"She led me first to God;
Her words and prayers were my young spirit's dew."
--_Pierpont._
Elsie's letter to Mrs. Carrington was despatched by the first morning
mail, and directly after breakfast Mr. Dinsmore went in search of Boyd.
Hardened as the man was, he showed some sense of gratitude toward the
new-made widow of his intended victim, when informed of her kind
intentions toward himself; some remorse for his attempt to injure him
whom she had so dearly loved.
"It is really a great deal more than I had the least right to expect
even for my aunt's sake," he said. "Why, sir, it will be like getting
out of hell into heaven!"
"It is not for Mrs. Carrington's sake alone, or principally--strong as
is the tie of friendship between them," replied Mr. Dinsmore, "but
rather for the sake of the Master she loves and serves, and who bids His
followers return good for evil."
"Cant!" sneered Boyd to himself: then aloud, "Well, sir, I wish it were
in my power to make some suitable return to Mrs. Travilla; but that can
never be, and unfortunately I cannot even undo the past."
"No; and that is a thought which might well deter us from evil deeds.
Now the next thing is to provide you with a bath, decent clothing, and
suitable attendant, and get you and him aboard the boat, which leaves a
few hours hence."
All this was done and Mr. Dinsmore returned to his daughter with a
satisfactory report to that effect.
Their party remained a few days longer in the Crescent City, then
embarked for Viamede, where they arrived in due season, having met with
no accident or detention by the way.
As on former occasions, they were joyfully welcomed by the old servants;
but many tears mingled with the rejoicings, for Mr. Travilla had been
greatly beloved by all, and they wept for both their own loss and that
of their "dear bressed Missus," as they were wont to call her whom his
death had widowed.
She was much overcome at the first, memory vividly recalling former
arrivals when he--her dearest earthly friend--was by her side, giving
her the support of his loved presence and sharing her happiness.
Her thoughts dwelt particularly upon the glad days of their honeymoon;
and she seemed to see herself again a loved, loving, cherished bride,
now wandering with him through the beautiful orange groves or over the
velvety, flower-bespangled lawn, now seated by his side in the veranda,
the parlor, the library, or on some rustic seat under the grand old
trees, his arm encircling her waist, his eyes looking tenderly into
hers; or it might be gliding over the waters of the lakelet or galloping
or driving through the woods, everywhere and always the greatest delight
of each the love and companionship of the other.
Ah, how often she now caught herself listening for the sound of his
voice, his step, waiting, longing to feel the touch of his hand! Could
she ever cease to do so?--ever lose that weary homesickness of heart
that at times seemed almost more than mortal strength could endure?
But she had more than mortal strength to sustain her; the everlasting
arms were underneath and around her, the love that can never die, never
change, was her unfailing support and consolation.
She indulged in no spirit of repining, no nursing of her grief, but gave
herself with cheerful earnestness to every good work: the careful,
prayerful instruction and training of her children as her first duty;
then kindly attentions to her old grandfather, to parents and guests;
after that the care of house servants, field hands, and the outside poor
of the vicinity, neglecting neither their bodies nor their souls; also
helping the cause of Christ in both her own and foreign lands, with
untiring efforts, earnest, believing prayer, and liberal gifts, striving
to be a faithful steward of the ample means God had committed to her
trust, and rejoicing in the ability to relieve the wants of His people,
and to assist in spreading abroad the glad news of salvation through
faith in Christ.
There was no gayety at Viamede that winter, but the atmosphere of the
house was eminently cheerful, its walls often echoing to the blithe
voices and merry laughter of the children; never checked or reproved by
mamma; the days gliding peacefully by, in a varied round of useful and
pleasant employment and delightful recreation that left no room for
_ennui_--riding, driving, walking, boating for all, and healthful play
for the children.
Lester Leland had been heard from, was well, and wrote in so hopeful a
strain that the heart of his affianced grew light and joyous. She was
almost ashamed to find she could be so happy without the dear father so
lately removed.
Her mother reassured her on that point: it was right for her to be as
happy as she could; it was what her papa would have highly approved and
wished; and then in being so and allowing it to be perceived by those
around her, she would add to their enjoyment.
"We are told to 'rejoice in the Lord always,'" concluded the mother,
"and a Christian's heart should never be the abode of gloom and
sadness."
"Dear mamma, what an unfailing comfort and blessing you are to me and to
all your children," cried the young girl. "Oh, I do thank God every day
for my mother's dear love, my mother's wise counsels!"
It was very true, and to mamma each one of the six--or we might say
seven, for Edward did the same by letter--carried every trouble, great
or small, every doubt, fear, and perplexity.
No two of them were exactly alike in disposition--each required a little
different management from the others--but attentively studying each
character and asking wisdom from above, the mother succeeded wonderfully
well in guiding and controlling them.
In this her father assisted her, and she was most careful and decided in
upholding his authority, never in any emergency opposing hers to it.
"Mamma," said Harold, coming to her one day in her dressing-room,
"Herbie is in trouble with grandpa."
"I am very sorry," she said with a look of concern, "but if so it must
be by his own fault; your grandpa's commands are never unreasonable."
"No, I suppose not, mamma," Harold returned doubtfully, "but Herbie is
having a very hard time over his Latin lesson, and says he can't learn
it: it is too difficult. Mamma," with some hesitation, "if you would
speak to grandpa perhaps he would let him off this once."
