Bessie at the Sea-Side

by Joanna H. Mathews

  XIX.

  _SOUL AND INSTINCT._

  "Papa," said Maggie, the next morning, as she sat on his knee atthe breakfast-table, leaning her aching little head against hisbreast,--"papa, is there anything in the paper about our 'sault andbattery?"

  "About what?"

  "Our 'sault and battery," said Maggie. "The other day, Uncle John wasreading to Aunt Helen how Mr. King was knocked down, and beaten by aman who didn't like him; and he called it an 'unprovoked 'sault andbattery.' I thought that meant when somebody hit somebody that didn'tdo anything to him."

  "So it does," said her father, trying not to smile, "and yours was amost 'unprovoked assault and battery,' my poor little woman; but thereis nothing in the paper about it."

  "Do you think that there should be?" asked Mrs. Bradford.

  "Oh, no, mamma; I'm very glad there isn't. I thought maybe thepaper-maker would hear about it, and put it into his paper; and Ididn't want people to be reading about Bessie and me. Do you think hewould do it another day, papa?"

  "I think not, dear; you need not be afraid."

  "I don't see what's the reason then," said Harry. "Maggie is a realheroine, and so is Bessie. Why, there isn't a boy at Quam, however bighe is, that would dare to fight Joe Sands; and to think of our mite ofa Bess standing out against him, and holding fast to the pocket-book,and Maggie running to the rescue!"

  "Yes, you little speck of nothing ground down to a point," said UncleJohn, catching Bessie up in his arms, "how dared you hold your groundagainst such a great rough boy as that?"

  "Why, it was the colonel's pocket-book," said Bessie, "and he wasgoing to take it, and it wasn't his; so I _had_ to take care of it, youknow. I couldn't let him do such a naughty thing."

  "They're bricks, both of them," said Harry.

  "So they are," said Fred; for both of the boys were very proud of theirlittle sisters' courage; "and Maggie has the right stuff in her, if sheis shy. She is a little goose where there is nothing to be afraid of,and a lion where there is."

  "Holloa! what is all this heap of pennies for?" asked the colonel, awhile after, as he came into Mrs. Jones' parlor, and found Maggie andBessie, like the famous king, "counting out their money." He had comeup the bank and paid them a visit two or three times since Maggie'sbirthday, so that they were not very much surprised to see him.

  "But first tell me how that poor little head and face are, Maggie? Why,you do look as if you'd been to the wars. Never mind, the bruises willsoon wear away; and as for the cut, your hair will hide that. It isnot every soldier that gets over his scars so easily; and you must notbe ashamed of yours while they last. But you have not told me what youare going to do with so much money," he added, when he was comfortablyseated in the arm-chair.

  "Oh, it isn't much," said Maggie; "it is only a little, and we wish itwas a whole lot."

  "And what do you and Bessie want with a whole lot of money? I shouldthink you had about everything little girls could wish for."

  "Yes, we have," said Bessie, "and we don't want it for ourselves."

  "Who for, then?"

  "For those poor shipyecked people. Papa and Uncle John have gone overto see them; and mamma and Aunt Helen have gone to the village to buysome flannel and calico to make things for the poor little childrenwho have lost theirs. Mr. Howard says there's a baby there that hasn'tanything but a ni'-gown, and no mother, 'cause she was drowned. Asailor man has it, and he's going to take care of it, but he hasn'tany clothes for it. And we wanted to help buy things, but we have sucha very little money."

  "Bessie has such a little, 'cause she spent all hers for my birthdaypresent," said Maggie. "Mamma gives us six cents a week, but it's sucha little while since my birthday, Bessie hasn't saved much. I have morethan she has, but not a great deal."

  "And she wanted mamma to let her hem a pock'-han'kerchief and earn somemoney," said Bessie, "but she can't, for the doctor says she musn't useher eye while it's so black."

  "Well," said the colonel, "I think you two have fairly earned the rightto dispose of at least half the money that was in that unfortunatepocket-book. You shall say what shall be done with it."

  Maggie looked as if she did not know what to say.

  "If you mean, sir," said Bessie, "that you're going to give us halfthat money, papa and mamma would not like it. They don't allow us toyeceive money from people who are not yelations to us."

  "And they are quite right," said the colonel. "I should not like you todo it, if you were my little girls. But I do not mean that I will give_you_ the money, only that I will give it away for any purpose you maychoose. Your father and mother can have no objection to that. Therewere fifty dollars in the pocket-book. Half of that is twenty-five.Now, shall I give it all to the shipwrecked people, or shall I givepart to something else?"

