Catharine Shaw

“ For, as with blushing, smiling face the little girl made a deep obeisance to her Sovereign, that gracious lady rose in her carriage, and, all unseen by any other eyes, bowed to the lonely little girl in the lonely country road.
"I wonder if I shall see the Queen?" questioned May that morning, as she carried armful after armful of clothes from the boxes to the drawers.
"Very likely you will," answered Lucia, "if we go into Windsor. It is but a chance thing to see the Queen out here, but of course she does drive every day somewhere when she is at home." ”

“ There was silence for a minute round the bright fire, for Auntie had set the children thinking.
"I suppose we are all apt to be hard on someone!" ventured Rose, at last.
"Yes, I expect we are," said Aunt Ruth. "We all have our different ways of showing it, and the things that make us hard differ with each of our dispositions. But God seems to me to stand like 'a shadow of a great rock in a weary land,' with His everlasting love ready to enfold us and protect us and calm us."
"Why did you tell us this to-day, Auntie?" asked Tom. ”

“ Dr. Arundel paused; he seemed unable to answer, and a heavy, heavy sigh escaped him; but after a minute he said:
"Ada, I am afraid that is a very rebellious thought. Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil?"
"Oh, I can't, papa," said Ada bitterly.
"You cannot make yourself, my dear; but He can make you. Ada, submit. Oh, my child, it must come sooner or later! You are His, and He sends it in love. It is so, though we cannot see it now; but I can, and do trust Him that it is so."
Ada lay silently looking in the face which seemed almost grey with sorrow. ”

“ AUNT RUTH had been out all the evening, and when she came home the children were walking up and down the gravel path, waiting for her.
The darkness had fallen, and the young moon had set, so that there was nothing now but the blue vault of heaven studded with twinkling, sparkling stars.
"I love starlight," said Jean, pressing close to her side.
"Yes; the stars seem to bring one so near to God!"
"Where have you been Auntie?" asked Tom. ”

“ But Cain did not heed God's gentle persuasion, that he too could bring a sin-offering; and presently, when he was alone with his brother, he got more and more angry, and at last rushed at him and struck him and killed him!
Oh, the misery of poor Cain! No one can tell how he longed to undo that cruel deed. No one knows the sorrow and punishment of his whole life.
Children, let it be a warning to us not to let anger and jealousy live in our hearts, but let us pray every day, "Deliver me from Satan, the Evil one, who would tempt me to sin against Thee, and accept me, for Jesus' sake!" ”

“ Arundel.
"It is all I could wish," said Christina. "The front is dull; but the back windows look out on the garden and on the Heath. Oh, such a view! No wonder Nellie praised it up!"
"But then it is almost let?" said Dr. Arundel. "Yes; they will know in a day or two."
"I hate waiting," said Ada, sighing.
"It is hard for everybody," said Walter; "but sometimes it is just the lesson God has for us to learn."
His eyes rested for an instant on Christina, and he felt Nellie's hand slipped into his lovingly.
"I do not know anything much harder," said Dr. Arundel. ”

“ Mrs. Headley smiled, looking half convinced.
"Who is it you are afraid to leave?" asked Agnes coaxingly. "Is it me, mother?"
"You?" echoed Mrs. Headley, stroking her face tenderly. "No, not you, dear."
"Then it is John."
"No, no; John is a good boy, he will help you I am sure."
"Then is it Hugh?"
"No; Hugh is steady, and very fond of his lessons; and he will be sure to do as you wish him, if he promises beforehand."
"Then is it Alice?"
Mrs. Headley shook her head.
"Then it must be Minnie, for there's no one else. And as to Minnie, you know I love her exactly as if she were my own child." ”

“ Meg never looked out if she could help it. People must live in London, she supposed, and Jem had asked her to come and make London bright for him, and she meant to do it if she could. And then her eyes went up above the narrow street, and looked into the clear June sky, and she whispered: "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; they shall walk and not faint." ”

