CHAPTER XXIII
MAX.
"Papa," said Max one morning, as they rose from the breakfast-table, "Ifeel as if a long walk would do me good. I'd like to go farther down thebeach than I ever have yet."
"Very well, my son, you may go, only keep out of danger and come home intime for dinner," was the indulgent rejoinder, and the lad set off atonce.
He presently fell in with two other lads a little older than himself,boarders in one of the near hotels, and casual acquaintances of his. Theyjoined him and the three rambled on together, whistling, talking, andoccasionally stooping to pick up a shell, pebble, or bit of seaweed orsponge.
At length they reached an inlet that seemed to bar their farther progress,but looking about they spied an old boat stranded by yesterday's tide alittle higher up the inlet, and were of course instantly seized with agreat desire to get her into the water and set sail in her.
"Wouldn't it be jolly fun?" cried Bob Masters, the eldest of the trio."Come on, boys."
Max was a rather heedless fellow, and never stopping to consider the rightor wrong of the thing, or whether he were running into danger or not, wentwith the others.
They found the boat, as they thought, in fair condition; there were twooars in her, and both Max and John Cox, the other lad, thought they knewpretty well how to use them, while Masters was sure he could steer.
With a good deal of exertion they set the little craft afloat; thenclimbing in they pushed boldly out into deep water and bore down towardthe ocean.
Max had thought they were only going to cross to the farther side of theinlet and continue their walk; but almost before he knew it, they were outupon the sea, and the boat was rocking upon the waves in a way that seemedto him decidedly alarming.
"Boys," he said, "let's put back as fast as we can. We don't know anythingabout managing a boat out here, and see how big the waves are!"
"That's because the tide's coming in," laughed Masters, "so if we shouldupset it'll wash us ashore."
"I don't know," said Max, "I'd rather not risk it; there's the undertow tocarry us out again."
"Oh, you're a coward!" sneered Cox.
"I'm not going to turn back yet," said Masters; "so stick to your oar,Raymond, and if the sight of the big waves frightens you, just turn yourback to 'em."
At that moment a hail came from a fishing-smack not far away. "Halloo!boys, you'd better put back as fast as you can; that boat's not safe,especially in the hands of such green-horns as you."
At the same moment a big incoming wave washed over them, carrying awaytheir hats and Max's coat, which he had pulled off when taking the oar.
Masters and Cox were now sufficiently frightened to be willing to turnback; they made the attempt at once, but found it far more difficult thanthey had anticipated. They struggled hard, and several times nearly gavethemselves up for lost; but at last, after many narrow escapes, a hugewave carried them high on to the beach, and left them there with barelystrength to crawl up out of the way of the next.
It was a good while before they were able to do anything but lie pantingand gasping on the sand.
Max had not been long gone when Zoe ran into the cottage of the Raymonds,to tell of a plan just set on foot in the other house to get up a partyto visit some points of interest several miles distant.
They were to go in carriages, take a lunch with them, and not return tilllate in the afternoon, when all would dine together at Mrs. Dinsmore'stable.
"Mamma is not going," she said, "and offers to take care of Gracie, if thechild stays behind. Every one seems to fear the ride would be too long andwearisome for her."
"Yes, I think so," the captain said, fondling her, for she was sitting onhis knee.
"I'd like to go, papa," she said, looking up coaxingly into his face, "Ilike to go driving, and to sit on your knee."
"And I love to have my baby girl in my arms, and to give her pleasure," heresponded, repeating his caresses, "but I should feel very sad to see hermade sick."
"Then I'll be good and not ask to go, papa," she said, with a slight sigh,laying her head on his shoulder.
"That's my dear, good little Gracie! You shall have a short drive everyday when I can manage it. Perhaps a moonlight drive along the beach,to-morrow evening. Will not that be nice?"
"Oh, ever so nice, dear papa!" she cried, clapping her hands in delight.
"Mamma not going, Zoe!" exclaimed Violet in a tone of disappointment."That will rob the excursion of half its charm for me. Is she not well?"
"She has a very slight headache, she says, and fears the sun wouldincrease it. Besides she is so much interested in a book she is readingthat she prefers staying at home to finish it. We had hard work topersuade grandpa to go without her, but he has consented at last; only, Ibelieve, because Grandma Rose refused to go without him, and mamma insiststhat she is in no danger of a bad headache if she keeps quiet."
"Yes, grandpa is so fond and careful of her."
"We have two large carriages, so that there is abundance of room foreverybody," pursued Zoe; "and we hope, Captain, that you will let Max andLulu go."
"Lulu shall certainly, if she chooses," he said, turning with a kind,fatherly smile to the little girl who stood silently at his side, waitingwith a wistful, eager look, to hear if she were to be of the party, butashamed to ask the indulgence because of a vivid remembrance of her laterebellion and disgrace.
