NO PLACE LIKE HOME
'Oh, Alick!
'Oh, Theo!'
After the first cries of greeting there was a silence. Theo's arms
were tight round her restored brother's neck, and Alick rested his
tear-stained cheek against his sister's. They were alone in the room,
but, in truth, the boy would not have cared if all Northbourne had been
looking on.
'Theo,' he sobbed out presently, 'it was awful!'
'Yes, dear, it must have been,' whispered Theo sympathetically,
tightening her arms. 'It was not what you expected?'
'It was _awful_!' repeated Alick. As yet he could find no words to
picture his experience of life out in the hard world. 'And,' he went
on, lifting up his tear-stained face, 'I am more sorry than I can ever
tell that I did it, Theo--sorry and ashamed.'
'Have you told God that, Alick?' asked Theo softly, in his ear.
'Yes, I have,' was the grave, equally low reply. 'I've put it on to
the end of my prayers, night and morning. And--perhaps He will forgive
me some day, if I--if I can do something, work out something, you know,
to show that I _am_ really and truly sorry. Don't you think I could
manage something of the sort, Theo?' asked Alick earnestly, if
awkwardly.
'No, Alick, I don't!' said Theo abruptly; and the boy's face fell. Of
late the boy had been full of this new desire to efface his wrong-doing
by some means or other himself. 'Most certainly, dear old boy,' went
on his sister, more gently, 'you cannot "blot out" your transgression
by your own efforts. Don't you know that we have, each and every one
of us, in the heavens, that great High Priest who is interceding for us
always, always? He, our dear Lord, has already done that "something"
which you are groping to do in your weak, small way. _He_ has worked
out your redemption--yours and mine. What you have to do is to carry
your sins to the foot of the cross, where the great "something" was
accomplished for us. You remember the hymn--
'"I lay my sins on Jesus,
The spotless Lamb of God."
Oh, Alick! I'm only a girl, and I can't say the words right; but you
must lay _your_ sin on Jesus, who has promised to bear it. Tell Him of
your sorrowing repentance. That's all you have got to do; He does the
rest!'
'And, Theo, there's Price,' Alick lifted his head to say presently.
'Oh, I can't tell you what he has done for me! He nursed me all
through in that slum of a Whitechapel--me, of all people! And when I
begged his pardon for all my bad conduct you should have seen his face!
Theo, if you'll give me your word never to tell it to any one, I cried
like a baby; for Price looked for all the world like Stephen looked
when they were stoning him. But you'll never tell I said so? I was a
cowardly wretch to insult him as I did; and to think how he has paid me
back--"coals of fire" are nothing to it!'
'Well, I always told you, Alick, that he was a true Christian
gentleman; I was sure of it.'
'I know you did. I've found it out for myself, now. Theo!'
energetically added Alick, 'I shall never be the same again, I hate my
old self! I mean to be so different. I shall work, and study, and----'
'And try "to do your duty in that state of life unto which it has
pleased God to call you," I hope,' put in Theo quietly. 'But, Alick,
you must ask His help to hold you up, and to prevent your footsteps
from sliding,' she added reverently. 'You can't do it in your own
strength, dear!' As Theo ceased there were tears on her face, and
Alick's also. For a long time no other words were spoken--none were
needed.
The sun was setting over the bay, and the fisher-folk, busy with their
preparations for the coming night's work, were cheerily shouting from
one boat to another. It was good indeed, Alick felt, his heart
throbbing with gratitude, to be once again in the dear old home, in the
clean, wholesome country.
By and by the rest of the family crowded in, and, bit by bit, Alick's
tale was told to his wondering hearers.
'Well, well, boy,' said the captain, putting his arms round the neck of
his prodigal son, 'your precious escapade has taught you one stern
lesson among others, and that is, there's no place like home as yet.'
Alick hung his head to hide his shamed face. How good everybody was to
him! The kindness seemed to stab him through and through. Father's
arm round his neck; one hand clasped by Theo's, and the other hugged up
in both of Queenie's fat, warm little hands; and Geoff devouring him
with eyes dilated with joyful pride over his brother's safe return.
And never a harsh word had passed any one's lips! Such treatment to a
character of Alick's type was the keenest of punishment.
Under another Northbourne roof another penitent was confessing his
folly that same evening.
