HELPING ON THE KINGDOM.
"Jesus, Master, whom I serve,
Though so feebly and so ill,
Strengthen hand and heart and nerve
All thy bidding to fulfil;
Open thou mine eyes to see
All the work thou hast for me."
ON just such an October morning as we have spoken of in our last
chapter, Austin Warner stood lost in thought. School-boy though he was,
and one of the most eager of them at all boyish games, yet there were
times when grave thoughts and even anxieties pressed on his heart. All
was not going well in his home life, and he knew it. Since his mother's
death, everything had become changed; and the question he was asking
himself that morning was, how far he could hinder the growing evil.
He had just prayed the Lord's Prayer, and the petition, "Thy kingdom
come," was ringing in his ears. Was it not, he was asking himself, a
solemn mockery to repeat those words day by day, and yet do nothing to
help on that kingdom, or at least to try to prevent the increase of
Satan's one?
True, he was young, and could not do much; but was he doing what he
could? Lewis, his loved brother, his constant playmate and companion,
was, he feared, going far astray from the kingdom of God, and he knew
not how to stop him. Nay, he was afraid he had most unwillingly helped
him on his downward path; for often lately, rather than let his brother
fall under his father's displeasure, he had written his exercises for
him, and more than once worked out his mathematical problems also,
for Lewis had got into the way of remaining out in the evenings and
spending them with idle companions, saying:
"It was so dull at home now he could not stand it. Priscilla, not he,
was to blame if he went wrong. A fellow must have amusement somewhere."
Thinking on these things, Austin resolved to delay no longer, but
speak to his brother, and beg him to begin the session in a new
spirit. Rousing himself from his reverie, he ran downstairs to the
breakfast-room, where he found Priscilla alone, Lewis not having as yet
appeared.
"Good morning, Prissy," Austin said in a cheerful tone.
But though his sister smiled in reply, and echoed his words, she looked
tired and listless.
"Lewis is late again as usual," she said. "I can't think how he will
get on at school if he goes on in this way. Miss Vernon should speak to
him, or do something in the matter."
"Miss Vernon has spoken to him, Prissy, and very kindly too; but don't
you think if you did, it would have more effect? Indeed you don't know
into what difficulties he is getting himself; and it will just break
our father's heart if any complaints of Lewis reach his ear."
"You are not afraid of that?" said his sister, now almost pale with
fear. "I would not have my father vexed on any account, for we all know
how his heart is bound up in Lewis."
"Will you speak to him yourself then, Prissy?" urged Austin.
"What use is there in my so doing?" she replied. "I did once, and he
said something about it being all my fault, and that when mother was
alive it was very different. As if," went on the girl passionately,
"I needed to be reminded of how different every thing was when she
was alive. I only wish I could get away from it all, and live to some
purpose in the world."
Austin drew near his sister, and put his arm lovingly round her.
"Prissy," he said, "don't you think if we were really doing well,
the little things God has given us to do, we would be living to some
purpose, and helping on his kingdom?"
Austin's grave, earnest words touched the girl's heart.
"I do believe you are helping it on," she said; "but as for me,
everything seems wrong. Even in what I thought was to be my great work
I have come to a standstill. I can go no further in either mathematics
or astronomy without a teacher, and my father would not instruct me in
either, I know."
Austin smiled a loving arch smile. "Poor Prissy!" he said. "But don't
be vexed if I say I'm not sorry you have come to a standstill in these
things. Don't despair—you will find a use for them some day; but at
present we need you sorely for many things, Prissy. There is work, and
plenty of it, lying at your hand. But I must go and see if I can get
Lewis out of bed."
He bounded upstairs, and soon returned with Lewis to the
breakfast-room, where Miss Vernon was presiding at the tea-table, and
Dr. Warner and the children had assembled.
"Late as usual, boys," said the professor, not angrily, but with a
pleased, proud look at the two handsome lads as they entered arm
in arm. "Sitting up too late at night studying, Lewis, I fear; but
remember the saying, 'Early to bed, and early to rise, is the way to be
healthy and wealthy and wise.'"
