THE JOURNEY.
THE next day Edah and Pauline set out for New York, under the care of a
gentleman from Raeburn, and arrived in safety, without any remarkable
adventures, though Pauline found material enough for a very long and
not particularly clear letter to Susan, which she accomplished with
great labor the day but one after their arrival.
Edah was happy to find herself once more with her friend, though the
meeting was a sad one. Still more severe was the necessary trial of
visiting her guardian's house, formerly so pleasant, but now shut
up and desolate, of looking over his papers and other property, and
deciding what should be kept and what disposed of. In the former class
were included all Mr. Liston's books, of which he had quite a fine
collection, the pictures, her piano, and the furniture of her own room,
and of Mr. Liston's sitting-room. These articles she intended to take
with her when she returned to Brooksville, for she had quite decided to
make her home with her mother and sisters as long as she could be of
any use to them.
This point was not yielded by her friends in New York till after a long
discussion. Mr. Liston's will, made a short time before his departure,
and lodged in Mr. Amory's hands, provided that she should receive the
income of her property, amounting to about twelve hundred a year,
until she was twenty-three years old, after which she was to have the
entire control of her own business. She was left at liberty to choose
her place of residence, subject to the approbation of Mr. Amory, who
was appointed her guardian, and the sole executor of the will. Mr.
Amory had quite made up his mind that Edah was to reside with him in
future. He considered her a pretty, well-informed young girl, who would
be an ornament to his establishment, and a suitable companion to his
daughter, of whom he was justly proud. It was, therefore, with some
feelings of disappointment that he heard her announce her determination
to return to Brooksville before Easter, and to make it her home for the
present.
"I have but one motive in doing so," said she; "I am quite sure that I
can be more useful there than anywhere else at present. Even if I had
no other reason for it, I cannot for a moment think of leaving Susan
with the care of mother on her hands, and no one to relieve her."
"You are under so many obligations to Mrs. Champlin," said Miss
Concklin, with sarcastic emphasis; "no doubt you are right in
discharging them. The society there must also be remarkably congenial
to the taste of a young lady of education."
"I have no complaint to make of the people to Brooksville," replied
Edah, gently. "They have always been very kind to me since I went
there. They are not very fashionable, and perhaps not very polished,
but I assure you, Miss Maria, I have friends there whom I should be
sorry to lose."
Miss Maria elevated her chin a little, and gave utterance to some
murmurs respecting refined tastes, which were not quite finished when
she was called down to receive some visitors in the drawing-room,
for which Edah was not at all sorry. She felt that she could express
herself much more freely to Mr. Amory and Milly when Aunt Maria was out
of the way.
"My principal reasons for returning to Brooksville," she continued,
"are, as I said, first, to assist Susan in taking care of mother, and
secondly, on my brother's account."
"I thought your brother was in a store, and doing very well,"
interrupted Mr. Amory.
"He is," replied Edah; "and Mr. Stuart, his employer, would gladly keep
him, but Sam does not wish to remain, if he can help it. He has set his
heart upon studying a profession."
"Oh, ho! And what profession does the young gentleman incline to?"
"He wishes to enter the ministry," replied Edah.
Mr. Amory shoved his spectacles up on his forehead, took them off,
wiped them, and put them on again before he replied—
"And so he wishes to indulge this fancy at your expense, instead of
earning his own living and that of his sisters, like an honest man. A
most exemplary young man, truly!"
"You are very much mistaken, Mr. Amory," answered Edah, with spirit.
"Sam has not the least idea of being burdensome to anybody. On the
contrary, he has avowed his intention to continue in his present
situation for some time, at least, and of carrying on his preparatory
studies at the same time. If you had seen him at the time of our great
misfortune—a time certainly trying enough to us all—if you had known
any thing about his patience, and self-denial, and industry since—you
would never dream of accusing him of any thing like meanness."
Edah's color rose, and her eyes filled with tears as she spoke, and Mr.
Amory, looking through his spectacles, professed to himself that she
was really a remarkably handsome young woman.
"Well, well, my dear," he said, soothingly, "I did not intend to make
any unjust reflections upon your brother. I dare say he is a very fine
young man. But how will your living in Brooksville make any difference
in his pursuing his studies?"
"In this way," replied Edah. "Twelve hundred a year will be an ample
income for us all to live upon in Brooksville, where every thing is
so cheap, and where, moreover, I can earn something, if I wish to
do so. Thus Sam will be at liberty to use his own earnings for his
own purposes, and he can work his way through college easily enough
by teaching, and the other means that young men resort to in such
circumstances. I think, and so do Mr. Laurence and Mr. Willson, that he
has talents which fit him to be eminently useful in the calling which
he has chosen; and I am sure," she continued, with animation, "that
I could not spend my income in any way which would give me so much
satisfaction."