"Oh, thank you, papa!" she cried joyously, giving him a hug and kiss."Mamma Vi, what shall I wear?"
"Your travelling dress will be the most suitable I think," said Violet.
"Then I'll run and put it on," returned Lulu, hastening away with cheerfulalacrity.
"Max shall go too, Captain, shan't he?" queried Zoe, with whom the boy wasa great favorite.
"He might if he were here," the father answered; "but unfortunately he hasgone off for a long walk and may not be back before dinner-time."
"And we must start in a few minutes," remarked Vi; "I am really sorry, forI know Max will regret missing it. Gracie, dear, I'm going over to speakto mamma; shall I take you with me?"
"Yes, if you please, Mamma Vi, when I've kissed my dear papa good-by."
Having done so, she took her doll in her arms and gave her hand to Violet.She felt a little lonely at the thought of being left behind, but wasquite comforted on learning that little Walter Travilla had decided tostay at home and play with her.
The excursionists drove off, and Elsie, having provided the little oneswith amusement, gave herself up to the enjoyment of her book and aneasy-chair set where she could catch the pleasant sea breeze withoutfeeling the sun. Still, she did not forget the children, but now and thenlaid aside her book for a little, while she suggested or invented somenew game for their entertainment.
So the morning passed quietly and pleasantly.
It was a little past noon when, stepping out upon the veranda, she caughtsight of a forlorn figure, hatless, coatless, and dishevelled generally,yet bearing a strangely familiar look, slowly approaching the othercottage. A second glance told her who it was.
"Max!" she exclaimed in astonishment, and forgetting all about herheadache, caught up a sunshade and hurried to meet him.
"Max! can it be you?" she asked. "Why, my poor boy, where have you been?and what has happened to you?"
"O Grandma Elsie!" he said, looking much mortified and ready to cry, "Idid hope I'd be able to get into the house without anybody seeing me! Doyou know where my father is?"
"Yes; the two families have all gone on an excursion except Gracie,Walter, and me. But come in out of the sun," she added, leading the wayinto the Raymonds' cottage. Max followed her, and won to confidence by hersweet and kindly sympathy, told her the whole story of his morning'sadventure.
"O Max, my dear boy! what a narrow escape!" she said, with tears in hereyes. "What a mercy that you are alive to tell the tale! What a terrible,terrible shock it would have been to your father to learn that his onlyson was drowned! and that while in the act of
disobeying him, for you sayhe bade you not to go into any danger."
"Yes, Grandma Elsie, and if he finds it out I'll be pretty sure to get asevere flogging. I deserve it, I know; but I don't want to take it. Youwon't tell on me, will you? Perhaps he'll find it out through the loss ofthe coat and hat, but I hope he won't miss them, at I have severalothers."
"No, Max, I shall certainly not tell on you; no one shall ever learn fromme what you have told me in confidence; but I do hope, my dear boy, thatyou will not try to deceive your kind, loving father, but will confess allto him as soon as he comes home, and patiently bear whatever punishment hesees fit to inflict. It is the only right and honorable course, Max, andwill save you a great deal of suffering from remorse and fear ofdetection."
"But it will be dreadfully hard to confess!" sighed Max. "I believe Ireally dread that more than the flogging."
"Yet take courage, my boy, and do it. Do not allow yourself to indulge inmoral cowardice, but dare to do right, asking help of God, who is able andwilling to give it."
Max made no reply, but sat there before her, looking very guilty andmiserable.
"You must be hungry," she said presently, "and it is not easy to be braveand strong on an empty stomach. Suppose you go to your room and makeyourself neat, then come into the other house and join me and the littlefolks in a nice luncheon."
The proposal was accepted with thankfulness.
Max looked several degrees less miserable after satisfying his appetite,yet all the afternoon seemed restless and unhappy.
Elsie said little to him, but many times silently lifted up her heart onhis behalf, asking that he might have strength given him to do the duty hefelt to be so difficult and painful.
As the time drew near when the pleasure-seekers might be expected toreturn, he slipped away out of her sight.
Presently the carriages drove up and deposited their load. Max stoodwaiting in the veranda, his heart beating very fast and loud, as hisfather, Violet, and Lulu came up the path that led from the garden-gate.
All three greeted him affectionately, expressing their regret that he hadmissed the pleasure of the excursion; then Vi and Lulu passed into thehouse and on upstairs.
The captain was about to follow when Max, stepping close to his side,said, with a slight tremble in his voice, "Papa, I--want to speak to you."
"Very well, my son, say on," answered the captain, stopping and turningtoward him.
"It's something I want to tell you, sir," and Max hung his head, hischeeks flushing hotly.
His father gave him a searching look, took his hand, and led him into theparlor.
"Don't be afraid of your father, Max," he said kindly, "why should you?"
