“ Fairyland never knew such a drive, surely. The afternoon was just right, as Norton had said; there was no dust, and not too much sun; the roads were in fine order; and they bowled along as if the ponies had had nothing to do in a great while. Now it was hardly within the memory of Matilda to have seen the country around Shadywalk as she saw it this afternoon. Every house had the charm of a picture; every tree by the roadside seemed to be planted for her pleasure. The meadows and fields of stubble and patches of ploughed land, were like pieces of a new world to the long housed child. ”
Summary
“Opportunities”, is a work by Susan Warner. It explores elements such as Matilda, Norton and Lilac Lane.
Quotes from Opportunities (Susan Warner)
“ See what brilliance of colour is there, and upon what a pure sky beyond!" "Will this ever seem like Mrs. Eldridge's house?" said Matilda. "This is the world that God made," said the minister, smiling. "I was thinking of the world that man has made." "Lilac Lane, Mr. Richmond?" said Matilda, glancing around her. They were hardly out of it. "Lilac Lane is not such a bad specimen," said the minister, with a sigh this time. "There is much worse than this, Matilda. And the worst of Lilac Lane is what you do not see. You had to buy your opportunity, then?" ”
“ On the bare shelf lay a half loaf of bread, pretty dry, with a knife alongside. A plate of broken meat, also full of flies, and looking, Matilda thought, fit for the flies alone, was there; a cup half full of salt; an empty vinegar cruet, an old shawl, ditto hood; a pitcher with no water; an old muslin cap, half soiled; a faded bit of ribband, and a morsel of cheese flanked by a bitten piece of gingerbread. Matilda came back sick at heart. "Where do you sleep, Mrs. Eldridge? and who makes your bed? Or can you make it?" "Sleep?" said the old woman. "Nobody cares. I sleep in yonder." ”
“ Norton asked. "Not in your own name; not as though you were your own master; not as seeking first your own pleasure or advancement; not as using your own things. Correlatively, for the Lord; for His pleasure, for His service, as belonging to Him." "'In word or deed,'" said Matilda. "That means giving and everything." "But then, in religion one would never be free," said Norton. "How, never be free?" "Why, one must act as if one never be longed to one's self." "We don't," said Mr. Richmond. "We are not our own; we are bought with a price. ”
“ I wouldn't do it, if I were you, if I didn't like it." "I don't like it," said Matilda; "but I think I ought to do what Aunt Candy wishes, as long as it is not something wrong." "She'll come to that," said Maria; "or it'll be something you will think wrong; and then we shall have a time! I declare, I believe I shall be glad!" "What for, Maria?" "Why! Then I shall have you again. You'll come on my side. It's lonely to have the dirty work all to myself. I don't suppose you mind it." "Indeed, but I do," said Matilda. "I don't like to sit up-stairs darning stockings." ”
“ Matilda sat silent, wondering what he meant. "You can always tell," said Norton. "People can't hide things. I can see she has been doing no end of kindnesses to you all summer long. That has made you so fond of her." Matilda was puzzled and sat silent, not knowing what it was best to say; and Norton watching her stealthily saw a wistful little face, tender and pure, and doubtful, that just provoked caresses. He dropped what was in his hands and fairly took possession of Matilda, kissing the pale cheeks, as if she were his own particular plaything. ”
“ Richmond?" said Matilda, piteously. "How can you help anything? The best way is to be so full of love to Jesus that you love everybody for his sake." "But people that are not good," said Matilda. "It is easy to love people that are good. The wonder of the love of the Lord Jesus is, that it comes to people who are not good. And His children are like Him. 'Be ye followers of God,' He tells them, 'as dear children; and walk in love.'" "I am not like that, Mr. Richmond," Matilda said, sadly. "Didn't you love little Lem Dow? I am sure he is not very good." ”
“ It is not at all likely that I can do what I have to do, in time to take an evening train." "I can take care of Pink, mamma." "Who will take care of you?" "I'll try," said Matilda. "What can you do, to take care of me?" said Norton. "You will want something to eat," said Matilda. "I think you will—before to-morrow night." "If I do, I can get it," said Norton. "He thinks dinner grows, like a cabbage," said Mrs. Laval; "or like a tulip, rather. His head is full of tulips. But I cannot go to-day to New York; I could not catch the train. ”