"Well," said Mr. Amory, "perhaps you may as well spend your time and
means in making ministers as in manufacturing woollen cats, and dogs,
and frogs—"
"Worsted, papa—worsted," interrupted Milly, laughing.
"Well, worsted, then—such as Maria lumbers up the house with,"
bestowing, at the same time, a vindictive glance upon Highland Mary,
in Berlin wool, parting with her lover, on the back of a modern Gothic
chair. "I honor your motive in this matter, my dear Edah, though, I
confess, I regret that you have come to such a determination. Cannot
your brother do as much good as a Christian merchant as he can in the
capacity of a minister?"
"I think not, sir. There are a great many young men who are willing
to remain merchants, and but few comparatively who are desirous of
entering the ministry."
"Indeed," said Mr. Amory, "I am not altogether well-informed on such
matters; but I had always supposed that profession to be entirely
overfilled, like those of law and medicine."
"Not at all, sir. If you will look over the minutes of any of our
Conventions, you will see that there are not nearly ministers enough
to fill the places where they are needed. It is not generally a
money-making profession; it does not hold out much prospect for fame,
as not one minister in fifty ever becomes at all celebrated: it is a
hard-working profession certainly; and in fact, there can be but one
motive for entering it—that of doing good."
"And much good they do. I am not one of those who deny the value of the
clergy; they are, beyond all question, one of the most useful bodies
in the community, and their influence extends much further than is
generally supposed. But, Milly, you have not said a word. Why do you
not use your influence to persuade your friend to remain with us?"
"Because I rather think she is in the right, papa. I think I should do
just so in her place."
"Upon my word, my own daughter has turned against me! Why, Miss Milly,
I thought I was providing you with a great pleasure in inviting your
friend to live with you."
"Yes, papa, and I am sure I am very much obliged to you; but if Edah
should stay, against her conscience—"
"Or against her inclination—you think she would not be a very agreeable
guest, eh? Well, my dears, we will not decide to-day; you have a week
to spare in which to make up your minds. Are you a judge of organs,
Edah?"
"No, sir," replied Edah, rather surprised; "I know when they are well
toned, however."
"I am thinking of purchasing a small organ, and I should like to have
you hear it first. You play the organ, I suppose?" Edah answered in the
affirmative. "We will go down and look at it, and then take Miss Polly
to see some more sights."
Edah remained a week longer with her friends in New York, her time
being mostly occupied in superintending the packing of the furniture
and other articles which she intended to take home with her.
Miss Maria, who really loved Edah, was at first very angry on hearing
of her unalterable determination to return to her mother's house. But
her anger was not very long lived, and she willingly undertook the
whole business of providing Edah's mourning, and gave her whole time
and attention to it for several days, thus relieving Edah herself of
quite a burden, and leaving her at liberty for other matters.
The books and engravings, which were very valuable, were the objects of
her especial attention, and she could not help smiling, in the midst
of her tears, as she thought of the pleasure they would afford to Sam
and Susan, and of the facilities which they would present to the former
for pursuing his studies. She had written to them, communicating her
intention of returning, and requesting them to have a large parlor,
which had been for a long time unused, put in order for the reception
of her treasures.
Pauline on her part was perfectly happy during the two weeks which
she spent in New York. As she was really a very pretty and remarkably
well-behaved child, she was in no one's way, and every one in the house
petted her, from Mr. Amory down to the servants. It was Mr. Amory's
perfect delight to take her to see all sorts of wonderful sights, and
thus hear her speculations and questions about what she had seen. One
day, however, he took her in the carriage through some of the poor and
low streets of the city—those streets where Christian philanthropy has
since made light out of darkness; and after this it was observable that
Pauline's interest in New York declined. She no longer wished to live
there always; but told her sister in confidence that she should be very
glad to return to Brooksville, where, if there were no such beautiful
houses and elegantly dressed ladies, there were no such dreadful places
and people as she had seen that day.
"Only think, sister, Mr. Amory says that a great many of the little
boys and girls I saw to-day were thieves, and had been in jails; and
they did look wicked enough for any thing. I could not bear to live
near such people, and not do any thing for them. Why do not good people
go among them and try to make them better?"
"They wish to do so, my dear. I hear that some good ladies are trying
to get up a school among them, in order to teach them better, as you
say; but you must remember, Polly, that it is much easier to talk of
doing good than to do it. Don't you remember how hard Mr. Laurence
tried to make Joe Fisher sign the temperance pledge, and let his
children go to places, and after all he did not succeed?"