“ And God chose Moses, whom He had so wonderfully trained, to be His Servant, who should deliver the Children of Israel from their hard slavery.
Moses knew all about Egypt. He could speak the language of the Egyptians: he understood all about the Court of Pharaoh, and the customs of the Egyptians. So God sent him straight down to Egypt to deliver His people, and He gave him this great and beautiful promise to cheer his heart:
"Certainly I will be with thee." ”

“ Jesus had seen how hopeless this man had been, and He healed him, but He wanted him to have a greater blessing still, even to have his sins forgiven.
And for us—He sees how we need to be healed of our sins, and from the remembrance of what we have done wrong; and He says to us, too: Wilt thou be made whole? Wilt thou have my forgiveness, and come to me and be saved? And then, like the helpless man in the story, we can look up into the face of Jesus, Who is in Heaven looking down on us now, and all at once we can realize His mighty power to save us! and we can yield ourselves to His love. ”

“ But when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him down to Egypt, "the heart of Jacob their father revived, and Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go down and see him before I die!"
And children! These wagons of Joseph's have often been a lesson to me!
Like old Jacob, we see God's mercies surrounding us, and yet because we do not believe and trust Him enough, our hearts faint within us at some fresh difficulty that stands in our way, perhaps. ”

“ Then He turned at once to Thomas, and said to him: "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.
"And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God!
"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." ”

“ Christina could only whisper that she had passed through the same anguish herself, and knew how it felt; and then she reminded her, too, of Him who sorrowed and wept with bereaved ones, and of what a tender heart He had.
"And think, dear Ada, of her joy now. Think of her redeemed spirit among the multitude whom no man can number. No more pain or anxiety or weariness, but with her Lord, rejoicing in serving Him with perfect service for ever." ”

“ They went up and down for some minutes, while Meg and Cherry wept, and wiped away their tears in turn.
By-and-by they heard Dickie ask in a whisper—
"Shall I ever get better, and be able to see my mo'ver-Meg?" And Jem answered, in that low husky voice which betokened strong emotion—
"I can't say as you will for certain, Dickie, not here; but there's one thing as I do know on. In heaven we are promised, all of us who love Him, to see His face; and that'll be better than even mother-Meg's." ”

“ Agnes gave an answering smile. "Oh, John, it is that we are His; that, through the coming of the dear Saviour, we have been given all other blessings—happiness and peace here, everlasting joy hereafter."
"And you think that ought to make up for all other deficiencies?" asked Hugh.
"If we have got it," said Alice thoughtfully; "but sometimes I wonder——" she looked down, and tears glittered in her eyes.
Agnes heard the quiver in the tone, and put her arm lovingly round her sister. "Is it so difficult to know?"
Alice shook her head.
"He gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." ”

“ Ada went up to Christina and gave her a soft little kiss, saying humbly, "I should very much like to help you, if you would let me."
Christina glanced at her, pressed her hand, and said, "Thank you, dear Ada; there will be plenty to do."
"We were saying," said Nellie, "that it would be difficult to love the dirty, disagreeable children as well as the nice and clean ones."
"I suppose," said Arthur bluntly, "you will not leave them dirty, however disagreeable they may be."
"Of course not," said Christina; "I believe a bath is the first duty." ”

“ All the children knew that Aunt Ruth had had some great trial, but they had never been told what it was.
"The lesson I learned in that peaceful time was, 'The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.'"
"I learned, dears, that God wishes to be to us all a Sun and a Shield. As a Sun, He warms and cheers us with the light of His countenance; as a Shield, He shelters us from that which would hurt us and do us harm." ”

“ But in this Kingdom of Heaven you may always abide, till the Harvest-day comes; and happy for you if you do!
God's Kingdom is a place where His Good Seed grows.
Perhaps your Mother or your Teacher tells you of Jesus our Saviour, and of His love, and you long to be able to serve Him. You would like to be kind and loving to those round you; you are sorry when you do wrong, you are happy when you do right. That is the Good Seed taking root and growing in your heart! ”

