A week after the return of Prof. Seabrook, Dr. Stanley ventured to transfer his patient to his native city. He was desirous of getting him away before the general flitting back to Hilton, in order to prevent awkward meetings and complications.
The young man had improved steadily, and his physician had found him, as a rule, very patient and tractable. He avoided talking about himself, and never again referred to the conversation that had occurred a few days after his accident. He read a great deal, conversed freely of politics, current events, etc., and evidently tried to cause as little trouble as possible.
He was often seriously thoughtful, a circ.u.mstance which his observant attendant regarded as a favorable indication, while, now and then, he would drop a word that betrayed his appreciation of the rare kindness he was receiving. In arranging for his transportation Dr. Stanley neglected nothing that would contribute to his comfort, and he made the trip without the slightest inconvenience, although he betrayed a sense of restlessness as he neared his destination, for he had not even asked what was to become of him upon his arrival, and could not quite conceal his anxiety on that point.
When he was lifted out upon the platform at the station, in his own city, his astonished glance fell first upon his sister, a sweet girl of seventeen, then upon his father, both of whom greeted him as if there had never been a barrier between them.
He flushed a remorseful scarlet and lifted an inquiring look to Dr. Stanley.
"Yes, Ned, I plead guilty," he smilingly confessed. "I did not feel justified in keeping your family in ignorance of your condition, and Mr. Willard telegraphed me that he would meet us on our arrival."
"And, Ned, we have everything so nicely fixed for you at home,"
his sister here interposed, for she saw he was half dazed by the unexpected meeting. "Bridge--the same old girl--and I have put your room in apple-pie order; your books and pictures just as you used to have them, and"--with a ripple of musical laughter--"you are going to have cream toast with your dinner. It was your favorite dish, you know, and mamma is making it herself. She wouldn"t trust anybody else, for fear there would be lumps in it.
But here come the men," she concluded, cutting herself short, as two muscular fellows came forward to transfer the bamboo litter to a waiting ambulance.
"And I will come around in the morning to take a look at that cast. I think we"ll have it off altogether before long," observed Dr. Stanley, as he held out his hand to take leave of his patient, who could only wring it in silence. Then he was borne away.
When the Seabrooks and Katherine arrived at Hilton, on the day previous to the opening of the school, they were joyfully welcomed by Jennie, who not only had everything in order for the princ.i.p.al and his family, but had, with loving hands, also made Katherine and Sadie"s room immaculate and gorgeously decorated it with autumn leaves and golden-rod in honor of their return.
Katherine could see that the girl"s recent trying experience had subdued her somewhat; but, otherwise, she was the same original, irrepressible Jennie as ever.
"How I love you!" she cried, when she was left alone with Katherine, while Sadie was out of the room for a few moments, and supplementing her statement with another vigorous hug. "And you look dearer than ever, if that could be possible; and what a fine time you"ve all been having down there by the sea! Dr. Stanley has told me all about it, and"--with a grimace--"I guess you"ve been busy, too, doctoring some of the materia medica out of him--eh?"
"What do you mean?" Katherine inquired, but flushing under the fire of the girl"s mischievous eyes.
"Oh! he doesn"t make any bones of it; he told me all about Dorothy--how sick she was, and what your mother did for her, though he said, of course, it must not be talked here. I suppose he made an exception of me, because he knows how I love the Seabrooks and you, and then I can see for myself how flip he is with the "new tongue.""
"Jennie!" exclaimed Katherine, in a shocked tone. Then she added: "What do you know about the "new tongue"?"
"I"m always saying the wrong thing," said the girl, in a repentant voice; "but, truly, I didn"t mean to be irreverent--I only wanted you to know how pat the doctor reels off the scientific phrases; and"--a.s.suming an important air--"I guess I know that Christian Science is the "new tongue" spoken of in the Bible. I"ve been to the service all summer; auntie went with me, too, and thought it was beautiful"--this with a sudden break in her voice--"and I"ve got the book," she resumed. "I bought it with my pin-money. One of the Scientists was going to get a revised pocket edition, and said she"d let me have her old one for half price. She said the Science is all in it, and so I thought it would do until I could afford to buy a new one."
