Ruth Lamb

“ Elwood reached it, and even the kind doctor's good-humoured countenance was overclouded when he asked in vain for little pet Effie.
"It seems strange," said he, when his wife told him the cause of the child's absence, "that so few people have patience and love enough to deal with children. But poor Margaret Henderson is like many others; she cannot forgive Him who has seen fit to afflict her; and because He has taken away one blessing, she flings the rest after it, and will have none. What froward children we are in the sight of our heavenly Father." ”

“ No walking to the house of God together; no taking sweet counsel together; no telling of the love of Jesus to the little ones, or bringing them to footstool for a welcome or a blessing. Seven working days in each week means no time for the concerns of any other world than this. No time for the Bible, for prayer, for thought of what is to follow when this world, its work, and its bustle, are ended for us; no time to think of a home beyond the grave, or to prepare for the great and solemn change that must come to us all sooner or later. ”

“ Who, to look at her now, would think she was the laughing lass that Frank Henderson was so delighted to bring to Deerhurst."
"To be sure, she is changed, and no doubt she has mourned terribly; but still I can't think it is right to be so hard and cold with poor little Effie. I call it both sinful and selfish to nurse one's grief until it makes others miserable."
"Come, come, neighbour," said Mrs. Brown; "we must remember what the Bible says about judging. It isn't easy to see the thoughts of another person's heart, and I am sure Mrs. Henderson never neglects anything to make Effie comfortable. ”

“ And yet, Jim, you would sit there and let him pour worse poison into your ears. Poison to kill the spiritual life that's in you; poison to destroy your soul and bring you not only to the death of the body, but to eternal death. I tell you, I'd just as soon drink a cup Of poison, as I would put myself in the way of taking in such soul-destroying stuff as that miserable blasphemer is trying to delude his fellow-men with. ”

“ As no member of that household is thinking of going to church, no child has a place at the Sunday-school; neither parents nor children think of washing or dressing until the afternoon. So, slatternly and comfortless, they go about preparing the only sign of Sunday in the shape of a really extravagant dinner.
When this is over, and the kitchen cleaned, after a fashion, the mother takes her Sabbath rest, by sleeping until tea-time, and spends her evening in gossip with the stray customers whom her husband serves—at least when he is to be found in the shop. ”

“ Elwood began to fear for the success of her mission, when she saw Effie's hands clasped in a supplicating attitude, while the tears streamed down her cheeks.
A table was strewed with a curious collection of odds and ends, such as would provoke a smile in a grown-up person, but which in a child's eyes are priceless treasures. ”

“ It is hard, terribly hard, to be linked for life to a drunkard; to have a miserable home and ragged children, where peace, comfort, and plenty ought to reign. But surely, where a woman's own intemperance of language has tended to make bad worse, conscience must speak with a stern accusing voice; unless by long neglect she has succeeded in silencing its pleadings.
I was once describing these two contrasting pictures to a poor friend, whose husband—a good workman, and in the receipt of large wages, often had fits of intemperance which lasted for several days at a time. ”

“ Ben's business was to start at the end of the town the farthest from the pier whence the steamer sailed, and to collect the goods and parcels which were to be sent by it. He blew a long horn at all the street corners, and used to delight the lads by the musical flourishes in which it was his pleasure to indulge.
On the return of the steamer, it was Ben Barry's duty to deliver all parcels and packages brought by it, and often a passenger's luggage as well. The process of collecting the goods in the morning was a long one, but as nothing compared with that of distributing them at night. ”

“ Duncan. I do not know how you keep up. Work, work, work, from early morning till nobody but yourself knows how late at night; with all those children to think about and care for; cooking, mending, nursing—for you've two little better than babies—and your husband as he is! It's enough to break down half-a-dozen women. And here you come with a smile and a pleasant word for everybody."
"Why, now, Miss Evans, we'll look at the other side, and see what a lot of things I have to keep me up. I've wonderful health, and feel strong and hearty. ”

“ How I sympathised with the brave heart, the Christian firmness, which made her resolve to give up her affianced husband—not because she did not love him, but because he did not love God.
"Martha," I said, "if George is worthy of your affections, your letter will not be long unanswered."
"I can leave myself in God's hands," she said; "but I have another trouble. My sister is young and pretty, and she is taken up with one who is far worse than George, for he makes game of people who even profess to be religious, and he is neither steady nor temperate. Will you try to persuade her to give him up? ”

“ His eldest girl, a sweet-faced modest young woman, is on her father's arm, the younger ones go in front—a little family band, of one heart and one mind. There is a sweet sense of peace and rest on the young faces, and a light on that of the father which tells of that other peace, which the world can neither give nor take away. ”

“ Not I, Jim; I hope I've read my Bible to better purpose than that. I profess to believe, ay, and I do believe that it is God's Word, and if I were to go and hear that man it would be like saying that I'm willing to let somebody try and persuade me that it is not. Nay, nay, 'Let God be true, but every man a liar,' say I. I cannot afford to be reasoned or persuaded out of what is my greatest comfort, Jim. ”

“ There is a Book in which God's grace, His infinite mercy, wisdom, truth—above all, His love for poor sinners, and his eternal plan for their redemption—are plainly set forth. There are places in which you may hear this Book explained. There are plenty of men and women who have experienced the loving-kindness of the Lord, who have known the burden and misery of sin, and can tell you how the dear Saviour, who said, 'Come unto Me,' has welcomed, pardoned, cleansed, comforted those who have accepted the invitation. ”