"Because I've been a bad boy, sir, deserving of a flogging, and expect youto give it to me," Max burst out desperately.
"Tell me all about it, my son," the captain said in a moved tone, "andtell it here," seating himself and drawing the boy to his knee. "Perhapsit will be easier."
"Oh, yes, papa, because it makes me know you love me even if I am bad; butit makes me more ashamed and sorry for having disobeyed you," sobbed Max,no longer able to refrain from tears as he felt the affectionate clasp ofhis father's enfolding arm.
"Then it has a right effect. My boy, I think if you knew how much I loveyou, you would never disobey. It will be a sore trial to me, as well as toyou, if I find it my duty to inflict any severe punishment upon you. Butlet me hear your story."
Max told it in broken accents, for he was full of remorse for havingbehaved so ill to so kind a parent.
When he had finished there was a moment of silence. It was the captain whobroke it.
"My boy," he said, with emotion, "it was a really wonderful escape, and wemust thank God for it. If you had been drowned, Max, do you know that itwould have gone near to break your father's heart? To lose my first-born,my only son, and in the very act of disobedience--oh, how terrible!"
"Papa, I didn't, I really didn't think about its being disobedience when Igot into the boat, because it didn't seem dangerous till we were fairlyout among the waves."
"Do you think I ought to excuse you on that account?"
"No, sir; you've reproved me so often for not thinking, and for not beingcareful to obey your orders; and I know I deserve a flogging. But, O papa,please don't let Mamma Vi know about it, or anybody else. Can't you takeme upstairs here when they are all in the other house?"
"I shall not use corporal punishment this time, Max," the captain said, ina moved tone. Dressing the boy closer to his side, "I shall try freeforgiveness, for I think you are truly sorry. And then you have made sofrank and full a confession of wrong-doing, that I might perhaps neverhave discovered in any other way."
"O papa, how good you are to me! I don't think I can ever be so mean andungrateful as to disobey you again," exclaimed Max, feelingly. "But Idon't deserve to be praised, or let off from punishment, because ofconfessing, for I shouldn't have done it if Grandma Elsie hadn't talked tome about the duty of it, and persuaded me to take courage to do it becauseit was right."
"Bless her for it! the dear, good woman!" the captain said, with earnestgratitude. "But I think, Max, you do deserve commendation for taking heradvice. I have something more to say to you, my son, but not now, for thecall to dinner will come directly, and I must go and prepare for it."
There was a hearty embrace between them, and they separated, the captaingoing to his room to make his toilet and Max to the other house, where hesoon managed to let Grandma Elsie into the secret of his confession andits happy result, thanking her with tears in his eyes for her kind, wiseadvice.
Elsie rejoiced with and for him, telling him he had made her heart gladand that she hoped he would always have courage to do right.
As Max prepared for bed that night he was wondering to himself what morehis father had to say to him, when he heard the captain's step on thestairs, and the next moment he came in.
Max started a little apprehensively. Could it be that his father hadchanged his mind, and was about to give him the dreaded flogging afterall?
But with one glance up into the grave yet kindly face looking down at him,all his fear vanished. He drew a long breath of relief.
"My boy," the captain said, laying his hand on Max's shoulder, "I told youI had something more to say to you, and I have come to say it now. You are'my first-born, my might and the beginning of my strength.' Never untilyou are a father yourself can you know or understand the tide of love,joy, and thankfulness that swept over me at the news of your birth. Nor doyou know how often, on land and on sea, in storm and in calm, my thoughtsdwell with deep anxiety upon the future of my son, not only for time, Max,but for eternity."
The captain paused for a moment, his emotions seemingly too big forutterance, and Max, throwing his arms around his neck, hid his face on hisbreast.
"Papa," he sobbed, "I didn't know you loved me so much! Oh, I wish I'dalways been a good boy!"
The captain sat down and drew him to his knee.
"My dear son," he said, "I have no doubt that you are sorry for every actof disobedience toward me, and I fully and freely forgive them all; butwhat I want you to consider now is your sinfulness toward God, and yourneed of forgiveness from him. You are old enough to be a Christian now,Max, and it is what I desire for you more than anything else. Think whatblessedness to be made a child of God, an heir of glory! to have Jesus,the sinner's Friend, for your own Saviour, your sins all washed away inhis precious blood, his righteousness put upon you."
"Papa, I don't know how."
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,' the Biblesays. It tells us that we have all broken God's holy law, that we alldeserve his wrath and curse forever, and cannot be saved by anything thatwe can do or Buffer; but that 'God so loved the world that he gave hisonly begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish buthave everlasting life.' He offers this salvation to us as his free gift,and so we are to take it, for we can have it in no other way. Go to G
od,my son, just as you have come to me, with confession of your sins andacknowledging that you deserve only punishment; but pleading for pardonthrough the blood and merits of Jesus Christ. Accept the salvation offeredyou by the Lord Jesus, giving yourself to him to be his, his only forever.'Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, togive repentance to Israel and remission of sins,' and he will give them toyou if you ask for them with all your heart. He says, 'Him that cometh tome, I will in no wise cast out.' My son, my dear son, will not you comenow? God's time is always _now_, and only the present is ours."
