ANOTHER TRIUMPH.
How different is the importance given on earth and in Heaven to the
same events! The famous speech, the brilliant entertainment, the
political crisis, which fill columns of "The Times," and are the talk
of eager thousands from one end of Britain to another, may seem as much
beneath the notice of angels as bubbles floating on a stream; while
the bright inhabitants of Heaven may hover over some humble mansion,
to watch the struggle between right and wrong in one as lowly as the
little servant-maid Norah.
No passer-by would have given a second thought to the girl on her
knees, cleaning Mrs. Martin's doorstep in the early morning, yet that
poor simple servant had fought a battle, and won a victory, on which
angels might look with interest, for the result of such triumphs will
last when earth itself shall have passed away.
As Norah went on with her humble occupation, lifting up her heart
as she did so in a silent hymn of thanksgiving, her attention was
attracted by a small object that lay on the road close to the pavement.
Norah rose, and, going to the spot, picked up a small canvas bag,
which had probably been dropped there since the previous evening.
Norah loosened the string, and opened the bag, to see what might be in
it, but she almost dropped it again in her surprise at sight of its
glittering contents.
"Sovereigns! All bright, new, golden sovereigns!" exclaimed the
astonished Norah.
She hastened into the house, shut the door, dropped on her knees, and
emptied the bag into her lap, that she might count over the treasure
without fear of being either disturbed or noticed.
"Two, four, six, eight! I had never so much money before in my life!
Oh!" cried Norah, clapping her hands, "I shall now be able to buy both
the black silk dress and the mangle, and something for Sophy besides,
to make her forget last night, for I could not bear that there should
be any bitter feeling between us!"
It was not unnatural that such should be the first thoughts that should
rise to the mind of Bessy Peele's daughter. It must be remembered that
Norah had not been brought up with strict ideas of honesty, that it was
but lately that she had put on the breastplate of righteousness, or
even desired to have that "holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord." * But the young Christian had only swerved from her course for a
minute, conscience was still at the helm.
* Hebrews xii. 14.
"What am I thinking of!" cried Norah, still on her knees, with the
bright coin lying on her lap. "This money is not my own, I cannot
honestly spend it. If I have found it, some one else must have lost it;
I must give it back to its owner!"
An expression of disappointment came over the young girl's face, but it
was almost instantly chased away by a look like sunshine.
"Oh! Here is another opportunity given me of showing my love to my
Lord, of proving that my faith is real; that I am not hanging out false
colours! Is it not an honour and a joy to do, or to give up anything to
please my Heavenly Master?"
Norah caught up the coins, and hastily thrust them all back into the
bag, counting them as she did so. She would not trust herself to look
again at the glittering gold, she would not trust herself even to think
what Mrs. Peele or Sophy would say if they knew that she now held so
large a sum in her hands. Norah felt impatient for the time when Mrs.
Martin would come down from her room, that she might give over the
tempting bag into the charge of the lady, and ask her what would be
the best way of finding out its owner. Norah could think of nothing
else as she filled the kettle, spread the table, and made the toast for
breakfast. She felt as if in possession of a very great secret, which
she longed to disclose to her mistress.
"You must have received some good news, Norah," was Mrs. Martin's
remark, as she first met the beaming glance of her little servant.
"Oh, ma'am! Only see what I've found this morning on the road, not ten
yards from the door, eight new sovereigns, all in this bag!"
And Norah, with some excitement, placed the bag in the hand of her
mistress.
"And what will you do with this?" asked the old lady.
"Oh, ma'am! You know it's not mine, I thought you would kindly help me
to find out who has lost it."
"Norah, you're the most honest girl that ever I met with!" burst
involuntarily from the lips of her mistress.
Mrs. Martin had unintentionally touched a painful chord; Norah's
awakened conscience started back from unmerited praise.
"Oh, no, ma'am! Don't say that!" cried the girl, surprised into a
sudden confession, "I've not been faithful to you as I should; I've
taken little things; I've had a guest at my meals, but I mean never to
do so more; I hope that you will forgive me!"
"Norah, I thank God for you!" said the old lady, tears rising into her
eyes as she spoke.
How warm went her words to the heart of Norah, no praise could have
been so sweet!
Norah had unwittingly removed a weight from the mind of her gentle
mistress. Mrs. Martin had had painful suspicions, which she had vainly
tried to put away, as to the strict honesty of her young maid. She
had often asked herself whether it might not be her duty to speak
seriously to Norah on the subject, but had put off doing so from day
to day, partly because the duty was painful to her tender sensitive
spirit, partly because she tried to persuade herself that her dim sight
and failing memory might have led her into error, and she would not
distress her maid till she had clearer proof of her guilt.
Norah's honesty about the money had for the moment entirely swept
away all her lady's suspicions, and caused her to utter what a little
consideration might have made her retract; but Norah's frank confession
entirely relieved Mrs. Martin's mind. That confession showed regret for
the past, which was in itself an earnest of a future life of fidelity
and truth. The lady felt that henceforth Norah would be more to her
than a servant, one who would be her comfort, one whom she could trust,
whom she could love.
Nothing more, however, was said by either mistress or maid on the
subject. After a brief silence, Mrs. Martin recurred to that of the
money.
"Norah, you know that I expect my brother, Mr. Lowndes, to breakfast
here to-day," she observed. "We will give the bag over to him. He is a
magistrate, as you are aware, and will be the best person to advise us
how to find out the real owner."
As the lady spoke, the well-known sound of her brother's double-rap at
the knocker announced his arrival.
Norah, light of foot, and light of heart, ran to the door to answer the
summons, and Mr. Lowndes, a tall portly man, soon made his appearance
in the room.