Annals of the Poor

by John Kendrick Bangs

  PART III.

  The mind of man is like a moving picture, supplied with objects not onlyfrom contemplation on things present, but from the fruitful sources ofrecollection and anticipation.

  Memory retraces past events, and restores an ideal reality to sceneswhich are gone by for ever. They live again in revived imagery, and weseem to hear and see with renewed emotions what we heard and saw at aformer period. Successions of such recollected circumstances often forma series of welcome memorials. In religious meditations, the memorybecomes a sanctified instrument of spiritual improvement.

  Another part of this animated picture is furnished by the pencil of Hope.She draws encouraging prospects for the soul, by connecting the past andthe present with the future. Seeing the promises afar off, she ispersuaded of their truth, and embraces them as her own.

  The Spirit of God gives a blessing to both these acts of the mind, andemploys them in the service of religion. Every faculty of body and soul,when considered as a part of "the purchased possession" of the Saviour,assumes a new character. How powerfully does the apostle on this groundurge a plea for holy activity and watchfulness! "What! know ye not thatyour body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye haveof God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price;therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

  The Christian may derive much profit and enjoyment from the use of thememory as it concerns those transactions in which he once bore a part. Inhis endeavours to recall past conversations and intercourse with deceasedfriends, in particular, the powers of remembrance greatly improve byexercise. One revived idea produces another, till the mind is mostagreeably and usefully occupied with lively and holy imaginations.

  "Lulled in the countless chambers of the brain, Our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain. Awake but one, and lo! what myriads rise! Each stamps its image as the other flies. Each, as the varied avenues of sense Delight or sorrow to the soul dispense, Brightens or fades; yet all, with sacred art, Control the latent fibres of the heart."

  May it please God to bless, both to the reader and the writer, thisfeeble attempt to recollect some of the communications which I onceenjoyed in my visits to the Dairyman's dwelling.

  Very soon after the receipt of the last letter, I rode for the first timeto see the family at their own house. The principal part of the road laythrough retired narrow lanes, beautifully overarched with groves of nutand other trees, which screened the traveller from the rays of the sun,and afforded many interesting objects for admiration, in the flowers,shrubs, and young trees, which grew upon the high banks on each side ofthe road. Many grotesque rocks, with little trickling streams of wateroccasionally breaking out of them, varied the recluse scenery, andproduced a romantic and pleasing effect.

  Here and there the more distant prospect beyond was observable throughgaps and hollow places on the roadside. Lofty hills, with many signal-posts, obelisks, and light-houses on their summits, appeared at theseintervals; rich cornfields were also visible through some of the openplaces; and now and then, when the road ascended a hill, the sea, withships at various distances, was seen. But for the most part shadyseclusion, and objects of a more minute and confined nature, gave acharacter to the journey, and invited contemplation.

  How much do they lose who are strangers to serious meditation on thewonders and beauties of nature! How gloriously the God of creationshines in his works! Not a tree, or leaf, or flower, not a bird orinsect, but it proclaims in glowing language, "God made me."

  As I approached the village where the good old Dairyman dwelt, I observedhim in a little field, driving his two cows before him towards a yard andhovel which adjoined his cottage. I advanced very near him without hisobserving me, for his sight was dim. On my calling out to him, hestarted at the sound of my voice, but with much gladness of heartwelcomed me, saying, "Bless your heart, sir, I am glad you are come: wehave looked for you every day this week."

  The cottage door opened, and the daughter came out, followed by her agedand infirm mother. The sight of me naturally brought to recollection thegrave at which we had before met. Tears of affection mingled with thesmile of satisfaction with which I was received by these worthycottagers. I dismounted and was conducted through a neat little garden,part of which was shaded by two large overspreading elm-trees, to thehouse. Decency and order were manifested within and without. No excusewas made here, on the score of poverty, for confusion and uncleanlinessin the disposal of their little household. Everything wore the aspect ofneatness and propriety. On each side of the fireplace stood an old oakenarm-chair, where the venerable parents rested their weary limbs after theday's labour was over. On a shelf in one corner lay two Bibles, with afew religious books and tracts. The little room had two windows: alovely prospect of hills, woods, and fields, appeared through one; andthe other was more than half obscured by the branches of a vine which wastrained across it; between its leaves the sun shone, and cast a cheerfullight over the whole place.