"But we ought to try, sister, ought we not?" said Pauline.
"Certainly, my dear, we ought to do all we can, and every one can do
something."
"Yes, they can pray, at any rate; and, sister, don't you think if all
the Christians in the world were really to pray with all their hearts,
a great deal more could be done? Don't you think God's kingdom would
come a great deal sooner?"
"Yes, Polly, I have no doubt of it, and I am glad you think so much
about it. I hope you will think more and more, and then when you grow
up, you will be able to do a great deal for the Church—to be a living
member of the same, as the Baptismal Service says. Then when Sam is a
minister, you can help him very much, if you live with him."
"Is Sam going to be a minister?" asked Pauline.
"I presume he will, unless something unforeseen happens to prevent it.
What do you think of it?"
"I think it will be very nice," said Pauline, with sparkling eyes; "but
how will he do it? How will he get the money to go to college?"
"He will work and earn it, and I hope we shall be able to help him a
little."
"I wish I could help him."
"You can, my dear; you can learn to sew nicely, and then you can help
Susan and me to make his clothes with the pretty leather workbox Miss
Maria gave you. Only think how glad he would be to have you make him a
shirt all yourself!"
Polly had always disliked sewing very much; but now she was furnished
with a motive for desiring to excel in it, and she earnestly resolved
that it should not be long before she would sew well enough to make a
shirt all herself. We are happy to inform our young readers that in
about six months the feat was accomplished, and Sam actually wore a
shirt of his little sister's manufacture, not failing to assure her
that it was the nicest shirt he had ever had in his life.
The day before her return to Brooksville, Edah had a long conversation
with Mr. Amory on the future prospect of the family. She was glad
to find that though evidently sorry to lose her society, he gave
his unqualified consent to her residing in Brooksville as long as
she thought proper, only stipulating that she should make them a
visit every year, a condition to which she very willingly agreed. He
earnestly advised her to let Sam work his own way entirely.
"Depend upon it, my dear, he will preach all the better if he has to
acquire his profession by his own labor. All our best men, in every
condition of life, have been self-made, and if he has the talent and
perseverance requisite for success in the calling he has chosen, he
will get through his studies with no more difficulty than is good for
him."
Though Edah did not promise not to assist Sam in any way, she thought
Mr. Amory's view of the case a very sensible one, and resolved to act
upon it to some extent.
Pauline cried heartily on bidding adieu to her new friends, and they
were scarcely less sorry to part with her, so much had she endeared
herself to them during her short stay.
They arrived in safety at Raeburn, where Sam was waiting for them with
the wagon, and Edah was glad to find that all her boxes and packages
had arrived in safety before her. Susan was standing at the gate
watching for them, and welcomed them with as much warmth as if they had
been absent two years instead of two weeks, and Mrs. Champlin herself
came as far as the door to meet them. She was a little annoyed at first
by the sight of Edah's deep mourning, and declared that it would make
her low-spirited to have it always before her eyes; but she was easily
diverted from this delicate topic by the sight of the books and other
presents which Edah had brought her, and was soon wholly absorbed in
the first volume of a new novel, leaving the children at liberty to
attend to each other.
Ruby-Anne had provided an excellent supper, which was fully
appreciated; and Pauline, on rising from the table, was heard to give
utterance to the very original sentiment, that there is no place like
home, after all.
The next day, and the next, were pretty fully occupied in unpacking
and putting in order the furniture and other matters which Edah had
brought home with her. Mr. Champlin's house was large, and had been a
fine one in its day, but not more than half of it was at present in
use, and the apartment selected by Edah for a library had been for
some years used only as a lumber-room. But now that it was cleaned
and painted, curtains put up, and a carpet laid down, and book-cases,
chairs, cabinets, and tables all in their places, it was decidedly the
handsomest room in Brooksville, and Ruby-Anne declared that there was
nothing like it even at Spring Bank itself. It did, indeed, look very
pretty and home-like, Edah thought, with its well-filled shelves, and
tables covered with maps and engravings, its open piano and music-rack,
and it was with a good deal of pride and pleasure that she introduced
Mr. Laurence into it when it was all in order. That gentleman admired
it to her heart's content, and after taking a full survey of the
contents of the book-cases, settled himself in Edah's favorite chair,
with an air of great contentment.
"So you have your piano, too: I am glad of that. Our new organ is up,
and awaiting you, for of course you are expected to preside at it."
"An organ!" repeated Edah. "Have you an organ?"
