"That"s so, mother, that"s so; the minister said that very thing last Sabbath. He"s been preaching right at me this two months, and it made me mad at first. I thought I wouldn"t give him a cent this year, but I guess he told the truth."
"Yes, of course he did. That"s what he"s made for. But now, John, you won"t give up seeking until you get the blessing, will you? Promise me this and one thing more. Don"t let the love of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, tempt you to give way to Satan for one minute."
"Well, I"ll see what I can do, but it looks like a great task before me." And John really felt as though he was preparing for a stern conflict. He went out to his work again, while Grandmother Lyman knelt down on the soft, bright carpet, the sunset light falling around her, and sent a prayer up to the Father"s throne so full of thanksgiving and love that the answer was not delayed, but came, bringing peace and joy to her trusting heart.
Pretty soon Phoebe came stealing in with a look of apprehension resting upon her countenance.
"Mother," said she, sinking into the first chair she reached, "I"m afraid John"s going to die."
"My child, what do you mean?" queried the old lady, pushing her spectacles to the top of her head.
"Because he"s changed so lately. Fixing up this room, you know, and being so gentle like--what can it mean unless he"s going to die?"
"Don"t worry, Phoebe, John"s just getting ready to live. I tell you, daughter, he"s experiencing religion."
A flash of joy lighted up Phoebe"s worn face as she spoke.
"Do you think so, mother? Oh, if it only could be true!"
A cry from the kitchen called her thither again, but her heart was light, and old hymns sprang unbidden to her lips, all tuned to the upgushing happiness within. The little ones caught the infection, and capered up and down the old kitchen, until wearied out they dropped off to sleep and to bed.
That day saw the beginning of true happiness in the old red farmhouse.
Not but that John pa.s.sed through many fierce struggles, for the world acquires a strong hold in forty-five years, but with G.o.d"s help he gained the victory; and humble and happy, one week later he called his little family together, and told them of his new hopes and purposes.
We can not describe that scene, but surely the angels saw and rejoiced over it. Then once more, before his friends and neighbors in prayer-meeting, with trembling voice he related his experience. Tears and "amens" greeted it, all testifying to the spirit of true brotherly love. Some, to be sure, there were who said, "Can the leopard change his spots?" But when, Sabbath after Sabbath, they saw that the head of the "Lyman pew" neither pretended to be asleep, nor to have forgotten his wallet when the much-abused green contribution bag swung along, but instead deposited therein the freshest scrip, they said, "Truly, this is the Lord"s doings, and is marvelous in our eyes."
Perhaps the story of the change at home is about as Tillie whispered it in the ear of a confidential friend. "You see pa asks a blessin"
now "fore we eats; and then we read the Bible; and he prays the Lord to keep us good all the day long; and so we grow gooder and gooder. Pa bought mother a new black silk dress the other day, and Oh, he"s so much lovinger than he ever was before!" Yes, he was "lovinger," as Tillie called him, for truly he had pa.s.sed from death unto life.
The old homestead, too, soon began to change visibly. The shades of ugliness that had so long hung over it vanished away. Its very angles seemed to grow less acute, and never, in its palmiest days, had it rejoiced in such bright coats of paint. But, with all the brightening up without and within, there was one most cozy place of all where the family was wont to a.s.semble each Sabbath evening. "Seem"s though it"s always full of rainbows," Nick said; but that must have been owing to the blessed influence of her who sat there, for this dearest of all nooks was "grandmother"s room."
G.o.d has not promised skies ever blue, Flower-strewn pathways always to you; G.o.d has not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain; But G.o.d has promised strength from above, Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
THE YOUNG MUSICIAN
Jonas Johnson was the youngest son of an organ-builder in New England.
He was a small, quiet boy, in no way remarkable except in his pa.s.sion for harmonies. So great was his love for music, that from his most tender years he could not listen unmoved to the singing of his sisters as they went about their homely work; and if the voices happened to be discordant he ran shuddering from the sound. The choir of untutored singers in church services made tears fall from his eyes upon his hymn-book while he joined his small voice with theirs.
Although Jonas let his tears fall unwittingly, the organ-builder saw them and treasured them in his heart. When the boy had reached his eleventh year the family left the country town and came to live in New York. Here the father determined to let his son learn the organ.
"Remember, Jonas," said he, "I am a poor man, and can ill afford to go into this expense unless you do the work before you manfully and patiently. I give you this profession instead of a trade because I believe it to be your wish."