'No, granny, never, never will I stir out o' Northbourne, now I've had
the luck to get back to it!' ended Ned, after relating his adventures
in his absence.
'Not even if so be as they can't find the North Pole without 'ee to
help 'em, eh, my lad?' asked granny slyly, across the supper-table.
The old woman had much ado to hide her joy over Ned's return.
Ned coloured, and hung his head abashed. 'Oh, well, I expec' they can
manage without me and Muster Alick!' he stammered at last.
'That's true enough! Depend upon it, Ned, if the Lord needs you, He
will shape the way for you, plain as plain. Meantime, it looks as if
He meant you to bide here, seein' as how in His goodness He has bringed
you back to us. And you just try to remember all your life through, my
lad, what the Book tells us--that "Godliness with contentment is great
gain."'
It is a year ago exactly since 'The Theodora' sank to the bottom of the
blue waters in the bay where she still lies. Time has wrought and
brought many changes in Northbourne, as time will. Over at the
Vicarage is the greatest change, for the good old parson has gone home
to--
That sweet and blessed country
That eager hearts expect';
and his frail, ailing widow has been taken away to dwell with distant
relatives. But Binks, under a new master, is still the handy-man;
while Splutters and Shutters have become sedate members of society, for
their new proprietor is Philip Price, than whom few know better the
true secret of ruling.
Yes, the young tutor is now restored to health and strength. The fine
Northbourne air, the restfulness of country life, and God's goodness,
have combined to set up Philip Price as a robust man. He had been
ailing so long in the old days, that he had got well-nigh accustomed to
being a semi-invalid. But, nowadays, he has become so strong that he
has forgotten what ailing means--in his own person that is, for he is a
man of keen sympathies with all concerning his fellow-men.
With renewed health he had thrown himself more vigorously than ever
into his work of teaching; but other things were in store for him.
On Mr. Vesey's unexpected death, the living of Northbourne was vacant,
of course. Philip Price did not dream of more than a fleeting wish
than it might have fallen to himself.
Other people, however, went a step further than wishing. The captain,
it so happened, was a cousin of the patron of the parish. With all his
energy he set about procuring the living for one to whom he would ever
feel bound by ties of gratitude.
'If he be a thorough gentleman, a Christian through and through, and an
honourable man, why--let him have it!' said the patron testily. This
unexpected compliance was so astounding that the old sailor felt thrown
back on himself, as it were, and returned slightly bewildered by his
own success.
In due time the new vicar and his mother, two proud and happy people,
settled down in the Vicarage house which stares across the bay at the
Bunk.
In the Carnegys' home the only changes are most happy ones. Since the
captain gave up allowing his hobby to be his master, and has taken a
keener interest in his boys' and girls' daily life, all things are
brighter at the Bunk. The old naval officer is never happier than when
on the water with his family-crew, and has presented each of his boys
with a canoe, to the pride and glory of not only themselves, but the
entire fishing community.
Theo still pulls Queenie and Queenie's ever-increasing doll-family
about the bay, but in a new 'Theodora.' But the tall, sweet-faced
sister, of whom the Carnegy boys are so proud, seldom rows across to
the Vicarage nowadays. Some folk wonder why. Others, who are wiser,
smile and say that perhaps 'Miss Theedory' will go across some day and
land for life at the Vicarage. And less likely things have happened.
Indeed, Jerry Blunt is engaged in training a young bullfinch as a
wedding-present, though nobody can induce him to say for whom. But
people cannot help shrewdly guessing, when they remember that Theo gave
away the first bird-singer Jerry presented to her to Mrs. Vesey, as a
Northbourne keepsake, when she left the Vicarage.
And the Carnegy boys?
Well, they are making the most of their freedom this summer, as next
term they set out on a public-school career. They have not been idle
this past year, and Philip Price knows they will not disgrace him when
confronted with more strict examiners than himself. Alick, in
particular, has been diligent, and being endowed with plenty of brains,
his father and Theo are full of hope regarding his future.
Better still, Alick's heart is a changed one. By God's grace his
footsteps are set in the right path. No more rebellious outbursts will
there be against those whom the will of God has set over him. A sharp
lesson taught him the world's cruel hardness to the defenceless, and
showed the true value of a good father and a pure home.
