CHAPTER VIII.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."--_Shakespeare._
Of course Kate and Grace were told about the new way of being healed,and Grace looked on at first with her usual incredulity, but when shesaw Mrs. Hayden getting so well and looking so happy, she began towonder and then to exclaim. Then she wanted to learn something aboutthis new "doctrine," and Mrs. Hayden had Miss Greening come over andmeet the girls one evening so they could hear her explain a little aboutit. Grace was delighted, saying that was more reasonable than anythingshe had ever heard.
"I really should like to learn it," she said for the third time as theywalked home.
"Why, you are really enthusiastic about it," said Kate, giving theartistic arm a gentle squeeze.
"I must confess, Kate, that it is nearer my idea of religion thananything I ever heard, and it _is_ marvelous to see Mrs. Hayden. Did yousee how bright she looked to-night? More like her old self than sinceher sickness. I can't understand it."
"She said her limb was actually growing natural again so she could bendit," added Kate.
"If _she_ could be cured, it would be a wonderful demonstration or proofof the theory," remarked Grace.
"Oh, I don't know, Grace, I am afraid, after all, it might be wrong.You know it says in the Bible we are to beware of false doctrines, andthe miracles of anti-Christ, and this may be that very thing," saidKate, with a sudden smiting of conscience and reproaching herself thatshe had not thought of this before. She had been brought up a strictMethodist, but had grown rather careless of religious matters, till allat once she realized the mighty import of her backsliding.
"I don't think if there is such a thing, it could do so much good, andgood power must come from the God of goodness," answered Grace, withunusual gentleness. They walked on in silence, each pondering her ownthoughts.
Three weeks after, Mrs. Hayden was known as a restored invalid, wasdaily answering a thousand questions as to how it was done. Was itreally so? Could she walk as well as ever? Didn't she get tired? Had sheany faith after all? etc.
She patiently told them the truth of the matter, that her limb hadbecome well and pliable as ever, that her stomach was perfectly sound,her head free from nervous aching, her nights a joyous rest and her daysa round of delightful labor.
For the first time she learned there had been many cures, and severalclasses taught in Hampton, but no case had excited the attention, publicand private, that hers had.
The various members of society wagged their wise heads, and cast mingledglances of pity, wonder, ridicule or disdain upon the poor deludedvictim of the "latest humbug." Even the select circles heard of it as areport finally reached the daily paper, which appeared with a glaringhead and ridiculous comments.
One of the weeklies contented itself by reprinting a scathingdenunciation from a prominent religious paper. Another containedclippings from an Iowa paper giving an account of the arrest and trialof a so-called Christian Scientist for illegal practice. But it failedto add that "the judge instructed the jury to return a verdict for thedefendant," remarking that "under the constitution and laws of Iowa itis no crime for a person to pray for his afflicted neighbor."
Among the worthy M. D.'s, a miniature storm arose and spent itself inthe characteristic fashion of storms, now carrying everything before it,in its impetuous fury, now quietly subsiding into a ripple ofcondescending concession, or languid comment, now breaking out withrenewed force into explosive epithets or vindictive rage.
Dr. Crouse expressed his astonishment that anybody should have theaudacity to practice medicine without a diploma, as this woman evidentlydid, and demanded that the authorities enforce the law at once with theutmost rigor--. "Such quacks ought to be dealt with without mercy, as anexample to other upstarts!" and with an angry growl the doctorrecklessly spat the whole width of the sidewalk.
Dr. Jones admitted that the mind had a great deal to do with the body,and possibly this mind cure might help nervous prostration or hystericalwomen, but if Mrs. Hayden's limb was healed, depend upon it, themedicine taken all those months was the cause.
Dr. Bundy considered the matter too absurd to even mention.
Dr. Hone went up and down the streets, loudly denouncing such "humbugs,"while his partner, Lapland, laughed at the preposterous idea of learningall about materia medica in three weeks! "It is simply ridiculous, sheernonsense! Ha, ha, ha!" and the office fairly shook at the outburst ofmerriment.
