\"Well,mychild,\"repliedtheoldgentleman,withasmile.\"I\'vebroughthereaheartfulloftroubleandwickednessmanyatime,soyouneednotfearhurtingthegarden.\"
\"ButIfearIshallpainandshockyou.\"
\"Ihopeyouwill.I\'mgoingtofeelwithandforyou.What\'sthegoodofmysittingherelikeapost?\"
\"Well,\"saidIda,desperately,\"Ipromisedtotellyoueverything,andIwill.IfthereisanychanceformeI\'llthenknowit,foryouwillnotdeceiveme.Somehow,whatIamandwhatIhavetosayseemedinsuchsadcontrastwithyouandyourgardenthatIbecameafraid.Youaskedaboutmyparents.Myfatherisaveryunhappyman.Heseemstohavelosthopeandcourage.InowbegintoseethatIhavebeenchieflytoblameforthis.Idonothingforhiscomfort.Indeed,IhavebeensooccupiedwithmyselfandmyownpleasurethatIhavegivenhimlittlethought.Hedoesnotspendmuchofhistimeathome,andwhenIsawhimhewasalwaystired,sad,andmoody.Heseemedtopossessnothingthatcouldministertomyprideandpleasuresavemoney,andItookthatfreely,withscarcelyeventhanksinreturn.
\"Idon\'tliketospeakagainstmymother,buttruthcompelsmetoaddthatsheactsmuchinthesameway.Idon\'tthinkshelovespapa.Perhapsourtreatmentisthechiefreasonwhylife,seemingly,hasbecometohimaburden.Whenhe\'snotbusyinheofficehedrinks,anddrinks,andIfearitisonlytoforgethistrouble.
Onceortwicethissummerhehaslookedlikeaman,andappearedcapableofthrowingoffthisdestroyinghabit,andthenbymywretchedfollyImadehimdoworsethanever,\"andsheburstintoaremorsefulpassionoftears.
\"That\'sright,mychild,\"saidMr.Eltinge,takingoffhisspectaclesthathemightwipehissympatheticeyes;\"youwereverymuchtoblame.Thankgod,therearenoPhariseesinthisgarden.
Godblessyou;goon.\"
\"ThisthatI\'vetoldyouaboutmyfatheroughttobemychieftrouble,butitisn\'t,\"falteredIda.\"Ifearyouwon\'tunderstandmeverywellnow,andyoucertainlywillneverbeabletounderstandhowIcouldbetemptedtodosomethingattheverythoughtofwhichInowshudder.\"
\"Nomatter;myMastercanunderstanditallifIcan\'t.He\'slistening,too,remember.\"
\"Itfrightensmetothinkso,\"saidIda,inanawed,tremblingtone.
\"That\'sbecauseyoudon\'tknowhim.Ifyouwereseverelywounded,wouldyoubefrightenedtoknowthatagoodphysicianwasrightathandtohealyou?\"
\"Butisn\'tGodtooinfiniteandfarawaytolistentolistentothestoryofmyweaknessandfolly?Idarenotthinkofhim.Mydifficultyisjustthis——heISGod,andwhatamI?\"
\"Oneofhislittlechildren,mydear.Yes,heisinfinite,butnotfaraway.Intheworstofmyweaknessandfollyhelistenedpatiently,andhelpedmeoutofmytrouble.Howareyougoingtogetoverthisfact?Hehaslistenedtoandhelpedmultitudesofothersineverykindoftroubleandwrong.Howareyougoingtogetoverthesefacts?\"
Idaslowlywipedhereyes.Herfacegrewverypale,andshelookedatMr.Eltingesteadilyandearnestly,asiftogatherfromhisexpressionandmanner,aswellaswords,thepreciseeffectofherconfession.
\"Mr.Eltinge,\"shesaid,\"atthistimeyesterdayIdidnotexpecttobealiveto-day.Iexpectedtobedead,andbymyownhand.
WillGodforgivesuchwickedness?\"
\"Dead!\"exclaimedtheoldgentleman,startingup.
