THE STORY OF BLIND SAMUEL.
Madam Rachel went into the house, and sat down in her large
rocking-chair, by a window, in a back parlour that looked out upon a
little garden, and began to sew. Caleb played around a little while,
rather languidly, and at last came up to his grandmother, and leaning
upon her lap, asked her if she would not take him up, and rock him a
little. She could not help pitying him, he looked so feeble and sad; and
she accordingly laid down her work, and lifted him up,--he was not
heavy.
"Well Caleb, you have not asked me to take you up, and tell you a story
so, for a long time. This is the way I used to do when you were quite a
little boy; only then you used to kneel in my lap, and lay your head
upon my shoulder, so that my mouth was close to your ear. But you are
too big now."
Caleb smiled a little, for he was glad to find that he was growing big;
but it was rather a faint and sad smile.
"But I don't grow any stronger, grandmother," said he. "I wish I was
well and strong, like the other boys."
"You don't know what would be best for you, my little Caleb. God leads
you along in his own way through life, and you must go patiently and
pleasantly on, just where he thinks best. You are like blind Samuel,
going through the woods with his father."
"How was that, grandmother?" said he, sitting up, and turning round to
look at her.
"You sit still," said she, gently laying him back again, "and I will
tell you."
"Samuel was a blind boy. He had been away, and was now going home with
his father. His father led him, and he walked along by his side.
Presently, they came to a large brook, and, before they got near it,
they heard it roaring. His father said, 'Samuel, I think there is a
freshet.' 'I think so too,' said Samuel, 'for I hear the water roaring.'
When they came in sight of the stream, his father said, 'Yes, Samuel,
there has been a great freshet, and the bridge is carried away.' 'And
what shall we do now?' said Samuel. 'Why we must go round by the path
through the woods.' 'That will be bad for me,' said Samuel 'But I will
lead you,' said his father, 'all the way; just trust every thing to me.'
'Yes, father,' said Samuel, 'I will.'
"So his father took a string out of his pocket, and gave one end of it
to Samuel. 'There, Samuel,' said he, 'take hold of that, and that will
guide you; and walk directly after me.'"
"How long was the string?" said Caleb.
"O not very long," replied Madam Rachel; "so as just to let him walk a
step or two behind."
"After he had walked on a short distance, he said, 'Father, I wish you
would let me take hold of your hand.' 'But you said,' replied his
father, 'that you would trust every thing to me.' 'So I will, father,'
said Samuel; 'but I do wish you would let me take hold of your hand,
instead of this string.' 'Very well,' said his father, 'you may try
_your_ way.'
"So Samuel came and took hold of his father's hand, and tried to walk
along by his father's side. But the path was narrow; there was not more
than room for one, and though his father walked as far on one side as
possible, yet Samuel had not room enough. The branches scratched his
face, and he stumbled continually upon roots and stones. At length he
said, 'Father, you know best. I will take hold of the string, and walk
behind.'
"So, after that, he was patient and submissive, and followed his father
wherever he led. After a time his father saw a serpent in the road
directly before them. So he turned aside, to go round by a compass in
the woods."
"A compass?" said Caleb.
"Yes," said his grandmother; "that is a round-about way. But it was very
rough and stony. Presently, Samuel stopped and said, 'Father, it seems
to me it is pretty stony; haven't we got out of the path?'
"'Yes,' said his father; 'but you promised to be patient and submissive,
and trust every thing to me.'
"'Well,' said Samuel, 'you know best, and I will follow.'
"So he walked on again. When they had got by, his father told him that
the reason why he had gone out of the road was, that there was a serpent
there. And so, when God leads us in a difficult way, Caleb, that we
don't understand at the time, we often see the reason of it afterwards."
Caleb did not answer, and Madam Rachel went on with her story.
"By and by, his father came within the sound of the brook again, and
stopped a minute or two, and then he told Samuel that he should have to
leave him a short time, and that he might sit down upon a log, and wait
until he came back. 'But, father,' said Samuel, 'I don't want to be left
alone here in the woods, in the dark.' 'It is not dark,' said his
father. 'It is all dark to me,' said Samuel. 'I know it is,' said his
father, 'and I am very sorry; but you promised to leave every thing to
me, and be obedient and submissive.' 'So I will, father; you know best,
and I will do just as you say.' So Samuel sat down upon the log, and his
father went away. He was a little terrified by the solitude, and the
darkness, and the roaring of the water; but he trusted to his father,
and was still.
"By and by, he heard a noise as of something heavy falling into the
water. He was frightened, for he thought it was his father. But it was
not his father. What do you think it was, Caleb?"
Caleb did not answer. Madam Rachel looked down to see why he did not
speak, and as she moved him a little, so as to see his face, his head
rolled over to one side; and, in short, Madam Rachel found that he was
fast asleep.
"Poor little fellow!" said she; and she rose carefully, and carried him
to the bed, and laid him down. He opened his eyes a moment, when his
cheek came in contact with the cool pillow, but turned his face over
immediately, shut his eyes again, and was soon in a sound sleep.