Volume Ii Part 86 (1/2)

”What would mother do for hers, Mr. Simlins?” said Faith resisting this invitation.

”Well you can sit down anyhow, and read to me,” said Mr. Simlins, who had already taken a seat himself in preparation for it. ”People can't get along without light from one phenomenon or the other, you know, Faith.”

She took off her bonnet, and brought the Bible. ”What do you want, Mr.

Simlins?” her sweet voice said meaningly.

”Fact is,” said the farmer rather sorrowfully, ”I s'pose I want about everything! I don't feel to know much more'n a baby--and there aint more'n three grains of corn to the bushel in our minister's preachin'.

I go to meetin' and come home with my head a little more like a bell than 'twas; for there's nothing more in it but a ringin' of the words I've heerd. Do you mind, Faith, when somebody--I don't know whether you or I like him best--wanted me to try a new kind of farming?--you mind it? I guess you do. It never went out o' _my_ head again, till I set out to try;--and now I find I don't know nothin' at all how to work it!”

”What is the trouble, dear Mr. Simlins?” said Faith looking up.

The farmer hesitated, then said low and huskily, ”I don't know what to do about joinin' the church.”

”The Bible says, 'If a man love G.o.d, the same is known of him,'”--Faith answered softly.

”Well, but can't it be known of him without that? Fact is, Faith, I'm afeard!”--and a rough hand was drawn across the farmer's eyes--”I'm afeard, if I do, I'll do something I hadn't ought to do, and so only just dishonour the profession--and I'd better not have anything to do with it!”

Faith turned back the leaves of the Bible.

”Listen to what G.o.d said to Joshua, Mr. Simlins, when he was going to lead the people of Israel over into a land full of enemies.--

'Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.'”

”It's easy to say 'be strong',” said the farmer after pausing a minute,--”but how are you going to contrive it?”

Faith read from the Psalms; and her words fell sweeter every one. ”'In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.' That is what David says, Mr. Simlins; and this is Isaiah's testimony.--'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'”

”Go ahead, Faith!”--said the farmer, who was sitting with his head down in his hands. ”You aint leavin' me much of a corner to hide in. Turn down a leaf at them places.”

Faith was still again, turning over leaves.

”Paul was in trouble once, Mr. Simlins, and prayed earnestly about something; and this is what he says of the Lord's answer to him.--'And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'--'When I am weak, then am I strong.'--And in another place--'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.'”

”But he wa'n't much like me,” said Mr. Simlins ”he was an apostle and had inspiration. I hain't none.”

”He was a man, though,” said Faith, ”and a weak one, as you see he calls himself. And he prays for the Christians at Ephesus, that G.o.d would grant them 'to be strengthened with might by his Spirit;' and they were common people. And the Bible says 'Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might;'--we aren't bid to be strong in ourselves; but here again, 'Strengthened with might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.' Won't that do?” said Faith softly.

”Have you put marks in all them places?” said the farmer.

”I will.”

”If that don't do, I s'pose nothing will,” said Mr. Simlins. ”They're mighty words! And they've stopped _my_ mouth.”

Faith was silently marking the places. The farmer sat looking at her.

”You do know the Scripturs--I can say that for you!” he remarked.

”No, Mr. Simlins!--” said Faith looking up suddenly, ”I don't know this string of pa.s.sages of myself. Mr. Linden shewed them to me,” she said more softly and blus.h.i.+ng. She went on with what she was about.