\"Yes,\"saidIda,growingstillpalerandtremblingwithapprehension,butstilllookingfixedlyatMr.Eltingeasifshewouldlearnfromhisfacewhethershecouldhopeormustdespairbecauseofherintendedcrime.
\"Andwhatchangedyourawfulpurpose,mychild?\"hesaid,verygravely.
\"Yourwordsattheprayer-meetinglastnight.\"
Theoldgentlemanremovedhishatandreverentlybowedhishead.
\"OGod,\"hemurmured,\"thouhastbeenmercifultomeallmydays;
Ithanktheeforthiscrowningmercy.\"
\"ButwillGodbemercifultoME?\"criedIda,inatoneofsharpagony.
Theoldmancametoheside,andplacinghishandsonherheadspokewithalmosttheauthorityandsolemnityofoneofGod\'sancientprophets.
\"Yes,mychild,yes,hewillbemercifuluntoyou——hewillforgiveyou.Butinyourdeepneedyourequiremorethantheassuranceofapoorsinfulmortallikeyourself.ListentoGod\'sownword:
\'ThussaiththehighandloftyOnethatinhabitetheternity,whosenameisHoly:Idwellinthehighandholyplace,withhimalsothatisofacontriteandhumblespirit,torevivethespiritofthehumble,andtorevivetheheartofthecontriteones.\'
\"\'Likeasafatherpitiethhischildren,sotheLordpitieththemthatfearhim.\'
\"\'Ifweconfessoursinsheisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursins;andthebloodofJesusChrist,hisSon,cleansethusfromallsin.\'Godanswersyourquestionhimself,mychild.\"
\"Oh,mayHeblessyouforyourkindnesstome!Ithassavedmefromdespairanddeath,\"sobbedIda,buryingherfaceinherhands,andgivingwaytothenaturalexpressionoffeelingthateverrelievesaheartthathaslongbeenoverburdened.
ForafewmomentsMr.Eltingesaidnothing,butgentlystrokedthebowedheadashemightcaressadaughterofhisown.Atlastheasked,withavoicethatwasbrokenfromsympathywithheremotion,\"HowaboutmyMaster,whosekindprovidencehasbroughtallthisabout?\"
Idagraduallybecamemorequiet,andassoonasshecouldtrustherselftospeakshelifterherheadandanswered:
\"Mr.Eltinge,IthinkIcanlearntoloveGodasyouportrayhimtome.ButinmyimperfectionandwickednessIhavenotdaredtothinkofhimtillIcamehere.\"
\"Now,isn\'tthatjustlikethedevil\'swork!\"exclaimedMr.Eltinge.
\"ItwasourimperfectionandwickednessthatbroughtChristtoourrescue,andyetyouhavebeenmadetobelievethatyourchiefclaimuponourDivineFriendisahopelessbarrieragainstyou!\"
\"Mr.Eltinge,\"saidIda,slowly,asifsheweretryingtobesurethateachwordexpressedherthought,\"itwasthatword,FRIEND,asyouuseditlastnight,thatcaughtmyearandrevivedmyhopes.
Inowbelievethatifyouhadspokenonlyofdutyortruth,orevenofGodintheordinaryway,Ishouldnowbe\"——sheburiedherfaceinherhandsandshuddered——\"Ishouldnotbeinthissunnygardenwiththememorythatyourhandshaverestedonmyhandsinblessing.
IfIamtolive,Ishallneed,aboveallthings,afriend,andaverypatientandhelpfulone,orelsemyburdenwillbeheavierthanIcancarry.Ihavetoldyouaboutmyparents,andyouthusknowwhatImustlookforwardtoinmyownhome.Butsuchismyweaknessandfolly,Ihaveafarworsetroublethanthat.Youmaysmileatitandthinkthattimewillbringspeedyrelief.Perhapsitwill——Ihopeso.IfeelthatIknowsolittleaboutmyselfandeverythingelsethatIcanneverbesureofanythingagain.Mr.
