="Cover art"> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-front"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front.jpg" alt="Wood Cottage"> +</p> + +<h1> +<br><br> + WOOD COTTAGE<br> +</h1> + +<p class="t3"> + OR<br> +</p> + +<p class="t2"> + SHELTERED AT LAST<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + <i>By</i><br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + M. E. DREWSEN<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + <i>Author of "Ben and Kit" "Hazel Glen,"<br> + "Gracie and Grant," "The Old House," etc.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + PICKERING & INGLIS<br> + 14 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E. C. 4<br> + 229 BOTHWELL STREET, GLASGOW, C. 2<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + Made and Printed in Great Britain<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="noindent"> + CONTENTS.<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent smcap" style="line-height: 1.5"> + <a href="#chap01">Safely Sheltered</a><br> + <a href="#chap02">Ben and Kit's New Clothes</a><br> + <a href="#chap03">Prayer in the Wood Shed</a><br> + <a href="#chap04">Lambs of the Flock</a><br> + <a href="#chap05">Difficulties in the Narrow Path</a><br> + <a href="#chap06">Ben's Battle Begins</a><br> + <a href="#chap07">Ben's Return</a><br> + <a href="#chap08">Schoolboys</a><br> + <a href="#chap09">In the Storm</a><br> + <a href="#chap10">The Little Red House</a><br> + <a href="#chap11">The Sick Man and the Fallen Foe</a><br> + <a href="#chap12">What A Little Child can do</a><br> + <a href="#chap13">A Visit to the Sea</a><br> + <a href="#chap14">A Sunday Evening at the Sea-Side</a><br> + <a href="#chap15">Kittie in Trouble</a><br> + <a href="#chap16">Ben's Present</a><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> + +<p class="t2"> +WOOD COTTAGE; +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +OR, +</p> + +<p class="t3b"> +SHELTERED AT LAST. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER I. +<br><br> +SAFELY SHELTERED. +</h3> + +<p> +It was between nine and ten o'clock in the evening, at +the close of a hot summer's day. +</p> + +<p> +A few hours before there had been plenty of stir and +excitement in the fields around Wood Cottage. One +hundred children belonging to a Sunday-school in the +great city, had been playing and romping about through +the day, and enjoying their yearly treat. +</p> + +<p> +They had been shouting and capering about on the +meadows, while the sun shone bright and sweet breezes +blew, and two or three hours before my story begins they +had sung some of their little hymns about the love of +Jesus, and then had started away back to London; back +to the crowded alleys and the dull cheerless streets,—but +they carried with them a happy remembrance of +that sunny day spent in the pleasant fields, where they +had sat in long rows upon the grass, and eaten a plentiful +tea of cake and nice bread and butter, while kind ladies +and gentlemen handed them mugs of sweet fresh milk to +drink. +</p> + +<p> +A hundred children had started forth in the morning, +but only ninety-eight returned in the evening. Two of +the little ones had found a new home. +</p> + +<p> +And now the sun had sunk behind a black, heavy cloud +which was slowly coming up in the west, and the breeze +which had fanned the faces of the children, was completely +lulled; not a breath of air seemed to be stirring, +and it had grown hot and oppressive; a solemn calm +seemed reigning everywhere. +</p> + +<p> +The little birds had gone to their nests or crept under +the bough of the trees. The sheep in the meadow +adjoining Wood Cottage had huddled up close together. +The old hen had gathered her chicks very close under her +sheltering wings, and when the first distant roar of the +thunder was heard, mothers came out of their cottage +doors and called in the young urchins who "ought to +have been in bed an hour ago." +</p> + +<p> +Harry Gray and his wife were sitting at their garden +door when the pale lightning flashed across the sky. +Mrs. Gray had her baby on her knee, for he was restless with +the heat, and would not sleep. +</p> + +<p> +"See; there is lightning, Harry," she said. "There +is going to be a storm. Oh, how glad I am that our +darling Kit is safe beneath our roof to-night! You +should have seen her, how she snugged down in the little +crib between the clean sheets, and in a few minutes fell +asleep. I suppose she has not been in so comfortable a +bed since she left me. Poor lamb; what a life hers must +have been! I cannot bear to think of it now." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes; thank God little Kit is safe," replied the father; +"but we must be very careful with her, she looks so +tender, and be sure you don't over-feed her at first, wife, +she has had but scanty fare and can't stand much +yet. Where have you put Ben?" +</p> + +<p> +"In the little room; I had a trouble at first to get her +to sleep away from him, they've always been together, +but she was so worn out that she fell 'over' while I was +talking. Before she lay down she put her hands together +and said her little prayer that Ben had taught her; +something like this it began:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Jesus, Lord, we come before Thee,<br> + Much we need Thy tender care,<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He has been a good boy to her, and his heart seems set on +her. We must do what we can for him." +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, wife, while we have a crust he'll share it," and +Harry Gray drew his hand across his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"Ah! what a flash!" cried Mrs. Gray, holding her +breath, as the whole heavens were lighted up. Then +followed a tremendous peal of thunder and some heavy +drops of rain. +</p> + +<p> +They rose and went into the cottage after this, and the +mother, giving baby Harry to his father, ran up to look +again at little Kit, who opened her eyes, wakened by the +heavy peal of thunder. +</p> + +<p> +Little Kit had been separated from her parents for more +than three years owing to the cruel neglect of her aunt, +Mrs. Rogers, to whose care she had been committed by her +mother during a severe illness, and the little girl had lived +a life of want and hardship since. +</p> + +<p> +The Grays had tried to find Kit, but Mrs. Rogers +removed from one place to another, and at last they +thought she had left the country. She had married an +idle drunken fellow who had brought her to extreme +poverty, and after she had obtained charge of Kit had +gone from bad to worse, and exposed the delicate little +baby in the London streets in order to gain money, then, +fearing to be discovered, had hidden the child from her +parents, in one of the slums of London. +</p> + +<p> +Some months before the children's treat Mrs. Rogers +had died, and the little girl would have perished from +want had not Ben Rogers, her cousin—a boy of nine or +ten years—cared for her and loved her, and by selling +matches earned a bare living for them both. The man, +Rogers, allowed them to use the room he slept in, but +beyond this had taken little notice of the children until a +few weeks before the treat, when, during a slight illness, +Kit's pretty little prattle about the Lord Jesus had +touched his heart, and caused him to feel more kindly +towards the little girl. +</p> + +<p> +The two children had found their way to a Sunday +school, and there had learned the good news of the +Saviour's love, and they had been enjoying themselves +with the other little ones in the Hornsey Meadows when +accidentally discovered by Kit's mother, whose joy at +finding her long-lost child was indeed great.* +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* See "Ben and Kit," companion volume to this. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The peal of thunder wakened Kit, and when she first +opened her eyes she was frightened. The room was +strange with its clean white bed hangings and neat +furniture. She had been used to a dull back room with a +mattress on the floor for a bed, and on it she and Ben had +slept each night. Her mother's face was strange to her, +though the yearning love displayed there would have +comforted her little heart could she have seen it right. +But the glare of lightning terrified her, and she cried +pitifully, "Ben, Ben, where are you?" +</p> + +<p> +Another instant Ben sprang into the room. He pushed +past Mrs. Gray and took Kit right out of her crib into his +arms, while he tried to stop her sobs. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm here, Kit, don't cry," he said, patting her. "Let +her come with me into my bed, Ma'am, she ain't used to +sleeping alone. I always sung her to sleep." +</p> + +<p> +There was no other way, so the mother, whose heart +longed to be all in all to the lost little one, gave her up for +the time to her old protector, who certainly had earned +his right to her love. +</p> + +<p> +"Kiss me, Kittie, for that is what I used to call you," +she said, "and love me a little, darling. I am very glad +you love Ben; he has been a good kind boy to you." +</p> + +<p> +Kit put up her lips to kiss, and stroked her kind face +that bent over her, then she clasped her arms round Ben +and said, "Me does love Ben, he's a dood boy," and in +five minutes both children were fast asleep. +</p> + +<p> +"Let them love each other, there's no fear but they'll +get fond enough of us by and by, wife," said the father +upon hearing about it. "We must remember she would +have died had it not been for Ben; but I know how you +feel about it. Your poor heart has been starving so long, +you feel you can't get right hold of her yet." +</p> + +<p> +After they had taken one more look at the sleeping +children, and given God thanks for His goodness in +restoring their lost darling, the father went to his little +cash box and put thirty shillings in his wife's hand. +</p> + +<p> +"Go out to-morrow and buy the children the things +they most need," he said, "I'm glad we've been able to +put a little by, and I can spare you more for them when +that's done. We must keep Ben for the present at any-rate, +and you'll find him a smart useful little chap, I +think, and when he's had a little schooling we can get him +a place as message boy. Miss Randolphe, their teacher, +told me yesterday she would speak to her friend, +Mr. Goodall, who has a large stationer's shop near here, and +she felt sure he would take Ben and give him a trial when +he wanted him to make a start." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER II. +<br><br> +BEN AND KIT'S NEW CLOTHES. +</h3> + +<p> +For some hours the lightning flashed and the thunder +rolled, but the children slept peacefully in their bed. +It was the mother who lay awake too overjoyed to sleep. +The morning dawned clear and bright, and everything +out of doors smelled sweet and fresh after the rain. +</p> + +<p> +Little Kit sat on her father's knee at breakfast, with a +basin of bread and milk before her. She looked very pale +and thin, though a sweet smile of content was on her lips. +She took a few spoonfuls, and then put the basin gently +from her. +</p> + +<p> +"No more, now," she said. "I wish we might take it +to Tommy Perrin, he doesn't get such nice things." +</p> + +<p> +"Why Kit! we are ever so far away from the Perrins," +answered Ben, "and this lady says that we are not +going any more." +</p> + +<p> +"No, you shall never leave mother any more, Kittie," +she said. "And Ben, dear, call me Aunt. I am your +aunt, and Kittie's father is your uncle. Try and +remember to do so and please me, there is a good boy." +</p> + +<p> +Ben shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +"Kit and I always call folks by the same name, don't +we, Kit? and it seems awful strange to do different. +Couldn't you be my mother, mam, too?" said the little +fellow, looking Mrs. Gray full in the face. "I'd help you +as best I could; I'd dress Kit and little Harry and take +them out walks; and I'd chop sticks and light fires; +and I could cook herrings and carry water; and I'd go +out and sell matches, and bring home the coppers +to you." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Gray's eyes filled with tears. "You are right, +Ben," she said, "call us father and mother, and we'll all +live happy together; you shall help me as much as you +can, and we'll put you to school; and when you've +learned to read and to write you shall be a message boy. +Am I saying right, Harry?" she asked her husband. +</p> + +<p> +"You couldn't have spoken more to my mind. If the +little chap is honest and willing, we'll make a man of him, +and try and be father and mother, if Rogers will let us. +Now, I must be off to work," he added, kissing Kit, and +tossing baby Harry in the air. "Take care of her, mother, +and try and bring some roses into her cheeks, for she looks +very tender." And he shook his head rather sorrowfully. +</p> + +<p> +"You don't think there is anything really wrong, do +you?" asked his wife, anxiously. +</p> + +<p> +"No, no, I hope not; but she'll need all your care; +she has only eaten enough for her breakfast to feed a +sparrow. Take her into the fields, and give her fresh +milk;—with God's blessing she'll get on." +</p> + +<p> +A neighbour, who had heard the good news of Ben +and Kit's arrival, came in after breakfast with her arms +full of clothes to lend the little ones till they were better +provided for. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's some of Mary's and Billy's bits of things to +dress them up in. I was saying to my husband it will +take Mrs. Gray some time to make them look decent; +and we can spare these for a few days while she is rigging +them up. Said he, 'You're right, wife; suppose it had +been our Mary!'" +</p> + +<p> +"I am sure you are very kind, Mrs. Brown; I was just +wondering what I should do about the clothes, for I am +going to take them to John Blair's to get a few ready-made +things, till I have time to sew for them myself." +</p> + +<p> +Ben was standing by his aunt's side, and Kit was on +her knee, looking rather shyly in her face. +</p> + +<p> +"This is the best frock Kit has got, and it's a pretty +little one. Isn't it?" asked he, pointing to the little +blue skirt they had been so proud of in former days. +"And this little hat," he went on, taking up the black +straw with the faded violet ribbon. "We used to think +it grand, didn't we, Kit? Somehow it looks very shabby +against Baby's. But his is so pretty." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Gray laughed, and neighbour Brown remarked,—with +a shake of her head,—that "Ben was a wise boy for +his age." +</p> + +<p> +The children were soon dressed as neatly as possible +under the circumstances, and little Kit was placed in the +perambulator, for her mother was afraid she would be +tired, though they were not going very far. +</p> + +<p> +"I will carry baby," she said. +</p> + +<p> +"And I'll shove Kit," cried Ben. +</p> + +<p> +And so they started "to shop." Kit greatly enjoyed +the ride, and Ben's heart swelled with pride to see her +looking so bright and happy, and he stamped his feet on +the pavement as they went along, that he might hear the +sound of the leather. It was a long time since he had +worn boots. +</p> + +<p> +"Is them your boots, Ben, making that noise?" asked +Kit, turning round. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Kit; do you like to hear it?" asked he. +</p> + +<p> +Kit nodded her head and smiled. At last they reached +John Blair's, and Kit was taken out of the perambulator +into the shop. Her mother bought her a neat little print +frock, pinafores, a cape, and a straw hat with a blue +ribbon round, and then she tried on a jacket, which fitted +her nicely, and ended by getting socks and shoes. +</p> + +<p> +"I have plenty of stuff by me to make underclothing," +she said, "and a piece of light cloth that will do for +another frock." +</p> + +<p> +So little Kit was fitted out for the present, and then +came Ben's turn. He had looked on with admiring eyes +while each article was tried on to the little girl, and his +admiration was told out by deep-drawn sighs. +</p> + +<p> +"Now, Ben, we must find something for you," said +Mrs. Gray, as she looked at Kit with deep satisfaction, and +imprinted a kiss on the sweet wistful little face. +</p> + +<p> +"Something for you, Ben," echoed Kit. +</p> + +<p> +"Never mind me," said he, "I'm good enough to push +the coach." +</p> + +<p> +"Here's a jacket and knickerbockers that would just +fit the little fellow, only six and sixpence, a real bargain, +good strong tweed," said the man who had returned with +the articles. +</p> + +<p> +They are pronounced the "very thing," and so after +Ben was supplied with a cap, boots, and stockings, the +little party returned home with their parcels, and the +children were dressed in their new things by the time the +father returned for his dinner. +</p> + +<p> +He was charmed with the improvement that neat +clothes made in both the children, and could hardly take +his eyes off Kit, and when she lisped out, "Mother gave +me these," the mother's eyes filled with happy tears. +</p> + +<p> +"Let's have tea on the green, wife, it will please the +children, and Ben and Kit must each feel in one of my big +pockets for a parcel, when I get home. I saw something +pretty in a shop this morning that I think will please my +little girl." +</p> + +<p> +"And something for baby, too?" asked Kit. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes; I'll have something for Harry, too," replied the +father as he prepared to return to work. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER III. +<br><br> +A PRAYER IN THE WOOD SHED. +</h3> + +<p> +About an hour after dinner Kit fell into a sound +sleep, and her mother laid her in her little bed, +thankful that she should get a good rest, for the least +exertion seemed to fatigue her. +</p> + +<p> +Ben took the opportunity to look about him, as Mrs. Gray +had given him leave to go where he liked, so long +as he kept the cottage in sight. He examined each corner +of the little garden, for every plant and shrub was a +wonder to the little fellow, who had lived all his days in the +back streets of a squalid part of London. +</p> + +<p> +Half of the garden was laid out in cabbages, onions, +beans, and parsley, with a border of sweet-smelling +country flowers round it. The other half was a nice even +plot of green grass, where Mrs. Gray hung her clothes to +dry, but a wide-spreading apple tree threw a pleasant +shade on the one side, and here the little family had often +sat in the summer evenings, before Ben and Kit +so unexpectedly joined them. +</p> + +<p> +There was a little shed, too, where the garden tools were +kept, and beside it a hen-house and a dog's kennel, and +next the hen-house, where the hens roosted and had their +nests, was a small yard enclosed by wire-fence to keep them +off the garden, and here a hole had been made into the field +beyond, so that "Master Scott," as they called the +Scotch grey cock, could roam about with his four +companions, Speckle, Beauty, Black Bess, and Snowflake, +without doing mischief. +</p> + +<p> +At roosting time, Mrs. Gray let them come round the +cottage door to eat their supper, and then "Master +Scott" would grow very bold and fly on to the kitchen +dresser and give a triumphant crow. +</p> + +<p> +Ben asked if he might look into the hen-house, and +Mrs. Gray said she would come and show him the hen that was +sitting on thirteen eggs. +</p> + +<p> +"You must never disturb her, Ben; for, if she sits +steadily, this day week there will be a brood of young +chicks, and Kit and you shall each have one for your own." +</p> + +<p> +Of course, Ben was highly delighted, and promised to +be careful. After this he went into the meadows and +made friends with "Master Scott" and the old hen who +had so carefully gathered her chicks under her wing the +night before. +</p> + +<p> +It was hard work for Beauty to do this now, for her +children were growing big and their heads would poke out +from between her feathers, and though she stretched her +wings ever so wide, the little black chick could find no +room, but had to perch on her back. +</p> + +<p> +By the time Kit woke up, Ben had gathered her a +bunch of buttercups and daisies, and then he asked +permission to take her a walk. +</p> + +<p> +"Be very careful then, and only go a little way, Ben," +said the mother, fearful lest any harm might come to her +new found treasure. +</p> + +<p> +"I always take care of Kit, no harm comes to her when +I'm by; does it, Kit?" said Ben, drawing himself up. +</p> + +<p> +"No, no horses run over me, or big boys knock me +down. Ben always takes me up in his arms and carries +me safe home when I's tired. He's the bestest boy," and +she looked at him in his new suit with great satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +"Doesn't it seem strange, Kit, to be here," said Ben, as +they walked up and down the road, "with good dinners, +teas, nice clothes, and such beautiful hens and chickens." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes; and Jesus is here too, isn't He? and He gave us +these nice things? The lady said so." +</p> + +<p> +"Of course He is; and He helped your father and +mother to find you. We ought to thank Him. I believe +it all comes because we went to the Sunday school. See +how we got the fine treat, and then how your mother came +to the field and saw you crying, and found out that you +were her little girl. Kit, we ought to thank Jesus +about it; the Sunday school belongs to Him!" said +Ben, solemnly. +</p> + +<p> +"Where will we kneel down, Ben?" +</p> + +<p> +"There's a nice little shed would do," said Ben, +"come along and I'll show you." They opened the door +of the out-house, and finding a clean spot, the children +took hands and knelt as they had knelt many a time in +the little back room at Peters Street. "You first, Kit, +then me next," said Ben. +</p> + +<p> +"Bless me, Jesus Lord, and Ben too," began Kit, "I'm +very glad I've found my father and mother and baby, +and You have given us all these nice things—Amen." +</p> + +<p> +"And take care of the Sunday school now we are not +there," added Ben, "and help me to be handy to my new +father and mother, and take us all to heaven, because +you're the Saviour—Amen." +</p> + +<p> +The mother had watched them go into the shed, and +wondering what kept them there, had stolen on tip-toe +round to the other side, and looked in through a space +between the boards. +</p> + +<p> +The sight she saw caused her unmingled astonishment. +She had no idea that the little ones had learned thus to +pray and tell Jesus of their joys as well as their troubles. +Kittie's eyes were closed, and the light from the door fell +upon her sweet serene little face, while Ben, with knitted +brows, was moving his head from side to side, and +clasping her hand firmly. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm glad we've thanked Him; now it won't look as if +we had forgotten," he said as they rose. "It would be +real mean, you know, Kit, when God took such care of +us in Peters Street. Miss Randolphe said she would come +and see us some day, and hear our verses. We mustn't +forget them. Let's come under the tree and say them." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Gray stepped forward, and without appearing to +have seen the children before, asked them to come and +help her get tea ready, for father was coming in, and they +were all to have tea on the green. She wanted them to +carry out the cups and plates, and bread and butter, +then after that she wished them to sing their hymns. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER IV. +<br><br> +LAMBS OF THE FLOCK. +</h3> + +<p> +"Before tea, Harry must get his face washed," +Mrs. Gray said, and taking baby on her knee, +proceeded to sponge his rosy cheeks. Harry screamed +lustily. +</p> + +<p> +"I never scream when Ben washes my face," said Kit, +who was watching the operation with great interest. +</p> + +<p> +"No, but you are older than Harry, and know better," +said her mother. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm growing a bigger girl," said Kit, straightening +herself. "I'm <i>up to my head</i>,—see!" and she placed her +hand on the top of her curly locks. +</p> + +<p> +"So you are," said her mother, laughing; "and down +to your toes." +</p> + +<p> +"When Harry is up to my head and down to my toes, +he won't scream when being washed," cried Kit. +</p> + +<p> +"I hope not," replied her mother, as Ben laughed +merrily; "but see, he's a good boy now, and fit to be +kissed; so we will lay him down on the grass to kick, +while we set the table for tea." +</p> + +<p> +They spread a table-cloth on the green, and the children +were delighted to help. It was so different from anything +they had done before. +</p> + +<p> +Ben carried out hassocks for Kit and himself, and the +two ran back and forward with plates, cups, and spoons, +and every time they came with a fresh article, baby +Harry crowed and kicked afresh. +</p> + +<p> +"Now, that's the train in," said Mrs. Gray, "go to the +gate, and look for father. In a few minutes he should be +here." Soon they both returned to the house each +holding the father's hand, and each carrying a parcel. +Ben waited while Kit's parcel was being opened, and +then both children uttered a cry of delight. A wax doll +with blue eyes and flaxen ringlets made its appearance +dressed in blue. +</p> + +<p> +"I couldn't resist bringing it to her," said Gray, "I +guessed that she never had such before." Kit hugged +her new treasure much as her mother had hugged her the +night before, while her eyes grew lustrous, and a bright +flush spread over her cheeks. +</p> + +<p> +Ben quite forgot for the minute to open his parcel, he +was so lost in admiration over Kit's doll. But when he +had time to think of his and had opened it he found +himself the possessor of a First Reading Book crammed +full with illustrations. There were pictures of dogs and +cats, horses, ships, soldiers, etc., etc. +</p> + +<p> +"Now, Ben, you must learn to read," said the father, +when they had taken their places for tea, "so that in a +few months you can go out and earn your living again +like a brave boy." +</p> + +<p> +"So I will, if my own father, in Peters Street, will let +me stay with you. Oh! I do hope he will. But I haven't +made you a bow for the fine book. This is how we bow +to the gentry when they give us coppers, isn't it, Kit?" +and he stood up and made them all laugh while he pulled +his front hair and then went head over heels all along the +grass. +</p> + +<p> +Then Harry received his present, which was a squeaking +pig, and it added to the merriment of the little party to +see his pleasure, and to hear his funny little crows of +delight mingling with the squeaks of the pig. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was merry that night. He felt so happy, for Mr. Gray +said he had gone to Peters Street in the middle of the +day and had seen their old home. He brought with him +the little Sunday school books and a wallflower Kit prized. +He also had called on Mrs. Perrin, who had been a kind +friend to them, and had had a long talk with her. She +told him much of Ben's faithfulness to Kit, and cried at +the thought of losing the children. +</p> + +<p> +However, Gray asked her over with her children to +spend the day at Wood Cottage in a fortnight's time, and +she had promised to come. Rogers (Ben's father) was +not at home, but Mrs. Perrin said she would give him the +message that Gray left, and do her best to persuade him to +give Ben up to them, and then she would write and let the +inmates of Wood Cottage know the result. +</p> + +<p> +She had little difficulty about it, for Rogers wanted to +go to sea, and his only drawback had been leaving the +little fellow. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was very glad to get his few books again. +</p> + +<p> +"This one has our newest hymns in it," he said, pointing +to the well-worn cover. +</p> + +<p> +"Let us hear it, Ben," said the mother. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, turn about then, Kit," said the boy, "you one +verse and I the next." +</p> + +<p> +Kit laid her doll down with a fond look, and folded her +arms while she repeated— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "We are lambs of the flock,<br> + And no danger we fear,<br> + While the voice and the call<br> + Of our Shepherd we hear.<br> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "We will follow, we will follow<br> + His call to our home in the sky."<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Then Ben went on with the two next verses— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Oh, the pastures are green,<br> + And the flowers bloom around,<br> + By the side of still waters<br> + He will make us lie down.<br> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "We will follow," etc.<br> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Oh, that all the dear lambs<br> + Had a heart to reply,<br> + When the good Shepherd calls<br> + From His home in the sky.<br> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "We will follow," etc.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +"That is very pretty, and nicely repeated too," said +Kit's parents. Do you know any more? +</p> + +<p> +"I know a beautiful one about" +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "I want to be like Jesus,<br> + So lovely and so meek<br> + For no one—one——-"<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +"Marked" put in Ben— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Marked an angry word<br> + That ever heard Him speak."<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +"And I like the verse," added Ben— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "I want to be like Jesus,<br> + Engaged in doing good,<br> + So that of me it may be said,<br> + He hath done what he could."<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +"Now, tell us what you heard in the Sunday school +from the teacher," said the mother. +</p> + +<p> +"Well," began Ben, "our teacher said we were +like little lambs, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd; +and He came down from heaven and died for us, so +that we need not die for our sins; and she told +us to love Him and trust Him; and He would +take His little lambs in His arms and help them +on, and give them all they require, and—and—" +hesitated Ben. +</p> + +<p> +"And one day we will go to Jesus' happy place up +there, and we want to be like Jesus," said Kit. +</p> + +<p> +While she was speaking, Ben rose with flushed cheeks, +and pointed to the western sky where bright clouds were +lying as the sun slowly descended. +</p> + +<p> +"Hark! I think I can hear it!" he said, raising his +head. "Perhaps the time has come! oh, perhaps!" +</p> + +<p> +"What time?" they asked, wondering what the boy meant. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, for Jesus to come, of course. See how bright +it is! and I think I hear the sound of the trumpet! +Maybe the time's come—has it?" +</p> + +<p> +For a minute neither of the parents spoke. Then the +mother said: "It is the sun setting, and the sound you +heard was a bell far away—but one day soon Jesus will +come to take us home to Heaven." +</p> + +<p> +Ben sat down and watched the sky, looking rather +disappointed. +</p> + +<p> +"I thought it was the trumpet. Teacher said He might +come any day, and that we were always to be looking out +for Him, ready for the trumpet sound, when we would go +up to be with Jesus." +</p> + +<p> +"Do you want to go so much, Ben?" asked the mother. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, it would be nice; so nice. We often hoped that +Jesus would come every night when we were hungry and +it was dark and cold,—didn't we, Kit?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes; and Him is coming some day," said Kit, with +a nod of her head. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder if folks want Him as much when they have +good houses and nice dinners, and beautiful gardens?" +asked Ben in a slow and thoughtful tone, as if to +himself. "I wonder if Kit and I will want Him as much now!" +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Gray had not an answer ready for Ben; she was +putting one or two questions to her own heart—questions +she could not very easily answer. Tears filled her eyes, +and she rose to put baby Harry to bed. +</p> + +<p> +So Ben sat very quiet, thinking over the matter till the +silence was broken by the father saying: +</p> + +<p> +"We ought to want the Lord as much in the bright days, +as in the dark. I hope Kit and you will never stop +speaking of Him. He left all the brightness and the glory of +heaven, and came down to this earth where all was sin +and darkness. They were dark sorrowful days for Him; +but He came." +</p> + +<p> +"He came to save us, teacher said," put in Ben. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER V. +<br><br> +DIFFICULTIES IN THE NARROW PATH. +</h3> + +<p> +Three weeks after Ben and Kit entered their new +home, Ben's school life began. He was very proud +to make the start, and went with great confidence, +because he was able to say the alphabet correctly, and +had learned to read a few little words. +</p> + +<p> +Miss Randolphe, their old Sunday school teacher, had +called at Wood Cottage and given Mrs. Gray twenty +shillings to be used for Ben's schooling. She was very +fond of the two children, and stayed some time with them, +and spoke to them of the Saviour and His home, as she +had done in times gone by. She noticed that Ben looked +a little sorrowful as she spoke, and she asked him if he +was quite happy. +</p> + +<p> +"Come up the garden, and I'll tell you," he said. +</p> + +<p> +So Miss Randolphe took his hand and walked up to the +garden seat. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, Ben," she asked kindly, "does anything +trouble you?" +</p> + +<p> +The tears trickled down Ben's cheeks. "It's jolly +here, but when you spoke it seemed as if I used to love Him +better," and Ben nodded toward the sky. "Is it harder for +folks to be good when they've got nice things?" he asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you find it harder to please Jesus here, Ben?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, things go wrong inside me," he answered, with +a sob. "Perhaps He doesn't take so much care of me +now I've got father and mother. +</p> + +<p> +"That's not it, Ben dear; Jesus is just the same, He +never changes. It is we who change. Do you go to Him +as much as you did? Is it not that you do not feel to +need Him so much now?" +</p> + +<p> +"I expect <i>that's it</i>," he answered. +</p> + +<p> +"And you must remember, Ben, that Satan is ever on +the watch to tempt you. It is hard to resist him, but you +must do it. If you trust in Jesus, who died for sinners, +you are God's little child. You may fail sometimes and +do wrong, and make mistakes, but you are God's little +child all the same. It is far happier to be His obedient +child than to wander from Him. Before coming here you +felt that you needed to ask God for your daily bread and +for your clothes. Ask Him just the same now, Ben. In +one day He could take away all these good things if He +chose. It is easier to keep near Him in the dark days, +because we lean more on Him. Do you understand, dear?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I see it!" replied the little fellow, with a smile. +"I began to think perhaps it was Kit loved Jesus and +not me!" +</p> + +<p> +"Just think of <i>His love</i> to you, Ben. He went straight +to the cross for you and shed His precious blood to wash +away your sin. <i>His love never</i> grows cold." +</p> + +<p> +"I'll never think He doesn't love me again, and I'll +fight against Satan. Only it's very hard, for there's a +boy near here who teases me and mocks me, and +sometimes I feel so cross and angry." +</p> + +<p> +"You can only overcome him by the Saviour's help. +Go and tell Jesus whenever you are tempted. Now I +shall give you two little printed texts to keep, and you +must read them over sometimes. The first is 'Jesus +Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever' +(Heb. 13. 8). It is just as if '<i>yesterday</i>' was when He died on +the cross for us. 'To-day' is now that He is helping us +along the narrow pathway, and '<i>for ever</i>' is when we shall +be with Him in glory. The other text is 'To him that +overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in +the midst of the Paradise of God.'" (Rev. 2. 7). +</p> + +<p> +Ben was very pleased with the texts, and said he would +pin them up over his bed. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VI. +<br><br> +BEN'S BATTLE BEGINS. +</h3> + +<p> +Perhaps my little reader thinks that if he were a +boy like Ben he would have no trouble after he +reached such a happy home as Wood Cottage. But that +is a mistake. When little children or grown-up people +start on the narrow pathway they meet many foes who +try to hinder them and make them unhappy. First +there is Satan himself, who does not honour the blood of +Jesus, and who tries to make those unhappy who do. And +then we find that though our sins are all forgiven, and +there is no judgment for us, yet our sinful hearts are still +with us, and unless we are watchful, Satan will tempt us +to grieve the Saviour. +</p> + +<p> +Now I will tell you of some kinds of difficulties little +boys and girls have to contend with. +</p> + +<p> +Ben had lived very much as he pleased, or rather as +best he could, in the old days when his parents were +absent; and his thoughts were generally taken up with +how to find bread for Kit and himself. Suddenly he was +placed in a new home with kind friends, and food and +clothes provided, and after a few days he almost longed to +get roving about for himself again. Not that he really +wanted to get away to Peters Street, but <i>sometimes</i> he +cast a wistful eye back to the days when he brought home +his coppers so proudly, and had little Kit "all to himself." +</p> + +<p> +Have we never after a change of circumstances looked +back a little regretfully to the past scenes, though they +were shady ones, when there was some little peculiar +joy that made up for the trial? Yes, many of us +have! +</p> + +<p> +Kit was glad the first week or two to sit on her mother's +knee, for she felt weak and weary, and it was a new +pleasure for her to feel strong and loving arms around her. +Ben, who was weeding the garden, could see them through +the open door; and he would say to himself a little +bitterly—"Kit doesn't want me now." +</p> + +<p> +But it was only sometimes he felt jealous, for there +were happy busy mornings when Ben made himself +useful chopping sticks, carrying in coal, cleaning windows, +weeding and tidying up the garden, and Kit would sit +in her little chair and watch him and say, from time to +time, "You is the bestest boy for work, Ben." +</p> + +<p> +After his work was done he would put on the two +children's sun hats, and take them away into the meadows +to gather daisies; and then all three would be very happy +together. Mrs. Gray said she found him a great help, and +she didn't know what she would do without him, for he +ran all her messages, and was "so handy on a +washing day." +</p> + +<p> +A short distance along the road was a row of small +houses, and Mrs. Gray knew by sight many of the people +who lived there. One family named Snow had very +often attracted her notice. It consisted of the father and +mother and eight children. A very unruly family they +were, but the fact gave the mother little concern. She +took things "easy," and contented herself with putting +the children out of doors when they "bothered" her, or +giving an occasional whipping all round when needed. +She didn't believe in much punishment, and therefore +passed over falsehoods and small thefts and fits of +temper, as necessary faults with children. "They would +come right some day," she said. +</p> + +<p> +The elder ones kept as much as possible out of her +sight in play hours, and she did not know half the mischief +they did. There was one of the elder boys named Jim, +who teased Ben a great deal. +</p> + +<p> +Jim found out that Ben had been a very poor boy, and +had earned his living by selling matches, and it was a +grand opportunity for him to turn tormentor. +</p> + +<p> +He would take off his cap to Ben as he passed him in +the road, and say—"Have you got any matches to sell +to-day, I'm wanting a light for my pipe." +</p> + +<p> +And then when Ben reddened and looked angry, he +would make a low bow, and say—"I beg your honour's +pardon, I must have made a mistake; I see you are a +grand gentleman with a new suit on." +</p> + +<p> +This sort of thing was very hard for Ben to bear; he +had never been mocked at before. And one day, after +Jim had been speaking in this way, Ben said to Kit— +</p> + +<p> +"I'm going to pay him out, Kit. I shall give him +something he'll <i>never</i> forget." +</p> + +<p> +"What will you give him, Ben, dear; something nice +to make him sorry?" she asked. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the trouble," muttered Ben, moodily. "I +oughtn't to fight now. I've promised not to. And of +course I want to please Jesus, but I <i>can't</i> bear it." +</p> + +<p> +Kit put her arms round the boy's neck and kissed him, +and the anger melted away from his face. +</p> + +<p> +"P'haps Jim will soon turn into a good boy," she said. +"Let us ask Jesus to make him sorry." +</p> + +<p> +"That's the best way after all," answered Ben, as he +returned her kiss. +</p> + +<p> +It was a bright sunny morning when Ben parted +with Kit at the gate, and started for school for the +first time. +</p> + +<p> +"Be sure and watch for me when I come home," he +said. Kit promised, and off he ran waving to her and the +mother as long as he could. +</p> + +<p> +Jim Snow attended the same school, and as he had been +learning to read for three or four years, he was in one of the +higher classes. After the master had examined Ben, he +placed him at the top of the infant class. But he patted +his head kindly and said, "You look a sharp boy, study +hard and I will put you up higher." +</p> + +<p> +Ben would not have thought so much about being in the +low class, for he was very anxious to get on, but when he +raised his eyes, there was Jim looking through the glass +partition of the next classroom at him, sneering and +putting out his tongue and causing the others to laugh. +</p> + +<p> +Ben tried not to look or to heed him, though he felt the +insult very keenly. +</p> + +<p> +The little fellow's heart swelled within him as he walked +home, and some of the boys in the class ran by him crying, +"Baby, baby." +</p> + +<p> +"I should like to show them I'm no baby," he said to +himself, as he unconsciously clenched his fist. +</p> + +<p> +A minute after, as he neared the cottage gate, Jim +overtook him. Ben's spirit rose as the boy asked, "If he +would like to be carried home, as he was in the baby class; +he surely was not fit to walk alone." +</p> + +<p> +"Be off, and stop your nonsense," said Ben, "or I will +pay you back." +</p> + +<p> +Jim went on with his teasing talk, and Ben, forgetting +all his good resolutions, flew at him. Of course, Jim +returned the blow, and so blow for blow was given, and +for a minute the boys fought. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was strong and fearless, but Jim was the bigger, +though he was not nearly so brave, and he might have +given in, but a cry from the gate of Wood Cottage recalled +Ben to his senses, and at the same moment a hand was +laid on his shoulder. A lady stood before the boys, saying, +"Shame on you both, are you not afraid to stand fighting +there with the eye of God looking upon you? and you are +too big to strike such a little boy," she said, looking at Jim. +Ben's eyes turned towards the gate where Kit was +standing with a distressed face. She had stopped +screaming when they left off fighting, and now her arms +were spread out appealingly to Ben. +</p> + +<p> +Jim slunk off, muttering angry words. He was rather +glad to escape, for his courage had nearly forsaken +him, but, as he turned to go, Ben saw that his lip +was bleeding. +</p> + +<p> +Remorse set in directly; all his anger was gone, and +Ben was miserable. He would have given all that he had +now to live the last ten minutes over again. But that +could not be; and Ben must reap what he had sown. He +stood irresolute. The lady was beside him. +</p> + +<p> +"Where do you live?" she asked, kindly. Something +in the boy's sad face interested her, red and heated +as it was with the last few minutes' work. That work had +left its effect in Ben's face, and he held his handkerchief +to a scratch on his cheek. +</p> + +<p> +Ben glanced down the road where Kit stood waiting anxiously. +</p> + +<p> +"There," he answered, pointing with his hand, "but +I've a good mind to run away and never come back; I +would in a minute if it wasn't for that little girl standing +there. She would be awfully sorry, but I'm not fit to live +in a place like that. You see, I can't keep my spirit +down." +</p> + +<p> +The lady put her hand on his shoulder, and drew him +along with her towards Kit as she said— +</p> + +<p> +"There is One who would help you, little boy, if you +would ask Him." +</p> + +<p> +The tears rolled down Ben's cheeks. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the worst bit of all," he answered. +</p> + +<p> +"How so, my boy?" +</p> + +<p> +"Because He's been—so—good, and I've tried to do +what He wants me to, and now I've spoilt it all." +</p> + +<p> +They had reached the cottage gate, and Kit had +slipped her hand into Ben's, and looked up wonderingly +into the lady's face, while she drew some frightened sobs. +</p> + +<p> +"Tell your mother I'm sorry, very sorry, Kit. I'll +come back to you soon," said Ben, as he put Kit's hand +gently on one side. "But I can't come in now;" and +he nodded to the lady. He took a few quick steps forward, +and was out of reach but not out of hearing as both +cried after him, "Don't go away," and the stranger added, +"Be a brave little soldier for Jesus, and don't run away." +</p> + +<p> +But Ben, though he hesitated a moment, went on with +rapid steps towards the country. Soon he began to run, +and, after a few minutes, they lost sight of him. Then +they went inside the cottage and found Mrs. Gray hushing +baby Harry to sleep. She laid him down and then turned +with surprise to hear what Mrs. Frankham had to tell of +Ben and his fight with Jim Snow. +</p> + +<p> +"I hope you will excuse me for intruding upon you," +she said, "but I am really sorry for the little fellow. I +believe he was teased by the big boy, for I had been +watching them for some minutes; his temper got +the better of him, but I think he is very grieved +about it." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Gray thanked Mrs. Frankham for coming in, and +then told her all she knew of Ben's history, and how he had +only been with her for a short time. +</p> + +<p> +"He is a very wise little fellow, and so kind and willing. +We are very fond of him, and should be sorry, indeed, if +any harm came to him. But I think he'll come back, for +the love he bears our Kittie," she said. +</p> + +<p> +"Him said he'd come back," cried Kit, with quivering +lip and eyes brimful of tears. +</p> + +<p> +"So he will, dear. Don't fret," said her mother, "it +isn't good for you." +</p> + +<p> +Before Mrs. Frankham left, she said that when passing +again she would like to call and speak a word to the little +fellow, for she felt sure he was trying to do right from +what he had said to her. +</p> + +<p> +"You have taught him about the Lord Jesus, Mrs. Gray?" +</p> + +<p> +"I sometimes think he has taught me more, for many +a word he has said about Jesus has gone deep into +my heart." +</p> + +<p> +"Poor little fellow, he will be sorry; we have such a +foe to contend with. Tell him, from me, that if he loves +the Saviour he must take Him as his Captain, and He will +give him strength to stand as a good soldier, and not to +yield to Satan and be overcome." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VII. +<br><br> +BEN'S RETURN. +</h3> + +<p> +The afternoon passed wearily to little Kit and her +mother, for Ben did not return. They went to the +gate many times to look for him, and walked some way +up the road, but Ben was not to be seen. Tea-time +came, and Harry Gray returned. He was very vexed and +disappointed. +</p> + +<p> +"I hoped that we should be able to keep him and train +him up well, for he gave good promise in many ways; +it will be a pity if he goes back to the old place." +</p> + +<p> +"Ben said he would come back, and him speaks true. +Him's the <i>truest</i> boy, father," urged Kit. "Jesus can see +him, and will make him came back." +</p> + +<p> +"Your faith is strong, darling, I shall go out after tea, +and try to find him." +</p> + +<p> +But there was no need to go out after tea to look for him, +for the next moment Kit was down from the table and had +her arms round Ben's knees. +</p> + +<p> +He had just lifted the latch of the kitchen door very +gently and walked in. His face was quite calm, with a +smile 'twixt hope and fear on it. Before Mr. and +Mrs. Gray could speak he walked straight up to the mother. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm awfully sorry I fought Jim this morning, and if +you'll give me another chance I'll try and do better, +though he mocks and laughs at me, and calls me 'Baby, +in the low class,' I won't heed it. I want to be—to be +what the lady said, 'A brave soldier for Jesus.' He never +struck any one." +</p> + +<p> +"That's right, Ben dear. It's all forgiven and forgotten—you +won't do it again. We're glad to have you home," +said the mother, with fast filling eyes. +</p> + +<p> +And, holding out his hands to him, the father added, +"Aye, we need to remember that He was mocked, and +scourged, and crucified, and yet He never even threatened +them, but prayed God the Father to forgive." +</p> + +<p> +"I'll try hard, and do like Him," said Ben. +</p> + +<p> +"Remember, boy, that when they laugh at you, if +you <i>take it in fun</i> they'd soon stop. Suppose they call you +a 'Baby in the low class,' if you could just turn round and +say, 'I know I'm in the baby class, but it isn't my fault, +and I don't mean to stay there'; it would be better and +more kind if you helped me with my lessons.' If you said +that, Ben, they would soon stop it." +</p> + +<p> +"There's some sense in that," said Ben, shrewdly. +"I'll try it to-morrow, though it will be very hard." +</p> + +<p> +"I am afraid it will. When we do wrong, we must +suffer; but I'll try and help you through it, lad." +</p> + +<p> +"You are kind," replied the little fellow. +</p> + +<p> +"He's the <i>kindest</i> father," echoed Kit, for which she +was well kissed, and they all laughed. +</p> + +<p> +"She was quite <i>sure</i> you would come back, Ben!" +</p> + +<p> +"It was a good thing I <i>promised</i> her, for I never told +her a lie; and when I got into the old barn, up the road +far away, I thought I couldn't face any of you again, for +I knew you would not approve of fighting ways; but I +remembered what the lady, our teacher, said about being +a brave little soldier for Jesus, and I thought: 'If they +will try me again, I'll go back, because I could never leave +my little Kit.' See, I nearly forgot what I had brought +you, Kit." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh—h! oh—h! the beau-fullist little bird," she +cried, as Ben drew a little dead nestling from his breast +pocket. +</p> + +<p> +"But it's dead!—dead!" she added. +</p> + +<p> +"It was up at the stream yonder. I went to give my +face a wash after all the,—the,—you know what,—and +the crying,—so I was having a good plunge when this +little <i>bird</i> flapped along the ground, and was frightened at +all my splashin' I suppose, for it fell in the water, and then +it scrambled out, and flew right into a hole in the wall. +I took off my stockings, and wading across lifted it out; +but the little thing was nearly dead, and its heart was +thumping at such a rate, and its beak kept opening and +shutting till it died." +</p> + +<p> +Kittie's eyes opened very wide while Ben was telling +this, and her cheeks flushed crimson. She held the dead +little thing so tenderly in her hands, while its tiny head +fell over her fingers. +</p> + +<p> +"I will keep it like this, the darling birdie," said the +little girl; and all the evening long she would not +give it up. +</p> + +<p> +"We must bury it to-morrow, Kit, in your little +garden. I'll make a little box for its coffin, and dig +the hole." +</p> + +<p> +But she stroked the pretty little yellow and brown +feathers, and did not wish to think of to-morrow. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VIII. +<br><br> +SCHOOLBOYS. +</h3> + +<p> +When Ben woke next morning he had a great load +on his mind, for he had to face the boys again; +but after a few words with the father, he felt better; and +taking Harry Gray's hand in the breakfast hour, they +went together to Jim's home. +</p> + +<p> +A knock at the door brought Mrs. Snow face to face +with them. +</p> + +<p> +"This little chap forgot himself yesterday, and when +the boys mocked him for being put in the low class, he +struck at your Jim. He is sorry for it, and wants to +make up with him again." +</p> + +<p> +"Jim came in with his lip cut, and I found out that your +boy had done it. I suppose he has been used to that sort +of thing, and we cannot expect much better from him. +As he is sorry, it's all right this time; and I hope he will +behave himself better another day." +</p> + +<p> +"I never used to fight anybody," answered Ben. "It's +hard for a fellow to be called 'baby' because no one +taught him to read before; but I mean to try not to fight +Jim again. You might ask him to leave off teasing me." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Snow looked at the eager face before her, and her +better feelings prevailed. +</p> + +<p> +"Come here, Jim," she cried, diving at Jim, who was +behind the door; "here's Ben Gray come to tell you he's +sorry for fighting. It's more than you would do. Now +don't you tease him again." +</p> + +<p> +Jim struggled to get free, and bursting away, +cried—"I'll pay him out; see if I don't." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Snow's better feelings were quite overwhelmed +now by her anger against Jim; and she went in search +of him to promise him such a thrashing as he knew she +would never carry out, while Harry Gray and Ben +walked away. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't be afraid, boy, persevere and think twice before +you act," said the father, as they parted—the one for +school, the other for work. +</p> + +<p> +Of course Ben had a great deal to contend with; but +when he had once tried the right way, every fresh attack +from the boys was easier to withstand. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the baby who had to go and beg Jim's pardon," +said a close friend of Jim's to Ben on coming home from +school the same day. +</p> + +<p> +Ben's cheeks flushed and he bit his lips, then he turned +to the boy— +</p> + +<p> +"I am in the baby class," he said, "and it's enough +to make you laugh to see such a big boy as I am there, but +I'm not going to stay in it—I mean to try and get out in +two weeks, and as you know such a lot you might help me +to read. I did tell Jim I was sorry, and so I <i>am</i>, because +I've made a <i>lot</i> of people sorry." +</p> + +<p> +It was a great effort for Ben to say this, but it had its +effect; the boy didn't know what to reply, and ran off. +</p> + +<p> +After a few days the others left off teasing Ben about +his lessons, for he was not afraid to own the truth,—and +in a fortnight the master put him in another class. But +Jim did not forgive Ben. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER IX. +<br><br> +IN THE STORM. +</h3> + +<p> +It was just such another day as when the Sunday +School children had played about in the meadows six +weeks before. The rays of the sun were very hot, though +a gentle breeze stirred the branches of the trees around. +Far in the distance was a dark line of cloud, but it was so +far away that one did not notice it. +</p> + +<p> +Little Kit was looking rather pale; and when Ben ran +in from school the mother said— +</p> + +<p> +"You might take Kit for a ride in the perambulator, +Ben. Be back in time for tea." She could trust him +perfectly with Kit now, as he had proved himself very +careful, and after tucking the little girl comfortably into +the "coach," she put pieces of bread and jam into their +hands, and they started off towards the country. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was very anxious to show Kit a bird's nest he had +discovered in a bush on the outskirts of a wood some +distance away, but there would be plenty of time to reach +the place and get back for tea, if they were quick. So he +ran along the shady side of the road, pushing Kit merrily. +</p> + +<p> +"The nest is empty now, Kit, but you'll like to see +where the young birds were hatched. It was such a cosy +warm place." +</p> + +<p> +"Something like my little crib, Ben." +</p> + +<p> +"Very much like that, Kit, and you look like a little +bird yourself at night, with your head peeping out and +your eyes shining bright like beads." +</p> + +<p> +Kit laughed, "I wonder if angels watch over little +birds at night?" +</p> + +<p> +"Well—father said not one of them falls to the ground +without God knowing it, so may be they are watched over. +Folks say that little 'birds' praise Him by their singing; +anyhow it sounds as if they chirped something solemn at +night when the sun has gone down. I've heard them in +that wood over there." +</p> + +<p> +"It's nice to think of little birds thanking Him, isn't +it?" said Kit. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes; and we ought never to forget to thank Him +also, for we've got far more nice things than they." +</p> + +<p> +As they passed along the hedgerow and neared the +wood, Jim Snow sprang out upon them with a howl which +caused Kit to scream with terror, whereupon he set up +his mocking laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"I saw the young lady and her coachman coming along, +and I thought I'd make her jump," he cried; "ha! ha!" +</p> + +<p> +"How <i>could</i> you be so cruel, Jim? see how frightened +she is," said Ben, indignantly. "Big boys like you +ought not to frighten little girls. Never mind, Kit; he +will not do it again." +</p> + +<p> +"Don't you be too sure," cried Jim, as he disappeared +behind the bushes. +</p> + +<p> +It would have been wiser if Ben had turned homewards +after this little affair, but he was so anxious to show Kit +the bird's nest. He watched till Jim ran off to the little +stream where he had found the nestling for Kit a short +time before, and then wheeled her onwards. At the +stream, Jim joined Eliza (his sister next in age to himself), +who was in charge of a little girl about a year old. He +spoke to her as if ordering her home, and then stopped to +watch her proceedings for a few minutes. She had taken +the shoes and socks off the baby and was going to teach it +to walk in the water. +</p> + +<p> +Poor little thing, it was grasped roughly round the +waist, while its tiny feet were jumped up and down on the +stones in the stream. +</p> + +<p> +"I shan't go home till I've given Jane a bathe, shall I, +darling?" Jane screamed, and Eliza shook her. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm not going to stand any of that, so stop at once," +she said, and, whilst trying to get a firmer hold of the +child, it fell sideways into the stream. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, Jane screamed louder, and Eliza took her or +tugged her up the bank as best she could; all her little +garments dripping with water. +</p> + +<p> +"Won't you catch it," cried Jim, with a whistle. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't tell, Jim, and I'll wring out her things, and +they'll dry before I get home." +</p> + +<p> +"Won't I though; you told about me the other day, +didn't you? But I must be off, wishing you good luck," +and he ran away in the direction Ben and Kit had gone, +leaving Jane to her fate. +</p> + +<p> +Eliza did her utmost to dry the clothes, and all the +way home was planning the best method of getting over +her scrape, if her mother should find it out. +</p> + +<p> +On went Ben with his little charge, quite unaware that +they were both followed by Jim, who was very curious to +know their proceedings. A short distance up the road, +on the side of a hill, Ben came to a gate, which was +attached to a post by a chain slipped over it; he raised +this, and pushed the perambulator into the meadow, and, +lifting Kit out, told her to take his hand, while he pushed the +"coach" up the rising ground, past some straggling bushes. +</p> + +<p> +"Now, we'll leave it here for a few minutes, Kit, while +we scramble through this little hole in the fence into the +wood, and you'll hear the birds sing, if you be quiet, and +I'll show you the little nest Will Grant showed me. We +mustn't stay many minutes, because I promised to be +back before father comes home to tea. I'll take the +shawl on my arm, in case you would like to sit on it." +</p> + +<p> +They scrambled through the little hole, and Ben +searched about for the bush. It was not so easy to find +as he imagined, and it took him nearly a quarter of an +hour before he hit on the right spot. +</p> + +<p> +Kit did not mind the delay, for she was busy filling her +hands with all sorts of weeds and leaves and flowers, to +take home to her mother. At last the nest was found, +which Will Grant had left hoping the bird might lay more +eggs in it, and Ben lifted Kit to see it and feel it. +</p> + +<p> +"What's that?" cried Ben. +</p> + +<p> +They listened. +</p> + +<p> +"Sounds like funder," said Kit. +</p> + +<p> +A low distant roar was heard, which suddenly seemed +to break over their heads. At the same moment a shrill +whistle sounded near them, and a tall man broke through +the bushes. +</p> + +<p> +"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Be off, +sharp now. You are disturbing the beasts, and you're +'trespassing.'" +</p> + +<p> +Ben started, and Kit clung to him. +</p> + +<p> +"What beasts, please Sir? Are there any wild +beasts about?" and Ben glanced round with a +scared look. +</p> + +<p> +"No, no, rabbits and hares, and such like, which we +want kept quiet. Another thing is, traps have been set +all over the wood, and if you got your legs caught in them, +it would be awkward." +</p> + +<p> +"It would never do for this little girl to get caught. +Would you please tell us where they are, Sir?" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, all about; never come here any more. It takes +all my time keeping the public off." +</p> + +<p> +"We have nothing to do with 'publics.' Father and +mother wouldn't allow us to go inside one, please Sir," +said Ben secretly rather afraid of the tall man, and wishing +to be civil. +</p> + +<p> +"No, no; I was making no reference to the public +houses," answered he, with a laugh. "I daresay you are +decent little folks, but you ought not to be here. What +did you come for?" +</p> + +<p> +"I came to show this little girl a real bird's nest in a +bush here, but I won't come again. You see, she +was brought up in Peters Street and never saw one +before." +</p> + +<p> +"Hum! she's a pretty little thing, and you ought to +take her home at once, there's a tempest coming on. +See!" A flash of lightning lighted up the wood, showing +up for an instant every leaf and branch; then followed a +peal of thunder. +</p> + +<p> +"It isn't safe to stay here; what are you going to do?" +</p> + +<p> +"The 'coach' is just outside the fence, I'll put Kit in +and run home." +</p> + +<p> +The man hesitated; he had a kindly face when off +duty; and the little pair touched a chord in his heart. +</p> + +<p> +"If the storm is heavy, just stop at the little red brick +cottage along the road; my wife stays there; tell +her I sent you; I have to go a little further before +I turn in." +</p> + +<p> +He helped them through the bushes, saying, as he did +so, "I can't think how you'll get along; the storm is +going to be heavy; but you mustn't stay here." +</p> + +<p> +"We were saying coming along that God takes care of +sparrows, so He is sure to look after us. We are not +afraid. You might have been awful cross with us for +coming in this here wood, instead of that you are helping +us, you see. It must be Jesus taking care of us." +</p> + +<p> +"I wish I never had to deal with worse characters than +you," said Michael Craig, for this was his name. "Go +into the cottage as you pass. Good-bye." +</p> + +<p> +Again the children scrambled through the little hole in +the fence, and ran to the place they had left the +perambulator; but to their dismay, it was gone. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER X. +<br><br> +THE LITTLE RED HOUSE. +</h3> + +<p> +The scene around had changed during the half-hour. +</p> + +<p> +Angry looking clouds were coming up on all sides, +and heavy drops of rain were falling. +</p> + +<p> +"What <i>shall</i> we do?" cried Ben. "Your coach has +been stolen, Kit. What will they say at home? Oh +dear—dear! Some tramps have got it. We must follow on, +and perhaps we'll overtake it." +</p> + +<p> +"I don't like the lightning, Ben," cried Kit. +</p> + +<p> +"And this rain will soak you through; keep close up to +the hedge a few minutes, while I wrap you in the shawl. +It's a good thing I took that with us." +</p> + +<p> +He wrapped Kit up as warmly as possible, and made her +sit down behind him while he kept the rain off her as best +he could. Tears of vexation rolled down his cheeks as he +thought, "things seem to be all going wrong," and he +absently put his hands in his pockets. Doing so, he laid +hold of the two little texts Miss Randolphe had given +him—"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and +forever" (Heb. xiii. 8). Her words occurred to his +mind—Yesterday means long ago when He died on the cross for +us and put away our sin; To-day means now while He +helps us along the narrow path; and Forever, when we +will be with Him safe in heaven. +</p> + +<p> +"All right," thought Ben, "if Jesus keeps the same, +He won't forget <i>us</i>, but He'll help us safe through all this +trouble we've got into. There's another flash, Kit! We +mustn't stay here, it is not safe; I heard father say, +people are struck dead under trees and such like when +the lightning flashes. What was that! It sounded like +some one crying out? Listen." But a peal of thunder +drowned every other sound. "I suppose it was only my +fancy. Now Kit, stand on that old tree—that's it, and +put your arms round my neck, and I'll sling the shawl +right over your head and bind you on my back, and run +away home as fast as I can, then I'll come back and look +after the 'coach.'" +</p> + +<p> +Kit did as she was bid, and with his precious burden +on his back, Ben ran as fast as he could down the hill. +The rain pelted upon them, and the little boy panted for +breath, but he struggled on till the little red cottage came +in sight. +</p> + +<p> +"We must try and get in here," he gasped, and upon +reaching the door, he rapped. +</p> + +<p> +A woman past middle age opened the door, and looked +greatly surprised at seeing Ben with the little girl's head +peeping out above his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +"Please let us in; the gentleman who walks in the +woods to keep the public off, told us to come here till the +thunder was over," cried Ben. +</p> + +<p> +The woman drew the children inside the door, and asked +them to walk in and dry themselves at the kitchen fire, +while they told her all that had happened. +</p> + +<p> +She had a sweet sad face, with grey banded hair, and +though her dress was very plain, almost poor, yet it was +very neat. A younger woman, with a baby in her arms, +stood by the fire. +</p> + +<p> +"It's an awful storm for such little children to be out in. +Tell us all about it, my lad, and how you met our +Michael!" said the elder woman, lifting Kit on her knee. +</p> + +<p> +Thus encouraged, Ben began at the beginning and told +all about the excursion, the bird's nest, the meeting with +Michael, and the loss of the "coach." +</p> + +<p> +The women were loud in their sympathy, and said it +was a strange thing that it should be stolen so quickly. +</p> + +<p> +"Directly I've taken little Kit home, I shall run and +have another look round just in case someone has moved +it and it is still somewhere about," said Ben. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, it would be worth while to do that," she +answered. +</p> + +<p> +While they were speaking, the sound of a hollow +cough was heard in the next room, and a feeble voice +asked— +</p> + +<p> +"Who is that?" +</p> + +<p> +"That's John," said the elder woman, rising and going +towards the next room. +</p> + +<p> +"Who is John? your little boy?" asked Ben. +</p> + +<p> +"He was my little boy once, he's a big boy now, and +he's very ill, but that would be nothing if I knew he was +happy." She returned in a minute, saying, "John +wanted to see the children; he has always been fond of +children." Mrs. Craig lifted Kit up into the next room, +and Ben followed. +</p> + +<p> +The sick man lay on a little bed in one corner; everything +around was comfortable and neat, and a few flowers +stood beside him in a tumbler of water. His face was +sallow and sunken, and his dark hair, which was long and +straight, was brushed off his forehead; but he had a +pleasant, kindly smile, and he greeted the children +warmly. +</p> + +<p> +"I was always fond of little children," he said, shaking +his head from side to side, and speaking with difficulty, +for his breath was short and troublesome. "The Lord +said 'except ye become as little children.' I wish <i>I</i> +could do that." He went on to speak to them as well as +he was able, asking them how they were caught in the +storm, and so on. +</p> + +<p> +"They met Michael," said the mother, "and he sent +them here. Michael has a kind heart though he speaks +sternly when on duty." +</p> + +<p> +Ben was standing by the window, and now and then +casting anxious glances out at the storm, which seemed +to be subsiding. Suddenly he ran towards the door +crying, "There's father passing." +</p> + +<p> +And so it was; Mr. Gray, with rapid strides, was +passing up the hill, and heeding little the rain and storm. +</p> + +<p> +"Call him in, he is looking for you, no doubt," said +Mrs. Craig, and Ben ran out and brought him in. He, +in his turn, was surprised, and very thankful to find the +children safe. +</p> + +<p> +Ben's heart beat very quick at the thought of the +perambulator, and he anxiously waited the moment when +he should speak of it. Meanwhile, Mr. Gray, after hearing +about the children, was having a little talk with the +mother, who was telling him about her sick son. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XI. +<br><br> +THE SICK MAN AND THE FALLEN FOE. +</h3> + +<p> +Mrs. Craig had taken a fancy to Gray at once. +Something in his bright manly face had drawn out her +confidence, and pointing to John on his sick bed, she said— +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder if you could cheer up my poor lad a bit; +he's not so happy as I would like." +</p> + +<p> +"How's that?" he asked. "Does he not know the +One above as his friend?" +</p> + +<p> +"Ah, that's just what he wants, but you know the +Lord, don't you? and I've asked Him to send some one +here to speak to John, and now He's done it. He's been +a good son to me, and he's served the Lord too, but he's +not quite at peace now, you understand." +</p> + +<p> +"How's that, my friend?" said Gray, sitting down at +his bedside. "The Lord surely is faithful?" +</p> + +<p> +"He is faithful," slowly answered the sick man, "but +I haven't been—I was a wild one once, but I turned to the +Lord—and I believe I found the Saviour—and I tried to +serve Him—and I taught the young—I always loved the +children—but something went wrong in the Sunday +School and I turned off, and after that I wandered from +Him somehow—I don't right know how. I haven't been +faithful to Him, and I might have been a better son to +<i>her</i>," pointing to his mother. +</p> + +<p> +"Never heed that, John," said the mother, eagerly, +"I've forgiven all that. You were always an obedient +lad to me when you were at home." +</p> + +<p> +"I must take the children away now, for the mother is +anxious to hear tidings of them, but I'll come in again and +perhaps send a friend who can speak to you better than I." +</p> + +<p> +"We'll always make you welcome; be sure and come," +said John, anxiously. +</p> + +<p> +"All right; I'll step in to-morrow and see how you are +getting on. Meantime, thank you for taking such kindly +care of the children." +</p> + +<p> +Harry Gray found it difficult to speak much about +sacred things to others, but on turning to leave, he said to +John, "Remember, friend, 'The Rock never moves'; +that's a comfort to me," and shaking hands all round he +started forth with the children. +</p> + +<p> +The thought of the perambulator never occurred to +Mr. Gray's mind, but poor Ben had not forgotten it. With a +great effort he said— +</p> + +<p> +"The coach is up by the wood, I think. I couldn't +find it when I started in the storm, and I was afraid Kit +would catch cold, so I carried her to the lady's house as +quick as I could, but I want to run back to look for it. +Can I go?" +</p> + +<p> +"Whew—w! Let's hope the 'pram.' isn't lost, Ben. +You must have been careless about it. Yes, run back, +the storm is over now, and I'll come and meet you. +Mother couldn't part with it." +</p> + +<p> +No need to tell Ben to run; he scampered away as +quick as his legs could carry him. +</p> + +<p> +All the branches of the trees and hedges were +dripping after the recent shower, and the air was fresh +and sweet. +</p> + +<p> +In a few minutes he reached the gate leading to the +meadow, and the first object that met his eyes was the +perambulator; the second object, Jim, sitting beside a +bush, pale and frightened, his eyes swollen with crying. +He was moaning and holding his knees with both hands, +while he rocked backwards and forwards. +</p> + +<p> +Ben bounded to the "coach" with an exclamation of +surprise and gladness, and seized the handle as if to +secure it from Jim, while he eyed him suspiciously. +</p> + +<p> +"I suppose you interfered with Kit's carriage?" he +cried, wheeling it off. "It was too bad, Jim, I had to +carry her down the road. What did you do it for?" +</p> + +<p> +"Stop that!" answered Jim, moaning again. "I +was just having a bit of fun. It was safe enough, if +you had only used your eyes better. Ah, dear! what will I do?" +</p> + +<p> +Ben felt half inclined to run off with his recovered +treasure, but a better feeling prompted him to wait, and +ask what was the matter. +</p> + +<p> +At first Jim did not reply, but upon Ben coming up to +him, and asking if he were hurt, Jim broke down. +</p> + +<p> +"I've hurt my knee, and I can't walk. Mother'll +want to know where I am, and I shall never get home?" +</p> + +<p> +"I could help you," said Ben; "put your arm in mine." +</p> + +<p> +"It isn't a bit of good, I can't walk a step." +</p> + +<p> +"Will you get in the coach? It is a very strong one, +and I'll wheel you slowly," said Ben. +</p> + +<p> +Jim hung his head sullenly. It was a very humbling +thing for him to get on to Kit's carriage, and be pushed +along by Ben, but it was the only thing to be done, and, +though he felt very much ashamed when he remembered +his past conduct, after pretending to object a little to the +plan, he allowed Ben to help him on to the perambulator. +It was a good-sized double one, and so, without much +difficulty, though suffering a great deal of pain, he seated +himself. +</p> + +<p> +Very carefully did Ben wheel his vanquished enemy +along, and very different were the feelings of the boys. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm glad I've got the 'coach,'" said Ben. "Kit's +mother <i>would</i> have been greatly upset if it had a been +lost or stolen." +</p> + +<p> +"It would not have been lost or stolen," answered Jim, +"I only wheeled it back into the bushes for fun." +</p> + +<p> +He did not say how the fun he had looked forward to, +was to see the children search in vain, and commence +their homeward walk in distress. +</p> + +<p> +"It wasn't <i>real</i> fun," replied Ben. "When did you +get your knee hurt?" +</p> + +<p> +"I was up in a tree, and I fell down," he answered, +shortly. "You won't sneak about it, will you?" +</p> + +<p> +"No—no—o, but you had better tell the truth. I +will not say how you vented your spite on Kit and me, +but don't do it again, Jim. Kit's a real nice little girl." +</p> + +<p> +"No, I won't; that's truth for once; especially if +you don't sneak on me." +</p> + +<p> +Jim did not tell how he climbed the tree to watch Ben's +dismay at the loss of the coach, neither did he tell how a +vivid flash of lightning alarmed him so that he hurried +down too quickly and so fell on his knee. But he had been +justly punished. +</p> + +<p> +Harry Gray met them half way and guessed pretty +much how matters stood. He spoke a word of stern, +yet kindly warning to Jim, who was heartily glad when he +reached his own home. He was carried in to make the +best of the adventure he could. Ben, after a good tea, +went very happily to bed. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XII. +<br><br> +WHAT A LITTLE CHILD CAN DO. +</h3> + +<p> +Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road +to and from school, and she always had a +kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant +cheering word. +</p> + +<p> +"Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she +asked the morning after the adventure in the wood. And +when Ben answered with a nod—"Yes, ma'am, as hard +as I can:" she replied—"That's right; the Good +Captain is watching, and it will be worth all the trouble +when we get His smile." +</p> + +<p> +Ben gave her a pleased look. +</p> + +<p> +"Please ma'am, I heard father say last night he wanted +to speak to you about going to see a poor man, who is ill +and is not happy. I think he is going to die. Do go and +see him!" +</p> + +<p> +"That I will most gladly: and will you go too?" +</p> + +<p> +"If you'll let me," replied Ben, "I would like to go +and take him some flowers—he likes flowers." +</p> + +<p> +"I will come in after dinner, and speak to mother +about it, Ben. By-the-bye, when does father come +in—mid-day?" +</p> + +<p> +"A quarter-past one till a quarter to two," replied the +little boy. +</p> + +<p> +"Very well, I will try to come then, and I shall bring +some roses with me." +</p> + +<p> +At the appointed time Mrs. Frankham called at Wood +Cottage, and heard all that Harry Gray could tell about +John Craig. +</p> + +<p> +She was very much interested in the account of the +family, and started off with Ben to pay them a visit. +Mrs. Craig received her visitors very gladly. +</p> + +<p> +"I am so anxious that poor John should get peace and +rest in his Saviour, for I fear he has taken his father's +complaint, and it may be he will never rise from his bed +again. He is used to my words, and though he listens +he seems to get little good; but from you perhaps the +arrow will strike him." +</p> + +<p> +"If the Lord guide it. I trust He will give the right +word, my friend." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs Craig led the lady and Ben into the neat little room, +where John lay, and after speaking a few kind words to +the sick man, Mrs. Frankham said "This little boy told +me about you: he was so anxious I should come and +speak to you: he has brought you some flowers, for he +says you are fond of flowers." +</p> + +<p> +"So I am," replied John, faintly, and eagerly taking +them from Ben's hand, he put them in a little glass, +where the fragrant smell reached him. "I like little boys +too, I am so fond of little children." +</p> + +<p> +Ben sat on a stool near the bed, and the sick man +scarcely took his eyes off him for some minutes, not till +he forgot everything else in his desire to lay hold of the +Words of Life. +</p> + +<p> +"What I want," said he, "is some one to speak to me +of the Saviour. I have wandered from Him, and want to +get back, if He will have me; but I sometimes wonder if +He will." +</p> + +<p> +"You doubt His willingness. Listen, His word says—'If +we confess our sins, <i>He</i> is faithful and just to forgive +us our sins, and cleanse us from <i>all</i> unrighteousness' +(1 John i. 9). <i>He</i> is faithful. We forget Him; He never +forgets us. It is sad to grieve Him, but the only way is to +confess it to Him, take a humble place before Him, and +He will pardon for His own name's sake." +</p> + +<p> +"Tell me more; I see it plainer now," said John; +and as he spoke a fit of coughing racked his feeble frame. +</p> + +<p> +Little Ben was sitting and watching first one and then +the other intently. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Frankham continued, "In order to get rest and +peace we need to see that we were lost; could do nothing +to save ourselves; but that Jesus stretched out a strong +arm to save us. He undertook our cause, and bore our +sin in His own body on the cross. <i>There</i> God punished sin. +<i>There</i> Jesus put it away, and rose without it; and from +heaven He offers a free pardon to all who flee to +Him—who put their trust in Him." +</p> + +<p> +A smile lighted up the face of the sick man, and he +forgot himself and his unfaithfulness, and began to praise the +Saviour. After a few more words, Mrs. Frankham said— +</p> + +<p> +"Can you rest in His love now?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes; I can," he replied. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't look into yourself then, but fix your eye on +Him. Shall we pray together before we part?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I was turning round for it," he said, trying to +change his position in the bed. +</p> + +<p> +The lady prayed that Satan's fiery darts might be +quenched by the poor sufferer keeping up the shield of +faith, and that his eye might be fixed on Jesus. +</p> + +<p> +Then Ben and she left, both promising to come back +again the next afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +The little boy was much concerned about poor John, +and very anxious to know that he was going to live with +Jesus in heaven. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning he rose early, and going into the field, +plucked a posy of the best wild flowers he could, and then +set off to Mrs. Craig's cottage and left them with her, for +poor John. +</p> + +<p> +The old mother was delighted with the little boy's +thoughtfulness, and she asked him in to see her son, who +was also glad to speak a few kind words to Ben, and thank +him heartily for the flowers. +</p> + +<p> +"I should like something with a strong smell," he said. +"It refreshes me." +</p> + +<p> +Ben returned and searched the garden until he found a +piece of Southernwood, or "old man," as it is called. +Then, after school, he watched for Mrs. Frankham, and, +all excitement, he cried out as soon as he saw her at the +gate, "The poor sick man wanted a bit of something +sweet, and I've got a bit of 'old man.' Come and see +him. Do come and tell him more; I want to see him +again." +</p> + +<p> +"I thought of going on a little farther first, Ben," she +said smiling; but as he urged her to go at once, she +consented, and they set off to the little red cottage. +</p> + +<p> +Again a warm welcome was given, and John held the +Southernwood between his hands, that the scent might +revive him, while Mrs. Craig took Ben into the next room +to show him some of John's attempts at painting, of +which the mother was very proud. Mrs. Frankham told +John of Ben's anxiety to come and see him, and how he +wanted to know that his soul was safe. +</p> + +<p> +The young man seemed much struck with the little +child's desire, and it greatly pleased him. +</p> + +<p> +"Satan has been trying to tempt me to doubt, but my +Saviour is near, and now if it pleases Him to take me I am +both ready and willing to go." +</p> + +<p> +He spoke of his own worthlessness, and the Saviour's +love, and pointed to a text which had been given him, +"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" +(Rev. xxii. 17). +</p> + +<p> +He never doubted his Saviour's love and power again; +instead, the blessed name of Jesus was ever on his lips +till he was called home about a fortnight later. +</p> + +<p> +Little Ben was very glad that John was gone to be +with Jesus, and after this he was a frequent visitor at +Mrs. Craig's. They liked to have him there, and Michael took +a great interest in the boy. Many a ramble did Ben get +in the wood, by the gamekeeper's side; he knew how to +escape the traps he had once feared, and Michael liked +to hear him talk and repeat his little texts. "Jesus +Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever" +(Heb. xiii. 8), was still a great favourite with him. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Craig did sorrow of course, but she was very glad +and thankful that her son had gone home so happily, and +she was very grateful to Mrs. Frankham for coming so +many times to see him. Harry Gray, and his wife too, +had stepped in several times and read passages from the +Word of God to him. Michael was often away when the +visitors called, but the death of his brother had had a +great effect on both him and his wife, and they seemed +anxious to hear the truth. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap13"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIII. +<br><br> +A VISIT TO THE SEA. +</h3> + +<p> +One day in the end of August, a happy little party +landed at a sea-side place from one of the river +steamers on the Thames. The children had never seen +the sea before, and great had been the wonder expressed +as they ran about the deck of the steamer,—now watching +the rippling water, and the white foam caused by the +paddle wheels,—now throwing bits of bread to the birds +as they followed in the wake of the steamer. +</p> + +<p> +The little party consisted of Mrs. Craig, Michael, his +wife and three children, and of Mr. and Mrs. Gray, Ben, +Kit, and Harry. +</p> + +<p> +Harry was now a fine, strong boy, and able to run +about. +</p> + +<p> +After they landed, the mother and children sat on the +beach, while Michael and Harry went in search of their +lodgings. Both families had engaged rooms in the same +row of cottages, and were within three minutes' walk of +each other and close to the sea. +</p> + +<p> +Quite a friendship had been formed between them since +John's death, and when Harry Gray proposed a week's +visit to the sea, they fell in with it at once. The fathers +could only stay from the Saturday till Wednesday, and +return and fetch their families home, but all were in high +spirits at the prospect of a few days' holiday, and Ben and +Kit were not among the least delighted. +</p> + +<p> +School discipline had very much improved Ben. He +had dropped his rough words, was beginning to read very +well, and could write a little too, and Mr. Goodall +promised to take him as his message boy in October, if he +continued to make progress. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Goodall had a shop of stationery, fancy goods, +desks, work-boxes, trinkets, and better class ornaments. +So Ben was very anxious to get on with his lessons, and +looked forward eagerly to again earning his living. +</p> + +<p> +Little Kit was fast losing her pale cheeks and thin +limbs; a nice colour often showed in her face, and her +arms and hands were getting quite plump and brown. +Her father and mother could scarcely bear her out of their +sight, she was the light of their eyes. Ben was often +astonished at the fun and spirit she showed; though she +was quiet and gentle at times, yet occasionally she made +them all merry with her funny ways and lively pranks. +</p> + +<p> +The morning after their arrival at the sea, the little +party were grouped upon the sand, the elder ones for the +most part watching the children's enjoyment, and helping +them to build up sand-houses, make heaps and holes, and +fill their buckets with the salt water. What a change +this for the two little ones who, for almost all their +lives had known no other pleasures than those to +be found in Peters Street! After a while the children—Ben, +Kit, Willie, and Nellie Craig—ran off to a piece of +sand some little distance away, and the parents began +talking together. +</p> + +<p> +They spoke of the one who was gone, and of his +happiness with the Lord Jesus. The poor old mother shed +some tears, but they were not those of rebellion; she +rejoiced to know that her son was beyond all sorrow and +pain, and she was glad not to have "to leave him behind +her," when her call came. Michael being "off duty" +had left his "stern" look behind, and was much enjoying +a lounge on the beach. He had felt the loss of his brother +keenly, and had found great comfort in the friendship of +Harry Gray, who was able to point to "John's Saviour." +</p> + +<p> +The two young mothers found plenty to talk about, +as they sat with their babies beside them. They spoke of +past joys and sorrows, of little ones gone before—for each +had lost a child—and of the different tempers and +dispositions of those left under their care. +</p> + +<p> +"We thought our Kittie had neither temper nor faults, +for some time after we found her, but now that her health +is coming back, we find out she is a bit quick like the rest." +</p> + +<p> +"It is better they should have a little spirit, though it +needs checking," replied Mrs. Craig. +</p> + +<p> +In the midst of their conversation they were startled +by a cry from Kit, and in a moment Michael and Harry +were on their feet. The children had been busy digging, +and had not noticed that the tide on coming in had formed +quite a little island of the piece of sand on which they were +playing. +</p> + +<p> +When little Kit lifted her eyes and saw herself +surrounded by water, she was very frightened; and her +sharp cry caused the two boys to look up, and the two +men to rise to their feet. The water was running quickly +round the island of sand, and every instant reduced it in +size. Harry Gray and Michael took off their boots as +quickly as possible, and ran to relieve the little company. +One caught up Kittie and Willie, and the other, Nellie; +Ben, who was tugging away at his boots trying to get +them off, waded through the water with them; and by +the time they reached dry land, the island had disappeared. +</p> + +<p> +"I fort we was going to be drowned, and never see you +any more, father," sobbed Kit, as she clung to his neck. +</p> + +<p> +"No fear, my darling, while I am here," he answered. +</p> + +<p> +"You will have to watch when the water comes in, +children," said the mother laughing, as she received Kit +from her father; "and now I think you had better all +take off your shoes and socks, and wade in the sea." +</p> + +<p> +This proposal was quickly agreed to, and in a few +minutes the children were paddling away. Kit and +Willie were a little shy at first, but soon got up their +courage, and splashed away like the little ones around +them; and baby Harry had his little legs rubbed with the +salt water, and seemed quite to enjoy it. +</p> + +<p> +Willie Craig was rather a rough little boy; he had been +humoured and spoilt by his mother while very small, and +now she often found it difficult to control him. While +wading, he filled his hands with salt water and flung it +over Ben. The water ran down Ben's neck, and he +turned round with an annoyed face to tell Willie to stop. +But Kit, who stood near, took it upon herself to correct +Willie for teasing her "bestest boy," and, to the surprise +of all, leaned forward and administered a hearty slap on +Willie's back, but at the same time she overbalanced +herself and fell into the water. +</p> + +<p> +Ben had her out in a moment, but all her clothes were +wet, and little Kit was very much frightened, both at +what she had done to Willie and the wetting she had got. +Her lip quivered with her sobs, and she was in much +distress. +</p> + +<p> +"You are unfortunate this morning," said Michael, +kindly. +</p> + +<p> +"It will do her no harm," said her father, laughing. +</p> + +<p> +"But Kittie was in a temper, I fear," added mother, +"and that was the cause of her fall." +</p> + +<p> +Father opened his eyes very wide and whistled. +"Kittie in a temper! That's something quite new. +What have little girls to do with tempers?" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, nothing at all," said Mrs. Craig, "and I'm sure +Kittie did not mean it. Willie is very rough at times." +</p> + +<p> +Kit hung down her head and began to cry, and Ben, +though he was very much surprised to see her raise her +little hand against anyone, yet came at once to her help. +He put his arms round her. +</p> + +<p> +"She didn't like to see me being splashed; she loves +me that much, for she had only me at one time, and she +forgot it was wrong, didn't you, Kit? You'll see she'll +make it up with him and be friends in a minute." +</p> + +<p> +Kit raised her blue eyes full of tears, and put up +quivering lips to kiss Willie Craig, who, in his turn, was +quite ashamed. +</p> + +<p> +And so Kit's first quarrel was made up, and her mother +took her home to change her clothes, for they were wet +through. +</p> + +<p> +"I didn't think Kit had such a spirit," said her father. +"It shows she is getting stronger though," he added, with +some satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +"Does it?" asked Ben, eagerly. "Hoor-ay!" and +he went head over heels along the sand, to the amusement +of the rest of the party. +</p> + +<p> +They spent an hour or two during the afternoon in an +open boat on the sea. The children dipped their hands +in the water, while Harry and Michael sang to them, +and then they all joined in a hymn, and enjoyed the +sweet sea-breeze which fanned their faces as the sun began +to sink in the sky. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap14"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIV. +<br><br> +A SUNDAY EVENING AT THE SEA-SIDE. +</h3> + +<p> +On Sunday evening as they were taking a stroll, they +observed a little crowd of people collected on the +green sward above the cliffs. +</p> + +<p> +On drawing near they found that a young man was +reading from the Word of God. The little party of +women and children seated themselves on a grassy mound +to listen, while Harry and Michael stood among the +people. With a clear distinct voice the preacher sounded +forth the words, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be +found; call ye upon Him while He is near!" (Isaiah +lv. 6). "Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now +is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. vi. 2). +</p> + +<p> +Then closing the book he spoke to the young around +him, those in health and strength. He told them Christ +was waiting to save them in patient grace. He was +offering them salvation without money and without +price, for He had paid the debt they owed to a holy God. +</p> + +<p> +He told them they were sinners and not fit to stand +before God without being washed in the blood of Christ. +"But," he added, "the blood has been shed, and God +offers you a free pardon to-day, if you will put your +trust in it." +</p> + +<p> +After he had invited his hearers, lovingly and earnestly, +to cast themselves on Jesus just as they were, he began +to show them what the consequences would be if they +refused. "The Lord Jesus will Himself shut mercy's +door one day," he said, "and then if you refused Him +while in life and health, it will be TOO LATE. You will +have to stand and knock at that closed door and cry, +'Oh, let me in; Lord, Lord, open to me,' and He will +answer, 'I never knew you, depart from me.' There will +be no hope for you then, though you cry ever so loud, or +ever so long, and nothing will be left for you but +ever-lasting woe. 'Behold! NOW is the accepted time; +behold, NOW is the day of salvation.'" Then he went on +to say that once a vessel was wrecked in a dreadful storm, +and the captain and his wife were cast upon a small +rock not far from land. They knew that unless they were +soon rescued they must perish, for the waves were rising +higher and higher, and would soon sweep them from the +rock. They were, however, discovered, and strong men +threw out a rope to help them, which the captain tied +round his wife's waist, and showed her at a given signal +she must leap upon the wave and it would bear her in to +shore—that the sailors would be able to draw her to land. +</p> + +<p> +It was her only chance. But she did not embrace it. +Her husband urged her to leap, but she let the right +moment go past, and leaped upon the wave when past, +being engulfed by the one following it, and so was dashed +upon the rock and killed. +</p> + +<p> +Again the speaker urged his hearers to beware of letting +the present moment pass. "You may not see another, +or Satan may pluck the good seed out of your heart as +you turn away from this spot. 