Eglanton Thorne

“ And, overcome with emotion, Julia sank on to the bench, and again began to sob.
"Dear Julia, if you are a sinner, I am one also," said Ellen. "And the Saviour who has forgiven my sins, will forgive yours, if you will only ask Him."
"Oh, Ellen, is it true?" cried Julia, a ray of hope passing over her countenance. "Is it all true that the preacher said—'As many as touched Him'? Can I go to Him? Can I touch Him?"
"Yes, it is true, quite true," Ellen assured her. "The Lord Jesus will receive you lovingly, and heal your sins. But here comes Jerry; he will tell you better than I can. ”

“ Julia was holding it thus, when they were suddenly startled by Miss Mansfield's loud knock at the door. Both jumped at the sound, and in her fright, the candle fell from Julia's hand on to the heap of muslins. Instantly the gauzy material took fire, and the flame rapidly mounting caught Ellen's apron, and in a moment, she was in flames.
"Oh, Julia! Help me! Help me!" she screamed, in her terror.
But, much alarmed, Julia lost all presence of mind, and rushed out of the room, shrieking, "Fire! Fire!" ”

“ Her mind was busy with thoughts of the pleasant future which she imagined lay before her as they drove through the country lanes, between fields of ripening corn, or meadows still covered with sweet-scented hay.
"Good-bye, my lass," said her father, kissing her affectionately, as she sat in a third-class carriage, with her ticket for Charmouth in her hand. "Be a good girl, and try to please your aunt. Your father will be right glad to see you whenever you can come home."
The whistle sounded, and Ellen waved a last good-bye to her father as the train glided out of the station. ”

“ Ellen and Jerry were soon placed in a carriage, and as the train bore them away, joyously waving farewells to the friends they left behind, Miss Graham thought she had never seen such happy faces as theirs.
What a pleasant journey that was! It was now nearly a year since Ellen had quitted her home, and many a pang of home-sickness had she experienced in the interval. Absence had taught her to value her parents' love, and to long for the presence of the little ones, whom in past days she had often found tiresome. ”

“ But early in the morning, when Mary awoke, the woman who watched beside her observed a great change in her appearance, and knew that it betokened the approach of death. Death had for Mary no terror; calm and happy in spirit, she passed joyfully from earth to the presence of her Saviour."
Ellen's tears fell fast as she listened to these words, and she was much touched by learning how kindly Mary had thought of her, and the message she had sent her. ”

“ For many weeks, he had been obliged to lie perfectly still upon a flat couch, but the boy had borne the restraint without murmuring.
His winning ways won the affection of all about him, and he became a favourite alike with doctors, nurses, and fellow-patients. Miss Graham, who frequently passed an hour by his bedside, was especially fond of him, and her kindness awakened in Jerry's heart the warmest love and gratitude. She fully sympathised in his joy as he felt his limbs regaining power and began to walk, at first only a few steps at a time, but with daily increasing strength. ”

“ As he passed along these dark, noisome streets, his heart was full of pity for the wretched beings he met.
"Oh, Ellen, to think how little one can do!" he said to his sister. "All this sin and misery; so many treading the paths of death, and so few stretch forth a hand to their rescue! ”

“ Then with joy, Jerry proclaimed that the Saviour was still "mighty to save." His heart had not changed towards man; He still yearned over them in love, and pitied their sorrows. He told these miserable folk that Jesus cared for their bodies, that He knew every ache and pain that they suffered, and could understand their weakness and want. He encouraged them to bring every malady, physical or spiritual, to the Great Physician; but with especial earnestness, he pleaded with them to seek deliverance from the fatal leprosy of sin, which worketh death both to body and soul. ”

“ Baby is getting quite a big child now, and will soon run alone. I can trust him in Lucy's care; she is wonderfully thoughtful and managing for her age. And father will have to be both mother and father to them all for a few days," replied her mother.
"And Jerry? How is Jerry?" asked Ellen, eagerly.
"Oh! Jerry really seems to be getting stronger, I am thankful to say, dear, and he has great hopes that he will be quite well in time," answered Mrs. Mansfield. "His father carries him downstairs now, and he sits in the chimney-corner. He's as good as ever, bless him! ”

“ I wasted my time in watching for the postman. All in vain, however, for he brought no letter from Aunt Matilda."
Jerry's face clouded at these words.
"I can't bear to think of your going away from home, Nelly," he said.
"I shall be sorry to leave you all, but very glad for other reasons to go," replied Ellen.
"I can't think what mother will do without you," said Jerry. "She will miss you dreadfully. She is busy enough as it is, but she will have to work harder than ever when you are gone." ”

“ And Jerry! How sorry Jerry would be! Ellen could picture the dismay the news would cause in her home. And the thought that all this might have been prevented if she had but acted wisely, was not reassuring.
Night approached, and stillness and repose pervaded the ward. Most of its occupants slept through the night, but there were a few whose maladies deprived them of rest. Ellen was one of these. Her burns smarted so sorely that sleep was out of the question, and as the night wore on her agitation of mind increased. ”

“ Julia said, with a laugh.
"No, I don't like it at all," rejoined Ellen discontentedly. "I get dreadfully tired of being always indoors. At home, I never used to stay in the house for more than an hour at a time, but here I can scarcely ever get out."
"I wonder if you would like to go with me to my Bible-class?" said Mary Nelson, looking up from her work. "I should think your aunt would have no objection to that."
"What is a Bible-class like?" asked Ellen. "I have never been to one." ”

“ Jerry sighed. "Is there nothing else you can tell me, Nelly?" he asked, after a pause.
Ellen tried to think of something that might comfort him. "I remember the preacher said that, whatever might be our sins and sorrows, they could not be beyond Christ's power to heal. Just as He could cure all manner of diseases when on earth, so now He can relieve all our wants, and help us in all our distresses." ”