Eltinge,Ihavebeensounfortunateastogivemywholeheart\'slovetoamanwhodespisesme.Atfirstheseemedsomewhatattracted,buthesoondiscoveredhowimperfectandignorantIwas,andcoldlywithdrew.Heisnowpayinghisaddresses,Ibelieve,toanotherlady,andImustadmitthatsheisalovelygirl,andeverywayworthyofhim.Ithinkshewillreturnhisregard,ifshedoesnotalready.Butwhethershedoesornotcannotmatter,forheissofarmysuperiorineveryrespectthathewouldneverthinkofmeagain.Inordertohidemyfoolish,hopelesspassion,IreceivedattentionsfromanothermanthatIdetested,andwhohassinceprovedhimselfanuttervillain,butitsohappenedthatmynamebecamesocloselyassociatedwiththislowfellow,thatwhenmyheartwasbreakingforanotherreason,allthoughtthatitwasbecauseIwasinfatuatedwithamanIloathed.EvenMr.VanBergthoughtso,andIintendedtocompelhimtorespectme,oratleasttothinkbetterofme,evenifIhadtodietocarryoutmypurpose.Iwasdesperateandblindwithdisappointmentanddespair.Toastrongman,Isuppose,thesethingsdonotcountsogreatly,butI\'minclinedtothinkwhatwithuspoorwomenourheart-lifeiseverything.I
fairlyshiveratthethoughtofthefuture.HowcanIcarrythisheavyburden,yearafteryear?Oh,howcanIbearit?HowcanI
bearit?\"andhereyesbecamefullofdesperatetroubleagain,attheprospectbeforeher.
\"Well,mydear,\"saidMr.Eltingeinbrokentones,\"myheartgoesouttoyouinsympathyasifyouweremyowndaughter,butoldJamesEltingecandobutlittletowardscuringyourdeeptroubles.\"
\"Idonothopetobecured,\"saidIda,despondently,\"butIwouldbeverygladifIcouldthinkmylifewouldnotbeaburdentomyselfandothers.\"
Mr.Eltingeponderedafewmoments,andthenbrightenedup,asifapleasantthoughthadstruckhim.
\"Whatdoyouthinkofthispear-treeagainstwhichI\'mleaning?\"
heasked.\"YourememberIsaiditowedmeagoodturn,andperhapsIcangetmybestfruitfromitto-day.\"
\"Ithinkitisaprettytree,\"saidIda,wonderingly;\"andnowI
noticethattherearesomefinepearsonit.\"
\"Yes,andtheyareaboutripe.Letusseeifwecan\'treversetheoldstorywithwhichtheBiblecommences.Themanshalltemptthewomanthistime,andthisshallbeatreeoftheknowledgeofgood,notofevil.Poorchild,youknowenoughaboutthatalready;\"
andtheoldgentlemanclimbeduponhischair,andwithhiscaneloosenedalargeyellowpearwithacrimsonblushonitssunnyside.
\"Takemyhatandcatchit,\"hehadsaidtoIda;andshedidso.
\"Now,I\'vemadeyouanaccomplicealready,andsoyoumayaswelleatthepearwhileItellyouabitofhistoryconcerningthistree.Itmayhelpmetosuggestsomeveryencouragingtruths.\"
ButIdaheldherpearandlookedwistfullyatthespeaker.Herheartwasstilltoosoretoenterintothehalf-playfulmannerbywhichhesoughttogivealessgloomycasttoherthoughts.
\"Someyearsago,\"saidMr.Eltinge,resuminghisseat,\"wehadanightofdarknessandviolentstormlikethatthroughwhichyou,poorchild,havejustpassed.Thegardenfencewasblowndown,andsomestraycattlegotinandmadesadhavoc.Thispear-treewasalittlethingthen,andwhenIcameoutinthemorningitwasinabadplight,Icantellyou.Thewindhadsnappedoffthetop,anditlaywitheringontheground.Worsethanthis,oneofthecattlehadsteppedonit,bruisingitseverely,andhalfbreakingitoffneartheroot.Idon\'tknowwhichoftheyoungmenyouhavenamedthisunrulybeasttypifies——bothof\'em,I\'minclinedtothink.\"
HereIdashookherheadinprotestagainstVanBergbeingclassedwithSibley,andatthesametimecouldnotforbeartheglimmerofasmileattheoldman\'shomelyimagery.