'Seek ye the Lord while +He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near.'" +</p> + +<p> +Many who listened were deeply stirred. Some had +never been so urged before to come to Jesus, and little +children (for little children are always foremost in a +crowd) turned up grave and eager faces to the speaker. +Then he said a word to them. He told them that the +Saviour loved the little ones, and had invited them to +come to Him; that Jesus had said "Suffer little children +and forbid them not, to come unto Me, for of such is the +kingdom of heaven" (Matt. xix. 14). +</p> + +<p> +The three little ones listened very attentively, and the +elder folk were much solemnized. Some that stood there +had tasted a Saviour's pardoning love, and to them the +gospel words were sweet. Others had never, till lately, +thought seriously over these things, and now conscience +was speaking loudly, and the little word "now" rung in +their ears. +</p> + +<p> +Along the cliffs and past the corn fields the Craigs and +Grays wended their way. The setting sun threw bright +golden and crimson rays on all around, while the ocean +lay calm as a lake beneath them. Little Ben and Kit had +never seen such a lovely sight, and as they walked along +hand in hand they wondered "how heaven could be more +beautiful than this." +</p> + +<p> +A day or two after the scene was completely changed, +however. Driving rain fell, a chill east wind blew, the +sky was cloudy, and the sea was rough. In heaven, however, +chilly blasts and clouds will never come, "for the +former things are passed away" (Rev. xxi. 4); there it +will be an endless summer of love and joy. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap15"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XV. +<br><br> +KITTIE IN TROUBLE. +</h3> + +<p> +A year has gone. Autumn has come again, and +changes have taken place during that time at +Wood Cottage. A little baby sister arrived for Kittie, +and she was very happy in the possession of her new +treasure. Baby Ella was now three months old, and +Kittie often held her in her arms for a few minutes, when +mother was busy. Harry was now at the age when he +was continually in mischief; but he dearly loved his +sister Kittie, and was a nice little playmate for her. +</p> + +<p> +Ben had been nine months at Mr. Goodall's as shop and +message boy, and was getting on well. He earned +sufficient to keep himself in clothes now. +</p> + +<p> +But there had been an anxious time, too, at Wood +Cottage; for one day the father had been injured at the +wood-yard, and had been brought home in a cab, with a +broken leg, and a slight cut on his head. +</p> + +<p> +This happened about six weeks after baby Ella's birth, +and it was quite a shock to Mrs. Gray; for the cab drove +up to the garden gate while she was hanging out some +clothes. Two men lifted her husband out, and his white +pale face filled her with dismay. +</p> + +<p> +But the doctor assured her his injuries were not +dangerous, and with care he would be back at work in +six weeks' time. +</p> + +<p> +Every care was bestowed on him; but six weeks had +passed, and he was not able to resume his work yet, for +he had sustained a shock that it was not easy to get over. +Ben wheeled a large chair into the garden every morning +after breakfast when fine, and here the father sat, well +wrapped up, for an hour or two in the sunshine. He was +very anxious to get back to his work, and hoped to be +able to do so in another week. Meanwhile, Ben was a +great help at home. As soon as he was back from his +work, he would throw off his jacket, and turn his hand to +anything that eased the mother. +</p> + +<p> +He was not above doing many things to aid her in the +house; and she looked forward gladly to the time he +could return of an evening, for he could nurse Baby Ella, +and wash and dress Harry or put him to bed; and when +the evenings were fine, he took them very nice rambles, +while Mrs. Gray got on with her sewing. +</p> + +<p> +One day Harry Gray had been limping slowly up and +down the garden, and then sat down at the further end +on a log of wood which lay there. +</p> + +<p> +After a few minutes he heard a sharp cry, and turning +his head saw Kittie and Harry rolling on the ground by +the kitchen door. They had evidently had a fall. He +could not rise quickly, so the mother was first on the spot. +She raised the children up, and found that Harry had cut +his forehead and hurt his knee, while Kittie had only +grazed her arm. +</p> + +<p> +"This comes of disobedience," said Mrs. Gray, gravely, +looking at Kittie as she led her, and carried the little boy +into the house. +</p> + +<p> +"What is it all about?" asked the father. +</p> + +<p> +"Kittie has been disobedient," she answered, as she +soothed Harry's cries and prepared to bathe his forehead. +</p> + +<p> +"I am sorry for that; come and tell me about it, Kittie." +</p> + +<p> +Kittie was sobbing piteously and holding her arm. It +was two or three minutes before she could reply: +</p> + +<p> +"Mother told me not to lift Harry, and I tried to carry +him down the steps, and we both toppled down." +</p> + +<p> +"You see, father, Kittie is always trying to carry +Harry, and he is far too heavy for her, and they have +fallen once or twice. This morning I forbade her to do it +again, but she has disobeyed, and you see the consequence. +I told her I should punish her if she lifted him again; and, +as she has done so, she must take her tea alone to-night; +and see how poor Harry is hurt, too!" +</p> + +<p> +"How came you to be so disobedient, Kittie?" asked +her father. +</p> + +<p> +"I forgot, father, and I wanted to lift him down the +steps," sobbed the little girl. +</p> + +<p> +"But you said that before, Kittie. Little girls must +not forget. Perhaps father will take little Harry up the +garden now; you had better stay here, we cannot speak +to you till after tea." +</p> + +<p> +Father looked lingeringly back as he led Harry away, +but he knew mother was right, and Kittie had been +growing rather thoughtless lately; so he only said, "I am +sorry." +</p> + +<p> +Of course Kittie was very miserable, and she did not +know how to keep quiet. "Mother, speak to me; +don't look grave," she kept saying, and when she found +her mother did not answer, she said, "and I s'pose God +is angry too, and now there is a black spot made on my +heart. What shall I do?" +</p> + +<p> +"I am not <i>angry</i>, Kittie," replied her mother, "only +very sorry, and you know what washes sin away, +you know Whom to go to. But I cannot talk to +you now." +</p> + +<p> +"I am going to tell Jesus all about it, mother. Can I +kneel down?" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! yes," replied her mother. So Kittie slipped off +her chair and sobbed and prayed, and her mother caught +the words, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap16"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XVI. +<br><br> +BEN'S PRESENT. +</h3> + +<p> +Soon Ben came in, and missing the little girl at the +gate, cried, "Where's Kittie?" Mrs. Gray looked +towards the chair where she sat, and Kittie's tear-stained +face told the story. +</p> + +<p> +"You haven't been naughty, have you. O Kit! +What is it, mother?" +</p> + +<p> +"She has been lifting Harry again, and both have +fallen, and he has got hurt. You've heard me tell her +not, Ben, many times; now she has to sit there and no +one is to speak to her, and"—Mrs. Gray hesitated. She +dreaded carrying out the rest of the punishment. +</p> + +<p> +"And me's to have tea all alone," cried Kit. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! what a pity!" said Ben, "O mother! isn't she +sorry enough?" +</p> + +<p> +"She is sorry, I believe; but you must not beg her off, +Ben," and Mrs. Gray made ready a plate of bread and +butter and a mug of milk and carried them into the other +room, saying, "Come, Kittie." +</p> + +<p> +Kittie followed, and Ben looked very forlorn. Mrs. Gray +put her up at the table in the little sitting room. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you love me?" asked Kittie. +</p> + +<p> +"Dearly," said her mother. +</p> + +<p> +"Now?" she asked again in surprise. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, now." +</p> + +<p> +"When I'm naughty?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but's it's a sorrowful kind of love." +</p> + +<p> +"Then, I'll never be naughty any more," said Kittie, +clasping her mother's neck. +</p> + +<p> +"I hope not, darling," said the mother. "Have you +asked God to help you to be obedient?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and to 'wash me whiter than snow,' and He's +done it, hasn't He, mother?" +</p> + +<p> +"He has, dear. He always answers when we pray +aright. Now you must take your tea quietly, and then +come and get a kiss from father." +</p> + +<p> +"Have you <i>fordiven</i> me?" asked the little girl +anxiously. +</p> + +<p> +"I have, dear." +</p> + +<p> +"Is she all right, mother?" asked Ben eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"Quite," answered the mother, with fast-filling eyes, +"but I thought you were going to make some toast, Ben?" +</p> + +<p> +"So I was, but I can't do a thing when Kit isn't happy. +You know I never could," bending down to kiss baby in +her cradle. +</p> + +<p> +They gathered round the tea table, but Ben ate nothing. +After a few minutes he asked, "How long is Kittie to stay +there?" +</p> + +<p> +"Till she has finished her tea," said mother, with a +longing look at the other door, which stood open, and +from inside of which they heard deep drawn sighs. +</p> + +<p> +"May I see if she has finished?" asked Ben, starting up. +</p> + +<p> +"I think he might, dear," added the father. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was off in a twinkling. +</p> + +<p> +"The boy is eating nothing, and we've kept our word," +added Gray. +</p> + +<p> +"So we have, and she's very sorry. She may come now." +</p> + +<p> +"Kittie not hurt me again, she not mean it," lisped +Harry. +</p> + +<p> +"Have you finished your tea, Kittie?" asked Ben. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, it's all done," she answered, eyeing Ben to see +what he thought. +</p> + +<p> +"And you are sorry, Kittie. You won't try and lift +Harry again, not till you are bigger, because mother +says 'no,' and mother knows what is best." +</p> + +<p> +"I'll try and never be naughty not any more, Ben." +</p> + +<p> +"It grieves Jesus, you know?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and makes black stains on my heart, but this +one is washed away, Ben; I asked Him to make me +whiter 'an snow, so it's gone." +</p> + +<p> +"I'm so glad; now come and kiss father, and I'll +show you something." +</p> + +<p> +Father was only too glad to give the kiss, and then +Ben brought out a present for Kit, and handed her a neat +little testament. +</p> + +<p> +"I've got one, too; you see, I've been working extra +hard lately, and Mr. Goodall has been more about the +shop, because its 'stock-taking,' so to-day he called me +in, and told me to choose a book for myself, and I said +'a testament for Kit, please,' so he gave me these +two—one for each of us." +</p> + +<p> +Kittie was delighted, and felt the responsibility too, +of having God's Word in her possession. +</p> + +<p> +"Please write our names in, and a text," said Ben, +"and put in Kit's 'with Ben's best love.'" +</p> + +<p> +"And put in Ben's 'with Kit's best love,'" echoed +Kittie. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, do?" added Ben. +</p> + +<p> +The father wrote, in both books, their names and a +text. In Kittie's it was, "Jesus said, 'Suffer little +children to come unto Me'" (Matt. xix. 14), and in Ben's, +"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever" +(Heb. xiii. 8). +</p> + +<p> +And now we must say "Good-bye" to the little ones. +Ben worked hard at his place and earned his master's +esteem, and he knew no greater pleasure than to bring +home his wages to his kind guardians. He had many +a difficulty to face, but he learned to look up and depend +upon One who was ever ready to help him. His own +father, Rogers, was lost at sea about two years after he +resumed his sea-faring life, and so Ben ever looked upon +Mr. and Mrs. Gray as his parents after this. The love +that sprung up between him and little Kit, when in +poverty, continued unabated, and he was proud, as time +went on, to make her many a nice present, while she +learned to sew and mend for him. +</p> + +<p> +I am sorry to say Jim Snow did not improve much. +True, he did not tease Ben any more, but he went with +bad companions, and one Sunday he and two other lads +were drowned in the river, while boating. +</p> + +<p> +This had a great effect on Ben, and made him shun +idle boys, while he thought much on that verse which +Miss Randolphe gave him as a remembrance: "To him +that <i>overcometh</i>, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which +is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Rev. ii. 7). He +found kind and lasting friends in the Craigs, and the old +lady, especially, always made him welcome, while Michael +and his wife showed an increasing interest in the things of +God. The occupants of the little red cottage and those of +Wood Cottage became fast friends, and many happy +evenings were spent at both cottages. On these occasions +the hard times of early days would often be recalled and +their praises would ascend to the Lord Jesus for His great +love to them in giving Himself to save them from sin and +for all His interest in their eternal welfare and His +watchfulness over their lives while down here. They had all +trusted in Jesus and were indeed +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +SHELTERED AT LAST. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br><br></p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77064 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + diff --git a/77064-h/images/img-cover.jpg b/77064-h/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fba802b --- /dev/null +++ b/77064-h/images/img-cover.jpg diff --git a/77064-h/images/img-front.jpg b/77064-h/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..77958c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/77064-h/images/img-front.jpg |