  "This," thought I, "is a fit residence for piety, peace, and contentment.May I learn a fresh lesson for advancement in each, through the blessingof God on this visit."

  "Sir," said the daughter, "we are not worthy that you should come underour roof. We take it very kind that you should travel so far to see us."

  "My Master," I replied, "came a great deal further to visit us poorsinners. He left the bosom of his Father, laid aside his glory, and camedown to this lower world on a visit of mercy and love; and ought not we,if we profess to follow him, to bear each other's infirmities, and goabout doing good as he did?"

  The old man now entered, and joined his wife and daughter in giving me acordial welcome. Our conversation soon turned to the loss they had solately sustained. The pious and sensible disposition of the daughter waspeculiarly manifested, as well in what she said to her parents as in whatshe more immediately addressed to myself. I had now a furtheropportunity of remarking the good sense and agreeable manner whichaccompanied her expressions of devotedness to God, and love to Christ forthe great mercies which he had bestowed upon her. During her residencein different gentlemen's families where she had been in service, she hadacquired a superior behaviour and address; but sincere piety rendered hervery humble and unassuming in manner and conversation. She seemedanxious to improve the opportunity of my visit to the best purpose forher own and her parents' sake; yet there was nothing of unbecomingforwardness, no self-confidence or conceitedness in her conduct. Sheunited the firmness and solicitude of the Christian with the modesty ofthe female and the dutifulness of the daughter. It was impossible to bein her company and not observe how truly her temper and conversationadorned the principles which she professed.

  I soon discovered how eager and how successful also she had been in herendeavours to bring her father and mother to the knowledge and experienceof the truth. This is a lovely feature in the character of a youngChristian. If it have pleased God, in the free dispensation of hismercy, to call the child by his grace while the parents remain still inignorance and sin, how great is the duty incumbent on that child to dowhat is possible to promote the conversion of those to whom so much isowing! Happy is it when the ties of grace sanctify those of nature!

  The aged couple evidently regarded and spoke of this daughter as theirteacher and admonisher in divine things, while at the same time theyreceived from her every token of filial submission and obedience,testified by continual endeavours to serve and assist them to the utmostof her power in the daily concerns of the household.

  The religion of this young woman was of a highly spiritual character, andof no ordinary attainment. Her views of the divine plan in saving thesinner were clear and scriptural. She spoke much of the joys and sorrowswhich, in the course of her religious progress, she had experienced; butshe was fully sensible that there is far more in real religion than mereoccasional transition from one frame of mind and spirits to another. Shebelieved that the experimental
acquaintance of the heart with Godprincipally consisted in so living upon Christ by faith as to aim atliving like him by love. She knew that the love of God toward thesinner, and the path of duty prescribed to the sinner, are both of anunchangeable nature. In a believing dependence on the one, and anaffectionate walk in the other, she sought and found "the peace of Godwhich passeth all understanding;" for "so he giveth his beloved rest."

  She had read but few books besides her Bible; but these few wereexcellent in their kind, and she spoke of their contents as one who knewtheir value. In addition to a Bible and Prayer-book, "Doddridge's Riseand Progress," "Romaine's Life, Walk, and Triumph of Faith," "Bunyan'sPilgrim," "Alleine's Alarm," "Baxter's Saint's Everlasting Rest," a hymn-book, and a few tracts, completed her library.

  I observed in her countenance a pale and delicate hue, which I afterwardsfound to be a presage of consumption; and the idea then occurred to methat she would not live very long.