“ Norton remarked. "And it is a real good that the poor woman is ready to have Mr. Richmond come to see her now," said Matilda. "Mr. Richmond," repeated Mrs. Laval. "That's your minister. You think a great deal of Mr. Richmond, don't you, Matilda?" "Everybody does," said Matilda. Mrs. Laval smiled. "I don't know him, you know. But about your doings in the lane—there is no end to that sort of work. You might keep on for ever, and be no nearer the end. That is what always discourages me. There are always new old women to comfort, and fresh poor people to help. There is no end." ”
“ It was better than breakfast, to be out in the air. Matilda went round the corner, into Butternut Street, and made for Mr. Sample's grocery store, every step being a delight. Why could not the inside world be as pleasant as the outside? Matilda was musing and wishing, when just before she reached Mr. Sample's door, she saw what made her forget everything else; even the mischievous little boy who belonged to Mrs. Dow. What was he doing here in Butternut Street? Matilda's steps slackened. ”
“ Eldridge, does it?" "But, sir!" said Norton, "the more one gives away, the less one has for one's self?" "It does not always work so," said Mr. Richmond. "The Bible says, 'There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.'" Norton did not know exactly how to fight for his opinions, and so was silent, like a well-bred boy as he was; but Matilda's feeling was different. "I understand," she said; "at least I think I do; but, Mr. Richmond, this does not get Norton and me out of our puzzle. You don't mean that people ought to keep nothing for themselves?" ”
“ For Clarissa's features were coldly handsome and calm; Mrs. Candy's were set and purposeful; and poor Maria's were sadly clouded and out of humour. Matilda took little heed of them all; she was thinking of Lemuel Dow. "Matilda," said her aunt, suddenly—"I wish you to come to me every morning to read. A person who has taken the step you took last night, is no longer a child, but deserves to be treated as a woman. It is necessary that you should fit yourself for a woman's place. ”
“ What shall we do for the old lady? What does she want? Pooh! she wants everything; but what to begin with?" "Strawberries, you said." "Strawberries! Not at all. That's the last thing. I mean we'll fix her up, Pink. Now what does she want to be comfortable. It is only one old woman; but we shall feel better if she is comfortable. Or you will." "But what do you mean, Norton? how much can we do?" "Just as much as we've a mind to. I've got money, I tell you. Come; begin. What goes down first?" "Why, Norton," said Matilda, in an ecstasy, "it is like a fairy story." ”
“ Less spirit and spring; less hope and desire; less strength and pleasure. Work was grinding her down, she thought—work and discipline. She was getting to be a little machine that her aunt managed at pleasure; and it did not seem to herself that it was really Matilda Englefield any longer. She was a different somebody. And that was in a measure true. Yet the work doing was more and better than she knew. It was not all lace-mending, and mantua-making, and learning rules of arithmetic and French verbs. ”
“ What is a parsonage like? It isn't like other houses, I suppose." "Why, yes, it is," said Matilda; "just like; only a minister lives in it." "That makes the difference," said Norton. "Don't you feel as if you were in church all the time? I shall, I know." "Why, no, Norton! what an idea. Mr. Richmond's house is not like a church." "Isn't he like a minister?" "Why, yes, of course!" said Matilda, with some indignation. "He isn't like your minister, Norton." "Why?" said Norton, laughing. "I don't know. He isn't stiff. He don't dress unlike other people. ”
“ Richmond," Matilda whispered, "I think I am somebody else." "I hope not, Tilly." "Everything in the world seems different." "Very naturally; but you can keep your self yet, I trust. If I thought not, I should wish the whole thing undone." "I ought to be better," said Matilda. "We ought always to be better. Circumstances cannot change that. Nothing happens that the Lord does not mean shall help us to be better. And yet, sometimes circumstances seem to make it more difficult." "These don't, Mr. Richmond; do they?" "I don't know, Tilly. They may." ”
“ Matilda shook her head. "I never do ask Aunt Candy anything." "Why?" said Norton, curiously. "I don't like to—and she don't like to have me." "She must be a nice woman to live with," said Norton. "You'll miss her badly, I should say. Aren't you sorry, Pink?" he asked, suddenly, taking Matilda's chin in his hand to watch the answer she would give. The answer, all smiling and blushing, contented Norton; and the next instant the gray ponies swept in at the iron gate and brought them before the house door. ”