\"Well,accordingtomycreed,\"continuedMr.Eltinge,\"\'whilethere\'slifethere\'shope,\'soIliftedupthepoor,prostratelittletree,andtiedittoastoutstake.ThenIgotgraftingwaxandcoveredthebruisesandbrokenplaces,andfinallytiedallupascarefullyasIusedtomyboys\'fingerswhenthecutthem,sixtyoddyearsago.Andnowmark,mychild;IhaddoneallthatIcoulddo.I
couldn\'tmakethewoundshealorevenanewtwigstart;andyethereisastatelyyoungtreebeginningtobeardeliciousfruit.
Naturetookmysorry-lookinglittlecaseinhand,andslowlyatfirst,butbyandbywithincreasedvigorandrapidity,shedevelopedwhatyousee.Ihaveanaffectionforthistree,andliketoleanagainstit,andsometimesIhalffancyitlikestohaveme.\"
\"Ishouldthinkitoughtto,\"saidIda,heartily,withtearsinhereyes,butasmileonherlips.
\"Well,now,mychild,togoonwithmyparable,whatnaturewastothispear-tree,nature\'sGodmustbetoyou.Wecannotfindinnaturenorinthehappiesthumanlovethatwhichcansatisfyourdeepspiritualneed;butwecanfindallinhimwhocamefromheaveninourbehalf.JesusChrististhepatient,helpfulFriendyouneed.Hebringsmorethanjoy——eventhepeaceandrestthatfollowfulltrustinOnepledgedtotakecareofusandmakeeverythingturnoutforthebest.Hesaysofthosewhocometohim,\'Igiveuntothemeternallife,andtheyshallneverperish.\'Ifyouwilltakethislifefromhimitwillneverbeaburdentoyou,anditwillalwaysbeablessingtoothers.\"
\"IfearIdon\'tquiteunderstandyou,Mr.Eltinge.Whatisthis\'eternallife\'——thisnew,addedlifewhichyousayChristoffers,andwhichI\'msureI\'dbeverygladtotakeifIknewhow?\"
\"LetJesusansweryouhimself,mychild.Hesaidplainly:\'Thisislifeeternal,thattheymightknowtheetheonlytrueGod,andJesusChrist,whomthouhassent.\'PerhapsIcanmakeourLord\'swordsclearerfromyourownexperience,ifyouwillpermitmetorefertoyourfeelingstowardthemanwho,whetherworthyornothaswonyourlove.Supposeheisallyouimagine,andthathelavishedonyouthebesttreasuresofhisheart;wouldnotlifeathissideseemlifeinverytruth,andlifeelsewherebutmereexistence?\"
\"Yes,\"saidIda,withbowedheadandpalecheeks.\"Ibegintounderstandyounow.ItseemstomethatIcouldwelcomesorrow,poverty,andevendeath,athisside,andcallliferichandfull.
Butasitis——oh,Mr.Eltinge,teachmeyourfaith,lestIgivewaytodespairagain!\"
\"Poorchild!poorchild!Don\'tmywhitehairsteachyouthatI
amonthethresholdofthehomeinwhich\'Godshallwipeawayalltears\'?\"
\"Ienvyyou,\"criedIda,almostpassionately.\"ThinkhowfarIamfromthathome!\"
\"Well,youarenotfarfromtheDivineFriendwholeadstothathome,andwhenyoucometoKNOWhimandhisloveyourlifewillbegintogrowricherandsweeterandfullertoalleternity.Thisiseternallife.It\'sknowtheGodwholovesusandwhomwehavelearnedtolove.It\'snotlivingonandonforeverinabeautifulheaven,anymorethantheearthlylifeyoucraveislivingonandoninapleasanthomesuchasthemanofyourheartmightprovide.