Katherine"s eyes grew moist as she listened to this, and she told herself that the dear child should also have a new revised pocket edition when Christmas came.
Looking back over the months that had elapsed since she first came to Hilton, she was almost overwhelmed, in view of the changed thought that had crept into the school. She had sown but the tiniest seed of Truth when she had told Prof. Seabrook that "Christian Science was a religion of Love and she would simply try to live it"; but its rootlets had taken firm hold beneath the surface of an unpromising soil; its germ had shot upwards and flourished, in spite of an adverse atmosphere, spreading abroad its branches with bud and blossom and fruitage, until now a goodly harvest was being gathered in. There were Miss Reynolds, Mrs.
Seabrook and Dorothy, Jennie and Dr. Stanley, all ready to avow themselves as adherents of Truth, with Sadie, Prof. Seabrook and-- she was beginning to hope--Ned Willard looking towards the Light; and her heart was flooded with a great joy.
"What are you thinking about, Miss Minturn?" Jennie ventured to inquire when she had borne the silence as long as she could.
Katharine came to herself with a sudden start.
"Excuse me, dear," she said, with a deprecatory smile. "But what you have just told me sent my thoughts wandering back over all that has happened since I came here last winter. I did not mean to be heedless, and I am very glad that you wanted the book enough to buy it. Now"--laying a fond hand on her shoulder--"you are to drop "Miss Minturn" here and now. You and I are going to be like sisters--we are sisters in Truth already, for you are coming to us after this for all your vacations. You must have a home, you know, and I think you will be happy with us."
"Happy!" cried Jennie, choking up suddenly. "Why, I--I--think it will be just h--hea--venly!" and down went the curly black head upon her hands to hide the tears she could not wipe away, for, as was frequently the case, her handkerchief was not forthcoming when most needed.
Katherine slipped hers into her hand, for she heard Sadie returning, and, a few minutes later, the three girls were engaged in an animated discussion of plans for the coming year.
The school opened with a full house again; indeed, it was more than full, for Prof. Seabrook was obliged to secure rooms for half a dozen new pupils with some families outside, and began to seriously consider the advisability of extending the wings of the building before the beginning of another year.
We cannot follow the experiences of our friends during the ensuing ten months, in detail; and, in fact, but little out of the ordinary occurred to mark their pa.s.sing.
It will be of interest, perhaps, to know that Prof. Seabrook, true to his word, made a careful perusal of "Science and Health," but he did not find it easy to get out of old ruts, and there was many a hard-fought battle with preconceived opinions and long-treasured creeds and doctrines. Many a time he threw down his book with a revival of his old antagonism, but a look at Dorrie--whose general health had become almost perfect, and who was now manifesting the keenest interest in the studies which she had insisted upon taking up--was like a "peace, be still" to the tempest and oil upon the turbulent waters, and he resumed his investigations with such determination to know the Truth, that, finally, he was enabled to say with one of old, "I begin to see as through a gla.s.s darkly."
Miss Reynolds became a greater power than ever in the school. She had always been attractive, and the students loved her, but now there was an added charm and sweetness that irresistibly drew everyone to her. She made no secret of the change in her views, although she never forced them upon anyone. She attended the service on Grove Street regularly, with Katherine, and Jennie also was numbered with the same congregation.
Dr. Stanley found his position unique and by no means an enviable one. Before going abroad he had built up a fine practice, and most of his patients came back to him on his return, while new ones had flocked to him. Now, however, with his changed thought, he found it exceedingly difficult to decide just what course to pursue, when those who, hitherto, had placed unbounded confidence in him now called upon him to minister again to their necessities.
But he had chosen his path. Having become convinced that G.o.d and G.o.d alone "forgiveth all iniquities and healeth all diseases," he had declared that he would never again diagnose a case in accord with the laws of materia medica, write another medical prescription, or deal out ineffectual drugs. Neither did he, as yet, feel that he was prepared to announce himself a Christian Science pract.i.tioner. So, when called to his former patients, he had felt it his duty to state his position and, as an "entering wedge," suggest that they give the Science a trial for their infirmities. Some had openly scoffed at him; others had acted upon his advice, and were greatly benefited; while, in a few instances, he had offered to try what he himself could do, and, to his great joy, had made his demonstration. But the majority dropped him and went over to rival pract.i.tioners.