“ You see it has to be so, Pink; some rich and some poor. And suppose these strawberries had been changed into some poor somebody's dinner, I couldn't have had them to give to you. Do you see, Pink?" "But, O Norton!" Matilda began, and stopped. "These strawberries are very nice." "But you would rather turn them into mutton-chops and give them away?" said Norton. "I dare say you would! Wouldn't you?" "Norton," said Matilda, cautiously, "do you think anything I could have bought with that dollar would have given me so much pleasure as that tea-kettle yesterday?" ”
“ The little girl broke down. "She's the most hateful, spiteful, masterful woman, that ever was!" Maria exclaimed; "too mean to live, and too cunning to breathe. She's an old witch!" "Oh don't, Maria!" "I will," said Maria. "I will talk. It is the only comfort I have. What is she up to now?" "Just that," said Matilda. "She found I had been to Lilac Lane, and she said I must not go again without her knowing; and she will never let me go. I needn't ask her. She doesn't like me to go there. ”
“ She must want a goodly number of women in her household, Mrs. Candy allowed to herself, if she often indulged in dresses of fine muslin ruffled like that. And Mrs. Candy sighed. One must have money for those things, she reflected; and not a good deal of money, but a great deal. A good deal would not do. Mrs. Candy sighed again and went in, thinking that Matilda's not going this journey with her would save her quite a pretty penny. Matilda as yet knew nothing of what had been in her aunt's mind respecting Philadelphia, or Mrs. Laval either. ”
“ Matilda looked in her friend's face, but it put the question steadily; and she faltered and burst into tears. "That is a great question, Tilly," said the minister, kindly. "Is it yourself you want to please? or the Lord Jesus? He can have these outside things done by other people, even if you cannot help in them; but of you the first thing He wants is an obedient child. Will you be obedient? That is, will you agree to His will?" "Mr. Richmond—must I be willing to do nothing?" Matilda asked without uncovering her face. ”
“ Aunt Candy is making me learn to mend lace. It is no use at all." "I'll tell you a secret," said Mr. Richmond. Matilda looked up with fresh eagerness into his face. "Whenever the Lord puts you in the way of learning anything, you may be sure He means you to learn it. He knows the use; and if you neglect the chance, the next thing will be, you will find He will give you work to do which you cannot do, because you neglected to learn what He gave you to learn." "But mending lace?" said Matilda. "I don't care what it is. Yes, mending lace. ”
“ Eldridge had looked at. She came back quickly. So close, so ill-smelling, so miserable to her nice senses, the room within was; with its huddled up bundle of dirty coverlets, and the soiled bed under them on the floor. Not much of a bed either, and not much else in the room. A great burden was gathering on Matilda's heart and shoulders; the burden of the wants of her neighbour, and her own responsibilities. The afternoon was now waning; what was to be done? Matilda tried to think that somebody would come in and do what she herself was very unwilling to do ”
“ What have you done with them, dear?" "They are put away. Shall I put on a pot and boil some potatoes, Mrs. Laval? I can; and there is a great piece of cold beef in the pantry." "Boil potatoes? no, indeed!" said Mrs. Laval. "Norton will get us some oysters, and some bread and some cake at the baker's. No, dear, do not touch the horrid things; keep your hands away from them. We'll fast for a day or two, and enjoy eating all the better afterwards." Matilda made her gruel, nicely; and Mrs. Laval carried it herself down to the farmhouse. ”
“ Norton brought out another plate of strawberries for himself along with Matilda's, and the two sat down on the bank under the locust trees to eat them. The sun was near going down beyond the mountains by this time, and his setting rays changed the purple mist into a bath of golden haze. "How nice and cold these are," said Matilda. "They have been in the ice. That makes things cold," observed Norton. "And being warm one's self makes them seem colder," said Matilda. ”
“ That is of no consequence." "Maria has got no one to help her." "She will not hurt herself," Clarissa observed. "Aunt Erminia, wouldn't you just as lieve I should finish this by and by?" "I will think of that," said her aunt. "All you have to do, is to work on." "I am very tired of it!" "That is not a reason for stopping, my dear. Rather the contrary. One must learn to do things after one is tired. That is a lesson I learned a great while ago." "I cannot work so well or so fast, when I am tired," said Matilda. ”
“ Both the girls busy, and Maria cross. Breakfast was not sociable; and Matilda was summoned to go to her aunt's room as soon as the dishes were put away. "Can I help it?" thought Matilda. And as she went up the stairs she prayed for a loving heart, and that this feeling, which was like a sickness, might be taken away from her. "What makes you look so meek?" exclaimed Clarissa, as she entered the room. Mrs. Candy lifted her face to see. "I like to see children look meek," she said. "That's the way they should look. Matilda's cold bath is doing her good." ”
