Elsie's Widowhood

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XII.

  "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." --_1 Peter_, 4:11.

  "Mamma, can we--Elsie and I--have a little private talk with you?" askedViolet as they left the dinner-table the next Sunday.

  "Certainly, daughter, if it be suited to the sacredness of the day."

  "Quite so, mamma," answered Elsie: "it is, at least in part, a questionof conscience."

  "Then we shall want our Bibles to help us decide it. Let us take themand go out upon the lawn, to the inviting shade of yonder group ofmagnolias."

  "Do you intend to be so selfish as to monopolize your mother's society?"asked her father playfully.

  "Just for a little while, grandpa," Vi answered with coaxing look andtone. "Please, all of you, let us two have mamma quite to ourselves fora few minutes."

  "Well, daughters, what is it?" Mrs. Travilla asked, as she seatedherself under the trees with one on each side.

  "Mamma," Elsie began, "you saw a young lady talking with us afterchurch? She is Miss Miriam Pettit. She says she and several other younggirls belonging to the church used to hold a weekly prayer-meeting inMrs. Mason's parlor. It is the most central place they can find, and shewill be very glad, very much obliged, if you will let them use it still.She has understood that nearly all the furniture of the cottage belongsto you and is still there."

  "Yes, that is so; and they are very welcome to the use of any of therooms. But that is not all you and Vi had to say?"

  "Oh no, mamma! she wants us to join them and take part in themeetings--I mean not only to sing and read, but also to lead in prayer."

  "Well, my dears, I should be glad to have you do so; and you surelycannot doubt that it would be right?"

  "No, mamma," Violet said in her sprightly way, "but we should like tohave you tell us--at least I should--that it would not be wrong torefuse."

  "My child, do you not believe in prayer as both a duty and a privilege?social and public as well as private prayer?"

  "O mamma, yes! but is it not enough for me to pray at home in my closet,and to unite silently with the prayers offered by ministers and othersin public?"

  "Are we not told to pray without ceasing?"

  "Oh yes, mamma! and I did not mean to omit silent, ejaculatory prayer;but is it my duty to lead the devotions of others?"

  "Our Saviour gave a precious assurance to those who unite in presentingtheir petitions at a throne of grace. 'Where two or three are gatheredtogether in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' Some one mustlead--there ought always to be several to do so--and why should you beexcused more than another?"

  "Elsie is willing, mamma, and Miss Pettit too."

  "I am glad to hear it," the mother said, with an affectionate look ather eldest daughter. "I know it will be something of a trial to Elsie,and doubtless it is to Miss Pettit too--it is to almost every one: butwhat a light cross to bear for Jesus compared to that he bore for us--orthose borne by the martyrs of old; or even by the missionaries who leavehome and dear ones to go far away to teach the heathen! I had hoped myVi was ready to follow her Master wherever his providence called her:that she would not keep back any part of the price, but give him all."

  "Oh yes, yes, mamma!" she cried, the tears starting to her eyes, "I wantto be altogether his. I have given him all, and don't want to keep backanything. I will try to do this if you think he calls me to it; thoughit seems almost impossible."

  "My child, he will help you if you ask him; will give his Holy Spirit toteach you how to pray and what to pray for. Try to get your mind andheart full of your own and others' needs, to forget their presence andremember his: then words will come, and you will find that in trying todo the Master's work and will, you have brought down a rich blessingupon your own soul. And why should we feel it a trial to speak aloud toour Father in the presence of others of his children, or of those whoare not?"

  "I don't know, mamma; it does seem very strange that we should."

  "I should like to attend your meetings, but hardly suppose I should bewelcome," Mrs. Travilla said with a smile.

  "To us, mamma," both answered, "but perhaps not to the others. MissPettit said there were to be none but young girls."

  "Isa is invited, I presume?"

  "Yes, mamma, and says she will attend; but can't promise anything more.I think she will, though, if you will talk to her as you have to us,"Violet added, as they rose to return to the veranda, where the rest ofthe family still lingered.

  And she was not mistaken. Isa was too true and earnest a Christian, toofull of love for the Master and zeal for the upbuilding of his causeand kingdom, to refuse to do anything that she saw would tend to that,however much it might cost her to attempt it.

  "Well, cricket," Mr. Dinsmore said, giving Violet a pet name he hadbestowed upon her when she was a very little girl, "come sit on my kneeand tell me if we are all to be kept in the dark in regard to the objectof this secret conference with mamma?"