  "Will you please to 'scuse me if I whisper to Maggie?" said Bessie.

  "Certainly," said the colonel.

  They whispered together for a minute or two, and then Bessie said, "Ifyou didn't mind it, sir, we would like to give half to Mrs. Sands;she's very poor, and sick too; and she's in such a trouble 'cause Joe'sso bad. She has no one to work for her or do anything. Mamma sent Janeto see her, and she told us about her; and we're so very sorry for her."

  "Well, you are two forgiving little souls," said the colonel. "Do youwant me to give money to the mother of the boy who treated you so?"

  "_She_ didn't treat us so," said Maggie, "and we would like her to behelped 'cause she's so very poor. She cried about the pocket-book,and she is a good woman. She couldn't help it if Joe was so bad. Wecan't help being a little speck glad that Joe is shut up, he's sucha dangerous boy; and we'd be afraid of him now; but his mother feelsvery bad about it. So if you want to do what we like with the money,sir, please give half to the baby in the shipwreck, and half to Joe'smother."

  "Just as you please," said the colonel; "twelve and a half to the baby,twelve and a half to Mrs. Sands. I shall give the baby's money to Mrs.Rush, and ask her to buy what it needs. Will not that be the best way?"

  The children said yes, and were much pleased at the thought that Mrs.Sands and the little orphan baby were to be made comfortable with partof the money which they had saved.

  "Now, suppose we go out on the piazza," said the colonel; "Mrs. Rush isthere talking to Grandpa Duncan, and I told them I would come out againwhen I had seen you."

  "But there's no arm-chair out there," said Maggie.

  "Never mind; the settee will do quite as well for a while."

  But when Mrs. Jones happened to pass by, and saw the colonel sittingon the piazza, nothing would do but she must bring out the arm-chair,and make a great fuss to settle him comfortably. Maggie could not helpconfessing she was very kind, even if she did not always take the mostpleasant way of showing it.

  "What are you thinking of, Bessie?" asked the colonel, after he hadtalked to Mr. Duncan for some time.

  Bessie was sitting on the piazza step, looking at Toby with a verygrave face, as he lay beside her with his head in her lap.

  "I am so sorry for Toby," she answered.

  "Why, I think he is as well off as a dog can be. He looks verycomfortable there with his head in your lap."

  "But he hasn't any soul to be saved," said the child.

  "He does not know that," said the colonel, carelessly; "it does nottrouble him."

  "But," said Bessie, "if he had a soul, and knew Jesus died to save it,he would be a great deal happier. It makes us feel so happy to thinkabout that. Isn't that the yeason people are so much better and happierthan dogs, grandpa?"

  "That's the reason they should be happier and better, dear."

  "There are some people who know they have souls to be saved, who don'tthink about it, and don't care if Jesus did come to die for them; arethere not, grandpa?" said Maggie.

  "Yes, Maggie, there are very many such people."

  "Then they can't be happy," said Bessie,--"not as happy as Toby, for hedon't know."

  "I don't believe Joe thinks much ab
out his soul," said Maggie.

  "I am afraid not," answered Mr. Duncan.

  "Grandpa," said Bessie, "if people know about their souls, and don'tcare, I don't think they are much better than Toby."

  "But, grandpa," said Maggie, "Toby behaves just as if he knew somethings are naughty, and other things right. How can he tell if hehas no soul? How did he know it was naughty for Joe to steal thepocket-book; and what is the reason he knows Susie must not go near thefire nor the cellar stairs?"

  "It is instinct which teaches him that," said grandpa.

  "What is that?"

  "We cannot tell exactly. It is something which God has given to animalsto teach them what is best for themselves and their young. It is notreason, for they have no soul nor mind as men, women, and childrenhave; but by it some animals, such as dogs and horses, often seem toknow what is right and wrong. It is instinct which teaches the bird tobuild her nest. I am an old man, and I suppose you think I know a greatdeal, but if I wanted to build a house for my children, I would notknow how to do it unless I were shown. But little birdie, untaught byany one,--led only by the instinct which God has given her,--makes hernest soft and comfortable for her young. It is instinct which teachesToby to know a man or a boy who is to be trusted from one who is not;which makes him keep Susie from creeping into danger when he is told totake care of her."

