GRANDMA BURTON'S face was very grave and sweet. "Yes," she said,
"I remember that third verse about as well as anything that I ever
learned; and it is queer how the second one fits in with it. That
finishes the story; and I have had to wait more than sixty years to
think of it."
Marion and Ralph exchanged happy smiles.
"Then we two will have the story, Grandma," said Marion, "those are
Ralph's and mine. But I don't see how they fit."
"I do, child, they fit perfectly. It was the summer I was eleven years
old; we were boarding in the country; I remember everything about
that summer, because I had some of the nicest times, and some of the
narrowest escapes of my life.
"One day I went a-fishing, all by myself; I wasn't what you might call
a venturesome child, so I was trusted in many places where careless
children could not have been." Grandma did not even glance Ralph's way
while she spoke; so of course she could have meant no hint to him! "I
had some sandwiches in my bag left of the lunch we had taken the day
before. I forgot to empty the bag; so when I was half-way down the
hill from our house I found them in the way. It was a neat little bag,
lined with oilcloth; I could carry all sorts of things in it, then
turn it inside out, and wash it, and it would come out as good as new.
So I meant to fill the bag with little fishes, and here were these
sandwiches in the way! Just as I turned the corner by Mr. Willard's
place, I heard a low growl, and there stood Bose eying me in a way to
make my heart beat fast. I was dreadfully afraid of Bose, and with
good reason; he had the name of being a very fierce dog; they kept him
chained all day. I saw the chain around his neck, then, but still I
was afraid. I was hurrying by, when it occurred to me that here was a
good chance for getting rid of my sandwiches; if I could only muster
up courage to give them to Bose! I turned back, and going as near to
the fence as I could, threw with all my strength, and landed a piece of
bread and meat at his feet. He gave a low growl and eyed me so fiercely
that all the blood in my body seemed to go to my head; but he smelled
around the meat for a minute, then took it in at one mouthful, and I
tried again, and again, until my bag was empty. He did not growl at me
any more, but I thought he looked crosser than any dog ought to, who
had been so kindly treated.
"Presently, however, I forgot all about him; some people would be
surprised over what I was thinking; they imagine that little girls
never think about sober things. But it was that very verse which was
in my mind: 'This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee,
and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.'
Papa had read it at family worship that morning, and he and mamma and
brother Mott had talked a little about it, and set me to thinking. It
didn't seem at all strange to me that his disciples believed on him;
I thought if _I_ could have a miracle worked for me, I would find it
easy, after that, to believe anything. I remember exactly how I felt
as I sat on the bank with my feet hanging over, and held in my hand a
little fish about five inches long; I was sorry for him and meant to
throw him back into the water, after I had examined him; I thought he
was too little to be caught; as I sat holding him, I thought, 'If this
fish should turn into a beautiful little bird, just now, and speak to
me, then I would know that God had done it, and I could believe in
him, without any trouble. I don't see why he doesn't do such things
now; it wouldn't be any stranger than making wine out of water; and if
it helped people then, why shouldn't it now?' So I sat holding that
poor wriggling fish, and wishing he would turn into a miracle before
my eyes; but he didn't, and presently I threw him back with a sigh,
and wound up my fish line, and went around to the other side of the
lake, still so busy with my thoughts that I could not seem to settle to
anything. I don't know to this day, how I came to do the next thing. I
suppose I must have gone a great deal nearer the edge than I thought I
was, and they said it was wet and slippery there; anyway, I slipped
and fell, and trying to regain my balance I stepped on my dress, and
fell again, and rolled over into the lake in less time than it takes me
to tell it.
"I don't wonder you shiver," said Grandma after a moment's pause,
drawing Marion closer to her. "It was a skittish place; the lake was
pretty deep in that part, and the banks were high and slippery. It
was not a time of day when people were bathing, and there was nobody
in sight. I lost all knowledge of what was going on after I sank the
second time. When they found me, where do you think I was? Dragged high
and dry from the lake, around to where the ocean began, and that great
Bose stood beside me keeping guard and looking about him right and left
for help! He kept up such a fierce barking that the boatmaster heard
him at last, and came to see what was the matter.
"The very first sentence that I fully understood, of all the talk
around me, was Mr. Willard saying in a low tone: 'I declare, this seems
to me just like a miracle! I never knew Bose to break his chain before;
and I did not know he would spring into the water for anybody; in fact,
I should have been afraid to send him, for fear he would bite the
child.'
"You can't imagine what a thrill it gave me! 'A miracle!' I said to
myself; 'then He heard me wishing for one, and promising I would
believe him fully, if He would only perform a miracle for me; and He
did it! It seemed just like that to me then; and I'm not so sure but it
seems so yet. If the dear Lord was a mind to humor your silly Grandma's
unbelief and send her a sign to strengthen her, why couldn't he do it?
Anyhow, nobody knows to this day, how Bose got loose from his chain. It
was found to be not broken, only slipped in some way--and no one knows
who told him to bound down to the lake and spring into the water just
in time to save me. He wasn't what is commonly called a water dog; and
he was very fierce to children generally. Some folks think such things
just happen; but I've lived a great many years, and the longer I live
the surer I am that there isn't much 'happening' of any kind about
our lives. There wasn't any need for me having a miracle, children;
the Lord had done enough for me long before, but he is sometimes real
patient with silly people. I know I began that very day to try to
serve him, and I've always been glad I did."
The listeners were very quiet for some minutes, then Ralph spoke: "I
don't see my verse fitting in anywhere, Grandma?"
"But it did," said Grandma, nodding her head. "I was sick all that
summer. The shock, they said, was too much for me; I couldn't walk a
step for a long time. I used to sit in a big chair out of doors, with
Bose by my side; he was the greatest friend I had. No more growls for
me; and he wouldn't growl at anybody I told him not to.
"One day Rob Carleton and his sister stopped at the gate to visit with
me; they were from the same city where we lived; but I didn't know them
much at home. Rob began to tell me how queer he thought it was that
that dog should have come after me, when he had always before acted as
though he hated children; and something whispered to me to tell him
about my little miracle. I didn't quite want to. I was afraid he might
laugh at me; but at last I mustered up courage, and told him the whole
story. He didn't laugh at all; but he didn't say much of anything, and
by and by went away. They left the shore the next day; and I did not
see that boy again for five years; and then, don't you think he told me
that ever since I told him about my miracle, he couldn't get away from
the thought of such things, and at last it led him to decide to belong
to Jesus, and he led his little sister May in the same direction!
Why, you children have often heard me speak of Doctor Carleton, the
missionary in India? He's the very same! And May is a minister's wife
in Kansas. Don't you see your verse, Ralph? 'The two disciples heard
Him speak, and they followed Jesus.' Rob and May weren't _disciples_
yet, but the dear Lord knew they were going to be; and he let me tell
about my little miracle, and used it to help them decide to follow him."
- - - - - - -
One day when Susie was visiting her great-aunt, she found in one
of her old books an excellent rule. It was this: "Aim to make
courtesies not an article of dress to put off and on, but a part of
ourselves--something that is always with us."