  Time passed on swiftly with this interesting family, and after havingpartaken of some plain and wholesome refreshment, and enjoyed a fewhours' conversation with them, I found it was necessary for me to returnhomewards. The disposition and character of the parties may be in somesort ascertained by the expressions at parting.

  "God send you safe home again," said the aged mother, "and bless the daythat brought you to see two poor old creatures such as we are, in ourtrouble and affliction. Come again, sir, come again when you can; andthough I am a poor ignorant soul, and not fit to talk to such a gentlemanas you, yet my dear child shall speak for me. She is the greatestcomfort I have left, and I hope the good Lord will spare her to supportmy trembling limbs and feeble spirits, till I lie down with my other deardeparted children in the grave."

  "Trust to the Lord," I answered, "and remember his gracious promise:'Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs I will carry you.'"

  "I thank you, sir," said the daughter, "for your Christian kindness to meand my friends. I believe the blessing of the Lord has attended yourvisit, and I hope I have experienced it to be so. My dear father andmother will, I am sure, remember it; and I rejoice in the opportunity ofseeing so kind a friend under this roof. My Saviour has been abundantlygood to me, in plucking me as 'a brand from the burning,' and showing methe way of life and peace; and I hope it is my heart's desire to live tohis glory. But I long to see these dear friends enjoy the power andcomfort of religion likewise."

  "I think it evident," I replied, "that the promise is fulfilled in theircase: 'It shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light."

  "I believe it," she said, "and praise God for the blessed hope."

  "Thank him, too, that you have been the happy instrument of bringing themto the light."

  "I do, sir; yet when I think of my own unworthiness and insufficiency, Irejoice with trembling."

  "Sir," said the good old man, "I am sure the Lord will reward you forthis kindness. Pray for us, old as we are, and sinners as we have been,that yet he would have mercy upon us at the eleventh hour. Poor Betsystrives much for our sakes, both in body and soul: she works hard all dayto save us trouble, and I fear has not strength to support all she does;and then she talks to us, and reads to us, and prays for us, that we maybe saved from the wrath to come. Indeed, sir, she's a rare child to us."

  "Peace be to you, and to all that belong to you!"

  "Amen, and thank you, dear sir," was echoed from each tongue.

  Thus we parted for that time. My returning meditations were sweet, and Ihope profitable.

  Many other visits were afterwards made by me to this peaceful cottage,and I always found increasing reason to thank God for the intercourse Ithere enjoyed.

  An interval of some length occurred once during that year in which I hadnot seen the Dairyman's family. I was reminded of the circumstance bythe receipt of the following letter:--

  "REV. SIR,

  "I have been expecting to see or hear from you for a considerable time. Excuse the liberty I take in sending you another letter. I have been confined to the house the greater part of the time since I left ---. I took cold that day, and have been worse ever since. I walk out a little on these fine days, but seem to myself to walk very near the borders of eternity. Glory be to God, it is a very pleasing prospect before me! Though I feel the working of sin, and am abased, yet Jesus shows his mercy to be mine, and I trust that I am his. At such times--

  'My soul would leave this heavy clay At his transporting word, Run up with joy the shining way To meet and prove the Lord.

  Fearless of hell and ghastly death, I'd break through ev'ry foe; The wings of love and arms of faith Would bear me conqu'ror through.'

  My desire is to live every moment to God, that I may, through his grace, be kept in that heavenly, happy frame of mind, that I shall wish for at the hour of death. We cannot live or die happy without this; and to keep it, we must be continually watching and praying: for we have many enemies to disturb our peace. I am so very weak, that now I can go nowhere to any outward means for that help which is so refreshing to my spirit.

  "I should have been very happy to have heard you last Sunday, when you preached at ---. I could not walk so far. I hope the word spoken by you was made a blessing to many who heard it. It was my earnest prayer to God that it might be so. But, alas! once calling does not awaken many that are in a sound sleep. Yet the voice of God is sometimes very powerful, when his ministers speak; when they are influenced by his Holy Spirit, and are simple and sincere in holding forth the word of life. Then it will teach us all things, and enlighten our mind and reveal unto us the hidden things of darkness, and give us out of that divine treasure 'things new and old.' Resting on God to work in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure, we ought always to work as diligent servants, that know they have a good Master, that will surely not forget their labour of love.

