"I was going into Mr. Chase"s grocery the first of January."
"Do you want to? Any taste for hams, herrings, tape, and shoe-strings?"
"No, sir," replied Arthur, laughing at the combination, "but I"d like to help mother. I promised father to see after her."
"You"ve done your duty. But my opinion is you"d rather go to college than into a grocery."
"Oh, sir!" and the flush on the boy"s face was not to be misunderstood.
"College it is, then. Carrie, you are to be my housekeeper; these are my little girls;" clasping the children in a hearty embrace, "and see if we don"t turn out a happier family than any Barnum ever exhibited."
The Christmas dinner was a marvel of cookery, and Uncle Nathan enlivened the meal with accounts of his adventures.
"And this was the Christmas I had dreaded!" said Mrs. Mulford, as she retired to her room.
The children had reluctantly gone to bed, fearing that this good "Santa Claus," as they persisted in calling Uncle Nathan, would disappear in the night, and leave them as suddenly as he came.
Arthur dreamed of his books and college, and woke up half a dozen times in the night to a.s.sure himself that the great man sleeping so soundly beside him was not simply the magician of the "Arabian Nights."
Mrs. Mulford"s pride was truly humbled by this manifestation of G.o.d"s goodness, and long and earnestly she prayed that henceforth, whatever trials might come upon her, she might bear the burden with cheerful patience, trusting in G.o.d to lead her through the shadows into the sunshine of a more perfect day. And in after life no memory was more precious to her than that of a Christmas morning when the children taught her a lesson of unselfishness and duty.
Come into our homes, oh ye Christmas angels! Brush away the cobwebs that regret and selfishness have strewn around, and put in their stead the wreaths and vines that are fragrant with the immortality of love!
No home so poor that will not be the brighter for your coming! No heart that is not enriched by your presence, oh ever blessed Christmas guests!
"There are as many lovely things, As many pleasant tones, For those who dwell by cottage hearths As those who sit on thrones."
WITH A WILL, JOE
It was a summer afternoon; the wheelbarrow stood before Mrs. Robin"s door; the street was empty of all traffic, for the heat was intense. I sauntered languidly along on the shady side opposite the widow"s house, and noticed her boy bringing out some linen in baskets to put on the wheelbarrow. I was surprised at the size of the baskets he was lugging along the pa.s.sage and lifting on to the wheelbarrow, and paused to look at him. He pulled, and dragged, and then resting a moment began again, and in the silence of the street, I heard him saying something to himself. I half crossed the road. He was too busy to notice me, and then, in a pause of his toil, I heard him gasp out, "With a will, Joe." He was encouraging himself to a further effort with these words. At last, bringing the large basket to the curbstone, he ran in and got a piece of smooth wood as a lever; resting one end of the basket on the wheelbarrow, he heaved up the other end, and saying a little louder than before, "With a will, Joe," the basket was mounted on to the wheelbarrow.
As he rested, and looked proudly at his successful effort, he saw me, and his round, red face, covered with perspiration, became scarlet for a moment, as I said, "That"s a brave boy." The mother"s voice sounded in the pa.s.sage, "I"m coming, Joe," and out she came as the child, pointing to the basket, said, "I"ve managed it, mother." It was a pretty sight, the looks of the widow and her willing boy. Though no further word was spoken, the sense of satisfaction on each face was very plain, and I have no doubt in each heart there was a throb of pleasure that words have no language for.
I went on my way, but the saying, "With a will, Joe," went with me.
How much there was in that simple phrase, "With a will!" How different is our work according as we do it with or against our will. This little fellow might have cried or murmured, or left his mother to do the work, and been dissatisfied with himself, and a source of discontent to his mother, but he had spurred himself on to toil and duty, with his words, powerful in their simplicity--"With a will, Joe."
Often since have I recalled the scene and the saying. When some young lady complains to me, "I have no time to give to doing good. I"ve visits to make, and shopping to do, and embroidery to finish, how can I help the poor when I"m so pressed for time?" I am apt to say mentally, "How different it would be with her, if she had ever said to herself, "With a will.""
Yes, with a will we can do almost anything that ought to be done; and without a will we can do nothing as it should be done. To all of us, whatever our station, there come difficulties and trials. If we yield to them we are beaten down and conquered. But if we, ourselves, conquer the temptation to do wrong, calling the strength of G.o.d to aid us in our struggle with the enemy, we shall grow stronger and more valiant with every battle, and less liable to again fall into temptation. Our wisdom and our duty are to rouse ourselves,--to speak to our own hearts as the child did in his simple words, "With a will, Joe." When there is any wrong thing that we want to do, our will then is strong enough. The _Evil One_ comes with his temptation, and helps us to our ruin, with his strength.
The times when we flag are when we want to do right. "When I would do good, evil is present with me," was the testimony of the apostle of the Gentiles, and it is the experience of all, unless they go to Him who can make our wills obedient to his will. Our prayer should be, "Create in me a clean heart, O G.o.d, and renew a right spirit [will]
within me."
DO WITH YOUR MIGHT.
Whatsoe"er you find to do, Do it, boys, with all your might!
Never be a _little_ true, Or a _little_ in the right.
