Day had fully dawned before the Woodburn household was astir, and it was
long past his accustomed hour when the captain paid his usual morning
visit to his little daughters.
He found them up and dressed and ready with a glad greeting.
"Were you able to sleep, my darlings?" he asked, caressing them in turn.
"Oh yes, indeed, papa, we slept nicely," they answered.
"And feel refreshed and well this morning?"
"Yes, papa; thank you very much for letting us sleep so long."
"I allowed myself the same privilege," he said pleasantly. "We will have
no school to-day, I have already been notified that there will be a
preliminary examination of the prisoners, before the magistrate this
morning, and that you, Lulu, and Max and I must attend as witnesses."
"I'd rather not go, papa; please don't make me," pleaded Lulu.
"My child, it is not I, but the law that insists," he said; "but you
need not feel disturbed over the matter; you have only to tell a
straightforward story of what you heard and saw and did in connection
with the attempted robbery.
"I am very glad, very thankful," he went on, "that I have always found
my little daughter perfectly truthful."
"Max too, papa."
"Yes, Max too; and when you give your testimony I want you to remember
that God--the God of truth, who abhors deceit and the deceitful, and who
knows all things--hears every word you say."
Taking up her Bible and opening it at the twenty-fourth psalm, he read,
"He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his
soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, he shall receive the blessing
from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."
Then turning to the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, "All liars shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."
Closing the book and laying it aside, "My dear children," he said
earnestly and with grave tenderness, "you see how God hates lying and
deceit; how sorely he will punish them if not repented of and forsaken.
Speak the truth always though at the risk of torture and death; never
tell a lie though it should be no more than to assert that two and two
do not make four.
"Be courteous to all so far as you can without deceit, but never,
_never_ allow your desire to be polite to betray you into words or acts
that are not strictly truthful."
The children were evidently giving very earnest heed to their father's
words.
"Papa," said Grace, sighing and hiding her blushing face on his
shoulder, "you know I did once say what was not true; but I'm very, very
sorry. I've asked God many times to forgive me for Jesus' sake and I
believe he has."
"No doubt of it, my darling," returned her father; "for, 'if we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.'"
"I don't believe Lu ever did," said Grace. "She's a great deal better
girl than I am."
"No, it is not that I am better than you," was Lulu's emphatic dissent
from that. "It's only that I am not timid like you; if I had been, it's
very likely I'd have told many an untruth to hide my faults and keep
from being punished."
"The telephone bell is ringing, papa," announced Max, looking in at the
door.
The call was from Ion; a vague report of last night's doings at Woodburn
having just reached the family there, they were anxious to learn the
exact truth.
The captain gave the facts briefly and suggested that some of the Ion
friends drive over and hear them in detail.
It was replied that several of them would do so shortly; Grandma Elsie
among them, and that she would spend the day, keeping Violet company
during her husband's absence at Union, if, as she supposed, Vi's
preference should be for remaining at home.
"Of course it will," said Violet, who was standing near. "Please tell
mamma I'll be delighted to have her company."
The captain delivered the message, then all hurried down to breakfast.
"Everything is in usual order, I see," Violet remarked, glancing about
the hall, and in at the library door as they passed it; "really the
events of last night seem more like an unpleasant dream than actual
occurrences."
"Christine has been up for several hours and busied in having everything
set to rights," the captain said in reply.
As usual family worship followed directly upon breakfast, and it was
scarcely over when the Ion carriage drove up with Grandma Elsie; Harold
and Herbert accompanying it on horseback.
"Captain, I am greatly interested in this affair," said Harold, shaking
hands with his brother-in-law; "indeed we all are for that matter, and
Herbert and I propose going over to Union to be present at the
examination of the prisoners.
"Is your strong room on exhibition? I own to a feeling of curiosity in
regard to it."
"You are privileged to examine it at any time," returned Capt. Raymond,
with a good-humored laugh, "I will take you there at once if you wish,
for we will have to be setting off on our ride presently.
"Mother, would you like to see it also?"
"Yes; and to hear the story of the capture while looking upon its
scene."
The captain led the way, all the rest following, except Lulu, who stole
quietly away to her room to get herself ready for the trip to town.
She shrank a little from the thought of facing the two desperados and
testifying against them, but kept up her courage by thinking that both
her heavenly Father and her earthly one would be with her to protect and
help her; also by the remembrance of her papa's assurance that she need
not feel disturbed; that all she had to do was to tell a plain
straightforward, story:--"the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth."
"I can do that," she said to herself; "it will be quite easy; for I
remember perfectly all about it. Those wicked men threatened papa that
if he had them sent to jail they'd kill him some day when they are let
out again, and I suppose they'll want to kill me too, for telling about
it in court; but I know they can't do us any harm while God takes care
of us. That must be the meaning of that verse in Proverbs I learned the
other day.
"'There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.'
"And the next verse says, 'safety is of the Lord.' So I'm sure we
needn't be afraid of them."
Capt. Raymond opened the door of the strong room and called attention to
the marks of the burglars' tools on the lock of the safe.