Then he began to push out into the byways and hedges. He sought out the suffering poor more than he had ever done before, and here he found a field "ready to harvest," where he could preach the "new gospel" and prove the promise, "The works that I do shall ye do also if ye believe on Me."
So the growth in his own consciousness went on while he was "casting his bread upon the waters," and he also might have been seen, nearly every Sunday morning, in one of the rear seats in the hall on Grove Street, listening intently to the service.
One supreme joy came to him during this time.
Ned Willard"s improvement had been phenomenally rapid after his return home, and, to his family, the change in himself appeared no less remarkable.
He was now always considerate of and courteous to every member of the household, frequently expressing grateful appreciation of their care and kindness, while an oath, which once had been a frequent offense to their ears, was now never heard to pa.s.s his lips.
One morning, while making his accustomed visit, Dr. Stanley observed that his patient was strangely silent and thoughtful, seeming disinclined to talk, although he suggested several topics to attract his attention. He was just on the point of rising to go, thinking it wiser to leave him to his mood, when he suddenly broke forth:
"I say, Stanley, what have you been doing to me?"
""Doing to you!" I am not sure that I catch your meaning."
"Well, when I tumbled helplessly into your hands, down there in Ma.s.sachusetts, you told me you were using Christian Science treatment, and asked me if I objected. I thought it all "bosh"; but, as you know, told you I didn"t care, provided the method brought right results. I thought that if things did not go O. K.
you would slip back to the old way, so I felt perfectly safe. But now I begin to feel some curiosity regarding this peculiar mode, process, or whatever it may be, for not only has my leg got well-- it is practically well--quicker than I supposed it possible for a broken bone to mend, but I feel mended in other ways," he concluded, with some embarra.s.sment.
"What do you mean, Ned?"
"Well, physically, I feel like a new man--kind of clean and fresh, through and through. Then"--flushing--"I am amazed that I haven"t been crazy for drink; but I do not seem to want it--I do not even care to smoke, and--"
"Yes," said his companion, kindly.
"Oh! hang it! Stanley, it isn"t easy to tell it, but I"m going to; I feel as if an X-ray had been turned upon my mentality, showing me what a blamed fool I"ve made of myself during the last few years, making me wish I could blot it all out and take a sharp turn in another direction. How"s that for humble pie! I declare, I don"t know myself!" he concluded, apologetically.
Dr. Stanley was literally stricken speechless. His heart was too full for utterance. Surely this "fruit of the Spirit" was ripening far earlier than he had dared to hope, although he had worked on the case with all the understanding he possessed, in connection with frequent correspondence with Mrs. Minturn for counsel.
"What have you been doing, doc?" Willard repeated. "I"ve heard that Christian Science treatment is wholly mental, but you have been doing some fine talking, first and last. Some of it has cut home and some has gone over my head. Does your science reform the drunkard as well as mend broken bones? I remember you once asked me if I"d like to be freed from it. Upon my word, I believe it does, though I"m not going to boast until I get out and can prove it. Have you been treating me for that, Stanley?"
"Yes, I have been trying to make you realize your birthright--your G.o.d-given dominion over all things," said his friend, in a voice that faltered in spite of himself; "have tried to make you know that you were "free-born.""
"Hold on! Now you are soaring over my head again," interposed the young man. "Just make that clearer in your own language, please.
Bible phraseology always seemed like Choctaw to me."
"Well, then, Christian Science teaches that G.o.d made man the perfect image and likeness of Himself and gave him power to reflect or manifest His dominion over all beings. It follows, then, that man was never in bondage to anything--habit, appet.i.te, disease or sin; so he was "free-born.""
"Then how does it happen we find him so tangled up in all sorts of deviltry?" demanded Willard.