Thetruelifeisthepresenceofthelovedonehimself,andallthatheistousandallthathecandoforus;andifamortalandfinitecreatureseemstoyousoabletoimpartlife,howinfinitelymoreblessedwillthelifeeventuallybewhichcomesfromaGodofboundlesspowerandboundlesslove!\"
\"Alas,Mr.Eltinge,Godseemstooboundless.\"
\"DidGodseemtooboundlesstothelittlechildrenwhomhetookinhisarmsandblessed?\"
\"OhthatIhadbeenoneofthem!\"saidIda,withasuddenrushoftears.
\"Come,mydearyoungfriend,donotexpecttoomuchofyourselfto-day.Youcannottakeinallthistruthatonce,anymorethanthisyoungpeartreecouldtakeallthedewandsunshine,coldandheat(forautumnfrostsareneededaswellasspringshowers)
thatnaturehadinstoreforit,butitslifewasassuredfromthemomentitwasabletoreceivenature\'srestoringinfluences.Sowithgreatercertaintyahappy,usefullifeisassuredtoyouassoonasyoureceiveJesusChristasyourSaviour,Teacher,andLife-giver.\'Asmanyasreceivedhim,tothemgavehepowertobecomethesonsofGod,\'andIassureyoutheGreatKingwilllookafterhischildrenrightroyally.Butyoudon\'tknowhimverywellyet,andsocannothavethelifewhichflowsfromhisfulnessoflife.Supposeyoucomeheremornings,andwe\'llreadtogetherthestoryofJesus,justasitistoldintheNewTestament,andIdon\'tbelieveitwillbelongbeforeyouwillsaytomethatmyFriendisyoursalso.Now,comeuptothehouseandI\'llintroduceyoutomysister.Youthinkmeasaint;butI\'llshowyouwhatahumanappetiteIhave.\"
\"Ihearabrooknearby,\"saidIda;\"mayInotgotoitandbathemyface?\"
\"Yes,dowhatyoulikebestwhilehere.Wouldyouratherbatheinthebrookthanatthehouse?\"
\"Yes,indeed.Everythingseemssacredhere,andIcanimaginethebrookyondertobearillfromtheJordan.\"
\"Don\'tbesuperstitiousandsentimental,\"saidtheoldgentleman,shakinghisheadgravely.\"ThelifeofaChristianmeanshonest,patientwork,andChrist\'sbloodalonecanwashustillwearewhiterthansnow.\"
Ida\'sfacegrewearnestandnobleasshesteppedtothesymbolictreeandplacedherhandononeofitslowerbranches.
\"Mr.Eltinge,\"shesaidgentlyandgravely,\"asthisbroken,woundedtreereceivedallthehelpnaturegaveit,soI,morebruisedandbroken,willtrytoreceiveallthehelpChristwillgivemetobearmyburdenandlivealifepleasingtohim.Ishallbeverygladindeedtocomehereandlearntoknowhimbetterunderyourmostkindandfaithfulteaching,andasIlearn,Iwilltrytodomybest;butoh,Mr.Eltinge,youcan\'trealizehowveryweakandimperfect——howignorantandfulloffaultsIam!\"
\"Justsothepoorlittletreemighthavespokenifithadhadavoice.IndeedIthoughtitWOULDdie.Butnowlookatthefruitoveryourhead.Youshalltakesomeofithome,andeverypearwillbeasermontoyou——ajuicyone,too.Ifyouwilldoasyousay,mychild,allwillbewell.\"
Shebathedhertear-stainedfaceinthebrook,andcamebacklookingfairerthananyflowerinthegarden.Thentheywentuptotheold-fashionedhouse.
\"Mydear,thisismysister,MissEltinge,\"hesaid,presentingawhite-hairedoldlady,whostillwasevidentlymuchyoungerthanherbrother.Then,turningsuddenlyaroundincomicaldismay,hesaid,\"Why,blessyou,mychild,Idon\'tknowyourname!Well,well,nomatter!IknowYOU.TherearepeoplewhosenamesI\'veknownhalfmylife,andyetIdon\'tknowthemanddon\'ttrust\'em.\"
\"MynameisIdaMayhew,\"saidtheyounggirlsimply.\"IheardMr.