“ When we are sad, and look at the stars, it ought to make us happy. Shall I tell you why?"
"But nurse says Evan is goin' to die!" said Queenie convulsively. "She said it was Ivor's fault, and—I don't like havin' Evan die!"
"No, dear. But do you know, Queenie, why I want you to look at the stars?"
Queenie gave a quick little glance upward, and then hid her face again in her sister's neck.
"It is because they tell us of God's great love, Queenie! He holds the stars up in the sky, and He holds Evan in His hand too; so we must trust Him, Queenie, because He loves us so much." ”

“ Arundel tucked her up smoothed her hair, wiped away her tears, and turned to the dressing-table.
Ada jumped out of bed, and gave her the glycerine, and with one more kiss jumped in again, and buried her head far beneath the clothes.
If she fought a hard battle there with her anxious fears, there was One knew it; and if she came off victorious and at rest, there was One who proved Himself, as He has so often done before, "a refuge from the storm; a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." ”

“ This is a word-picture of what our Lord Jesus is. "The Good Shepherd, Who giveth His life for the sheep!"
If we feel that we have wandered away, we can go and tell Jesus, and He will forgive us.
Or if we are in any trouble or danger, He is ever near us, to help us and guide us, and do us good.
And when the little lamb comes to Jesus, and says, "I am sorry," or the big sheep comes back and asks forgiveness, then Jesus rejoices, and says to us all: "I say unto you, That likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth." ”

“ But Meg put her hand into his.
"It's the heart, that is the thing, Jem," she whispered, "and that's above fine words and ways."
"If you can be satisfied with that, Meg, we shall be very happy!" he answered, clasping her hand tightly; "for my whole heart is yours, which has never loved another."
"And I'm not afraid," Meg went on earnestly, "since you told me all that happened two years ago. Any one who has felt like that is safe to trust." ”

“ If we only trusted our heavenly Father as those children in their play-houses trust their earthly father, how different life would be!"
She turned round and retraced her steps, without disturbing the little party; but though she left them behind, she did not leave the thoughts which they had suggested.
She entered the cottage, fetched her easel and her painting materials, and sat down under the elms to sketch, while the bees buzzed dreamily, and the birds sang a ceaseless song.
That quiet morning was a turning-point in Lucia's life. ”

“ Ask that Jesus may be close to us in every trial, and conquer Satan for us, when he tries to make us fall.
"For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever. Amen." God is our King, we are His subjects; He has all power, so that we can rely on His help; He has all glory, and will share it with us by and by, if we will yield ourselves to Him and obey Him. ”

“ So Nellie gave a light spring, and found herself in a deep shady nook, with lovely ferns growing in the greatest profusion, broken stones lying scattered about, and that indescribable smell which belongs to verdant damp vegetation. The sound of trickling water added to the charm, and Nellie uttered an exclamation of delight.
"It is lovely, isn't it?" said Wilmot, looking up in her face. "It seems to quiet the soul, and lead one far away from the turmoil of life." ”

“ It is—to take Jesus to be our Saviour.
To ask Him to wash away our sins; to help us to be pure, and good; to be our light in our darkest hours; to be our joy, our life, and our happiness, if we have taken Him for our own Saviour. ”

“ Then there is the packing up; the bustle; the drive through London in a cab; the anticipation; the journey; the intense expectation as to what the new place will be like—these and a hundred more thoughts will be recognised by London children as belonging to "going out of town."
Dr. Arundel sat at the bottom of the table, with Netta and Isabel on either side of him, and he looked as pleased and smiling as all the rest.
"Papa is always so unselfish," thought Nellie, as she glanced at his peaceful face.
"When are we to go?" asked Ada, as soon as she could squeeze in the question. ”

“ When the shortest day comes, I say to myself, 'My summer has begun.' You cannot think how, to rejoice in the lengthening days, seems to shorten the winter!"
"I daresay it does," said Tom reflectively.
"Every bit of hopefulness does one good, you know," Mary went on softly. "You laugh at me for quoting 'Pa Gladden' so often, but he says 'Human nature air always huntin' for the cheerful,' and I have noticed that cheery people bring sunshine." ”