Jonas was entirely satisfied, and his slim fingers quivered in the antic.i.p.ation of one day being able to move those mysterious white and black keys to the sound and measure of _Te Deums_ and chants. A teacher was selected whose manner of educating was thorough and profound. At the first lesson Jonas became unequivocally a.s.sured that the business was a serious one, when after a third time striking G instead of G-sharp, the heavy, quick blow of the master"s stick hummed and stung across his hands as they hovered over the organ keys. Poor little fingers! they could work no more that day--they were stiffened and red. He wept so profusely that he was requested to retire and to return in two days.
All the way home he sobbed, and held his hands suspended from the wrists, a most pitiable object. "Ah! you old ruffian!" soliloquized the tearful pupil, "won"t my father give it to you for this?"
He found his father in the workshop.
"Well," cried the organ-builder, "how went the lesson?" He saw there had been trouble.
Jonas with fresh tears showed his chafed fingers and told the event.
The father listened with darkened brow, and when the sad tale was ended he solemnly led his son into a back room, and after inflicting a thorough corporal punishment, warned him in a terrible voice never again to complain of his master.
Our hero felt for a while that this was almost beyond human endurance, and for several hours he lay upon a pile of shavings plotting vengeance upon those he considered his worst enemies, when a sudden thrill shot through him at the sound of the rich organ tones. They came from his father"s wareroom. Evidently a master hand was there.
Jonas sat up and listened. It was the portion of a prelude by Sebastian Bach, and the marvelous harmonies seemed to speak to Jonas as the voice of a spirit. He rose upon his feet, and his whole soul trembled with the wonderful words it spoke to him, though as yet he hardly understood their meaning. He went to the door and gently opened it. The back of the high organ stood opposite to him. He did not wish to be observed, and he pa.s.sed quietly along at the end of the large room until he saw the musician. Could it be the master? Yes, Jonas recognized the long curling beard, and even the _baton_ as it lay upon a chair. Amidst the glowing chords the boy contrived to pa.s.s on unnoticed. He remembered that in two days he must again present himself. Could that terrible personage be confronted with an imperfect scale? The very thought was a shudder. Besides, Jonas felt an inspiration now. He again burned to be a musician. The revengeful spirit had left him--he thought only of Sebastian Bach.
A small organ had been placed in the little garret where Jonas slept.
Thither he repaired, and commenced the work that ever since he has performed so well.
The dreaded master found no fault with the next lesson, and as Jonas advanced and he perceived that he studied with a zeal, an earnestness quite unusual in a boy, his stern manner relaxed, and he dared allow all the warmth of his heart to cheer his now beloved pupil.
At the end of five months Jonas met with a great misfortune. His master, after a short and sudden illness, died--which so cut him down that the organ-builder feared for his son"s health. The boy stoutly refused to work under any other teacher, a.s.suring the family that he felt able now to go on alone. Early morning and late evening found the young musician at his organ in the garret. Those who read this biography will scarcely believe how great was his progress. But I state facts.
Just after he had entered his twelfth year he happened to overhear two men, in a music store, conversing about a church in the upper part of the city, where the organist was to leave in a few weeks. Jonas listened.
"He plays in too operatic a style to suit the congregation," said one.
"Yes," said the other, "the simpler the playing the better they are pleased."
"Where is the church?" asked Jonas.
"It is Saint C----"s, in ---- Street."
Jonas returned to his organ, swelling with a new and great idea. The following Sabbath morning he went very early to the church. No person had arrived except the organist who was arranging music in the loft.
Jonas stepped up the stairway and came round in front where he could see the selections. The organist turned at the intrusion.
"What do you want here, Sir?" said he.
"I heard there was to be a vacancy, Sir."
"And do you know of one who wishes to occupy it?"
"I should like it."
"You?"
"Yes, I am an organist."
This simple reply brought a smile to the lips of the questioner. He pointed to a page in the service, and said "Play that." And giving up his seat to Jonas, he went to the side to blow the bellows. Feeling nervous and anxious, Jonas began--at first tremulously, but gaining courage with every chord, he successfully accomplished the task, while the organist ran from the bellows to the music, and from the music to the bellows again in surprise. At the conclusion they both drew a long breath.
"Well, that is remarkable!" said the organist. "And you want the vacancy?"
"Very much," replied Jonas, trembling with pleasure.
"Then come here this afternoon, just before church, and I will take you to the minister. He makes all these arrangements."