Eltingespeakattheprayer-meetinglastnightinsuchawaythatIwantedtoseehimandaskhishelpandadvice,andhehasbeenvery,verykindtome.Hecantellyouall.\"
\"Yes,ifhechooses,\"saidtheoldgentlemanwithalaugh.\"Sisterknowsmetoowellinmycharacteroffatherconfessortoexpectmetotelleverything.\"
Theymadeherathomeasthesimpleandwell-bredonlycando.
AfterdinnerMissEltingetriedtoentertainherforawhile,butatlastsaid,withappreciativetact:
\"Mydear,Ithinkyouwillbestenjoyyourselfifyouarelefttorangetheoldhouseandplaceatwill.Aftermybrotherhasrestedhewilljoinyouagain.\"
Idawasgladtobealone.Shehadmadeapromiseoffar-reachingandvitalimportthatmorning.Lifewastakingonnewaspectsthatweresounfamiliarthatshewasbewildered.Shewentbacktothegarden,and,takingMr.Eltinge\'sseat,leanedagainsttheemblematicpear-tree,whichshecuriouslybegantoassociatewithherself,andforwhichshewasalreadyconsciousofsomethinglikeaffection.
\"Oh,\"shesighed,\"ifmylifewouldonlycometoaboundwithdeedscorrespondingtothefruitthatisbendingtheseboughsaboveme,itcouldnotbeaburden,thoughtitmightbeverysadandlonely.
InowbegintounderstandJennieBurton——herconstanteffortinbehalfofothers.ButHEwillcomfortherbeforelong.Herdarkdaysarenearlyover.Nomatterhowdeeporgreathertroublesmayhavebeen,theymustvanishinthesunshineofsuchaman\'slove.
Iwonderifhehasspokenplainlyyet——butwhatneedofwords?
Hiseyesandmannerhavetoldherallahundredtimes.Iwishshecouldbemyfriend,IwishIcouldspeaktoherplainly,forsheissokindandwise;butImustshunher,orelseshe\'lldiscoverthesecretthatI\'dhidefromherevenmorecarefullythanfromhim,ifsuchathingwerepossible.Iwonderiftheyevermetbeforetheycamehere.Ineversawonehumanbeinglookatanotherasshesometimeslooksathim.Ibelievethatdeepinherheartshefairlyidolizeshim,althoughhersingularself-controlenablesher,asageneralthing,totreathimwiththeeaseandfranknessofafriend.Well,shemaylovehimmoredeeplythanIdobecausepossessingadeepernature.IcanbutgiveallIhave.ButIthinkmylovewouldbelikethelittlebrookoverthere.It\'snotverydeeporobtrusive,butMr.Eltingesaysithasneverfailed.Well,well!thesearenotthethoughtsforme,thoughhowIcanhelpthemIcannottell.Iwilltrytowinalittlerespectfromhimbeforewepart,andthenmylife,likethispear-tree,mustbefullofgooddeedsforthosewhohavethebestrighttoreceivethem,\"andtakingasmallpen-knifefromherpocketshemountedthechair,andcarvedwithinthetwolowerbrancheswheretheycouldnoteasilybediscoveredthewords,\"IdaMayhew.\"
ChapterXLII.TheCorner-StoneofCharacter.