Trifles even Lead to heaven, Trifles make the life of man; So in all things, Great or small things, Be as thorough as you can.
AFFECTING SCENE IN A SALOON
One afternoon in the month of June, 1870, a lady in deep mourning, followed by a little child, entered one of the fashionable saloons in the city of N----. The writer happened to be pa.s.sing at the time, and prompted by curiosity, followed her in to see what would ensue.
Stepping up to the bar, and addressing the proprietor, she said:--
"Sir, can you a.s.sist me? I have no home, no friends, and am not able to work."
He glanced at her and then at the child, with a mingled look of curiosity and pity. Evidently he was much surprised to see a woman in such a place, begging, but, without asking any questions, gave her some change, and turning to those present, he said:--
"Gentlemen, here is a lady in distress. Can"t some of you help her a little?"
They cheerfully acceded to the request, and soon a purse of two dollars was made up and put into her hand.
"Madam," said the gentleman who gave her the money, "why do you come to a saloon? It isn"t a proper place for a lady, and why are you driven to such a step?"
"Sir," said the lady, "I know it isn"t a proper place for a lady to be in, and you ask me why I am driven to such a step. I will tell you, in one short word," pointing to a bottle behind the counter labelled "whisky,"--"that is what brought me here--whisky. I was once happy, and surrounded with all the luxuries wealth could produce, with a fond, indulgent husband. But in an evil hour he was tempted, and not possessing the will to resist the temptation, fell, and in one short year my dream of happiness was over, my home was forever desolate, and the kind husband, and the wealth that some called mine, lost--lost, never to return; and all by the accursed wine cup. You see before you only the wreck of my former self, homeless and friendless, with nothing left me in this world but this little child;" and weeping bitterly, she affectionately caressed the golden curls that shaded a face of exquisite loveliness. Regaining her composure, and turning to the proprietor of the saloon, she continued:--
"Sir, the reason why I occasionally enter a place like this is to implore those who deal in this deadly poison to desist, to stop a business that spreads desolation, ruin, poverty, and starvation. Think one moment of your own loved ones, and then imagine them in the situation I am in. I appeal to your better nature, I appeal to your heart, for I know you possess a kind one, to retire from a business so ruinous to your patrons.
"Do you know the money you take across the bar is the same as taking the bread out of the mouths of the famishing? That it strips the clothing from their backs, deprives them of all the comforts of this life, and throws unhappiness, misery, crime, and desolation into their once happy homes? O! sir, I implore, beseech, and pray you to retire from a business you blush to own you are engaged in before your fellow men, and enter one that will not only be profitable to yourself, but to your fellow-creatures also. You will excuse me if I have spoken too plainly, but I could not help it when I thought of the misery, the unhappiness, and the suffering it has caused me."
"Madam, I am not offended," he answered, in a voice husky with emotion, "but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have said."
"Mamma," said the little girl--who, meantime, had been spoken to by some of the gentlemen present--taking hold of her mother"s hand, "these gentlemen want me to sing "Little Bessie" for them. Shall I do so?"
They all joined in the request, and placing her in the chair, she sung, in a sweet, childish voice, the following beautiful song:--
"Out in the gloomy night, sadly I roam; I have no mother dear, no pleasant home; No one cares for me, no one would cry Even if poor little Bessie should die.
Weary and tired I"ve been wandering all day, Asking for work, but I"m too small, they say; On the damp ground I must now lay my head; Father"s a drunkard, and mother is dead.
"We were so happy till father drank rum, Then all our sorrow and trouble begun; Mother grew pale, and wept every day; Baby and I were too hungry to play.
+------------------------------------+-------------------------------+Against LiquorAgainst TobaccoRecognizing in alcoholic beverages aAcknowledging smoking, chewing,deadly enemy to the delicateor snuffing tobacco to befunctions of the human system, aalways detrimental to the humanmenace to the home, and their use assystem, an enemy to perfecta drink an outrage against society,health and happiness, and anthe State and the Nation, I herebyoffense against good form andpromise to not only abstain fromrespectable society, I herebythem myself, but to use my influenceexpress myself against the useagainst their manufacture, sale, andof this vile poison. I shallconsumption.also endeavor to discourage itsuse among my friends andName______________________________a.s.sociates.Address___________________________Name_________________________Date______________________________Address______________________Date_________________________+------------------------------------+-------------------------------+"If any man defile the temple of G.o.d, him shall G.o.d destroy; forthe temple of G.o.d is holy, which temple ye are." I Cor. 3:17."Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, noradulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, norextortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of G.o.d." I Cor. 6:9, 10.+------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
Slowly they faded, till one summer night Found their dead faces all silent and white; Then with big tears slowly dropping, I said, "Father"s a drunkard, and mother is dead."
"Oh! if the temperance men could only find Poor, wretched father, and talk very kind; If they would stop him from drinking, then I should be very happy again.
Is it too late, temperance men? Please try, Or poor little Bessie must soon starve and die.
All the day long I"ve been begging for bread; Father"s a drunkard, and mother is dead."
The game of billiards was left unfinished, the cards thrown aside, and the unemptied gla.s.s remained on the counter; all had pressed near, some with pity-beaming eyes, entranced with the musical voice and beauty of the child, who seemed better fitted to be with angels above than in such a place.