Part 3 (1/2)

The idea in Nelly's mind of that wonderful love which she so sorely needed, was more enlightened than many a philosopher's conception of divinity, and the dark eyes filled with tears as a half-formed prayer awoke from her heart to the loving Jesus, who, Miss Preston had told her, would hear and answer her.

And who could doubt that He did hear and answer the desolate, uncared-for child, scarcely knowing as yet what ”good” meant, since her knowledge had been only of evil! Her conscience, however, was not dead, though neglected; she knew at least what ”wrong” was, and felt she must leave off doing it if the Saviour was to be her friend. But how should she be able to leave off her bad, idle ways, and become a good, industrious girl, such as her new mother said most of the little girls in Ashleigh were? Then she remembered the words which Miss Preston had made her repeat, ”Looking unto Jesus,” and ”I lay my sins on Jesus,” and that Miss Preston had told her she must ask Jesus to take away her sins and make her good. But she thought the right place for speaking to Jesus must be in the church, as most of the people she had known in the city used to go to church ”to confess,” and she supposed that must have something to do with it.

Just then she saw the Fords pa.s.sing at a little distance on their way to church, and it occurred to her that she would go too; and perhaps Jesus would hear her there, and show her how she was to be made good.

So she started up, and was speedily on the other side of the ravine, almost overtaking the Fords before they reached the village. The service was beginning when she crept stealthily into one of the farthest back seats, half afraid lest she was doing wrong in thus trespa.s.sing where she had no right. Then, crouched in a corner, with her face bent forward and her elf-locks half covering her eyes, she listened with intense earnestness, trying to take in all she could of what was so new, yet already not unfamiliar to her, and half disposed to think that the kindly-looking gentleman who stood there and spoke in such solemn tones might be Jesus Himself.

Let not the more favoured ones, on whom from their cradles the blessed light of divine truth has steadily shone, smile at this poor child's ignorance, but rather try to show their grat.i.tude for higher privileges, by seeking to impart some of the light shed on them so abundantly to those who are still wandering in darkness.

On Nelly's listening heart Mr. Raymond's sermon did not fall so fruitlessly as some might have expected. For G.o.d is, for all, the hearer and answerer of prayer, and He never leaves unheard the weakest cry to Him. As the lonely child once more sought her comfortless home, she felt a stirring of new hope within her, and scarcely minded her mother's rough words when she demanded, ”What have you been doing out so late? No good, I am sure!”

Mrs. Connor had been enlarging, among sympathizing friends, on the hards.h.i.+p of her having to support her husband's child when he did so little himself for his family. ”My goodness! all he gives us wouldn't half pay Nelly's board,” she had declared; and as her grievances were still fresh in her mind, she greeted her step-child with even more asperity than usual.

But as Nelly crept away to her hard little bed, perhaps some angel, sent to minister to the motherless child, may have known that the ”good-for-nothing,” ignorant little girl, oppressed with the feeling of her own sinfulness, and full of the thought of her new-found heavenly Friend, was nearer the kingdom of heaven than the petted, admired, winning Stella Brooke, who had never yet learned her need of the Saviour, who came ”not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

V.

_Strawberrying._

”Why should we fear youth's draught of joy, If pure, would sparkle less?

Why should the cup the sooner cloy Which G.o.d has deigned to bless?”

The ”strawberry picnic” proposed by Alick Steele had been fixed for the following Tuesday should it prove fine. Alick and Fred had been over at Mill Bank Farm, and the younger Fords had agreed to meet them at the ravine, with their contribution of milk and cream, and various other things which Mrs. Ford's zealous housewifery would not be prevented from sending, though Fred a.s.sured her that it was unnecessary.

”I know what young folks can eat, Mr. Fred,” she replied, ”and you may as well have plenty;” and Alick laughingly a.s.sured her she was quite right. Alick Steele, or the ”young doctor,” as his old friends now began to call him, had been an acceptable guest at many a picnic and merry-making, but he had never entered into anything of the kind with more spirit and zeal than he now threw into this simple gypsying excursion with his country cousins.

”He's no end of a fellow for a picnic,” declared Harry enthusiastically, ”and ten times as good as Fred;” the quiet nature of the latter always shrinking from any unusual bustle, while Alick's unfailing flow of animal spirits found a congenial outlet in any little extra excitement, especially when it was connected with the procuring of enjoyment for others. He and Harry were busy all Monday in exploring the ground and selecting the most eligible place for the repast; and Harry averred, when they returned home, that they would have a ”splendid time” next day, if it were only fine.

Next morning opened as fair and bright as the excursionists could desire,--not too hot, but tempered by a pleasant breeze--”just the day for the woods, and not too rough for the water.” For Stella had manifested such consternation at the idea of going through the pasture--”cows always frightened her so”--that, notwithstanding the raillery and the representations of Alick and Harry, it was evident that her pleasure would be spoiled if she were obliged to go by the field-path. Alick therefore had good-naturedly hunted up a boat, which would save them a long dusty walk by the road, and greatly enhance the pleasure of the excursion, besides carrying the ”_impedimenta_,” as Fred cla.s.sically termed the baskets of provisions. Marion Wood, a playmate of Lucy's, was to accompany them in the boat, while Mrs.

Steele and the boys walked across the fields.

As soon as the early dinner could be got over, the boat's cargo was taken on board, the pa.s.sengers embarked, and after some little screams from Stella, who had a habit of being ”nervous,” the little bark shot off, swift and straight, impelled by Alick's firm, skillful strokes.

The water-party reached the mouth of the ravine considerably sooner than the others; and while awaiting their arrival, Alick rowed them to a little fairy islet near the sh.o.r.e, where they landed to explore it, and twine their hats with the graceful creepers and ferns growing among its rocks. Then re-embarking, they floated at leisure up and down the gla.s.sy shaded water, fringed with tall reeds, the girls alternately trying their hands at the oars, till a shout from Harry and the waving of handkerchiefs announced the arrival of the rest of the party.

The strawberry-pickers had soon begun their search. Fred, who preferred rowing to strawberry-picking, undertook to take charge of Harry, who was as eager for the water as a young duck; while Mrs.

Steele, taking out her knitting, sat down beside the baskets under a spreading oak, on a knoll overlooking the river, to wait until there should be a demand for tea.

Very quickly the time sped away, while the children pursued their busy but not laborious quest of the tempting berries, half hidden under their spreading leaves; and many an exclamation, half of annoyance, half of amus.e.m.e.nt, was uttered as one of them made a dart at a bright spot of crimson, fancying it a rich cl.u.s.ter of berries, and finding only a leaf.

”Why in the world do strawberries have red leaves, I wonder!”

exclaimed Harry, who, tired at last of boating, was pretending to help them, though they all declared he ate as many as he picked.

”To inure you to the disappointments of life,” responded Alick oracularly. ”You'll find, as you go along, there are more red strawberry leaves than berries all through.”

And Alick half sighed, as if he had already learned the lesson by experience.

”There's one thing, Alick, of which that remark doesn't hold good,”

remarked Fred to his cousin in an undertone. ”My father says _that_ sheet-anchor will bear us up through all the disappointments of life; and I believe it.”