Geoff, ready as ever to take his colour from his surroundings, has been
treading steadily on his altered brother's heels in the 'narrow way.'
And now our sojourn in breezy little Northbourne is over, and we must
say farewell to its fisher-folk. Some of us may, perchance, meet the
Carnegy boys on life's journey; who can say? But the
stay-at-homes--the stalwart, active Ned Dempster, now one of Fletcher's
boat-crew; the bird-trainer, Jerry Blunt; the families of the Bunk and
the Vicarage,--to one and all we must say good-bye, which is 'God be
with them!'
THE END
EVERY BOY'S BOOKSHELF.
Frank Lester's Fortunes. By Frederick Arnold.
A Boy's Adventures Round the World, By John Andrew Higginson.
In Mortal Peril: A Story of the Great Armada. By E. E. Crake.
Bush Luck. By W. H. Timperley.
Schooldays at Highfield House. By A. N. Malan.
Under Fire. By H. Frederick Charles.
The Young Nor'-Wester. By J. Macdonald Oxley.
THE BOY'S LIBRARY OF ADVENTURE & HEROISM.
ALLAN ADAIR; or Here and There in Many Lands. By Dr. GORDON STABLES,
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Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE.
A HERO IN WOLF-SKIN. A Story of Pagan and Christian. By TOM BEVAN.
With Seven Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I.
THE ADVENTURES OF VAL DAINTRY IN THE GRAECO-TURKISH WAR. By V. L.
GOING. With Seven Illustrations by FRANK FELLER.
THE HEROES OF MOSS HALL SCHOOL. By E. C. KENYON, author of "Little
Robin Grey," etc. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE.
THE LOST EARLDOM: A Tale of Scotland's Reign of Terror. By CYRIL GREY,
author of "For Crown and Covenant." With Three Illustrations by
RAYMOND POTTER.
A TROOPER OF THE FINNS: A Tale of the Thirty Years' War. By TOM BEVAN,
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by J. FINNEMORE, R.I.
WILD LIFE IN SUNNY LANDS. A Romance of Butterfly Hunting. By GORDON
STABLES, M.D., R.N., author of "The Shell Hunters." With Seven
Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE.
THE VOYAGE OF THE BLUE VEGA. By GORDON STABLES, M.D., R.N. With Six
Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE.
COMRADES UNDER CANVAS. A Story of Boys' Brigade Life. By FREDERICK P.
GIBBON. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE.
BOB MARCHANT'S SCHOLARSHIP. By ERNEST PROTHEROE. With Seven
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THE BOY SETTLER; or, The Adventures of Sydney Bartlett. By H. C.
STORER. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I.
FROM SCAPEGRACE TO HERO; or, The Adventures and Triumphs of Jem Blake.
By ERNEST PROTHEROE, author of "Bob Marchant's Scholarship." With
Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE.
STORIES FOR BOYS.
By TALBOT BAINES REED.
THE ADVENTURES OF A THREE-GUINEA WATCH. With Seven Full-page and
Sixteen other Illustrations in the Text.
THE COCK HOUSE AT FELLSGARTH. A Public School Story. With Seven
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THE FIFTH FORMAT ST. DOMINIC'S. A Public School Story. With Seven
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A DOG WITH A BAD NAME. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by ALFRED
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ROGER INGLETON, MINOR. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by J.
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SIR LUDAR: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess. With Eleven
Full-page Illustrations.
PARKHURST BOYS, and other Stories of School Life. With Seven Full-page
and many other Illustrations.
THE MASTER OF THE SHELL. With Seven Full-page and Five other
Illustrations in the Text.
MY FRIEND SMITH. A Story of School and City Life. With Eleven
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REGINALD CRUDEN. A Tale of City Life. With Seven Illustrations by
ALFRED PEARSE.
TOM, DICK, AND HARRY. With Fifteen Full-page Illustrations.
THE BOY'S OWN SERIES.
A GREAT MISTAKE. A Story of Adventure. By T. S. MILLINGTON, author of
"The Latch Key," "The Shadow on the Hearth," etc. Illustrated.
ALL FOR NUMBER ONE; or, Charlie Russell's Ups and Downs. By HENRY
JOHNSON, author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc.
MAX VICTOR'S SCHOOLDAYS: The Friends he made and the Foes he conquered.
