Part 2 (1/2)

”Barns, nor h.o.a.rded store have we”--

”It is not the lilies, grandmother, but the blessed birds that are speaking now--

”Barns, nor h.o.a.rded store have we, Yet we carol joyously; Mortals, fly from doubt and sorrow, G.o.d provideth for the morrow.”

Poor Mrs. Newton clasped her thin hands, and looked up, and prayed like the disciples, ”Lord, increase our faith!”

”Eh!” said she, afterwards, ”is it not strange that we can trust our Lord and Saviour with the care of our souls for eternity, and we cannot trust Him with that of our bodies for a day.”

Well! this was poor Mrs. Newton's state on that day, when the gentleman gave f.a.n.n.y the half-sovereign instead of sixpence, for her flowers.

When the little flower-girl came back from her race with her two sixpences, she found the old vegetable-seller had got her three or four pennies more, by merely showing her basket, and telling why it was left at his stall; and so every one left a penny for the honest child, and hoped the gentleman would reward her well. The old man at the stall said it was very shabby of him only to give her sixpence; but when she went home with three sixpences and told Mrs. Newton this story, she kissed her little girl very fondly, but said the gentleman was good to give her sixpence, for he had no right to give her anything, she had only done her duty.

”But, grandmother,” said f.a.n.n.y, ”when I saw that pretty half- sovereign dropping down to his purse, I could not help wis.h.i.+ng he would give it to me.”

”And what commandment did you break then, my child?”

”Not the eighth--if I had kept the half-sovereign I should have broken it,” said f.a.n.n.y, ”for that says, thou shalt not steal--what commandment did I break, grandmother; for I did not steal?”

”When we desire to have what is not ours f.a.n.n.y, what do we do? we covet; do we not?”

”Oh! yes--thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods,” cried f.a.n.n.y, ”that is the tenth commandment; and that half-sovereign was my neighbor's goods, and that fat gentleman was my neighbor. But, grandmother, it is very easy to break the tenth commandment.”

”Very easy indeed, my dear,” said Mrs. Newton, with first a faint smile, and then a deep sigh, ”therefore,” she added, ”we ought always to pray like David, 'Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.'”

There is a very common saying, that when things are at the worst they mend. It is hard to say when matters are at the worst; poor Mrs.

Newton knew they might yet be worse with her; but certainly, they were very bad; and a few days after this, as f.a.n.n.y was tying up her flowers as usual, she lay on her bed thinking what she was to do, and praying that G.o.d would direct her to some way of providing for the poor child.

While she was thinking and praying, tears stole down her face; f.a.n.n.y saw them, and stopped her work, and looked sorrowfully at her--

”Now you are crying again, grandmother, she said,” and that's what makes me break the tenth commandment, for I can't help wis.h.i.+ng the gentleman had given me that half-sovereign. But I will say the verses again to-day about the lilies and birds; for you know I said that morning--

'Mortals fly from doubt and sorrow, G.o.d provideth for the morrow,'

and when I came back with my three sixpences, you said G.o.d _had_ provided for the morrow, for you had only two or three pennies in the house when I went out.”

”And how many pennies, pray, have you in the house to-day?” said a rather gruff voice at the door.

Mrs. Newton and f.a.n.n.y started; but there, standing at the door, f.a.n.n.y saw the fat gentleman who had given her the half-sovereign.

”So you have been wis.h.i.+ng for my gold, you little rogue,” he said, looking as if he meant to frighten her. ”Never mind,” he added, smiling, ”you are a good child, and did what was right; and I always meant to bring it back to you, but I have been kept rather busy these few days past. There it is for you, and try not to break the tenth commandment again.” Then turning to Mrs. Newton, he said, ”We should not expect rewards, ma'am, for doing our duty, but if children do not meet with approbation when they do right, they may be discouraged, and perhaps think there is no use in being good: for they are silly little creatures, you know, and do not always recollect that G.o.d will reward the just one day if men do not.”

”Oh! sir!” said poor Mrs. Newton, but the tears streamed down, and she could not say a word more. And there f.a.n.n.y sat gazing on the half- sovereign, as if she was half stupefied.

”Well, take up that bit of gold, and do what you like with it,” said the fat gentleman; ”and then run off to sell your flowers, for we must not be idle because we have got enough for to-day. But do what you like with that money.”

f.a.n.n.y rose up from her seat, and looking very much as if she was moving in her sleep, with her wondering eyes fixed on the s.h.i.+ning piece that lay in her hand, she walked slowly over to Mrs. Newton, and putting it into hers, said,--

”May I go to the grocer's now, grandmother, and get you the tea for your breakfast?”

”Yes, my love,” said Mrs. Newton, kissing her, ”and take care of this, and bring back the change carefully.” Then turning to the gentleman, she said, ”I am not young, sir, and I am very, very poorly; I find it hard to go without my tea, but it is a luxury I have been obliged latterly to forego.”