  "Oh, grandpa," she said, taking the offered seat, and giving him a hugand kiss, "gentlemen have no curiosity, you know. Still, now it'ssettled, we don't care if you do hear all about it."

  Both he and his wife highly approved, and the latter, seeing aninterested yet regretful look on poor Molly's face, asked, "Why shouldwe not have, in addition, a female prayer-meeting of our own? We havemore than twice the number necessary to claim the promise."

  The suggestion was received with favor by all the ladies present, timeand place were fixed upon, and then, that they might be the betterprepared to engage in this new effort to serve the Master, they agreedto take the subject of prayer for that evening's Bible study.

  But once entered upon, they found it so interesting, comprehensive andprofitable a theme that they devoted several evenings to it.

  The children as well as their elders were continually findingdiscrepancies between the teachings of the Bible and those of Mr. Jones,and Elsie was not a little relieved to learn that the time for which hisservices had been engaged had now nearly expired. She hoped there was nodanger that he would be requested to remain.

  One day as she was leaving the quarter, where she had been visiting thesick, Uncle Ben, now very old and feeble, accosted her respectfully.

  "Missus, I'se be bery thankful to hab a little conversation wid you whenit suits yo' convenience to talk to dis chile."

  "What is it, Uncle Ben?" she asked.

  "May I walk 'longside ob de Missus up to de house?" he returned.

  "Certainly, Uncle Ben, if you feel strong enough to do so."

  "Tank you, Missus; do dese ole limbs good to stretch 'em 'bout dat much.It's 'bout Massa Jones I'se want to converse wid you, Missus. I heardey's talkin' 'bout invitin' him to stay, and I want to ascertain if youintends to put him ober dis church."

  "I, Uncle Ben!" she exclaimed, "I put a minister over your church? Ihave no right and certainly no wish to do any such thing. It is for themembers to choose whom they will have."

  "But you pays de money and provides de house for him, Missus."

  "That is true; but it does not give me the right to say who he shall be.Only if you should choose one whose teachings I could not approve--onewho was not careful to teach according to God's word--I should feel thatI could not take the responsibility of supporting him."

  "I'se glad of dat, Missus," he said with a gleam of satisfaction in hiseyes; "'cause I'se want de Bible truff and nuffin else. And young MassaJones, he preach bery nice sometimes, but sometimes it 'pears like hedisremembers what's in de bressed book, and contradicts it wid some ofhis own notions."

  "Then you don't wish him to stay?"

  "No, Missus, dat I don't! hopin' you won't be displeased wid me forsayin' it."

  "Not at all, Uncle Ben: I find the very same objection to him that youdo."

  On reaching the house she bade the old man a kindly good-bye, anddirected him to go to the kitchen and tell the cook, from her, to givehim a good dinner, with plenty of hot, strong cof
fee.

  Rosie and Walter were on the back veranda looking out for mamma.

  "Oh we're so glad you've tum home, mamma!" cried Walter, running to meether and claim a kiss.

  "Yes, mamma, it seemed so long to wait," said Rosie, "and now there is astrange gentleman in the drawing-room, waiting to see you. He's beenhere a good while, and both grandpas are out."

  "Then I must go to him at once. But I think he is not likely to detainme long away from you, darlings," the mother said.

  She found the gentleman--a handsome man of middle age--looking not atall annoyed or impatient, but seemingly well entertained by Isa andViolet, who were there, chatting sociably together over some prettyfancy work, when he was shown in by the servant.

  They withdrew after Isa had introduced Mrs. Travilla and Mr. Embury.

  The former thought it a little singular when she learned that hercaller's errand was the same with that of Uncle Ben, _i.e._, to talkabout Mr. Jones and the propriety of asking him to take permanent chargeof the two churches: yet with this difference--that he was personallynot unfavorable to the idea.

  "I like him very well, though he is not by any means Mr. Mason's equalas a preacher," he said, "and I think our little congregation can beinduced to give him a call; but we are too few to support him unless bycontinuing the union with this church, so that the small salary we cangive will still be supplemented by the very generous one you pay, andthe use of the cottage you built for Mr. Mason. I am taking forgranted, my dear Madame, that you intend to go on doing for yourretainers here as you have hitherto."

  "I do," she said, "in case they choose a minister whose teachings accordwith those of the inspired word. I cannot be responsible for any other."

  "And do those of Mr. Jones not come up to the standard?"