“ Headley turned to her husband with a mute appeal. "Tell them," she said brokenly, "what we were saying this morning."
"We want you all to think of one thing. In any difficulty, in every difficulty, in all circumstances, say to yourselves, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?' If you wait and hear the answer, it will help you in everything."
"People generally do wait to hear the answer to their question, don't they, father?" asked John.
"Not always; especially when they are speaking to God. But you be wiser, my children. In the waiting-time for the answer an extra blessing often comes." ”

“ The care of the five little brothers and sisters was no longer a burden too great for her shoulders; the broken visit with its hardly understood charms ceased to cause her such a heartache whenever she thought of it; for she had resigned the one and the other to His will, who surely loved her, and instead of fret and pain came a peace that passed all understanding.
She took up her brush once more, but that drawing never got to its destination. Into that pond and waterlilies, into those daisies and clover, were painted a yielded heart ”

“ Arundel sat down by her side, and took her hand in silence.
Ada tried to rouse herself; and quietly wiped away her tears. Her father bent down and kissed her, saying kindly, "Is anything special troubling you, my dear?"
"It is, papa, that she can never know—"
"I think she will, dear; and I have been thinking, too, of the best way of being sure she will know."
"How?" asked Ada, checking her sobs.
"By helping to bring all whom she loved to be stars in her Saviour's crown."
"Oh, papa, I feel as if I should never do anything again! Life is worth nothing without her." ”

“ We are on a sinking ship! The waves of our sins are washing over us! Do any of you doubt it? Have you ever felt a sin? Have you ever done a thing that you would not like your mamma to see? I know that each of you at this moment is confessing to yourself with a prick at your heart, 'I should not like her to have seen that!' Well, then, if so, the waves of your sins will sink you.
"Oh, children, we all need the Life-boat! Here it is:
"'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.'
"The Life-boat is come close to every one of you to-day. ”

“ Aunt Ruth pointed to the sunset, and rose to go in; but as Tom struggled to his feet, she said softly: "Tom, I don't think there is any home in America getting ready—"
"But I know there is," said Tom, bluntly; "meanwhile, and always, 'He careth for you,' auntie!"
They went in at last, and as they were wishing good-night, Aunt Ruth said: "Children, as you all seem to want me to live with you, I am only too happy to come." ”

“ Lucia looked puzzled; she glanced out of the window, and then back at their little eager faces.
"I do not suppose you could come to any harm," she said; "but I wish you had been happy to stay here to-day."
"Oh, do let us!" coaxed Ivor. "We have been awfully good now, haven't we? Not a bit of trouble; and we will be back by dinner time."
"I should think so!" exclaimed Lucia. "Of course you will, long before that." ”

“ They may be too much pleasure, too much enjoyment, too many toys, love of money, love of our own way—heaps of things in our hearts may choke God's good seed, and it may not grow up and bear fruit. Oh, how sad, if this should be so with our hearts! Let us ask God not to let them be overgrown with "thorns."
But at last the seed falls on to good ground. The Word of God comes to a heart which is ready to receive it. A heart which is longing for the Lord Jesus to live in it. Longing that His seed may grow and bear fruit, and that people may know that we love Jesus and want to please God. ”

“ They were silent, looking into the fire.
"I thought you'd scold me awfully," he said at last.
"Did you?" asked Agnes; "you should go to somebody who has not sinned herself if you want that."
"But you've never been tempted to go and take advantage of your parents' being away, and do exactly as you knew they'd hate you to do."
"No," answered Agnes, "my temptations may not be the same as yours, and yet I've just as much to be sorry for when I go to my Lord as you have."
"Just as much?" asked Hugh, looking in her face, "do you mean that really, Agnes." ”

“ The uncommon occurrence of Ada's being unselfish, and of something in herself being noticeable, set Nellie thinking very deeply as she walked down alone to the station.
"Am I adorning the doctrine of God my Saviour?" she asked herself. "Why am I so cast down? Mamma said God loves him better than I do. Oh, I must try! How very unprepared I have been for such a trial. I thought I had only to guard myself from impatience with the children, or getting tired of endless little duties; but I never thought such a temptation as this could overtake me. It is harder than anything else could be. ”