“ Trembling, yet believing, she approached in spirit the Saviour, and laid her fingers on the hem of His garment, when, lo! Her faith was rewarded, and she felt in herself that she was whole of her infirmity. To grief and terror succeeded peace and quietness, and a happy sense of forgiveness.
Tranquility of mind produces a corresponding state of body. Ellen became less sensible of pain, and, as the light of morning broke, she lost all consciousness of it, in refreshing slumber.
On the following afternoon, much to Ellen's delight, Miss Graham entered the ward. ”

“ Ellen admitted. "But I don't get up till late in the morning, for aunt is never in a hurry on Sundays. Then I generally write a long letter home, and in the evening, I go to church with aunt; so the time passes quickly. I like it better than sewing all the day."
"I daresay you do," returned Julia. "But, for all that, it is hard that you should not have some pleasure on the only holiday you get. I wish you could come with me for a walk next Sunday afternoon. ”

“ His mother herself accompanied him on his journey, for she could entrust the care of him to no one.
The day fixed for their going proved fine and mild for the time of year, which wanted only a fortnight to Christmas. The children were all much excited by their brother's departure, and hardly knew whether to be glad or sorry. For were there not tears in their mother's eyes as she wrapped her warmest shawl around Jerry's fragile form, although she smiled the while, and talked hopefully of the future day when he would come back to them strong and well? ”

“ I have been a poor Christian, so faithless and cowardly; but I don't know what I should have done all these years without Jesus. You don't know what a dreary life it is to sit sewing all day long, till one's side aches, and one feels ill all over. I used to think sometimes that if the ladies who wore the pretty dresses knew what it cost us poor girls to make them, they wouldn't care about them so much. Well, I don't think I shall ever make any more. You know Miss Mansfield would not let me work for her any longer, because I could not consent to work on Sunday. ”

“ Ellen asked, after she had told how firmly Jerry believed that the Lord would some day make him whole.
"His power is the same now as in the days of old, dear, though it is manifested under different conditions. Your little brother is quite right in believing that Jesus can restore him to health if it be His will, and is obeying the teaching of Scripture in praying as he does, for you know we are told 'in everything by prayer and supplication to make our requests known unto God.'"
"Oh, how I wish his prayer might be answered," said Ellen. "I pray every day that he may be made well." ”

“ You should never give that sort of people what they ask. They'll be sure to cheat you, if they can. When you've lived in town a while, you'll know better, I trust, than to let yourself be imposed on so easily. This is the first time you've been from home, isn't it?"
"Yes, ma'am," replied Ellen timidly, with difficulty keeping back the tears which were ready to fall.
"Why, what a tall girl you are, to be sure!" continued her aunt, taking a pin from the front of her dress, which was so studded with needles and pins as to give her the appearance of an animated pincushion. ”

“ For Joseph Mansfield's family was longer than his purse, and he could not afford to keep any of his children in idleness.
He paid a heavy rent for the few acres of land which he farmed, and was frequently in arrears with it. When a bad season came, or any of the cattle died, his face grew long, and he talked about ruin, whilst his wife looked more pale and worried than ever.
The elder children knew that their parents expected them to work for themselves as soon as they were old enough to do so, and Ellen was especially anxious to be earning her own living. ”

“ As she stood idly leaning against the hedge, her face wearing a most discontented expression, the sound of approaching steps fell on her ear. A young man was walking quickly down the lane, looking about him with the air of one unacquainted with the locality, and in search of some particular place. Ellen observed him with curiosity, for he was to her a stranger, and the appearance of a stranger in that rural neighbourhood was a rare event. His demeanour was different from that of any of the country folk thereabout. ”

“ A liberal expenditure in dress must be good for trade."
"Not necessarily," replied Miss Graham. "It has been proved often enough that the extravagance of the rich can only exert a baneful influence upon the condition of the poor. The habits of the upper classes are imitated by those beneath them, and inexpressible sin and misery are often the result. If ladies were more considerate towards those they employ, and more anxious to influence them aright, young workwomen would not be exposed to the terrible temptations by which many are overcome." ”

“ Accordingly, the next Sunday afternoon, Mary called for Ellen, and the two set off together for the school at which the class was held. It took them about twenty minutes to reach it, and as the afternoon was bright, Ellen thoroughly enjoyed the walk thither. She felt rather shy and awkward as she entered the class-room, where about a dozen girls were seated, awaiting the arrival of their teacher. But they greeted the new-comer kindly, and she soon felt at ease with them. ”

“ Ellen was inclined to like her, for she was bright and lively, and anxious to make friends with the new-comer.
Mary Nelson was several years older than the other girls, having already served her apprenticeship, and being retained in Miss Mansfield's employ because her assistance was of such value. She was a very quiet girl, and seldom spoke unless addressed. She would stitch away as diligently when Miss Mansfield was out of the room as in her presence. Her health was delicate, and sometimes she became faint from bending over her work too long. ”

“ Then be assured, dear Ellen, that your prayer and his are not unheard, although the answer be delayed, and may not, perhaps, come exactly in the way you desire. Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, sometimes sees fit to deny our requests ”

“ Such meetings as this were welcomed by not a few in that country district, which lay several miles from any church, and whose scattered inhabitants depended entirely for religious instruction on the occasional visit of an evangelist such as the one about to address them. At a brief notice, many persons would gather together in a barn or cottage to hear the Word, some cheerfully coming a considerable distance for the purpose.
Ellen felt the preacher's eye rest upon her with a glance of recognition as she seated herself but a few feet in front of him. ”