  "And, grandpa," said Bessie, "Toby had an instinct about our baby, too.The other day, when nurse left her asleep in the cradle, and went downstairs for a few minutes, she woke up and fretted. Toby heard her, andwent down stairs, and pulled nurse's dress, and made her come up afterhim to baby."

  "Yes, that was his instinct," said Mr. Duncan. "He knew that babywanted to be taken up, and that nurse should come to her."

  "He did such a funny thing the other day," said Maggie, "when Fredplayed him a trick. You know he brings Mr. Jones' old slippers everyevening, and puts them by the kitchen door, so Mr. Jones can have themall ready when he comes from his work. You tell it, Bessie, it hurts myface to speak so much."

  "Well," said Bessie, who was always ready to talk, "Fred took theslippers, and hid them in his trunk, 'cause he wanted to see what Tobywould do. Toby looked and looked all over, but the poor fellow couldnot find them. So at last he brought an old pair of yubber over-shoes,and put them by the kitchen door. Then he went away and lay down behindthe door, and he looked so 'shamed, and so uncomf'able, Maggie and Ifelt yeal sorry for him, and we wanted to show him where the slipperswere, but we didn't know ourselves, and Fred wouldn't tell us. ThenFred called him ever so many times, but he was very cross, and growled,and would not go at all till Fred said, 'Come, old dog, come, get theslippers.' Then he came out and yan after Fred, and we all yan, and itwas so funny to see him. He was so glad, and he pulled out the slippersand put them in their place, and then he took the old yubbers and putthem in the closet, and lay down with his paws on the slippers, as ifhe thought somebody would take them away again. And now Mrs. Jones saysthat every morning he hides them in a place of his own, where no onecan find them but his own self. I think that is very smart; don't you,grandpa?"

  "Very smart," said Mr. Duncan; "Toby is a wise dog."

  "But, grandpa, don't Toby have conscience, too, when he knows what'sgood and what's naughty? Mamma says it's conscience that tells us whenwe're good, and when we're naughty."

  "No, dear; Toby has no conscience. If he knows the difference betweenright and wrong in some things, it is partly instinct, partly becausehe has been taught. Conscience is that which makes us afraid ofdispleasing God, and breaking his holy laws, but Toby feels nothing ofthis. He is only afraid of displeasing his master; he has neither lovenor fear of One greater than that master, for he does not know there issuch a wise and holy being. If Toby should steal, or do anything wrong,God would not call him to account for it, because he has given to thedog no soul, no conscience, no feeling of duty to his Maker."

  "Grandpa," said Bessie, "don't you mean that if Toby is naughty, Godwill not punish him when he dies, 'cause he didn't know about him?"

  "Yes, dear; for Toby there is neither reward nor punishment in anotherworld. For him, there is no life to come."

  "Grandpa," said Maggie, "where will Toby's instinct go when he dies?"

  "It will die with the dog. It is mortal; that is, it must die; butour souls are immortal; they will go on living for ever and ever,either loving and praising God through all eternity, or sinking downto endless woe and suffering. Toby is a good, wise, faithful dog,and knows a great deal, but the weakest, the most ignorant boy orgirl--that poor idiot you saw the other day--is far better, of far morevalue in the sight of God, for he has a soul; and to save that precioussoul, our Lord left his heavenly home, and died upon the cross. Thinkwhat a soul is worth when it needed that such a price be paid for itssalvation!"

  "I can't help being sorry for Toby, 'cause he has no soul," saidBessie; "but I'm a great deal sorrier for those people that don't thinkabout their souls, and go to Jesus to be saved. How can they helpit, when they know he wants them to come? Grandpa, don't they feelungrateful all the time?"

  "I am afraid not, Bessie. If they do not feel their need of a Saviour,they do not feel their ingratitude."

  Bessie was silent for a minute or two, and sat gazing for a while faraway over the water, with the thoughtful look she so often had in hereyes, and then she said slowly, as if speaking to herself,--

  "I wonder if they think about for ever and ever and ever."

  No one answered her. Not a word had the colonel said since Bessie hadsaid that she thought those who did not care for their souls were nobetter than Toby; but he sat with his eyes sometimes on her, sometimeson the dog, and his face, which was turned from his wife and Mr.Duncan, had a vexed, troubled look. Mrs. Rush had often seen that lookduring the last few days, and now she guessed it was there, even thoughshe did not see it. But, presently, when the carriage was seen comingback with Mrs. Bradford and Mrs. Duncan, he drove it away, and was soonlaughing and talking as usual.