By S. S. PUSH, author of "Rights and Wrongs," "My School-fellow, Val
Bownser," etc. Illustrated.
THE MARTYR'S VICTORY. A Tale of Danish England. By EMMA LESLIE, author
of "That Scholarship Boy," "Glaucia, the Greek Slave," etc. Illustrated.
THE DOCTOR'S EXPERIMENT; or, The Adventures of One of Dr. Reade's
Pupils, as narrated by Himself. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of
"The Boys of Highfield," "Gentleman Jackson," etc. Illustrated.
GENTLEMAN JACKSON. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of "The Doctor's
Experiment," "The Boys of Highfield," etc. Illustrated.
TOM WALLIS. A Tale of the South Seas. By LOUIS BECKE, author of "By
Reef and Palm," "Admiral Philip," etc. Illustrated.
THE STORY OF A CITY ARAB. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "Frank Layton,"
"Boys will be Boys," etc. Illustrated.
THE SHELL-HUNTERS: Their Wild Adventures by Land and Sea. By GORDON
STABLES, author of "Allan Adair," etc. Illustrated.
HAROLD, THE BOY EARL. A Story of Old England. By J. F. HODGETTS,
author of "Kormak the Viking," etc. Illustrated.
ILDERIM, THE AFGHAN. A Tale of the Indian Border. By DAVID KEE.
Illustrated.
ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. By ONE WHO WAS BORN THERE, author of
"Annie Carr," etc. Illustrated.
THE STORY OF A POCKET BIBLE. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "The Story of
a City Arab," "Frank Layton," etc. Illustrated.
NORTH OVERLAND WITH FRANKLIN. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, author of "Archie
Mackenzie," etc. Illustrated.
THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; or, Jamaica Sixty Years Since. By Captain
BROOKE-KNIGHT. Illustrated.
CAPTAIN COOK; His Life, Voyages, and Discoveries. By W. H. G.
KINGSTON, author of "Little Peter the Ship Boy," "Ben Hadden," etc.
Illustrated.
THE HEIR OF BRAGWELL HALL. By ALFRED BEER. With Seven Illustrations by
J. FINNEMORE, R.I.
THE WALLABY MAN. By Dr. A. N. MALAN, F.G.S., author of "School Days at
Highfield House," etc. With Seven Illustrations.
GEOFF BLAKE: His Chums and His Foes. By S. S. PUGH. With Three
Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED.
CAVE PERILOUS. By L. T. MEADE. With Seven Illustrations by S. T. DADD.
FOR CROWN AND COVENANT. By CYRIL GREY, author of "The Lost Earldom."
With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE.
UNTRUE TO HIS TRUST; or, Plotters and Patriots. By HENRY JOHNSON,
author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc. With Five
Illustrations.
THE VOYAGE OF THE STORMY PETREL. By W. C. METCALF. With Three
Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED.
DUCK-LAKE. Stories of the Canadian Backwoods. By E. RYERSON YOUNG.
With Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE.
KORMAK, THE VIKING. By J. FREDERICK HODGETTS. With Fifteen
Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I.
CYRIL'S QUEST; or, O'er Vale and Hill in the Land of the Inca. By
ANNIE GRAY. With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE.
THE BRIGANDS' PREY; A Strange Story of Adventure. By A. M. JACKSON.
With Five Illustrations by G. E. ROBERTSON.
THE SETTLERS OF KAROSSA CREEK. and Other Stories of Australian Bush
Life.
By Louis BECKE, author of "Tom Wallis," "Wild Life in the Southern
Seas," etc., etc. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I.
THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, P. A., author of "North
Overland with Franklin," "Archie Mackenzie." Illustrated.
THE ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY. By E. C. KENYON. With Four Illustrations.
STORIES FOR BOYS.
THROUGH FIRE and THROUGH WATER. A Story of Adventure and Peril. By T.
S. MILLINGTON, author of "Straight to the Mark," etc. With Sixteen
Illustrations.
TAMATE: The Life and Adventures of a Christian Hero. By RICHARD
LOVETT, M.A., author of "James Chalmers: his Autobiography and
Letters," etc. With Two Maps and Fifteen Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE,
R.I.
CONDEMNED TO THE GALLEYS. The Adventures of a French Protestant. By
JEAN MARTEILHE. With Seven Illustrations by E. BARNARD LINTOTT.