Part 2 (1/2)
I put a bundle into his hand.
”These are needles and thread for making and mending clothes--they will be useful bye-and-bye.”
At last the whole contents of the chest were overhauled and explained: I could not well comprehend the gla.s.s bottles, or how they were made, but I put them with the pannikins, and everything else, very carefully into the chest again, and hauled the chest to the farther end of the cabin, out of the way. Before we went to bed that night, Jackson had to explain to me who G.o.d was, but as it was only the commencement of several conversations on the subject, I shall not at present trouble the reader with what pa.s.sed between us. Jackson appeared to be very melancholy after the conversation we had had on religious matters, and was frequently agitated and muttering to himself.
Chapter VII.
I did not on the following day ask him to resume his narrative relative to my father and mother, as I perceived that he avoided it, and I already had so far changed as to have consideration for his feelings. Another point had now taken possession of my mind, which was, whether it were possible to learn to read those books which I had found in the chest, and this was the first question that I put to Jackson when we arose on that morning.
”How is it possible?” replied he. ”Am I not blind--how can I teach you?”
”Is there no way?” replied I, mournfully.
”Let me think.--Yes, perhaps there is a way--at all events we will try. You know which book I told you was the Prayer-book?”
”Oh yes! the small, thin one.”
”Yes--fetch it here. Now,” said he, when I put it into his hand, ”tell me; is there a straight line down the middle of the page of the book, so that the words and letters are on both sides of it?”
”Yes, there is,” replied I; ”in every page, as you call it, there is a black line down the middle, and words and letters (I suppose they are) on both sides.”
”And among the letters, there are some larger than others, especially at the side nearest to the margin.”
”I don't know what margin is.”
”I mean here,” replied he, pointing to the margin of the page.
”Yes, there are.”
”Well then, I will open the book as near as I can guess at the Morning service, and you tell me if you can find any part of the writing which appears to begin with a large round letter, like--what shall I say?--the bottom of a pannikin.”
”There is one on this leaf, quite round.”
”Very well--now get me a small piece of stick, and make a point to it.”
I did so, and Jackson swept away a small place on the floor of the cabin.
”Now,” said he, ”there are many other prayers which begin with a round O, as the letter is called; so I must first ascertain if this one is the one I require. If it is, I know it by heart, and by that shall be able to teach you all the letters of the alphabet.”
”What's an alphabet?”
”The alphabet is the number of letters invented to enable us to read and write. There are twenty-six of them. Now look, Frank; is the next letter to O the shape of this?” and he drew with the pointed stick the letter U on the ground.
”Yes, it is,” replied I.
”And the next is like this,” continued he, drawing the letter R, after he had smoothed the ground and effaced the U.
”Yes,” replied I.
”Well then, to make sure, I had better go on. OUR is one word, and then there is a little s.p.a.ce between; and next you come to an F.”
”Yes,” replied I, looking at what he had drawn and comparing it with the letter in the book.
”Then I believe that we are all right, but to make sure, we will go on for a little longer.”
Jackson then completed the word ”Father,” and ”which art,” that followed it, and then he was satisfied.
”Now,” said he, ”out of that prayer I can teach you all the letters, and if you pay attention, you will learn to read.”
The whole morning was pa.s.sed in my telling him the different letters, and I very soon knew them all. During the day, the Lord's Prayer was gone through, and as I learnt the words as well as the letters, I could repeat it before night; I read it over to him twenty or thirty times, spelling every word, letter by letter, until I was perfect. This was my first lesson.
”Why is it called the Lord's Prayer?” said I.
”Because, when our Lord Jesus Christ was asked by His followers in what way they ought to address G.o.d, He gave them this prayer to repeat, as being the most proper that they could use.”
”But who was Jesus Christ?”
”He was the Son of G.o.d, as I told you yesterday, and at the same time equal with G.o.d.”
”How could he be equal with G.o.d, if, as you said yesterday, G.o.d sent him down to be killed?”
”It was with his own consent that he suffered death; but all this is a mystery which you cannot understand at present.”
”What's a mystery?”
”That which you cannot understand.”
”Do you understand it yourself?”
”No, I do not; I only know that such is the fact, but it is above not only mine, but all men's comprehension. But I tell you honestly that, on these points, I am but a bad teacher; I have paid little attention to them during my life, and as far as religion is concerned, I can only give you the outlines, for I know no more.”
”But I thought you said, that people were to be punished or rewarded when they died, according as they had lived a bad or good life; and that to live a good life, people must be religious, and obey G.o.d's commands.”
”I did tell you so, and I told you the truth; but I did not tell you that I had led a bad life, as I have done, and that I have neglected to pay obedience to G.o.d's word and command.”
”Then you will be punished when you die, will you not?”
”Alas! I fear so, child,” replied Jackson, putting his hands up to his forehead and hiding his face. ”But there is still time,” continued he, after a pause, and ”O G.o.d of mercy!” exclaimed he, ”how shall I escape?”