“ There was a very sweet union of nature and art outside Widow Henderson's cottage, for with all its wild beauty everything was in good order.
Poor thing! She was very young, only seven and twenty; yet that little bright-eyed lass of eight years old called her "mother." All the people in the village pitied her, and made a pet of orphan Effie, though the mother was a stranger from a far-away town and county. But Frank Henderson, her father, had been born and brought up at Deerhurst, and when he first talked about going to sea, it was made a trouble of by the whole parish. ”

“ Matthews wondered what Nellie meant, especially when he heard her glad shout, "I knew it would go! I was sure it would go."
But when her mother told him how the child's prayer, and her daily expressions of confidence, had cheered and comforted her during those days of trial, he understood it all, and rejoiced that the good seed sown in the young heart had already brought forth fruit.
The words of Jesus are—
"Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." ”

“ We all go together, and that is why we like it twice as well. I tell you, neighbour, that if one of us is kept away from God's house on the Sabbath, we feel as if we had lost something all the week through. ”

“ Truly God's ways are not as our ways. During that lonely hour by her still fireside, the dim twilight shutting out the external world, Margaret Henderson was taught the lesson which for more than eight long years she had been refusing to learn. When she rose from her knees, it was with an humble desire to place herself in God's hands, and a resolution to prove herself thankful for past and present mercies.
Naturally her first thought was of Effie, and of the lack of maternal love which was due to the little one. She felt that she had often been too harsh ”

“ Even if they would let me do it, and say what a comfort it is to feel that God loves a poor sinner like me; that Jesus died for me, and the Holy Spirit has brought home the blessed lesson to my heart, that was ready to sink with shame and fear, till that message of pardon came to me—who would listen?"
"I don't suppose anybody would; because, you see, the folks are going to hear the other man tell a different tale, and they would not have him interrupted."
"No, I should have to sit and drink in poison, and see other people doing the same without being able to knock the cup away." ”

“ Well, to be sure, the Bible says, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged,' and I don't mean to say for a moment that Mrs. Henderson means to be unkind to the poor child. Still, one can't help having some idea of a person's heart if one sees their actions. Now, do you think a child cares half so much for fine clothes as for loving words and kind looks? Why, if my little lass were not allowed to run and throw her arms round her father's neck and mine, and tell us all her little pleasures or troubles, she would wonder what was going to happen. ”

“ Duncan?" asked a pale-faced eager-looking girl, who had been listening attentively to the conversation between her and the forewoman.
"Do I believe God answers? To be sure I do, my dear. I don't mind telling you something about that, for I know we are so apt to get doubtful, in spite of all the promises, and the experience that a poor woman like me has had of God's faithfulness may help to strengthen some one else. You would hardly believe it now, but my poor John's sad accident has brought an answer to my prayer of years and years." ”

“ TWO shops stand side by side, in one of our city roads. Both are inhabited by hard-working and most obliging tradesmen. But there is a difference; for the one with the larger family works hard enough—the other works too hard. Six days' work in each week is enough for one, the other cannot do with less than seven.
One shop is closely shut on the Sunday, and from the side door, the father, a widower, may be seen, twice during the day, starting to join the assembly of God's people in His house. ”

“ God forbid that I should ever desire pain and suffering for anybody, much less my husband. I wouldn't hurt a hair of his head. But you're not married, and you don't know what it is to walk one way and your husband another. For some time after I was John's wife, it did not matter to me that he never went down on his knees at home, or taught our first children anything about God, or entered a place of worship. ”

“ It seems strange that two families so unlike each other should continue to live side by side for years, and each go on its own way unchanged. But the Sabbath-keeper has tried many a time to influence the Sabbath-breaker, and it grieves him to see his neighbour's children, and especially a fine lad of fifteen, growing up in this godless fashion.
"Why don't you take John to church?" he asked, one Sunday morning, as the father and son were lounging by the shop door. ”

“ Ben touched his hat, thanked the postmaster, and looked expectant. "Nay, Ben," said the latter, "I have no Christmas-box for you in addition. So far you have had all the money and the drink, whilst Jack and the old horse have had double share of cold and all the waiting. If they share the labour, they should share the benefit, and I prefer giving my Christmas-boxes in food and clothing, and where both are most needed, to bestowing money where it is likely to be misspent in drink by one who has had too much already." ”

“ It's poison all the same, whether printed or spoken, and if we take it in, the memory of it will stay with us, in spite of all we can do. Think what it would be in a time of trouble, where an earthly friend can't help us, if we had no Father in heaven to go to, no Saviour to feel for us and plead our cause! Oh, Jim, it is so precious to me to feel that when I go on my knees to pray, God is sure to hear and answer, too, in the way that will be best for me. And these atheist lecturers would take the comfort from us and give us nothing instead. ”

“ The secret of it is, that they leave the six working days outside the Sabbath as far possible; but they take as much as they can of the Sabbath lessons into the week days' work to cheer them onward.
Leaning against the door-post of the next shop is the too industrious master of it. He cannot spare himself the Sunday, and, though he puts up part of the shutters during morning hours, as a sort of compliment to the day of rest, you can see all the goods in tempting array within. ”

“ John Turner's face glowed again as he spoke. He was thoroughly in earnest, and this earnestness produced an impression on his neighbour who had a respect for his fellow-workman, though he sometimes laughed at him as being over-religious. Still, where a man's religion shows itself in his conduct to others, in the very work he does, and the temper he displays to all around him even when purposely tried by his companions, he must, sooner or later, win their goodwill and esteem.
"Why, John, I think you are the very man to go with me to the lecture," said Jim. ”

“ She listened to my story and said, "Ay, it's all very well to speak about having clean hearths and bright homes and pleasant looks for your husband. But how much does he see or notice when he comes in half blind with drink? I tell you, missis, there are men who, with kind wives, clean hearths, and pretty innocent children round them, would leave their homes if they were as grand as the Queen's, and find their pleasure in a public-house." ”