"It was Lulu who first became aware of their presence in the house," he
said; "and she--why where is the child?" as he turned to look for her,
and perceived that she had disappeared.
"I think she has gone upstairs to put on her hat and coat," Violet said.
"Ah yes, I suppose so! leaving me to tell the story of her bravery and
presence of mind, myself."
He proceeded to do so, and was well satisfied with the encomiums upon
his child which it called forth from Grandma Elsie and her sons.
"I congratulate you, captain, upon being the father of a little girl who
can show such unselfish courage," Grandma Elsie said with enthusiasm,
her eyes shining with pleasure, "I am proud of her myself; the dear,
brave child!"
"And so am I," said Violet; "but of course," with a mischievous laughing
glance into her husband's face, "her father is not, but considers her a
very ordinary specimen of childhood. Is not that so, my dear?"
"Ah, my love, don't question me too closely," he returned with a smile
in his eyes that said more plainly than words that he was a proud, fond
father to the child whose conduct was under discussion.
But at that moment the carriage was announced. Lulu came running down
ready for her trip, her father handed her in, then seated himself and
put his arm round her looking down into her face with a tenderly
affectionate smile.
"You will not find it a very severe ordeal, daughter," he said.
"You're not afraid, Lu, are you?" asked Max.
"No; not with papa close by to take care of me and tell me what to do,"
she answered, nestling closer to her father.
"No," said Max; "and the burglars wouldn't be allowed to hurt you
anyhow. The magistrate and the sheriff, and the rest would take care of
that you know."
"I suppose so," returned Lulu, "but for all that it would be dreadful
to have to go there without papa. You wouldn't want to yourself, Max."
"I'd a great deal rather have papa along, of course; anybody would want
his intimate friend with him on such an occasion, and papa is my most
intimate friend," replied the lad with a laughing, but most affectionate
look into his father's face.
"That's right, my boy; I trust you will always let me be that to you,"
the captain said, grasping his son's hand and holding it for a moment in
a warm affectionate clasp.
"You are mine, too, papa; my best and dearest earthly friend," Lulu
said, lifting to his, eyes shining with filial love. "Papa, aren't you
afraid those bad men will try to harm you some day, if they ever get out
of prison?"
"We are always safe in the path of duty," he replied, "and it is a duty
we owe the community to bring such lawless men to justice, for the
protection of those they would prey upon. No, I do not fear them,
because I am under the protection of Him 'in whose hand is the soul of
every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.'
"'The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is
the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?'
"No, daughter, one who fears God need fear nothing else; neither men
nor devils, for our God is stronger than Satan and all his hosts."
"And wicked men are Satan's servants, aren't they, papa?"
"Yes; for they do his will; obey his behests."
"It seems to me Christians ought to be very happy, always," remarked
Max.
"Yes, they ought," said his father; "the command is, 'Rejoice in the
Lord always,' and it is only lack of faith that prevents any of us from
doing so."
Arrived at their destination they found a little crowd of idlers
gathered about the door of the magistrate's office whither the two
prisoners had been taken a few moments before. As the Woodburn carriage
drove up, and the captain and his children alighted from it, the crowd
parted to let them pass in, several of the men lifting their hats with a
respectful, "Good morning, sir," to the captain. "Good morning, Master
Max."
Their salutations were politely returned, and the captain stepped into
the office, holding Lulu by the hand, and closely followed by Max.
Harold and Herbert had arrived a little in advance, and were among the
spectators who, with the officers and their prisoners, nearly filled the
small room.
The children behaved very well indeed, showing by their manner when
taking the oath to tell "the truth the whole truth and nothing but the
truth," that they were duly impressed with the solemnity of the act, and
the responsibility they were assuming.
Lulu was of course the principal witness, and her modest, self possessed
bearing, equally free from boldness and forwardness on the one hand, and
bashfulness and timidity on the other, pleased her father extremely and
won the admiration of all present; as did also her simple,
straightforward way of telling her story.
The evidence was so full and clear that the magistrate had no hesitation
in committing the accused for trial at the approaching spring term of
court. In default of bail they were sent back to prison.
"Take me to the nursery, Vi," Grandma Elsie said, when the departure of
the party destined for the magistrate's office, had left them alone
together. "I feel that an hour with my little grandchildren will be
quite refreshing. The darlings are scarcely less dear to me than were
their mother and her brothers and sisters in their infancy."
"And they are so fond of you, mamma," responded Violet, leading the way.
Little Elsie set up a glad shout at sight of her grandmother. "I so
glad, I so glad! P'ease take Elsie on your lap, g'amma, and tell pitty
'tories."
"Oh don't begin teazing for stories the very first minute," said Violet.
"You tire poor, dear grandma."
"No, mamma, Elsie won't tease, 'cause papa says it's naughty. But dear
g'amma likes to tell Elsie 'tories; don't you, g'amma?"--climbing into
her grandma's lap.
"Yes, dear; grandma enjoys making her little girl happy," Mrs. Travilla
replied, fondly caressing the little prattler. "What story shall it be
this time?"
"'Bout Adam and Eve eatin' dat apple."