“ What are they like?" "Why some of them are just like this," said Matilda. "People are rich, and can do what they please; and they set out to get things together for a feast, or to prepare a palace for some princess; and first one nice thing is got, and then another, and then some thing else; until by and by you feel as if you had been at the feast, or seen the palace, or had done the shopping. I do." "This isn't for a princess," said Norton. ”
“ Whatever possessed Aunt Erminia to want corn bread this morning!" "Does she want corn bread?" "Yes." "Well, corn bread is nice. I am glad of it." "You wouldn't be glad if you had to make it. There! I knew it would be so. There isn't a speck of soda. Put on your bonnet, Matilda, and run round to Mr. Sample's and get some soda, will you?—and be quick. We shall be late, and then there will be a row." "There won't be a row, Maria. Aunt Candy is always quiet." "I wish she wouldn't, then. I hate people who are always quiet. I would rather they would flare out now and then. It's safer." ”
“ Among them, facing on the street which bordered the parsonage and church grounds at the back, Matilda could see the brown front of the Academy, where Norton Laval went to school; and trees mingled their green tops with the house roofs everywhere. The sun was going down in the bright western sky, which was still beyond all this, and nothing disagreeable was within sight at all. "What are you thinking about, Tilly, that you look so hard out of my windows?" the minister asked. "Nothing, Mr. Richmond. At least—I was thinking, whether you knew Norton. Norton Laval." ”
“ Aunt Erminia and Clarissa. To be gone all day! Hurrah! We'll have just what we like for dinner, and I'll let the kitchen fire go out." "Are they going down to New York to-morrow?" said Matilda, standing and looking at her sister. "By the early train. Don't you hear me tell you?" "I thought it was too good news to be true," said Matilda, drawing a long breath. "It is, almost; but they are going. They are going to do shopping. That's what it's for. And I say, Matilda, won't we have a great dinner to get!" "They will want dinner after they get home." ”
“ On the verandah she met Norton. He greeted her eagerly, and drew her round the house to a shady angle where they sat down on two of the verandah chairs. "Now what shall we do this afternoon?" said Norton. "What would you like?" "I like everything. Oh, I like everything!" said Matilda. "Yes, but this is nothing," said Norton. "Shall we go take a long drive?" "If Mrs. Laval goes—I should like it very much." "If she don't go, we will," said Norton. "The roads are in good order, and the ponies want exercise. ”
“ I may do it yet, but I rather think I shall have no occasion." "You are a horrid woman!" exclaimed Maria. "Of use to you. Yes, that is just what you care about. You want Matilda for a little drudge, to mend your stockings, I suppose, and darn your lace. You are too mean to live. If mamma had only known——" When people get so far as this in a burst of helpless rage, the next thing usually is tears; and Maria broke down accordingly. Mrs. Candy and Clarissa finished their dinner and went away. "One cannot stand much of this sort of thing, mamma," said Clarissa, as they mounted the stairs. ”
“ Matilda glanced over the desolate room. It was dusty, dirty, neglected, and poverty stricken. What if she had been sent to "take care" of Mrs. Eldridge? The thought was exceedingly disagreeable; but once come, she could not get rid of it. "What do you want, Mrs. Eldridge?" she asked at length. "I don't want no more readin'. But it has a good sound—a good sound." "What would you like to have somebody do for you? not reading." "There was folks as cared fur me," said the old woman. "There ain't none no more. No more. There ain't no one as cares." ”
“ Norton obeyed. "'For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.'" "That is your answer," said Mr. Richmond; "that is religion. Now for Matilda's answer—Norton, turn to the Epistle to the Colossians, and the third chapter, and read the seventeenth verse." ”
“ There's money enough." "For some people," said Matilda. "Money enough for everybody." "Perhaps, if it was divided," said Matilda. "But, Norton, it isn't. The rich people have got it almost all." "Have they?" said Norton. "Then they ought to look out for such poor chaps as this." "So I think, Norton," said Matilda, eagerly. "But, Pink, you can't do it. You are only one, and you can't take care of all Lilac Lane, to begin with. That's what I am thinking about." "No, not all the lane. But I can do something. I can read to Mrs. Eldridge, and Mrs. Rogers." ”