Breakfast over, both boys set off to school, and Austin gained courage
to speak a word to his brother.
"Lewis," he said, "have you spoken to young M'Ivor in your class? He is
such a capital fellow. Might we ask him to come and walk with us next
half-holiday? He has made friends already with the best set of boys in
the school, and it would be jolly for us to join them. You know, Lewis,
it would grieve our father terribly if he knew how you spend your
evenings with Smith and Roberts and that set. Do begin this session
afresh, and remain at home in the evenings. Is it not mean and wrong to
let our father think you are studying hard, when all the while you are
really worse than wasting your time?"
"Well," said Lewis, "I know it is not right; but what can one do?
It is so horribly dull at home. Prissy pores over a book the whole
evening, and never speaks to any one; and Miss Vernon's head is always
aching, and she stays in her own room. We have such jolly times in the
club-room; and we are not doing any real harm, at least I don't. But,
old boy, I daresay you are right, and I don't want to vex you, so maybe
I'll try and endure a night at home if I can."
As soon as school was over, Austin ran home and got hold of his sister.
"O Prissy," he said, "Lewis has promised to begin to stay at home in
the evenings this session. Will you try to make it bright for him? Do
try, and I'll do all I can to help you."
But Prissy's mood had changed since the morning. She had got a new book
on astronomy, which had at once occupied her mind. She had already been
obliged to lay it down several times in order to obey some positive
command of Miss Vernon's, and she was looking forward with eagerness
to the evening, when she would be free to study it unmolested. For
Priscilla's idea of spending a pleasant evening was to set the children
with some picture-book or solitary game round the table, telling them
to make as little noise as possible, as she wished to read.
So when Austin spoke she only replied testily, "Really I think Lewis
might learn to spend his evenings rationally like other people. What
does he wish to do? Does he need you or me to play with him, as if he
were a baby, requiring to be amused? It is too absurd, Austin. You,
like every one else, seem bent on spoiling Lewis."
But even as she spoke, Harry Lascelles' words, "Make the evenings
pleasant at home for Lewis," rose to her remembrance. And she said,
"But if you wish it, I will see what I can do."
Perhaps she did try; but if so, she failed. The evening seemed long
and tedious to Lewis. He asked for music, of which he was very fond;
but his sister said, "Oh, really I could not play to-night. I have not
practised regularly for a long time."
"Well, then, let us have a song," he said, "and Austin and I will take
a part as we used to do."
But Prissy answered, "I can't sing to-night. Don't you hear how hoarse
I am?" And turning away, she resumed her book.
And Lewis, muttering, "I can't stand this, Austin," rose and went out,
slamming the door after him.
When, ere lying down to rest, Prissy repeated—dare we say prayed?—the
Lord's Prayer, and asked that his "kingdom might come," did she think
she had tried to help on its coming in the heart of her own brother
that day? Or, rather, were there not evil spirits rejoicing that night
over the fresh hold they had got on a young soul, which they might have
been hindered from having by a sister's loving words and holy example?
Yes, Priscilla Warner had done a work that day, but it was in the
furthering of Satan's, not God's kingdom.
Did angels envy her that work, as Harry Lascelles said they might have
done the one God had given her to do? Alas! Alas!
In his own room that night, Austin Warner waited, as he had often done
before, till he heard his brother's step returning at a late hour, and
then hastened to open the door for him, in case a ring or knock should
bring their father out of his study to ask who was there.
He opened it in silence; and without speaking a word, Lewis slipped off
to bed.
Austin went to bed also; but in doing so, one low bitter cry rose to
his Father in heaven: "O God, forgive me. I did try to help on thy
kingdom to-day, but have failed. For Christ's sake, forgive; and help
me to begin afresh to-morrow. Oh! Save my brother Lewis from the evil
one, and open my sister's eyes to see the truth."
Had his efforts been altogether in vain? Or was the fact that both
Priscilla and Lewis lay down that night with troubled consciences not
the effect in some measure of his brave endeavours to help on the
kingdom of God?