Volume I Part 38 (1/2)
”Was there one more loved than the rest?”
”Yes ? the Bible calls him 'the disciple whom Jesus loved.'
That was John.”
”Why was he preferred above the others?”
”I don't know. I suppose he was more gentle and good than the others, and loved Jesus more. I think Aunt Miriam said so when I asked her once.”
Mr. Carleton thought Fleda had not far to seek for the fulfilment of her wish.
”But how in the world, Elfie, did you work round to this gentle and good disciple from those scenes of blood you set out with?”
”Why,” said Elfie, ”I was thinking how unhappy and bad people are, especially people here, I think; and how much must be done before they will all be brought right; and then I was thinking of the work Jesus gave his disciples to do; and so I wished I could be like that disciple. Hugh and I were talking about it this morning.”
”What is the work he gave them to do?'” said Mr. Carleton, more and more interested.
”Why,” said Fleda, lifting her gentle wistful eyes to his, and then looking away, ”to bring everybody to be good and happy.”
”And how in the world are they to do that?” said Mr. Carleton, astonished to see his own problem quietly handled by this child.
”By telling them about Jesus Christ, and getting them to believe and love him,” said Fleda, glancing at him again, ”and living so beautifully that people cannot help believing them.”
”That last is an important clause,” said Mr. Carleton, thoughtfully. ”But suppose people will not hear when they are spoken to, Elfie?”
”Some will, at any rate,” said Fleda, ”and by and by everybody will.”
”How do you know?”
”Because the Bible says so.”
”Are you sure of that, Elfie?”
”Why, yes, Mr. Carleton, ? G.o.d has promised that the world shall be full of good people, and then they will be all happy.
_I_ wish it was now.”
”But if that be so, Elfie, G.o.d can make them all good without our help.”
”Yes, but I suppose he wishes to do it with our help, Mr.
Carleton,” said Fleda, with equal navete and gravity.
”But is not this you speak of,” said he, half smiling, ”rather the business of clergymen? you have nothing to do with it?”
”No,” said Fleda, ”everybody has something to do with it ? the Bible says so; ministers must do it in their way, and other people in other ways; everybody has his own work. Don't you remember the parable of the ten talents, Mr. Carleton?”
Mr. Carleton was silent for a minute.
”I do not know the Bible quite as well as you do, Elfie,” he said then, ”nor as I ought to do.”
Elfie's only answer was by a look somewhat like that he well remembered on s.h.i.+pboard he had thought was angel-like, ? a look of gentle sorrowful wistfulness, which she did not venture to put into words. It had not for that the less power.
But he did not choose to prolong the conversation. They rose up and began to walk homeward, Elfie thinking with all the warmth of her little heart that she wished very much Mr.