"Papa, I will try; I am sorry for my sins against God, and I do want tobelong to him. Papa, won't you pray for me?"
They knelt down together, and with his son's hand in his the captainpoured out a fervent prayer on the boy's behalf, of confession andentreaty for pardon and acceptance in the name and for the sake of Him"who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for ourjustification."
Then, with a silent, tender embrace he left him.
CHAPTER XXIV.
"Home again, home again, from a foreign shore, And oh it fills my soul with Joy to see my friends once more."
The rest of the summer and early fall passed delightfully to oursojourners by the sea; though the happiness of the captain and Violet wassomewhat marred by the knowledge that soon they must part for a season ofgreater or less duration, he to be exposed to all the dangers of thetreacherous deep.
But they did not indulge in repining or lose the enjoyment of the presentin vexing thoughts concerning the probable trials of the future.
It was necessary, however, to give it some consideration, and makearrangements in regard to his children.
Thinking of the guidance and control they all needed, the temper andstubbornness Lulu had shown, the watchful care requisite for Gracie in herfeeble state, he hesitated to ask Mrs. Dinsmore and Elsie if they stillfelt inclined to undertake the charge of them.
But to his great relief and gratitude, those kind friends did not wait forhim to broach the subject, but renewed their offer, saying they hadbecome much attached to the children, and desired more than ever to givethem a happy home with themselves; upon the conditions formerly stated,namely, that he would delegate his authority to them during his absence,and give the children distinctly to understand that he had done so.
These conditions the captain gladly accepted. He told the children allabout the arrangement he had made for them, and in the presence of thewhole family, bade them obey Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, Grandma Elsie andMamma Vi as they would himself.
"One master and three mistresses!" Edward remarked lightly; "are you notimposing rather hard conditions, Captain?"
"No, I think not, Ned, for I am satisfied that their commands will neverconflict; but should they do so, Mr. Dinsmore, as patriarch of the wholetribe, is of course the highest authority."
It had been decided that Harold and Herbert should now enter college. Theothers, on being left by the captain, would all return to Ion and spendthe winter there or at Viamede. Edward would take charge of the Ionplantation, his grandfather giving him some slight supervision at thestart.
This arrangement would leave Mr. Dinsmore almost without employment, and,as he liked to be busy, he said he would gladly act the part of tutor toMax, and also hear some of the recitations of Rosie and Lulu. GrandmaElsie and Mamma Vi would for the present undertake the rest of the work ofeducating the girls and little Walter.
Their plans settled, they gave themselves up to quiet enjoyment of eachother's society while Capt. Raymond waited for orders.
Early in October there came a great and joyful surprise. A train hadsteamed into the neighboring depot a few moments before, but as they werenot looking for any addition to their party, no one had taken particularnote of the fact.
But a carriage came driving from that direction, and drew up before thegate of Mr. Dinsmore's cottage, where the whole family were gathered.
A gentleman hastily alighted, handed out a lady; a servant-womanfollowed--having first handed him an odd-looking, rather large bundle,which he received with care--then turned to collect packages and parcels,while the other two hurried to the house, the lady a little in advance.
"Elsie!" was the simultaneous exclamation of many voices in varied tonesof astonishment and delight, and the next instant there was a wonderfulconfusion of greetings and embraces mingled with tears of joy andthankfulness.
Lester and his wife had been heard from frequently during the past months,their letters always cheerful and full of bright hopes and anticipations,but containing no hint of any intention of returning to America before thecoming spring.
As they afterward explained, it had been a very sudden resolve, caused bya severe fit of homesickness, and there really was no time to write.
Lester shared the joyous welcome given to Elsie; the servant woman havingrelieved him of his bundle, of which, in their joyous excitement, no onehad taken particular notice.
Only waiting, a trifle impatiently, till the greetings and introductionswere over, Elsie Leland took it from her, and with a proud, happy, yettearful smile laid it--a lovely sleeping babe--in her mother's arms.
"Our boy, mother dear. We have named him for his grandpa--EdwardTravilla."
Elsie Travilla folded the child to her heart, kissed it softly, tenderly,the great silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Ah, could he but have seen it! our first grandchild," she sighed.
Then, wiping away her tears, and sending a glance of mingled joy andmaternal pride around the little circle, she folded the babe stillcloser, saying, with an arch, sweet smile, "Ah, no one now can deny that Iam in very truth Grandma Elsie!"
THE END.
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Grandmother Elsie Page 23