AfterthecharacteristicactbywhichIdahadidentifiedthetree——oncesobruisedandbroken——withherself,shesatdownagainatitsfootandthoughtlonganddeeply.Thedeephushandquietofthequaintoldgardenwasjustwhatsheneededafterthedeliriumofherpassionanddespair.Herpulsebegantogrowmoreeven,andherbeautifulfacesweetandnoblewiththebetterthoughtsshenowwasentertaining.Asshesatthereleaningherheadagainsttheboleofthetree,theshadowsoftheleavesabovedeepeningandbrighteningacrossherpalefeatures,andherlarge,darkeyesoftengrowinghumidwithsympathywithherthoughts,shemadeasfairapictureascouldEveherself,wereshedreamingoverherlostgarden-home.Atlastshesaidslowly:
\"IwonderifitwillbepossibleforaDivinelovegraduallytosupplantahumanlove?\'Whomtoknowiseternallife.\'Thishopeseemstobemyonlyhope——myonlyremedy,myonechance.Imustsoongobacktothecity,whereIcannotseegoodoldMr.Eltinge,whereIwillnolongerhavetheexcitementofoccasionallymeetingMr.VanBerg,whereIshallbefacttofacewithonlythehard,prosaicdifficultiesthatwillaboundintheworldwithout,butespeciallyinmyownhome.IplainlyforeseethatIshallbecomebitter,selfish,andrecklessagain,unlessIfindsuchaFriendasMr.Eltingedescribes,whowillgivemedailyandpositivehelp;
ameredecorous,formalreligionwillbeofnomoreusetomethanpicturesofbreadtothefamishing.Imusthaveastrong,patientFriendwhowillseemethroughmytroubles,orI\'mlost.ImayevengrowasdesperateandwickedasIhavebeenagain,\"andsheburiedherfaceinherhandsandfairlytrembledwithapprehension.
\"Come,mychild,cheerup!Allwillendwellyet.Takeanoldman\'swordforit.I\'velivedthroughseveraltroublesthatIthoughtwouldfinishme,thankstothegoodLord,andhereIamnow,safeandsoundandinthepossessionoftwogoodhomes——thisoneandthebetteroneovertherivertheysayissodark.Idon\'tbelieveit\'smuchmoreofarivertotheChristianthanyonderlittlebrook;
butIcantellyou,mychild,we\'llfindawonderfuldifferencebetweenthetwoshores.\"
Idafoundthattheoldgentlemanhadjoinedherunperceived,andshetoldhimofherfears.
\"Now,don\'tworry,\"heanswered,\"aboutwhatwillhappenwhenyougobacktothecity.Christhimselfhassaid:\'Sufficientuntothedayistheevilthereof.\'Yourwholedutyistodoyourbestnow,andhe\'lltakecareofthefuture.Hedidnotcallhimselfthe\'GoodShepherd\'fornothing,asIandmillionsofothers,knowfromexperience.He\'llseeyouoverallthehardplaces,ifyouaskhimto,andjustfollowpatiently.Youmaynotbeabletoseethewayorknowwhereheisleadingyou,anymorethanthesheep;
butthepath,howeverflintyandthorny,willendinthefold.Ofthatbeassured.\"Andhegaveheroneortwosadchaptersfromhisownlifeofwhichhecouldnowspeakcalmlyandunderstandingly.
Astheywereabouttopart,Idasaid:\"Mr.Eltinge,I\'msoignorantthatIhavenottheremotestideahowtocommencethisChristianlife.Igreatlywishtoformacharacterworthyofrespect,butIdon\'tknowhowtosetaboutit.\"
\"Commencebylivingsimpleandtrue,mydear.Truthfulnessisthecorner-stoneofthecharacterthatmenmostrespectandGodwillhonor.Noneofuscanbeperfect,butwecanallbehonest,andpretendtobenobetterthanweare.Justsimplyfollowyourconscience,praydailyforlightandguidance,anddothebestyoucan.Liveuptothelightasyougetit,andrememberthegoodLordwillbeaspatientwithyouasamotherwithherbabythatisjustlearningtowalk.Betruthfulandsincereasyouhavebeenwithmeto-day,andallwillbewell.\"
Thenhebroughtastep-ladder,andfilledalittlebasketwithpears.
\"They\'llripennicelyinyourdrawer,\"hesaid,\"andIshouldn\'twonderifyoufound\'emkindofnourishingtoyoursoulaswellasbody,nowyouknowhowtheygrew.\"
WithapromisetocomeonthemorrowIdadroveawaymorecheeredandcomfortedthanshehadthoughtitpossibleevertobeagain.
Butassheapproachedthehotelpiazza,andsawtheartisttalkingwithJennieBurton,sheexperiencedasinkingofheartthattaughtherhowdifficultherpathmustbeatbest.