On the other hand, Dr. Wilson was deeply interested, and went so far asto call on Miss Greening, and to her he frankly admitted there was anunaccountable power in the mind some way, and if it did the work forsuffering humanity he was quite ready to welcome it, and anxious, forhis part, to investigate the matter.
Kind, liberal Dr. Jackson, Mrs. Hayden's former family physician, shookhis head wonderingly, but said nothing. He was a careful thinker andneeded time for his conclusions, but as every one well knew, he had thefriendliest, most charitable heart that ever was, and very candid,withal, in his judgments, and fair in his investigations. So in timethey would know what he thought. It was whispered about that he hadalready invested in some books, and was quietly studying ChristianHealing in his leisure moments.
Among the churches no less of a tumult raged. Rev. Rush preached astirring sermon about the evil days in which even the very elect shouldbe deceived by the miracles of anti-Christ, and warned his hearersagainst being beguiled.
Rev. Long openly denounced Christian Healing as but another form ofspiritualism, and admonished his flock to beware of ravening wolves.
Rev. Morton mildly preached about being steadfast to the old faith,avoiding investigation in anything new, while from the gentle,spiritually minded Prof. Mill was heard an eloquent disquisition on thepromises and the all-abiding power of God.
All shades and phases of ministerial sentiments were expressed, andwhatever was grand and Christ-like sprang up as dainty, fragrantblossoms amid the wayside weeds of falsity and Pharisaical bigotry.
The ladies' sewing societies discussed the subject to its fullest extentwith widely varying opinions, some exclaiming with wonder and awe thatit certainly must be a higher power that would perform such miracles;others that it was nothing but mesmerism. A few reverently expressedtheir conviction that Mrs. Hayden was extremely fortunate to be chosenfor such a favor, while still others of quite a contrary mind declaredit was nothing more nor less than the devil, who was stealthily takingpossession of the weak.
One timid little woman ventured to say that it could not be Satan, forhe was never known to do anything good. Another said there must besomething uncanny about it, for she had experienced the most peculiarsensations when shaking hands with Mrs. Hayden.
Mrs. Dyke had waited for a more practical time to give her opinion, andnow she concluded the whole matter for herself, at least, by saying in amost practical way:
"It is the devil's work from first to last, and I am not surprised thatthat woman, Mrs. Hayden, has got into his clutches, for she never didher duty to the church, and such people can't expect he will always letthem go their own way. Christian Healing has no right to its name or itspretentions. It is only the magician's rod, and I, for one, don'tpropose to look at it," with which profound announcement she went to theother room to oversee her charge of sewing girls.
"Oh, how righteous we are!" giggled one very young lady, with a mocklook of reverence.
"Well, now, see here ladies!" declared Mrs. Grant, another "practical"woman, but of a different type from Mrs. Dyke, "we may as well look atthis matter in a sensible and candid light. Here are the facts: Mrs.Hayden is a lovely and reliable woman. She has, as we all know, sufferedeverything from her headaches and dyspepsia, besides the limb that wasbroken at the fire. We see her well, and ought to believe what she says.They often say, 'Truth is stranger than fiction.' An example has come toour door, and why should we refuse to believe, when the proof is soplain? For my part, I can believe though
I do not understand, and I wantto know what there is in Christian Healing."
Mrs. Grant had spoken, and as she usually did, turned the tide ofthought in her direction.
"Why, yes, we all want to know if there is anything in it, but there isan if--"
"_If!_ There it is again! I've no patience with people who always tumbleover an _if_. You can bar the very gates of heaven with that nippinglittle word. It means doubt, and doubt is the destroyer of faith whichwe _must_ have in this world, if we live at all."
Mrs. Grant unwittingly preached a little sermon, which not only servedto quell the confusion, but gave them a helpful thought to carry home.Scattering good seed seemed to be her mission, and many a good worddropped into fruitful soil, and took its time to bring forth.
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