"Yes, to be sure, and a very nice one. Why, you look as puzzled as
possible. I supposed you knew all about it, for Mr. Amory, to whom
we owe it, said that you had selected it, and I thought it did great
credit to your taste."
"I did go to look at an organ, which he said he thought of purchasing,"
said Edah, "but I supposed he intended it for Milly. He gave me no hint
of sending it here."
"Here it is, however, and we are all as proud of it as if we had made
it ourselves. I have been drilling our young people a little in the
chants, and I want you to practice them with the organ, that we may
have them on Easter Sunday."
"I will do so, certainly, with a great deal of pleasure. How little I
anticipated, when I came here, that in little less than a year I should
attend the Faster Service in a church in this place! And even when I
began my little Sunday School in mother's kitchen, I was told that I
should not succeed in keeping it together three months."
"It is to that little school, under God, that we owe the present happy
state of things, for so I may well call it, in Brooksville," said Mr.
Laurence.
"You must not give me all the credit," said Edah, blushing. "I should
never have succeeded but for Mr. Bell. It was more his work than mine."
"And how long did Mr. Bell live here without even thinking of such a
thing? Mr. Bell himself says that his interest in religion was almost
dead when you came, and that it was the pleasure which his little girls
took in their Sunday school lessons, and the questions which they asked
him, that first aroused him to a sense of his declining and dangerous
position. If you keep on doing good here, as you have begun, this
county will have reason to bless the time that you came into it."
"What have you decided to call the church?" asked Edah.
"St. John's is the name finally fixed upon," replied Mr. Laurence.
"You will see it on the front of the church before Easter-day, in gilt
letters, the work of Mr. Crampton's apprentice, who came to me, and
desired to make his contribution in that form. He is one of those who
are to be baptized, and your girl Ruby-Anne is another. We shall have
ten or twelve in all, and I anticipate about an equal number of infant
baptisms in the afternoon. And, by the by, what do you think of my plan
of omitting the usual Sunday School exercises upon Communion Sundays,
and devoting the time to the Catechism instead?"
"I like the idea very much," said Edah, "and I think that teachers
as well as scholars will find the exercise a profitable one. How
delightful it is to think of having regular Communion days once a
month! Have you had any talk with Susan about baptism, Mr. Laurence?"
"Oh, yes, many times. She has been one of the most regular attendants
upon my Thursday afternoon lectures since you went away, and I have
also conversed with her at home. She seems almost determined, and yet
she hangs back. I hardly think she will come forward this time, though
I hope we shall soon have her among our number."
Susan herself entered the room as Mr. Laurence was speaking, and he
continued, addressing himself to her—
"We were just talking of you, Miss Susan, and I was expressing a hope
that at some future time, if not on the present occasion, we might see
you among the professed followers of Christ. I only wish you could be
persuaded that now is the accepted time, and the day of salvation."
"There is only one thing that hinders me," said Susan, coloring.
"And what is that one thing?"
"It is just this, Mr. Laurence. I have been so much opposed to any
thing like a religious profession, and have said so much about it, that
I am ashamed to come out on the other side. When Edah commenced her
Sunday School, I did my best to hinder her, and laugh her out of it;
and whenever I heard of any religious persons failing in any thing, or
living inconsistent, I used to hold it up, and make the most of it, on
purpose to annoy her, and I was perfectly delighted when I succeeded in
putting her out of temper."
"But you would not do so now," said Edah; "you have not done so for a
long time."
"Perhaps not; but still I cannot forget that I have done it, and I
am afraid I might do the same again under temptation. In short, I am
afraid I should be so inconsistent, that I do not like to begin."
"But my dear Miss Susan, you are no more likely to fall into
temptation, because you have been baptized."
"I know it; but I think I had better wait till I am more stable and
persevering."
"Where do you expect to obtain the strength to become stable and
persevering?" asked Mr. Laurence. "Do you expect to make yourself so,
or must the strength and grace come from God?"
"From God, certainly. I know very well that I cannot help myself."
"Then you expect this grace and favor from God, at the very time that
you are refusing to obey two of His most distinct commands. He commands
all men to be baptized; and the injunction, 'Do this in remembrance of
Me,' cannot be obeyed till the other is first complied with. Is there
not a great inconsistency here?"
"There seems to be certainly," said Susan, thoughtfully. "I never
thought of it in that light."
"Is it not the true light?"
"I think it is myself. Well, Mr. Laurence, I will consider the subject
a little more, and make up my mind. You will allow that I have every
motive to consent, as if I do not, I shall soon be the only heathen in
the family. But if I hesitate, it is only from the fear of doing wrong,
and not from any indifference, I assure you."