  "If we could but fix our eyes always on that crown of glory that waits us in the skies, we should never grow weary in well-doing, but should run with patience and delight in the work and ways of God, where he appoints us. We should not then, as we too frequently do, suffer these trifling objects here on earth to draw away our minds from God, to rob him of his glory and our souls of that happiness and comfort which the believer may enjoy amidst outward afflictions. If we thus lived more by faith in the Son of God, we should endeavour to stir up all whom we could to seek after God. We should tell them what he has done for us, and what he would do for them if they truly sought him. We should show them what a glorious expectation there is for all true believers and sincere seekers.

  "When our minds are so fixed on God, we are more desirous of glorifying him, in making known his goodness to us, than the proud rich man is of getting honour to himself. I mourn over my own backwardness to this exercise of duty, when I think of God's willingness to save the vilest of the vile, according to the dispensations of his eternal grace and mercy. Oh, how amiable, how lovely does this make that God of love appear to poor sinners, that can view him as such! How is the soul delighted with such a contemplation! They that have much forgiven, how much they love!

  "These thoughts have been much on my mind since the death of ---. I trust the Lord will pardon me for neglect. I thought it was my duty to speak or write to him: you remember what I said to you respecting it. But I still delayed till a more convenient season. Oh, how I was struck when I heard the Lord had taken him so suddenly! I was filled with sorrow and shame for having neglected what I had so often resolved to do. But now the time of speaking for God to him was over. Hence we see that the Lord's time is the best time. Now the night of death was come upon him; no more work was to be done. If I had done all that lay in my power to proclaim reconciliation by Christ to his soul, whether he had heard or no, I should have been clear of his blood. But I cannot recall the time that is past,
nor him from the grave. Had I known the Lord would have called him so suddenly, how diligent I should have been to warn him of his danger! But it is enough that God shows us what _we_ are to do, and not what _he_ is about to do with us or any of his creatures. Pray, sir, do all you can for the glory of God. The time will soon pass by, and then we shall enter that glorious rest that he hath prepared for them that love him. I pray God to fill you with that zeal and love which he only can inspire, that you may daily win souls to Christ. May he deliver you from all slavish fear of man, and give you boldness, as he did of old those that were filled with the Holy Ghost and with power!

  "Remember, Christ has promised to be with all his faithful ministers to the end of time. The greater dangers and difficulties they are exposed to, the more powerful his assistance. Then, sir, let us fear none but him. I hope you will pray much for me, a poor sinner, that God will perfect his strength in my weakness of body and mind; for without him I can do nothing. But when I can experience the teaching of that Holy One, I need no other teacher. May the Lord anoint you with the same, and give you every grace of his Holy Spirit, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God; that you may know what is the height and depth, the length and breadth, of the love of God in Christ Jesus; that you may be in the hand of the Lord as a keen archer to draw the bow, while the Lord directs and fastens the arrows of conviction in the hearts of such as are under your ministry!

  "I sincerely pray that you may be made a blessing to him that has taken the place of the deceased. I have heard that you are fellow- countrymen: I hope you are, however, both as strangers in this world, that have no abiding place, but seek a country out of sight.

  "Pray excuse all faults.

  "From your humble servant in the bonds of the gospel of Christ,

  "E--- W---."

  When I perused this and other letters, which were at different timeswritten to me by the Dairyman's daughter, I felt that in the person ofthis interesting correspondent were singularly united the characters of ahumble disciple and a faithful monitor. I wished to acknowledge thegoodness of God in each of these her capacities.

  I sometimes entertain a hope that the last day will unfold the value ofthese epistolary communications, beyond even any present estimate oftheir spiritual importance.