"Do you think that would be a good plan?" she asked with a slight smile.
"Herbert's great fault is lack of perseverance; he is too easily
discouraged, too ready to give up and say 'I can't.' Do you think it
would be really kind to indulge him in doing so?"
"Perhaps not, mamma; but I feel very sorry to see him in such distress.
Grandpa has forbidden him to leave the school-room or to have anything
to eat but bread and milk till he can recite his lesson quite perfectly.
And we had planned to go fishing this afternoon, if you should give
permission, mamma."
"My son," she said with an affectionate look into the earnest face of
the pleader, "I am glad to see your sympathy and love for your brother,
but I think your grandpa loves him quite as well and knows far better
what is for his good, and I cannot interfere between them; my children
must all be as obedient and submissive to my father as they are to me."
"Yes, mamma, I know, and indeed we never disobey him. How could we when
papa bade us not? and made him our guardian, too?"
Mrs. Travilla sat thinking for a moment after Harold had gone, then
rose and went to the school-room.
Herbert sat there alone, idly drumming on his desk, the open book pushed
aside. His face was flushed and wore a very disconsolate and slightly
sullen expression.
He looked up as his mother came in, but dropped his eyes instantly,
blushing and ashamed.
"Mamma," he stammered, "I--I can't learn this lesson, it's so very hard,
and I'm so tired of being cooped up here. Mayn't I go out and have a
good run before I try any more?"
"If your grandpa gives permission; not otherwise."
"But he won't; and it's a hateful old lesson! and I _can't_ learn it!"
he cried with angry impatience.
"My boy, you are grieving your mother very much," she said, sitting down
beside him and laying her cool hand on his heated brow.
"O mamma, I didn't mean to do that!" he cried, throwing his arms about
her neck. "I do love you dearly, dearly."
"I believe it, my son," she said, returning his caress, "but I want you
to prove it by being obedient to your kind grandpa as well as to me, and
by trying to conquer your faults."
"Mamma, I haven't been naughty--only I can't learn such hard lessons as
grandpa gives."
"My son, I know you do not mean to be untruthful, but to say that you
cannot learn your lesson is really not the truth; the difficulty is not
so much in the ability as in the will. And are you not indulging a
naughty temper?"
"Mamma," he said, hanging his head, "you don't know how hard Latin is."
"Why, what do you mean, my son?" she asked in surprise; "you certainly
know that I have studied Latin."
"Yes, mamma, but wasn't it easier for you to learn than it is for me?"
"I think not," she said with a smile, "though I believe I had more real
love for study and was less easily conquered by difficulties; and
yet--shall I tell you a little secret?"
"Oh yes, ma'am, please do!" he answered, turning a bright, interested
face to hers.
"Well, I disliked Latin at first, and did not want to study it. I should
have coaxed very hard to be excused from doing so, but that I dared not,
because my papa had strictly forbidden me to coax or tease after he had
given his decision; and he had said Latin was to be one of my studies.
There was one day, though, that I cried over my lesson and insisted that
I could not learn it."
"And what did grandpa do to you?" he asked with great interest.
"Treated me just as he does you--told me I _must_ learn it, and that I
could not dine with him and mamma or leave my room until I knew it. And,
my boy, I see now that he was wise and kind, and I have often been
thankful since that he was so firm and decided with me."
"But did you learn it?"
"Yes; nor did it take me long when once I gave my mind to it with
determination. That is exactly what you need to do. The great fault of
your disposition is lack of energy and perseverance, a fault grandpa and
I must help you to conquer, or you will never be of much use in the
world."
"But, mamma, it seems to me I shall not need to do much when I'm a man,"
he remarked a little shamefacedly; "haven't you a great deal of money to
give us all?"
"It may be all gone before you are grown up," she said gravely. "I
shall be glad to lose it if its possession is to be the ruin of my sons.
But I do not intend to let any of you live in idleness, for that would
be a sin, because our talents must be improved to the utmost and used in
God's service, whether we have much or little money or none at all.
Therefore each of my boys must study a profession or learn some
handicraft by which he can earn his own living or make money to use in
doing good.
"Now I am going to leave you," she added, rising, "and if you do not
want to give me a sad heart you will set to work at that lesson with a
will, and soon have it ready to recite to your grandpa."
"Mamma, I will, to please you," he returned, drawing the book toward
him.
"Do it to please God, your kind heavenly Father, even more than to make
me happy," she answered, laying her hand caressingly on his head.
"Mamma, what is the text that says it will please Him?" he asked,
looking up inquiringly, for it had always been a habit with her to
enforce her teachings with a passage of Scripture.
"There are a great many that teach it more or less directly," she said;
"we are to be diligent in business, to improve our talents and use them
in God's service; children are to obey their parents; and both your
grandpa and I have directed you to learn that lesson."
"Mamma, I will do my very best," he said cheerfully, and she saw as she
left the room that he was really trying to redeem the promise.
An hour later he came to her with a very bright face, to say that
grandpa had pronounced his recitation quite perfect and released him
from confinement.
Her pleased look, her smile, her kiss were a sweet reward and a strong
incentive to continuance in well-doing.