“ CHAPTER V. AUNT RUTH.
"NOW, Nellie, my dear," said Aunt Ruth, as they were seated together at work in the drawing room the next morning, "tell me all about them at home."
Nellie looked up in her aunt's face—a face still young for the actual age; a face that had lived through seas of suffering, but which was the index of a heart that rested now, and ever had rested, on the Rock of Ages.
"How can I begin to tell you, dear aunt?"
"Anything will be welcome, darling; but first your dear papa."
"I think he is just as usual," answered Nellie. "He always is just the same." ”

“ Here you all are!" said Aunt Ruth.
"Yes, just ready for a nice twilight story," said Rose. "They are getting the tea, and there is just time."
Aunt Ruth was always willing, though she seldom suggested a talk unless they did. Often she seized upon a little lesson from what was passing at the moment, which the children were grateful for, and did not forget.
"Well, come along, settle yourselves quickly," she said, "for if Rose is right about the tea, there will not be much time."
They all gathered round her affectionately.
"Well, auntie?" said Oswald, by way of a beginning. ”

“ But still the sower goes on sowing. And the next seeds fall among the bushes that grow by the path; and the little seeds get choked with the big, thorny bushes, and never grow up to be good plants, or to be of any use to anyone!
But at last the sower comes to a part of the field where the ground is good and soft.
He throws the handfuls now with joy! He knows there will be a harvest by and by! The seed sinks into the good ground, it takes root, and when the time of harvest comes, and the reapers come to gather the beautiful corn, there are heaps of sheaves ”

“ Elliot, looking along the lane in a hopeless kind of way that made Nellie's heart ache.
Maude sprang up, and went to peep round a bend, to look for the others, and Nellie put her hand softly on Mrs. Elliot's. "I would rather trust Him!" she said gently, looking with full eyes into the careworn widow's face.
"I do not know, my dear; life has been a long struggle with me, and I have had but little joy, and now my best is gone, and I have nothing left but an empty chair and an empty heart." ”

“ Seven hundred years before our Lord Jesus was born, in Bethlehem, the Prophet Isaiah foretold that a man would live in the wilderness, and would cry aloud, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God! . . . The grass withereth and the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever! . . . O Jerusalem that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!" That was the prophecy, and we read the fulfilment in the Gospels of Matthew and John. ”

“ AFTER this Christina went home, and Ada gradually resumed her old ways, so far as they could be taken up without the one who had been the moving spring of the house. There were times when she felt the misery of being motherless was almost more than she could bear; times when everything went wrong; when the children were cross, and there was no one to settle the quarrels; when Nellie wished things done which she considered unreasonable; when Arthur was wretched, and she could offer no comfort; when Tom was suffering, and there was no one to appeal to about him. ”

“ I doubt if she will ever be strong."
Ada took her up on her lap, and began to talk to her in baby language, Alice staring at her with grave eyes for some moments, and then holding out her arms, with quivering lips, to her nurse.
"She is so shy," said Margaret apologetically, "we have quite a trouble with her sometimes; but we do love her so dearly!" And she fondly kissed the fair little neck, and held her close to her.
"I suppose I am warm now," said Ada, rising; "but your heath is bitterly cold at the open part there, Margaret." ”

“ They all turned; for entering at the moment, with almost noiseless step, was Nellie's invalid aunt.
"I have just come to give you one kiss, darling, and to ask you how you have travelled, and how they all are at home?"
"Oh, very nicely, thank you, dear auntie! And I have had a very good journey. It is so sweet to be at dear Fairleigh again."
"You must be tired," answered her aunt, "and so our dear Hope will take you upstairs. Hope is quite like a grandchild here, and is a great comfort to us." ”

“ Nellie went straight over to the baby, and took him on her lap, and then drew Dolly to her knee.
"You've been crying," said Dolly, looking anxiously in her face.
"Yes," answered Nellie quietly; "but I want to tell you all something. Come, Netta and Isabel, darlings, come close to me."
"Is mamma worse?" asked Isabel.
"No, dear children, she is better; she is gone to be with Jesus."
"Gone?" said Dolly, with such a wail that Nellie's calmness almost gave way.
"Yes," she said, steadying her voice again; "her spirit is gone to heaven to be with God. ”