  "I regret to have to say that they do not; his preaching is far fromsatisfactory to me; he makes nothing of the work of the Spirit, or thedanger of grieving Him away forever; nothing of the danger ofself-deception; instructing those who are in doubt about the genuinenessof their conversion that they must not be discouraged, instead ofadvising them to go to Christ now and be saved, just as any other sinnermust. I fear his teaching may lead some to be content with a false hope.Then he often speaks in a half hesitating way, which shows doubt anduncertainty, on his part, of truths which are taught most plainly andforcibly in scripture. In a word, his preaching leaves the impressionupon me that he has no very thorough acquaintance with the Bible, and novery strong confidence in the infallibility of its teachings. Indeed soglaring are his contradictions of scripture, that even my young childrenhave noticed them more than once or twice."

  "Really, Mrs. Travilla, you make out a strong case against him,"remarked her interlocutor, after a moment's thoughtful silence, "andupon reflection I believe a true one. I am surprised at myself that Ihave listened with so little realization of the important defects in hissystem of theology. I was not ardently in favor of calling him before;now I am decidedly opposed to it."

  He was about to take leave, but, the two Mr. Dinsmores coming in at thatmoment, resumed his seat, and the subject was reopened.

  They soon learned that they were all of substantially the same opinionin regard to it.

  In the course of the conversation some account was given Mr. Embury ofthe Sunday evening Bible study at Viamede.

  He seemed much interested, and at length asked if he might be permittedto join them occasionally.

  "My boys are away at school," he said, "my two little girls go early tobed, and my evenings are often lonely--since my dear Mary left me, nowtwo years ago," he added with a sigh. "May I come, Mrs. Travilla?"

  "Yes," she said, reading approval in the eyes of her father andgrandfather, while her own tender heart sympathized with the bereavedhusband, though at the same time her sensitive nature shrank from theinvasion of their family circle by a stranger.

  He read it all in her speaking countenance, but could not deny himselfthe anticipated pleasure of making the acquaintance of so lovely afamily group--to say nothing of the intellectual or spiritual profit tobe expected from sharing in their searching of the scriptures.

  Mr. Embury was a man of liberal education and much generalinformation--one who read and thought a good deal and talked well.

  The conversation turned upon literature, and Mr. Dinsmore presentlycarried him off to the library to show him some valuable books recentlypurchased by himself and his daughter.

  They were still there when the tea-bell rang, and being hospitably urgedto remain and partake of the meal with the family, Mr. Embury acceptedthe invitation with unfeigned pleasure.

  All were present even down to little Walter, and not excepting poorMolly.

  Her apartments at Viamede being on the same floor with dining-room,library and parlors, she joined the family gatherings almost asfrequently as any one else--indeed whenever she preferred the society ofher relatives to the seclusion of her own room.

  Mr. Embury had occasionally seen her at church. Her bright, intellectualface and crippled condition had excited his interest and curiosity, andin one way and another he had learned her story.

  Truth to tell, one thing that had brought him to Viamede was the desireto make her acquaintance--though Molly and the rest were far fromsuspecting it at the time.

  He had no definite motive for seeking to know her, except that hislarge, generous heart was drawn out in pity for her physical infirmity,and filled with admiration of her cheerfulness under it, and the energyand determination she had shown in carving out a career for herself, andsteadily pursuing it spite of difficulties and discouragements thatwould have daunted many a weaker spirit.

  She had less of purely physical beauty than any other lady present, hermother excepted, yet there was something in her face that would haveattracted attention anywhere; and her conversational powers wereenviable, as Mr. Embury discovered in the course of the evening, for sodelightful did he find the society of these new friends, both ladies andgentlemen, that he lingered among them until nearly ten o'clock, quiteoblivious of the flight of time until reminded of it by the striking ofthe clock.

  "Really, Mrs. Travilla," he said, rising to take leave, "I owe you anapology for this lengthened visit, which has somehow taken the place ofmy intended call; but I must beg you to lay the blame where it shouldfall, on the very great attractiveness of your family circle."

  "The apology is quite out of proportion to the offence, sir," shereturned, with a kindly smile; "so we grant you pardon, and shall notrefuse it for a repetition of the misdeed."

  "I wish," he said, glancing round from one to another, "that you wouldall make me a return in kind. I will not say that Magnolia Hall is equalto Viamede, but it is called a fine place, and I can assure you of atleast a hearty welcome to its hospitalities."