Grandma kindly complied, telling the old story of the fall in simple
language suited to the infant comprehension of the baby girl, who
listened with as deep an interest as though it were a new tale to her,
instead of an oft repeated one.
On its conclusion she sat for a moment as if in profound thought, then
looking up into her grandmother's face,
"Where is dey now?" she asked.
"In heaven, I trust."
"Elsie's goin' to ask dem 'bout dat when Elsie gets to heaven."
"About what, darling?"
"'Bout eatin' dat apple; what dey do it for."
"It was very wicked for them to take it, because God had forbidden them
to do so."
"Yes, g'amma; Elsie wouldn't take apple if papa say no."
"No, I hope not; it is very naughty for children to disobey their papa
or mamma. And we must all obey God our heavenly Father."
"G'amma, p'ease tell Elsie 'bout heaven."
"Yes, darling, I will. It is a beautiful place; with streets of gold, a
beautiful river, and trees with delicious fruits; it is never dark, for
there is no night there; because Jesus our dear Saviour is there and is
the light thereof, so that they do not need the sun or moon.
"Nobody is ever sick, or sorry, hungry, or in pain. Nobody is ever
naughty; they all love God and one another. There is very sweet music
there. They wear white robes and have crowns of gold on their heads and
golden harps in their hands."
"To make sweet music?"
"Yes."
"Dey wear white dess?" "Yes."
"Do dey button up behind like Elsie's dress?"
Violet laughed at that question. "She is very desirous to have her
dresses fasten in front like mamma's," she explained in reply to her
mother's look of surprised inquiry.
"Do dey, g'amma? do dey button up in de back?"
"I don't know how they are made, dearie," her grandma answered. "I
never was there to see them."
"Elsie's never dere."
"No, people don't go there till they die."
"Elsie's never dere 'cept when Elsie's gettin' made. Wasn't Elsie dere
den? didn't Dod make Elsie up in heaven?"
"No, darling, you were never there, but if you love Jesus he will take
you there some day."
"Mamma, how nicely you answer or parry her questions," said Violet. "As
her father says, she can ask some that a very wise man could not
answer."
"Yes, she has an inquiring mind, and I would not discourage her desire
to learn by asking questions," Grandma Elsie said, adding with a smile,
"I can remember that her mother used to ask me some very puzzling ones
twenty years ago."
"And I never received a rebuff, but was always answered to the best of
your ability, dear mamma. I think of that now when tempted to impatience
with my little girl's sometimes wearisome questioning, and resolve to
try to be as good a mother to her as you were to me; and still are," she
added with a loving smile. "And now that she has gone back to her play
and baby Ned is sleeping, I want a quiet chat with you."
"Then let us go to your boudoir and have it," her mother answered,
rising and moving toward the door.
"Mamma, I have not heretofore been timid about burglars," Violet said,
when they were seated in the boudoir, each busied with a bit of
needlework, "but I fear that I shall be in future; for only think,
mamma, how near they were to my husband and myself while we lay sleeping
soundly in our own room! How easily they might have murdered us both
before we were even aware of their presence in the house."
"Could they? had you then no wakeful guardian at hand?"
"O mamma, yes! 'Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world,' and 'He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep';
and yet--haven't even Christians sometimes been murdered by burglars?"
"I can not assert that they have not," replied her mother. "'According
to your faith be it unto you,' and even true Christians are sometimes
lacking in faith--putting their trust in their own defences, or some
earthly helper, instead of the Keeper of Israel; or they are fearful and
doubtful, refusing to take God at his word and rest in his protecting
care.
"I do not see that we have anything to do with the question you
propounded just now; we have only to take God's promises, believe them
fully and be without carefulness in regard to that, as well as other
things. I am perfectly sure he will suffer no real evil to befall any
who thus trust in him.
"Death by violence may sometimes be a shorter, easier passage home than
death from disease; and come in whatever shape it may, death can be no
calamity to the Christian."
"Solomon tells us that the day of death is better than the day of one's
birth. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.'
"My dear Vi, I think one who can claim all the promises of God to his
children, should be utterly free from the fear that hath torment; should
be afraid of nothing whatever but displeasing and dishonoring God."
"Yes, mamma, I see that it is so; and that all I lack to make me
perfectly courageous and easy in mind, is stronger faith.
"I think my husband has a faith which lifts him above every fear, and
that he is perfectly content to leave all future events to the ordering
of his heavenly Father."
Grandma Elsie's eyes shone. "You are blest in having such a husband, my
dear Vi," she said. "I trust you will help each other on in the heavenly
way, and be fellow-helpers to your children and his."
Violet looked up brightly. "I trust we shall, mamma; we both earnestly
desire to be, and I think his three all give good evidence that they
have already begun to walk in the straight and narrow way; and no
wonder, considering what a faithful, loving, Christian father he is--so
constant in prayer and effort on their behalf."
"Ah," as the sound of wheels was heard on the driveway, "they have
returned; and now we shall have a report of all that was done in the
magistrate's office. It must have been quite an ordeal to Max and Lulu."