Little Meg's Farewell
About a month after Robert Fleming's return Dr Christie paid a visit to
Mrs Blossom's little house. He had been there before, but this was a
special visit; and it was evident some important plan had to be decided
upon. Dr Christie came to hear what Mrs Blossom had to say about it.
'Well, sir,' said Mrs Blossom, 'a woman of my years, as always lived in
one village all her life till I came to London, it do seem a great move
to go across the sea. But as you all think as it 'ud be a good thing
for Posy, and as Mr Fleming do wish little Meg and Robin to go along
with us, which are like my own children, and as he's to be in the same
ship, I'm not the woman to say No. I'm a good hand at washing and
ironing, and sewing, and keeping a little shop, or anything else as
turns up; and there's ten years' good work in me yet; by which time
little Meg'll be a stout, grown-up young woman; to say nothing of Posy,
who's old enough to get her own living now. I can't say as I like the
sea, quite the contrairy; but I can put up with it; and Mr Fleming'll
be there to see as the ship goes all right, and doesn't lose hisself.
So I'll be ready by the time the ship's ready.'
They were all ready in time as Mrs Blossom had promised, for there were
not many preparations to be made. Little Meg's red frock was taken out
of pawn, with all the other things, and Mrs Blossom went down to her
native village to visit it for the last time; but Posy shrank from
being seen there by the neighbours again. She, and Meg, and Robin went
once more for a farewell look at Temple Gardens. It was the first time
she had been in the streets since she had gone back to her mother, and
she seemed ashamed and alarmed at every eye that met hers. When they
stood looking at the river, with its swift, cruel current, Posy
shivered and trembled until she was obliged to turn away and sit down
on a bench. She was glad, she said, to get home again, and she would
go out no more till the day came when Mr George drove them all down to
the docks, with the few boxes which contained their worldly goods.
Dr Christie and his wife were down at the ship to see them off, and
they kissed Meg tenderly as they bade her farewell. When the last
minute was nearly come, Mr George took little Meg's small hand in his
large one, and laid the other upon her head.
'Little woman, tell us that verse again,' he said, 'that verse as
you've always gone and believed in, and acted on.'
'That as mother and me heard preached from the streets?' asked Meg.
Mr George nodded silently.
'It's quite true,' said little Meg, in a tone of perfect confidence,
'because it's in the Bible, and Jesus said it. Besides, God did
everythink I asked Him. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Father which is in
heaven give good things to them that ask Him?"'
THE END
TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
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